Trump Admin Rolls Out ‘America First’ National Park Guidelines

The Trump administration announced Tuesday that national park fees will be raised for foreign tourists visiting the United States, while fees for American families will remain the same. 

Starting on January 1,  2026, the Department of the Interior announced that annual park passes will cost $80 for U.S. citizens and permanent residents and $250 for nonresidents. Nonresidents without annual passes will have to pay $100 per person to enter the top 11 most visited national parks in addition to the standard entrance fee. The extra money charged to foreign tourists will go toward maintenance and care of the parks, the Interior Department said. 

“President Trump’s leadership always puts American families first,” said Secretary of the Interior Doug Burgum on Tuesday. “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.” 

The Department of @Interior is making it easier for AMERICANS to enjoy our National Parks:

???????? U.S. residents enjoy affordable pricing, while foreigners pay a high rate.
???? Fee-free days will be extended, now including Flag Day, Independence Day, Constitution Day and more.
????… https://t.co/SQzbXPzScp pic.twitter.com/R4aID2Zieh

— The White House (@WhiteHouse) November 25, 2025

American citizens and permanent residents will also get fee-free access to the parks on Presidents’ Day, Memorial Day, Flag Day, Independence Day Weekend, the National Park Service’s 110th anniversary, Constitution Day, Theodore Roosevelt’s birthday, and Veterans’ Day. 

The 11 parks where foreign tourists will have to pay more include Acadia National Park, Bryce Canyon National Park, Everglades National Park, Glacier National Park, Grand Canyon National Park, Grand Teton National Park, Rocky Mountain National Park, Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks, Yellowstone National Park, Yosemite National Park, and Zion National Park.

Right now, DailyWire+ annual memberships are fifty percent off during our Black Friday sale. Join now at dailywire.com/blackfriday.

The new fee structure came after President Donald Trump signed an executive order in July to raise entrance and recreation fees at parks for nonresidents. 

“To fund improvements and enhanced experiences across the park systems,” Trump said. “I’ve just signed an executive order to raise entrance fees for foreign tourists while keeping prices low for Americans. And we’re going to do that. The National Parks will be about America First, we’re gonna take it America First.”

The executive order stated that the additional funds raised will be used to enhance park infrastructure and make the parks more accessible and affordable for Americans. 

In recent years, there has been an increase in tourism at national parks, with a record 331.9 million visitors in 2024. That was up from the 2016 record of 330,971,689 visits.