Changes to national park fee structure and attendance passes

The U.S. Department of Interior has announced that non-U.S. residents will pay a higher rate to enter national parks, which they say will help support care and maintenance. The agency said revenue generated from the new fee structure will support “upgrades to visitor facilities, essential maintenance, and improved services nationwide.” Several resident-only fee-free days were also announced as well as a modernization of the pass. Visitors will now be able to purchase and use their passes instantly, store them on their phones and link them to credit cards.

The new fee structure will be implemented January 1, 2026. The Annual Pass will cost $80 for U.S. residents and $250 for nonresidents. Nonresident visitors without annual passes will also pay a $100 per person fee at certain parks like Grand Canyon, Yellowstone, Yosemite and Acadia national parks.

“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,” said Secretary of the Interior Doug Burgum.

Read more at the National Park Service.