Trump Targets Tourists With National Parks Fee Hike

The United States National Park Service will begin charging millions of international visitors an extra US$100 to enter some of the country’s most iconic national parks, while excluding them from fee free days that will be reserved for American residents.

The move will affect 11 major parks, including the Grand Canyon, Yellowstone and Yosemite, according to the Department of the Interior.

The announcement, framed as “America first entry fee policies”, follows a July executive order in which Donald Trump instructed national parks to increase prices for foreign tourists. A White House post on X outlining the new fees ended with the phrase “AMERICANS FIRST”.

From 1 January, the cost of an annual national parks pass for international travellers will jump to US$250. American residents will continue to pay US$80. At present, sample seven day entry fees at the Grand Canyon sit at US$35 per private vehicle and US$20 for pedestrians or cyclists.

The fee hike comes as national parks face the strain of significant staff reductions and severe budget cuts. Parks are also recovering from damage sustained during the recent government shutdown, when many fees could not be collected and revenue was lost.

Interior Secretary Doug Burgum said on X that the changes ensure American taxpayers who support the park service “continue to enjoy affordable access, while international visitors contribute their fair share to maintaining and improving our parks for future generations”.

The US Travel Association estimated that in 2018 national parks and monuments welcomed more than 14 million international visitors. Yellowstone reported that in 2024 almost 15% of its visitors were from overseas, a decline from around 30% in 2018.

Revenue from the increased fees will support park operations, including maintenance and upgrades to visitor facilities. Several “resident only patriotic fee free days” will be introduced, such as Veterans Day, Martin Luther King Jr’s birthday, Juneteenth National Independence Day and National Public Lands Day.