As part of an effort to modernize access and keep fees for citizens of the United States affordable, the National Park Service of the United States will substantially increase fees for visitors from foreign countries.
Fees to Access National Parks to Significantly Increase For Visitors of the United States
Effective as of Thursday, January 1, 2026, the “Annual Pass will cost $80 for U.S. residents and $250 for nonresidents, ensuring that American taxpayers who already support the National Park System receive the greatest benefit. Nonresidents without an annual pass will pay a $100 per person fee to enter 11 of the most visited national parks, in addition to the standard entrance fee”, according to this official press release from the Department of the Interior of the United States. “Revenue generated from new fee policies will be invested directly back into America’s national parks, supporting upgrades to visitor facilities, essential maintenance, and improved services nationwide.”
Doug Burgum — who is the current secretary of the Department of the Interior — said that “These policies ensure that U.S. taxpayers, who already support the National Park System, continue to enjoy affordable access, while international visitors contribute their fair share to maintaining and improving our parks for future generations.”
The modernization of national park access is considered to be the most significant to occur in decades by:
- Delivering new digital America the Beautiful passes — including Annual, Military, Senior, Fourth Grade, and Access — will be available in a fully digital format through Recreation.gov for visitors to be able to purchase and use their passes instantly; store them on mobile electronic devices; and link them to physical cards for added convenience. Digital validation tools and updated training for field staff will ensure faster entry and a smoother visitor experience across the National Park System.
- Updated annual pass artwork that will appear on both digital and physical passes, as new modernized graphics for all annual passes will featuring bold and patriotic designs that honor the landscapes, heritage, and outdoor legacy of the United States.
- Expanded access for motorcycles, as all America the Beautiful passes will now cover two motorcycles per pass for national park adventures to become more accessible for riders and families who travel on two wheels.
- A new fee structure that is focused on residents of the United States and puts American families first.
Free Access Dates to National Parks in 2026
The good news is that 364 of the 472 national park units have no entrance fees at all — ever — and the newest national park is Amache National Historic Site in Colorado…
…but the even better news is that free access is available to those national parks which do charge an entrance fee. The following is the list of dates in 2026 when free access to all national parks is available only to residents of the United States, as officially announced by the National Park Service:
- February 16, 2026 Presidents’ Day or the Birthday of George Washington
- May 25, 2026 Memorial Day
- June 14, 2026 Flag Day — which also happens to be the birthday of Donald J. Trump
- July 3, 2026 through July 5, 2026 Independence Day Weekend
- August 25, 2026 110th Anniversary of the National Park Service
- September 17, 2026 Constitution Day
- October 27, 2026 Birthday of Theodore Roosevelt
- November 11, 2026 Veterans Day
Final Boarding Call
Only 17 days after I asked you in the article as to whether attractions in the United States should charge different fees for non-residents, the current president of the United States signed an executive order for foreigners to pay higher entrance fees to national parks in the United States.
Although I wrote in the aforementioned article that “If an admission fee or other fee is to be charged, I believe that every adult person should pay the same fee — regardless of residence. Some exceptions to that policy may be considered; but a uniform fee is simply easier”, I believe that if I am going to be charged a higher admission price for places of interest in other countries simply because I am a visitor and not a citizen, then perhaps the same should occur to visitors in the United States.
Click here for more information on digital passes, pricing updates, and how to prepare for the 2026 changes — or visit Recreation.gov.
All photographs ©2020 by Brian Cohen.
