US triples national park fee for non-residents, amid ‘new’ fee for Americans | Trump administration
The interior department today announced new “America-first” entrance fees for national parks, annual souvenir passes featuring Donald Trump and “resident-only patriotic free days for 2026,” including on Trump’s birthday.
Entry fees for international visitors will more than triple from next year.
Accordingly a department’s press releaseNonresidents will be able to choose between purchasing a $250 annual pass or paying $100 per person “in addition to the standard entrance fee to enter the 11 most visited national parks.”
“This year, we’re making it easier and more affordable for every American to experience the beauty and freedom of our public lands,” Interior Secretary Doug Burgum said in a video posted on account X.
“Starting in 2026, United States residents will be able to purchase an annual interagency pass for just $80,” he added. Current, annual inter-institutional America the Beautiful pass It’s already 80 dollars.
Burgum said the goal of raising prices for international visitors is to ensure they “contribute their fair share to help protect and sustain these precious places.”
Burgum also announced new commemorative designs for annual passes issued in 2026. The annual pass features side-by-side portraits of George Washington and Donald Trump, while the military pass includes a photo of Trump saluting soldiers.
The interior ministry announced five new “free days” that will come into effect in 2026, bringing the total number of free days to 10 for US residents alone.
New free days include July 3, 4, and 5 to celebrate the 250th anniversary of the United States Declaration of Independence. These also include September 17, Constitution Day, and October 27, the birthday of environmentalist and former president Theodore Roosevelt. The last free day, June 14, is, as Burgum noted, “Flag Day, which is also President Trump’s birthday.”
Burgum noted in his video that plans to increase fees for international visitors are conservation-focused. “As Theodore Roosevelt once said, there is no greater challenge in this country than protecting nature,” he said. Under Burgum and Trump’s leadership, the interior department lost nearly a quarter of its national park staff. proposed billions of dollars in cuts Logging was opened on public lands and national forests, conservation organizations whose funding has been cut and proposed allowing oil and gas drilling off the coast of California.
