The Trump administration will raise the annual national parks pass fee from $80 to $250 for international visitors as it seeks to reduce government spending and favor U.S. residents.

Visiting the Grand Canyon or Yellowstone is possible, but at a price. Foreign tourists wishing to visit major American national parks will have to pay a significant surcharge starting January 1, 2026, the Trump administration announced on Tuesday, November 25. Annual passes, as well as entrance tickets to the most visited parks, will increase considerably for non-US residents, with the aim of "improving access for US residents" to these tourist gems.

Priority access

Specifically, the annual pass will increase from $80 to $250 (approximately €215), more than tripling the price, the department in charge of these parks stated. And for those without a pass, a $100 surcharge will be applied to entrance tickets for the most visited parks, including the Grand Canyon, Yosemite, and Yellowstone. These new rates will give "priority to Americans" at these sites, several of which are UNESCO World Heritage sites, the Trump administration explained.

This was a way for the Trump administration to reduce public spending on national parks, Reuters analyzed in July, at the time Donald Trump signed the executive order. "Non-residents will pay a higher fee to contribute to the upkeep and maintenance of American parks," the government stated.

"The Trump administration views national parks as cash cows."

The executive order signed by the US president also ensured that US residents would have priority access over international visitors. The Trump administration had argued that American citizens actually paid more than foreign tourists to visit the country's national parks because their entrance fees, along with a portion of their US taxes, contributed to their funding.

“Charging higher entrance fees for foreign tourists is common practice in national parks around the world,” the White House statement added. Also in an effort to promote domestic tourism, the Department of the Interior announced on Tuesday the creation of “patriotic days,” during which park access will be free for U.S. residents.

This significant increase comes as the Trump administration has proposed cutting the National Park Service budget for fiscal year 2026 by more than $1 billion, which would represent a reduction of more than a third of the agency's budget compared to the previous year.

Staff shortage

Budget cuts made by the administration to federal staffing levels have already exacerbated the staff shortage in national parks across the country.

Since Trump took office in January, the National Park Service's permanent staff has decreased by 24 percent, while only 4,500 of the 8,000 seasonal workers his administration promised for this summer have been hired, according to an analysis published in July by the National Parks Conservation Association (NCPA), a national parks watchdog and advocacy group.

Staff reductions at some national parks, including Yosemite in California and Big Bend in Texas, have led to closures, reduced programs and hampered emergency response operations, the NCPA said.

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In recent years, visitors have continued to flock in record numbers to the 63 national parks in the United States, with entries reaching a new high of 331 million last year, 6 million more than in 2023. Since the Trump administration no longer wants to protect the environment, foreign tourists who reach for their wallets may feel they are helping to safeguard these precious natural spaces.