The U.S. Department of the Interior announced on Tuesday (November 25th) that starting next year, it will comprehensively adjust the National Park entrance system. This includes a significant increase in ticket prices for international visitors, digitization of passes, redesign of annual passes, and the addition of “resident-only” free days. The core of this policy is the “America-first” entrance fee structure, which aims to keep ticket prices relatively affordable for American citizens.
The Department of the Interior stated that starting from January 1, 2026, the cost of the “America the Beautiful” annual pass for international visitors will increase from $80 to $250. If not purchasing an annual pass, international visitors entering popular national parks such as Yellowstone, Yosemite, and Grand Canyon will need to pay an additional $100 on top of the existing entrance fee.
In contrast, the annual pass price for U.S. residents will remain unchanged at $80.
Interior Secretary Doug Burgum stated that under President Trump’s leadership, these policies will always prioritize American families. He emphasized that these changes aim to ensure that American taxpayers who have supported the national park system “continue to enjoy affordable entrance opportunities” while encouraging international visitors to “contribute their fair share” to help maintain and improve parks across the country.
In addition to adjusting fees, 2026 will also introduce 10 “resident-only” free days. Burgum stated that this move will increase the total number of free entrance days to 10. International visitors entering on these days will still need to pay regular fees and any applicable additional charges.
These new free days include: Presidents Day (February 16), Memorial Day (May 25), Flag Day (June 14, also noted as President Trump’s birthday), Independence Day weekend (July 3-5), National Park Service Founders Day (August 25), Constitution Day (September 17), Roosevelt Day (October 27), and Veterans Day (November 11).
To celebrate the 250th anniversary of the founding of the United States, Independence Day weekend (July 3-5) will also offer free admission.
It’s worth noting that Veterans Day will remain a free day for all in 2025, but in 2026, it will be exclusively free for U.S. residents.
The new measures will also promote full digitization. All passes in the “Access America the Beautiful” series (including annual passes, military passes, senior passes, fourth-grade student passes, and disabled passes) will adopt a digital format. Visitors can purchase and display passes on Recreation.gov, store them on mobile devices, or link them to physical cards.
The Department of the Interior stated that this will expedite entrance verification and enhance overall visitor traffic management efficiency.
Furthermore, all passes will now cover two motorcycles, expanding accessibility for motorcycle riders.
In commemorating the 250th anniversary of the U.S., the new annual passes will feature new design patterns. The annual pass will depict George Washington and President Trump, while the volunteer pass will feature Theodore Roosevelt. The military pass will show President Trump saluting military personnel, and the senior pass will display Independence Hall. These images will appear on both digital and physical cards.
For more information on digital passes, price updates, and preparing for the 2026 changes, please visit https://www.nps.gov/planyourvisit/passes.htm or Recreation.gov.
The U.S. National Park Service has faced significant staff reductions, budget cuts, and substantial revenue losses due to the inability to collect fees during government shutdowns in recent years.
Furthermore, some parks are in the process of repairing facility damages caused by remaining open during recent government shutdowns. Authorities stated that the revenue from new fees will be directly invested in facility upgrades, necessary maintenance, and service improvements nationwide.
Regarding the new policy, the non-profit organization National Parks Conservation Association (NPCA) mentioned that several execution details in the announcement remain unclear, and the association will continue to liaise with the Department of the Interior.
The U.S. Travel Association estimates that in 2018, over 14 million international visitors visited U.S. national parks. Data from Yellowstone National Park shows that the percentage of international visitors decreased from 30% in 2018 to nearly 15% in 2024. Industry concerns that the new fee system may have a long-term impact on the U.S. tourism industry and the willingness of international visitors to visit.