Starting next year, international visitors to America’s most iconic national parks will face a hefty new fee that’s got everyone talking.

Under a policy announced by the Trump Interior Department on Tuesday, overseas tourists will pay an additional $100 per person on top of regular entry costs at 11 major U.S. national parks, effective Jan. 1, 2026, while also facing higher annual pass rates and exclusion from fee-free patriotic holiday days, as the New York Post reports.

This bold move follows an executive order issued by President Donald Trump in July, directing the National Park Service to bump up fees for foreign visitors as a way to tackle budget woes.

Which Parks Face New Fees?

The surcharge applies to heavyweights like Yellowstone, Yosemite, Grand Canyon, Zion, Glacier, Rocky Mountain, Grand Teton, Bryce Canyon, Acadia, Everglades, and Sequoia and Kings Canyon -- basically, the crown jewels of our natural heritage.

Foreign tourists won’t get the sweet deal of fee-free days tied to holidays like Memorial Day or July 4 weekend, which are reserved for American taxpayers who already fund the system.

And if that’s not enough, the annual park pass for international visitors is jumping to $250, while U.S. residents still pay just $80 -- a stark reminder of who’s footing the bill for these treasures.

Why the Sudden Fee Hike?

The reasoning behind this policy is tied to brutal financial realities, including a recent government shutdown and deep budget cuts that have left the National Park Service scrambling for cash.

For the current fiscal year, the Trump administration requested just $2.1 billion from Congress for the NPS, a whopping 37% slash from the $3.3 billion allocated in the fiscal year ending Sept. 30.

Worse yet, the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, signed by President Trump on July 4, yanked $267 million previously set aside for park upgrades, adding more strain to an already tight budget.

Impact on Parks and Visitors

The revenue from these new fees is slated to bolster park maintenance and improve visitor facilities, which is a win for everyone who cherishes these landscapes -- though it’s a bitter pill for international guests.

Interior Secretary Doug Burgum framed it as a matter of fairness, stating, “President Trump’s leadership always puts American families first.” He added that the policy ensures “US 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.” Well said, sir, though one wonders whether foreign travelers, already shelling out big bucks to visit, might feel like they’re being singled out.

On the flip side, critics like Theresa Pierno, president and CEO of the National Parks Conservation Association, have slammed the broader cuts, telling PBS NewsHour on July 23, “It’s in no way efficient to take a beautiful jewel -- a crown jewel of this nation, our national park system, that is beloved by millions of people across the country — and not only demoralize the staff and reduce the staff to the point where the leadership has been eliminated in many parks, where the maintenance, the ability to be able to even bring visitors in, open campgrounds — we have seen parks have to close parts of the park and change hours and things like that because of the fact that it’s so understaffed.”

Balancing Budgets and Backlash

While Pierno’s point about understaffing -- over 4,000 permanent NPS employees have left since January -- hits hard, let’s be real: expecting endless funding without creative solutions isn’t practical in today’s economy.

The U.S. Travel Association noted that national parks welcomed over 14 million international visitors in 2018, and while Yellowstone saw a drop to 15% foreign visitors in 2024 from 30% in 2018, that’s still a significant chunk of revenue potential to tap.

Ultimately, this fee hike isn’t about punishing anyone. It’s about ensuring our parks don’t crumble under fiscal neglect, even if it means asking those from abroad to chip in a bit more for the privilege of experiencing America’s natural wonders.