Visiting US parks just got pricier — for foreign tourists, thanks to Trump's new order
He has issued an executive order on Thursday directing the Interior Department to raise entrance and recreation fees for foreign tourists visiting US national parks. The move, which is expected to generate more than $90 million per year, will also give priority to US residents when applying for permits. Critics claim the move undermines inclusivity and conservation efforts.
For any national park that presently charges admission, it directs Interior Secretary Doug Burgum, who is in charge of the National Park Service, to "develop a strategy" to increase entrance costs and recreation pass prices for visitors who are not U.S. citizens.
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How much more will foreign tourists pay?
According to the Interior Department's May fiscal year budget proposal, such a surcharge would bring in over $90 million a year.
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Not all national parks have entry fees, and those that do have different prices. Typically, guests can buy an annual pass that can be used at one park or in a particular area of the nation, or they can buy a regular daily or weekly pass to one particular park.
A more extensive "America the Beautiful" pass, available at all national parks across the country for $80, is also provided by the Park Service.
Entrance fees to some of the most visited locations in the National Park Service, such as the Grand Canyon, Yosemite, and Yellowstone, are $20 per person or $35 per car.
Will Americans get park access priority?
The Interior Department was also directed by President Trump to give U.S. citizens "preferential treatment" over foreign tourists with regard to "recreational access rules, including permitting or lottery rules" that may be in effect at parks. Americans do get priority access to park permits and recreation with this new order.
While some well-known national parks have reservation systems for access and camping during high seasons, the ruling did not specify what those preferential treatment standards would entail.
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What else does Donald Trump's executive order entail?
The president also created the "Make America Beautiful Again" Commission in a separate executive order, whose duties include encouraging voluntary conservation activities and increasing recreational access to public lands and rivers.
A memorandum signed in January 2017, at the end of former President Barack Obama's second term, that aimed to advance diversity and inclusion at national parks was also repealed by the order Thursday. The action seems to be a part of the Trump administration's continued attempt to reduce federal diversity initiatives.
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What does this mean for national park funding?
The Interior Department also suggested reducing funding for the Park Service by about $1 billion in its fiscal year budget for 2026, the worst budget drop in the agency's history. The most recent actions follow efforts by the Trump administration to cut the number of employees at the National Park Service. About 1,000 Park Service workers were let go by the administration in February as part of its efforts to implement significant budget and staff cuts throughout the federal government.
Since President Trump took office in January, the Park Service has lost 24 percent of its permanent employees, according to a report this week from the National Parks Conservation Association.
FAQs
Are U.S. park fees increasing for everyone?
No, only for foreign visitors. US residents will continue to pay standard rates, while international tourists may face new surcharges.
Will Americans have improved access to reservations now?
Possible. The order prioritizes US residents for permits and lotteries at parks with limited access systems.
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