The USA hold true to its government’s America First policy. In July, President Trump signed an Executive Order that ordered the National Park Service (NPS) to mull increased entrance fees for Non-American visitors. A press release on NPS.gov confirmed the results – and upcoming changes – last night.
Starting January 1, 2026, entrance fees for non US-residents will change. And the prices increase drastically:
- The price of the America the Beautiful pass (formerly known as Golden Eagle) will rise to US$250 (~€216) instead of previously US$80.
- If you don’t hold the pass, you’ll have to pay $100 per person on top of the regular entrance fees at the most popular parks like the Grand Canyon, Yellowstone or Yosemite.
- Free Entrance Days, five to six days per year on which the entrance fee in all parks is waived, will be only available for US residents going forward.
America the Beautiful Pass Price Triples
Everyone who ever did a road trip through the US is familiar with the America the Beautiful pass. It comes with a price-tag of $80 and includes entry to all US National Parks for every person in one car (or 4 pedestrians) for twelve months after purchase. Starting in January 2026, this offer will be only available to US citizens or permanent residents. Tourists need to purchase a similar pass, with the same conditions, but costing $250 instead.
The pass not only includes entrances fees, but also covers Day Use Fees, as well as fees in National Monuments, National Forests and other federal recreation spots. State Parks on the other hand are not included, as these are not operated by the US federal government.
It is unclear if passes purchased in 2025 remain valid. It is currently possible to buy the American the Beautiful pass online for US$80 (~€69). If you have planned a trip to the United States in 2026, it might pay off to buy the pass now or in December and use it next year. However, there is no official statement if purchased passes remain valid for foreigners in 2026.
No Annual Pass? $100 Surcharge in Select Parks
If you don’t purchase an annual pass, you can still buy entrance tickets for each park separately. However, 11 of the most popular parks will start charging $100 extra if you aren’t a US resident. These $100 have to be paid per person. Affected are the following parks:
- Acadia National Park
- Bryce Canyon National Park
- Everglades National Park
- Glacier National Park
- Grand Canyon National Park
- Grand Teton National Park
- Rocky Mountain National Park
- Sequioa & Kings Canyon National Park
- Yellowstone National Park
- Yosemite National Park
- Zion National Park
If you visit more than two of these parks within a single year, or if you travel with two or more persons, you should purchase the annual pass – since it includes everybody you can fit in a car.
The following map shows all US National Parks. Parks with a $100 surcharge are marked in red.
No More Free Days for Tourists
As mentioned previously, US National Parks waive entrance fees on five or six certain days each year. Starting 2026, tourists can no longer benefit from this rule – it becomes exclusive to US residents. At least for the most popular parks, this doesn’t change too much, as those were too crowded on said days to consider a visit anyway.
Editor’s Note: A bunch of people asked me lately if I would advise visiting the US these days, my answer remains the same: “If you’ve never been there, go for it. It’s an amazing place, and it has always been expensive. But if you have visited in the past, don’t go: You are in for a worse experience at a higher price.” The changes to National Park fees (for tourists) are right down that alley. As a regular visitor of 30+ years, it’s a bit sad to see that recently, I feel a little less welcome every time I cross the pond.
Translated by Felix
Sources: US ministry of the interior press release and NPS.gov