Visitors visit Mather Point in Grand Canyon National Park on October 1, 2025 in Grand Canyon, Ariz.
Ross D. Franklin/AP
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Ross D. Franklin/AP
WASHINGTON — The National Park Service said Tuesday it is going to start charging the millions of international tourists who visit U.S. parks each year an extra $100 for admission to some of the most popular sites, while excluding them from fee-free days reserved for U.S. residents.
The “America-first admission fee policies” have been announced as national parks grapple with the stress of major staff reductions and severe budget cuts, as well as recovering from losses suffered during the recent government shutdown and significant revenue losses due to fees not being collected during that time.
According to the U.S. Department of the Interior, the fee change will affect 11 national parks, including the Grand Canyon, Yellowstone and Yosemite.
As part of the changes taking effect Jan. 1, prices for foreign tourists will increase to $250 for their annual parks, while U.S. residents will continue to be charged $80, according to the department’s statement.
Interior Secretary Doug Burgum said in a post on the social platform
A White House post on Twitter explaining the increased fees ended with the phrase “Americans first.”
The announcement follows a July executive order by President Donald Trump directing parks to increase entrance fees for foreign tourists.
“There is a lot to unpack in this announcement, including many questions over its implementation – which NPCA will raise with the Department of the Interior,” National Park Conservation Association spokeswoman Kati Schmidt said in an email.
The US Travel Association estimates that in 2018, national parks and monuments visited more than 14 million international tourists. Yellowstone reported that in 2024, about 15% of its visitors were from outside the country, down from 30% in 2018.
According to the statement, funds raised from the new fees will help support national parks, including upgrading and maintaining facilities for visitors.
The following year “patriotic fee-free days for residents only” include Veterans Day, one of the park’s eight free days open to all in 2025. The Interior Department announced at the time that they wanted to ensure that “everyone, no matter their ZIP code, can take advantage of and enjoy green spaces and our public lands.”
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