International Travelers Will Pay $100 More to Visit State, National Parks Starting 2026

International tourists can expect to pay an additional $100 fee to visit national and state parks starting January 2026.

According to an initiative announced by the Department of the Interior on Tuesday, Nov. 26, the federal government is preparing to roll out a sweeping modernization of national park access — a plan officials say will make the “resident-focused fee structure” more efficient for U.S. residents.

Starting Jan. 1, 2026, America the Beautiful passes — including Annual, Military, Senior, 4th-Grade and Access passes — will be available in fully digital form through recreation.gov. Visitors will be able to purchase passes, store them on mobile devices and use them instantly at park entrances, with an option to link the digital pass to a physical card. The Interior Department noted that the upgraded validation tools and field staff training will streamline gate operations nationwide.

The new fee structure marks the most significant shift. While U.S. residents will continue to pay $80 for the Annual Pass, nonresidents will see the price rise to $250. International visitors who do not purchase an annual pass will face a new $100 per-person surcharge to enter 11 of the country’s most-visited national parks, in addition to each park’s standard entrance fee.

Though the notice doesn’t specify which parks will be included in the new initiative, Smithsonian Magazine listed the top 10 most-visited national parks, which include:

1. Great Smoky Mountains National Park (12,191,834 visits)
2. Zion National Park (4,946,592 visits)
3. Grand Canyon National Park (4,919,163 visits)
4. Yellowstone National Park (4,744,353 visits)
5. Rocky Mountain National Park (4,154,349 visits)
6. Yosemite National Park (4,121,807 visits)
7. Acadia National Park (3,961,661 visits)
8. Olympic National Park (3,717,267 visits)
9. Grand Teton National Park (3,628,222 visits)
10. Glacier National Park (3,208,755 visits)

PEOPLE reached out to the Department of the Interior for further comment and has yet to receive a response.

Currently, most parks charge between $10 and $35 per vehicle. Under the updated system, international travelers — especially those planning multi-park trips — could pay anywhere from $80 to $250 per person in new or increased fees.

According to the agency, all revenue generated by the updated pricing — particularly from international visitors — will be reinvested directly into national park facilities, maintenance needs and visitor services.

Interior Secretary Doug Burgum said the changes reflect the administration’s ongoing “America-first” approach to park access. “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,” he said in the announcement.

In another expansion of access, the National Park Service will allow single America the Beautiful passes to cover two motorcycles, a change intended to make park travel more affordable for riders and families who rely on two-wheel transportation.

The Interior Department also introduced a slate of 2026 “resident-only patriotic fee-free days,” including Presidents’ Day (Feb. 16), Memorial Day (May 25), Flag Day (which also coincides with former President Donald Trump’s birthday) on June 14, Independence Day weekend, the National Park Service’s 110th birthday (Aug. 25), Constitution Day (Sept. 17), Theodore Roosevelt’s birthday (Oct. 27) and Veterans Day (Nov. 11). These dates will allow U.S. residents to enter parks without a fee.

The agency is also debuting new patriotic artwork for all annual passes, featuring bold graphics meant to celebrate American landscapes and outdoor heritage. The updated designs will appear on both digital and physical versions of each pass type.