The U.S. Interior Department mentioned Tuesday the National Park Service goes to begin charging the hundreds of thousands of worldwide vacationers who go to U.S. nationwide parks annually $100 per particular person to enter among the hottest websites, whereas leaving them out of fee-free days that will probably be reserved for American residents.
The charge change for worldwide guests will influence 11 nationwide parks, together with the Grand Canyon, Yellowstone and Yosemite, in line with the Interior Department.
As a part of the adjustments, that are set to take impact Jan. 1, international vacationers can even see their annual parks go worth leap to $250, whereas U.S. residents will proceed to be charged $80, in line with the division’s assertion.
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Only roughly 100 of the greater than 400 parks within the nationwide park system acquire an entrance charge.
The announcement declaring “America-first entry charge insurance policies” comes as nationwide parks cope with the pressure of a significant workers discount and extreme finances cuts, together with recovering from harm throughout the current authorities shutdown and vital misplaced income because of charges not being collected throughout that point. The park service furloughed properly over half its workers throughout the shutdown.
Interior Secretary Doug Burgum mentioned in a publish on the social platform X that the adjustments ensure U.S. taxpayers who help the park service “proceed to take pleasure in inexpensive entry, whereas worldwide guests contribute their fair proportion to sustaining and bettering our parks for future generations!”
A White House social media publish laying out the elevated charges ended with the phrase, “AMERICANS FIRST.”
The announcement follows a July government order by which President Donald Trump directed the parks to extend entry charges for international vacationers.
At the time, Mr. Trump additionally ordered the Interior Department to present U.S. residents “preferential remedy” over international guests concerning “leisure entry guidelines, together with allowing or lottery guidelines” that parks may need in place.Â
In its 2026 fiscal yr finances proposal launched in May, the Interior Department estimated that such a surcharge on worldwide guests would generate greater than $90 million yearly. Â
“There’s lots to unpack on this announcement, together with many questions on its implementation – all which NPCA will increase with the Department of Interior,” Kati Schmidt, a spokesperson for National Parks Conservation Association, mentioned in an e mail.
The U.S. Travel Association estimated that in 2018, nationwide parks and monuments noticed greater than 14 million worldwide guests. Yellowstone reported that in 2024, almost 15% of its guests have been from outdoors the nation, which was down from 30% in 2018.
The cash made off the brand new charges will assist help the nationwide parks, together with with upgrading amenities for guests and upkeep, in line with the assertion.
The “resident-only patriotic fee-free days” subsequent yr embody Veterans Day, which was one of many parks’ eight free days open to everybody in 2025. The Department of the Interior had introduced these days by saying they wished to make sure that “everybody, irrespective of their zip code, can entry and luxuriate in the advantages of inexperienced areas and our public lands.”
