USAToday: National parks 'America-first' pricing will have these visitors paying more

Starting Jan. 1, 2026, "nonresidents without an annual pass will pay a $100 per person fee to enter 11 of the most visited national parks, in addition to the standard entrance fee," the Department of Interior announced on Nov. 25, among other changes.

"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," Interior Secretary Doug Burgum said in a news release in line with an executive order designed to "allow more Americans to visit national parks."

Here’s what else national park visitors should know.

How much does it cost to visit national parks?

Not all national parks charge entry fees. Those that do typically top out at $35 per private vehicle.

To cut down on costs, visitors can buy an annual pass. Pricing for those will stay flat for U.S. residents at $80. Residents purchasing annual passes through Recreation.gov will be asked to enter their zip code online and to show a U.S.-government issued photo ID when using the pass. Individuals without such identification will be asked to upgrade to a nonresident annual pass, according to the Department of Interior, which noted that existing passes will continue to be honored until expiration.

Starting Jan. 1, annual passes will cost $250 for nonresidents. International travelers who opt out of annual passes will be subject to extra $100 per person fees at several bucket-list parks.

Revenue generated by the new pricing will be invested back into the parks for upgrades and improvements as well as essential maintenance.

From Acadia to Zion: What travelers should know about America's national parks

National park fee-free days for 2026 

Next year, only U.S. residents will be eligible for free park entry on "patriotic fee-free days." There will be more such days than in recent years, but on largely different dates.  

• President’s Day: Feb. 16 
• Memorial Day: May 31 
• Flag Day/President Donald Trump’s birthday: June 14 
• Independence Day weekend: July 3–5 
• 110th Birthday of the National Park Service: Aug. 25 
• Constitution Day: Sept. 17 
• Theodore Roosevelt’s birthday: Oct. 27 
• Veterans Day: Nov. 11 

What were the fee-free dates in 2025? 

• Martin Luther King, Jr. Day: Jan. 20  
• First day of National Park Week: April 19  
• Juneteenth National Independence Day: June 19  
• Great American Outdoors Act signing day : Aug. 4  
• National Public Lands Day: Sept. 27  
• Veterans Day: Nov. 11  
  
  

Other national park changes 

In addition to the pricing changes, the Department of Interior is rolling out new digital America the Beautiful passes for annual passholders, military, seniors, fourth graders and visitors with disabilities. Those can be stored on mobile devices and linked to physical cards for user convenience. 

Going forward, the passes will cover two motorcycles per pass, instead of the current one. 

Also, both digital and physical passes will feature new artwork with "patriotic designs that honor America’s landscapes, heritage and outdoor legacy," according to the Interior Department.