If you are planning on visiting any US National Parks, you should be aware of some fee changes, particularly if you are traveling with foreign visitors. Access to most National Park Service sites remains free. Less than a quarter of the more than 400 National Park Service sites actually have an entrance fee.
The new 2026 fees, implemented by a U.S. government executive order, involve two major updates. The first has been the creation of a separate "non-resident" America the Beautiful pass. Unlike the $80 fee for resident passes, non-residents must now pay $250 for an annual pass, according to the National Park Service (NPS).
Additionally, while most park entrance fees remain the same for all guests, non-residents are now charged a $100-per-person fee at the following national parks, often known as the "Big 11":
- Acadia National Park (Maine)
- Bryce Canyon National Park (Utah)
- Everglades National Park (Florida)
- Glacier National Park (Montana)
- Grand Canyon National Park (Arizona)
- Grand Teton National Park (Wyoming)
- Rocky Mountain National Park (Colorado)
- Sequoia & Kings Canyon National Parks (California)
- Yellowstone National Park (Wyoming)
- Yosemite National Park (California)
- Zion National Park (Utah)
The fee increases for international tourists have elicited strong reactions from a variety of groups. Some, including the National Parks Conservation Association (NPCA), even called for it to be abolished because of the negative impact on park visits and long queues, not to mention the extra burden on NPS employees at the gates who aren't trained in immigration laws to determine whether a visitor is indeed a "non-resident" who should pay the higher fees.