Culture News
US national parks now charge foreign visitors $100 extra at 11 parks: what changed at the gate
Since January 1, foreign visitors aged 16 and over pay an extra $100 per person to enter 11 of the most-visited US national parks, on top of the usual entry fee, KQED reports. The parks are Acadia, Bryce Canyon, Everglades, Glacier, Grand Canyon, Grand Teton, Rocky Mountain, Sequoia and Kings Canyon, Yellowstone, Yosemite and Zion. The annual America the Beautiful pass costs non-residents $250, while US residents still pay $80.
KQED says annual-pass holders must show a US government-issued photo ID at the gate, per-person entry for international tour groups rises from $20 to $100, and fee-free days no longer apply to non-residents. The policy follows a July 3 executive order from President Trump; revenue goes to repairs and the maintenance backlog. The Center for Biological Diversity sued on December 10, 2025.
“They won't know until they arrive – and I have a feeling that's going to happen a lot.” — tour operator Elisabeth Barton, via KQED
Outside quoted Interior Secretary Doug Burgum saying international visitors should “contribute their fair share”, recalled that a 2018 plan for steep fee rises was dropped after public opposition, and cited a projected 8.2% fall in international visits to the US in 2025. India's Outlook Traveller wrote for travellers abroad, noting the surcharge comes on top of a typical $35 vehicle fee and setting out both the maintenance argument and critics who call it protectionist.
How each outlet framed it
- KQED — the gate experience: ID checks, confused tourists, worried tour operators.
- Outside — policy history and the official “fair share” case.
- Outlook Traveller — the cost for international travellers and the protectionism debate.
What we don't know yet: How many foreign visitors will stay away, and how the lawsuit will end.