Foreign tourists who do not purchase an annual pass will be required to pay $100 per person for entry into 11 of the most popular national parks, such as the Grand Canyon, Rocky Mountain, Yellowstone, and Yosemite, in addition to the standard entrance fee.
Interior Secretary Doug Burgum stated, “This policy ensures access for American taxpayers who already support the national park system, while foreign tourists contribute their share to the preservation and development of our parks for future generations.”
The justification for the new rates was provided in a White House post, which noted: “AMERICANS OFFERED AFFORDABLE PRICES, WHILE FOREIGNERS PAY MUCH MORE.”
This price increase comes amid a decline in international tourism to the U.S., attributed to changes in fee policies and stricter immigration measures. For example, Yellowstone reported a drop in the share of foreign tourists from 30% in 2018 to 14.8% in 2024.
It is also worth noting that the price increase occurred after the longest government shutdown in U.S. history, which put the National Park Service in a difficult position to maintain order in the parks due to a lack of resources and personnel.
According to the latest data from the National Park Conservation Association, during the government shutdown, parks lost about $41 million due to uncollected entrance and recreation fees.
Next year, the Department of the Interior also announced “patriotic days with no entrance fees exclusively for residents,” including Memorial Day and Independence Day celebrations. Additionally, an updated reservation system will be implemented, and access for motorcyclists will be improved, which is described as “a significant modernization of access to national parks in recent decades.”
Meanwhile, in other countries such as Egypt, Thailand, and Cambodia, higher fees are also charged to foreign tourists for visiting their national parks and attractions.
