November 25, 2025 / 11:18 PM EST / CBS/AP
The U.S. Interior Department said Tuesday the National Park Service will begin charging millions of international tourists $100 per person to enter some of the most popular sites, while reserving fee-free days for U.S. residents only. The change will affect 11 national parks, including the Grand Canyon, Yellowstone and Yosemite.
The policy takes effect Jan. 1. Foreign visitors’ annual parks pass will rise to $250; U.S. residents will continue to pay $80 for the annual pass. Only about 100 of the more than 400 parks in the national park system currently collect an entrance fee.
The announcement, described by the department as an “America-first entry fee” policy, comes as parks face major staff reductions, deep budget cuts and recovery from damage and lost revenue during the recent government shutdown, when the park service furloughed well over half its staff. Interior Secretary Doug Burgum posted on X that the changes ensure U.S. taxpayers “continue to enjoy affordable access, while international visitors contribute their fair share to maintaining and improving our parks for future generations.”
A White House social post promoting the increases ended with the phrase, “AMERICANS FIRST.” The move follows a July executive order from President Donald Trump directing parks to increase entry fees for foreign tourists and to give U.S. residents “preferential treatment” in recreational access and permitting rules.
In its FY2026 budget proposal, the Interior Department estimated the surcharge on international visitors would generate more than $90 million annually. The department said revenue will help support parks through facility upgrades and maintenance.
Advocates and industry groups raised questions about implementation. Kati Schmidt, a spokesperson for the National Parks Conservation Association, said there is “a lot to unpack” and the group will raise implementation questions with the department. The U.S. Travel Association estimated national parks and monuments saw more than 14 million international visitors in 2018. Yellowstone reported that nearly 15% of its visitors in 2024 were from outside the U.S., down from about 30% in 2018.
The department also said next year’s “resident-only patriotic fee-free days” will include Veterans Day, which had been among the parks’ eight free days open to everyone in 2025.