The US national parks fee for international visitors
Since 1 January 2026, anyone who isn't a US resident pays US$100 each, from age 16, to enter 11 national parks including Yellowstone, Yosemite, the Grand Canyon and Zion. That's on top of the park's usual entrance fee. The US$250 annual pass for non-residents covers it for everyone in your car.
How the fee works
Since 1 January 2026, visitors who are not US residents pay an extra US$100 each, from the age of 16, to enter 11 of the busiest national parks: Acadia, Bryce Canyon, Everglades, Glacier, Grand Canyon, Grand Teton, Rocky Mountain, Sequoia and Kings Canyon, Yellowstone, Yosemite and Zion. It comes on top of the park's normal entrance fee. The other national parks charge non-residents the same as Americans.
For a road trip the annual pass is usually cheaper. Non-residents pay US$250 for it, against US$80 for residents, and it covers the entrance fees and the US$100 fee for the holder and everyone in the car. Two adults visiting two of the 11 parks would pay US$400 in nonresident fees alone. Free entry days now apply to US residents only.
What it costs
It's a one-off charge, not a nightly one.
| Where you stay | Tax |
|---|---|
| Visiting one of the 11 parks without an annual pass (non-US residents) | US$100 per person per trip On top of the park's own entrance fee, which is usually per car. |
What a family pays
Visiting one of the 11 parks without an annual pass (non-US residents)
- US$100 per person per trip2 paying guests × US$100
- US$200
Tax on this stayUS$200
Some children pay less or nothing because of their age.
Who doesn’t pay
- Children under 16.
- US residents, who show a US passport, driving licence, state ID or green card.
- Holders of a valid America the Beautiful annual pass, and everyone in their car (or three adults with them where a park charges per person).
Where and how to pay
The National Park Service collects it at the park entrance or online with your entry pass. The America the Beautiful annual pass covers it: US$250 for non-residents, bought at a park or as a digital pass on Recreation.gov.
Not yet confirmed
We couldn't confirm these from an official source, so treat them with care.
- How long one US$100 fee lasts. Park entry passes usually cover 7 days, but the Park Service does not say whether the nonresident fee follows the same rule.
Questions people ask about US national parks
Which national parks charge the $100 fee?
Acadia, Bryce Canyon, Everglades, Glacier, Grand Canyon, Grand Teton, Rocky Mountain, Sequoia and Kings Canyon, Yellowstone, Yosemite and Zion. Other national parks charge everyone the same.
Is it per person or per car?
Per person, for everyone aged 16 or over who isn't a US resident. The park's normal entrance fee, usually per car, comes on top.
Do children pay?
No. Children under 16 don't pay the nonresident fee.
Is the annual pass worth it for foreign visitors?
Usually, if you visit two or more of the 11 parks. Two adults pay US$200 in nonresident fees at one park and US$400 at two, while the US$250 non-resident pass covers the fee and the entrance fees for everyone in the car for a year.
Do UK visitors have to pay it?
Yes. It applies to anyone who is not a US resident, whatever their nationality. US residents show a US passport, driving licence, state ID or green card.
Your trip in the calculator
The calculator applies US national parks's rules to your dates and party. It's an estimate: your host works out the exact figure.
Booking a stay in the US national parks
Before you book, open the price breakdown. Some listings fold the tax into the price; others leave it to pay when you arrive.
- Places to stay in the US national parks on Booking.com
- Tours and tickets in the US national parks on GetYourGuide
Sources
We last checked these on 10 October 2026. Rates often change at the start of a year or a season, so check the official source before you pay or file a return.
- National Park Service: entrance fees by park (the 11 parks with the nonresident fee) official
- National Park Service: nonresident fees, questions and answers official
- US Department of the Interior: new park pricing from 1 January 2026 (25 November 2025) official