Coming to National Parks: ‘America-First’ Pricing Americans can still get an $80 annual pass, but foreigners will pay more
Tourists traverse a boardwalk in the Upper Geyser Basin, June 22, 2022, in Yellowstone National Park, Wyo. (AP Photo/Matthew Brown, File)
The Trump administration is set to more than triple the cost of visiting U.S. national parks for international travelers. Interior Secretary Doug Burgum said the new “America-first” entrance fees are designed to ensure foreign visitors “contribute their fair share” to park maintenance.
Under the proposed changes, non-residents would pay an additional $100 per person at 11 of the most popular national parks, or they could purchase a $250 annual pass, according to the Guardian. Burgum noted that, “starting in 2026,” U.S. residents will be able to buy an annual pass for “just $80,” which is the current price.
The White House highlighted the policy on X, stating: “AMERICANS OFFERED AFFORDABLE PRICES WHILE FOREIGNERS PAY MUCH MORE.” The Department of the Interior also unveiled new 2026 annual passes featuring side-by-side portraits of George Washington and President Trump, as well as a military pass showing Trump saluting troops. The department announced new “fee-free” days for U.S. residents in 2026, including Fourth of July weekend, Constitution Day (Sept. 17), Theodore Roosevelt’s birthday (Oct. 27), and Flag Day (June 14)—which coincides with President Trump’s birthday.
Burgum said the goal is to make it “easier and more affordable for every American to experience the beauty and freedom of our public lands.” He emphasized that higher fees for international visitors support conservation, quoting Theodore Roosevelt on the importance of preserving public lands.
However, critics note that the Trump administration has proposed major cuts to public lands funding, reduced national parks staffing, and opened national forests to logging, according to the Guardian. International tourism to the U.S. has also been declining; CNN reports that just 15% of Yellowstone visitors in 2024 were from outside the country, down from 30% in 2018.
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