The US Interior Department has shared a new set of rules for national park entry. These changes follow an “America first” approach. The department’s Office of Communications says the plan includes much higher fees for people visiting from other countries. There will also be new yearly passes that feature Donald Trump.
Starting in 2026, there will be special days when only American citizens can enter national parks for free. These free entry days will be limited to Americans. One of the free days will fall on Donald Trump’s birthday.
Foreign tourists will soon have to pay a lot more. From next year, visitors from outside the US will need to pay an extra one hundred dollars per person to visit eleven of the most popular national parks. This is on top of the normal entry fee. They can also choose to buy a yearly pass for two hundred and fifty dollars if they prefer.
Interior Secretary Doug Burgum posted a video on X explaining the changes. He said the department wants to make it simpler and cheaper for Americans to enjoy public lands. He added that from 2026, US residents can buy an annual pass for eighty dollars. This is the same price as the current America the Beautiful pass, but it will now be part of the new program.
Burgum said that the higher fees for international visitors are meant to make sure tourists from abroad help pay for the care and protection of parks. In his post, he also said they are updating passes with new patriotic designs and adding more fee-free days for Americans. He explained that the new system will include digital passes and more access for motorcycles.
Several well-known national parks will be part of the new hundred-dollar surcharge for foreigners. These include Yosemite, Yellowstone, the Grand Canyon, Zion, Glacier, Rocky Mountain, Everglades and others. Burgum said raising fees for foreign visitors is important to help conservation efforts.
The department believes these changes will help protect parks while making it easier for Americans to visit them in the coming years.
