US National Park Fees for International Visitors 2026: $100 Surcharge, 11 Parks & $250 Pass

 

Since January 1, 2026, non-U.S. residents aged 16 and up pay an extra $100 per person at 11 of America's most popular national parks — including Yellowstone, Yosemite, Grand Canyon, and Zion — on top of the regular entrance fee. The $250 Non-Resident Annual Pass covers the applicable nonresident fees for the passholder and eligible accompanying visitors for the year.

In this guide, "nonresident" means a visitor who does not qualify as a U.S. resident under the National Park Service's 2026 fee rules. The policy is based on residency, not simply nationality.

2026 National Park Fee Changes at a Glance

Why This Fee Exists

The surcharge follows a July 2025 executive order directing the Department of the Interior to raise fees for nonresident park visitors, with the Interior Department formally announcing the $100 fee and $250 pass on November 25, 2025. The Property and Environment Research Center (PERC), which advocated for the surcharge, estimated in its own economic modeling that it could generate roughly $55 million a year at Yellowstone alone — that's PERC's projection, not an official NPS revenue estimate.

Which 11 National Parks Charge the $100 Nonresident Fee?

The surcharge only applies at these 11 parks. Other fee-charging NPS sites do not currently add this $100 nonresident fee, although their normal entrance fees can still apply. A private vehicle fee covers the vehicle and everyone riding in it for 7 consecutive days; it does not stack with a separate per-person charge for vehicle entry.

*One adult entering by private vehicle: $35 vehicle fee (covers the whole vehicle) + $100 nonresident fee for that one adult. A second adult in the same vehicle only adds another $100 — the $35 vehicle fee isn't paid twice. Confirm exact current fees for your specific park and season on the official NPS site, since a few vary slightly.

Who Actually Pays the $100 Fee?

• You pay it if: you're a nonresident under the NPS's 2026 residency rules, age 16 or older, entering one of the 11 parks above without an Annual Pass.
• You're exempt if: you're a U.S. citizen; a green card holder (show your Permanent Resident Card at the gate); under 16; or entering with a Non-Resident Annual Pass, which already has the fee built into its price.

How Much Will You Actually Pay? Real Examples

These examples assume entry by private vehicle and the standard $35 entrance fee — actual costs can differ slightly at parks with seasonal or alternate fee structures.

A solo traveler visiting just one park is usually better off paying individually ($135 vs. $250). Visiting a second qualifying park changes the math quickly, while adding a second adult brings the total close to the annual-pass price. For example, two adults visiting two of these parks would pay $470 individually versus $250 for one annual pass covering their vehicle for the year.

Important: these are entrance-fee examples only. They don't include lodging, transportation, camping, timed-entry reservations, tours, or other park-specific charges.

Is the $250 Non-Resident Annual Pass Worth It?

• Solo traveler: one qualifying park is usually cheaper paid individually; two or more, the pass usually wins.
• Couple sharing one vehicle: the pass covers the vehicle itself at parks with a vehicle fee, so it often pays for itself by the second park.
• Family or group: at sites that charge per person rather than per vehicle, one pass covers the passholder plus up to three additional adults — a detail a lot of guides don't mention, and a real saving for larger groups.

What Does the $250 Annual Pass Cover?

The Non-Resident Annual Pass isn't limited to NPS sites — it covers entrance and standard amenity (day-use) fees across several federal agencies for one year: the National Park Service, U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, Forest Service, Bureau of Land Management, Bureau of Reclamation, and Army Corps of Engineers sites. That means the pass can be useful even if your itinerary includes federal recreation sites outside the 11 parks listed above. At vehicle-fee locations it covers the vehicle; at per-person sites, it covers the passholder plus up to three additional adults.

What the Annual Pass Does NOT Cover

The pass handles entrance fees, but not everything else you might run into on a park visit:

• Camping fees
• Timed-entry or reservation fees (some parks charge these separately even with a valid pass)
• Guided tours and concessioner-run activities
• Shuttle fees at select parks
• Parking fees at some federal recreation sites
• Backcountry and special-activity permits

How to Buy the Non-Resident Annual Pass

• No residency proof needed to buy it: anyone can purchase the $250 Non-Resident Annual Pass — you don't need to prove nonresident status to qualify. (Proving U.S. residency only matters if you're trying to buy the cheaper $80 resident pass instead.)
• Buy digitally through Recreation.gov for the fastest option — the digital pass on your phone is usable immediately.
• Physical card: if you want one, check current processing times before ordering — some parks note it can take a few weeks, so it isn't a same-day guarantee.
• At the gate: carry valid photo ID with any America the Beautiful pass, since staff can ask to see it.
• Payment: check your destination park's current payment rules before you travel — some entrance stations may accept electronic payments only.

2026 Fee-Free Days for U.S. Residents

In 2026, the National Park Service's fee-free entry days apply to U.S. citizens and residents. Nonresidents still pay the standard entrance fee and applicable nonresident fee on these dates:

Note that fee-free days waive entrance fees only — timed-entry reservations and other add-on fees can still apply even on these dates, for residents and nonresidents alike.

National Parks Without the $100 Surcharge

Several major national parks are not included in the surcharge program. However, "no surcharge" does not necessarily mean free entry, because the park's normal entrance fee, if any, can still apply. This list is not exhaustive; it shows examples of major parks outside the 11-park surcharge program:

Frequently Asked Questions

Which national parks charge nonresidents extra in 2026?

Eleven parks: Acadia, Bryce Canyon, Everglades, Glacier, Grand Canyon, Grand Teton, Rocky Mountain, Sequoia & Kings Canyon, Yellowstone, Yosemite, and Zion.

How much is the nonresident surcharge?

$100 per person, age 16 and up, on top of the park's standard entrance fee — waived entirely if you enter with a Non-Resident Annual Pass.

Do green card holders pay the surcharge?

No. Lawful permanent residents qualify for standard U.S. resident pricing and should show their Permanent Resident Card at the entrance.

Do I need the annual pass if I'm only visiting one park?

Usually not. At a park with a $35 private-vehicle fee, one adult nonresident pays $135 without the pass, versus $250 for the pass. But visiting a second qualifying park in the same year quickly changes that math.

Does one $250 pass cover my family?

At a private-vehicle entry point, the pass covers the vehicle. At sites that charge per person, it covers the passholder plus up to three additional adults. Children under 16 never pay the $100 surcharge regardless.

Do children pay the surcharge?

No. The $100 nonresident surcharge applies only to visitors age 16 and older. Individual parks can still have their own entrance or activity rules for younger visitors.

Can international visitors still use fee-free days?

The fee waiver on 2026's fee-free days applies to U.S. citizens and residents only — nonresidents pay full price (including any applicable surcharge) even on those dates.

Does this surcharge apply to Denali National Park?

No. Denali isn't one of the 11 parks with the nonresident surcharge — it has its own separate fee and bus-tour system.

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Planning a U.S. national parks trip? See our guide to 15 national parks to visit in the USA, our dedicated Yellowstone National Park guide, our Route 66 guide for international visitors, and if Alaska is part of your route, our Alaska summer itinerary covers the separate Denali fee and bus system in detail. Traveling for a milestone trip? Check our America's 250th anniversary travel guide for what else is happening across the country in 2026.

Sources: National Park Service — Nonresident Fees | National Park Service — Entrance Passes | National Park Service — Entrance Fees by Park | U.S. Department of the Interior — November 25, 2025 announcement | The White House — July 2025 Executive Order