The United States government has unveiled a significant new policy that will substantially increase costs for international tourists visiting America's famous national parks. The Trump administration confirmed that beginning in 2026, visitors from outside the US will face a hefty $100 surcharge on top of regular entry fees at 11 of the most popular park destinations.
New Fee Structure for International Visitors
The Department of the Interior, which manages the renowned US National Park System, announced the dramatic changes on Tuesday. Foreign tourists will now pay an additional $100 surcharge when visiting iconic locations like the Grand Canyon, Yellowstone, and Yosemite National Parks. This extra fee applies to the 11 most visited parks in the system and comes in addition to existing individual park entrance fees.
Meanwhile, the cost of an annual "America the Beautiful" pass, which provides unlimited access to all national parks, will more than triple from $80 to $250 for non-US residents. The standard $80 rate will remain unchanged for American citizens and permanent residents.
Administration's Justification for the Policy
Interior Secretary Doug Burgum defended the new measures in an official statement, emphasizing the administration's commitment to American families. "President Trump's leadership always puts American families first," Burgum stated. "These policies ensure that US 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 policy follows an executive order signed by President Donald Trump in July aimed at "preserving" national parks for "American families." The Interior Department clarified that "nonresidents will pay a higher rate to help support the care and maintenance of America's parks."
Impact on Park Access and Special Provisions
The US national parks, long considered jewels of American tourism, attract hundreds of millions of visitors annually. According to National Park Service data, the parks welcomed nearly 332 million visitors in 2024 across the 63 officially designated national parks.
Important details about the new fee structure include:
- Foreign visitors who purchase the $250 annual pass will be exempt from the $100 surcharge at the most visited parks
- The surcharge applies to parks including Florida's Everglades, Maine's Acadia, and California's Yosemite
- US citizens and permanent residents remain completely unaffected by the new fees
- The department highlighted "patriotic fee-free days" for residents including President's Day, Veterans' Day, and Trump's birthday
Current park fees vary by location, with some parks charging per vehicle and others per person. The annual pass covers all passengers in a vehicle, or up to four adults when the passholder is present.
This new policy represents one of the most significant changes to US national park fee structures in recent years and will likely impact travel planning for international visitors, including Nigerians planning trips to experience America's natural wonders.
