Higher fees for foreigners at U.S. national parks are raising concerns among tourists planning to visit America’s natural sites.
The U.S. Department of the Interior says the new fees will help fund park maintenance. But businesses worry that the hikes will discourage international travelers from visiting the parks.
How much will a ticket to popular US parks cost?
Foreign tourists visiting popular US national parks such as the Grand Canyon and Yosemite will have to pay an additional fee.
The Department of the Interior, which manages the country’s national parks, said each foreign visitor will have to pay $100 (€86) per person on top of the existing fees to gain access to 11 of the most popular sites.
The new fee was announced on November 25, 2025, by Interior Secretary Doug Burgum. It will take effect on January 1, 2026.
Foreign tourists will also face a sharp increase in the price of annual park passes – the price is rising to $250 (€216) per vehicle (a passenger car with 5 people). US residents will still pay $80 (€69) for an annual pass.
How much does a ticket to national parks cost now?
We visited several national parks: Yosemite, Death Valley, Joshua Tree, Sequoia – in the spring of 2019. Then and now, the price of admission was $ 35 per vehicle for entry into the park.
Starting next year, the price tag will increase by $ 100 per person. In my opinion, even Europeans will think twice before planning such a trip to the States. The question arises – do officials really want only “their own” to travel around America? Exactly!
Interior officials described the new payment structure as “pricing set primarily for America”, which will ensure that foreign visitors contribute to the maintenance of the parks.
According to their calculations, for Yellowstone Park alone, this fee could generate $ 55 million (47.5 million euros) annually for the repair of neglected trails and aging bridges.
But for foreign tourists, this change in tourism policy puts the United States in line with other countries that charge foreigners more for visiting popular attractions. Maybe then it makes sense to look at other equally interesting tourist countries?
In addition, American visas will become more expensive – the total amount of mandatory fees will be at least $ 435 per person. There are no exceptions depending on the age of the applicant, the purpose of the trip or other circumstances.
Useful articles and links:
- Autumn in New York – 10 of the most beautiful locations
- Yosemite Park in California – how to prepare for a visit to the valley
- San Francisco from a bird’s eye view
