US will charge non-residents $100 to visit its most popular national parks | Donald Trump News

The fee increase for non-U.S. residents comes as the National Park Service faces potential budget cuts next year.

The United States is implementing a new “America-first” entrance fee policy that will charge non-US residents without an annual pass $100 per person to enter its 11 most visited national parks.

The change was announced Tuesday by the Interior Department, which oversees the National Park System, as part of its 2026 fee plan. The price of an annual park pass for non-U.S. residents will also increase from $80 to $250, it said.

Interior Secretary Doug Burgum said in a statement that with the tariff increase, US President Donald Trump aims to “put American families first.”

Burgum said, “These policies ensure that American taxpayers, who already support the National Park System, continue to enjoy affordable access, while international visitors contribute their fair share to maintaining and improving our parks for future generations.”

Parks affected by the fee increases include Great Smoky Mountain National Parks in Tennessee and North Carolina, Zion National Park in Utah and Grand Canyon National Park in Arizona.

The Great Smoky Mountains, the most visited U.S. national park in 2024, previously offered free admission to all visitors, although parking was charged at $5 per day, $15 per week, or $40 per year.

Zion previously charged between $20 and $35 for a standard admission pass, while the Grand Canyon charged $35 per private car or $20 per person.

Yet, even as the Trump administration has tried to justify increased fees for non-U.S. residents as a way to shore up the finances of America’s national parks, it has also cut resources already allocated for them.

Earlier this year, Trump proposed cutting National Park Service funding by $1 billion. That figure has since been revised, but the Park Service budget could face potential budget cuts in 2026.

A budget proposal from the House Appropriations Committee earlier this year recommended cutting $176 million from the Park Service operating budget, according to the National Park Conservation Association, a non-partisan U.S. advocacy group.

The U.S. government and the park system are funded through January 30, 2026, but Congress has not yet fully approved the 2026 funding bill.

The park service has lost 4,000 staff members since January due to budget shortfalls and related issues, the association said this week. Most national parks remained open with limited services during the recent 43-day government shutdown, although 9,000 staff were furloughed, it also said.