U.S. National Park Fees in 2026: What Every Traveler Must Know Before Booking Their Trip
- Sergio Barbasso
- Dec 10
- 10 min read
Before you freak out about yet another tourism fee in the U.S., please read this first.
Planning a trip to the U.S. National Parks in 2026 might feel overwhelming right now, especially with all the headlines about rising fees and the updated National Park Annual Pass prices.
And this affects both international and domestic travelers, because every time news drops about higher travel costs, confusion spreads FAST… and most people start to panic.
We totally get it.
Before my wife Anna and I moved to Las Vegas in 2019, we spent years (since 2012!) traveling all over the United States, visiting national parks and natural wonders that exist nowhere else on Earth.
And coming from Italy, we really understand what it feels like for an international traveler to consider canceling a long-planned dream trip because the “fees on top of fees on top of fees” suddenly make the whole thing feel too expensive.
So yeah… going from $80 to $250 for international visitors, or adding $100 extra per park, can sound like a total deal-breaker.
But take a deep breath.
As Vegas locals who live here, work here, and guide travelers through this part of the country, we can help you navigate the changes, make smart choices, and still enjoy the national parks without feeling nickel-and-dimed.
Whether you’re flying in from a neighboring U.S. state or from the other side of the world…
Stick with us through this article, and you’ll see it’s not all bad news.
There are still plenty of ways to plan an unforgettable, budget-friendly adventure— and we’ll guide you every step of the way.
What’s Changing in 2026
If you’re planning a national park trip in 2026, here are the key updates you should know:
1. National Park Annual Pass changes
U.S. citizens & permanent residents: stays $80/year
International visitors/non-residents: increases to $250/year
2. New surcharge for top national parks
If you don’t buy the annual pass, international travelers will pay an extra $100 per person at 11 of the most visited national parks, including:
Grand Canyon
Yosemite
Yellowstone
Zion
Bryce Canyon
Glacier
Rocky Mountain
Sequoia & Kings Canyon
Grand Teton
Acadia
Everglades
3. Why the change?
The National Park Service calls this a “resident-focused” approach—more funds for maintenance and less financial pressure on U.S. taxpayers.
How This Impacts Travelers (Quick Breakdown)
Domestic travelers
Fees stay almost exactly the same as in previous years.
International travelers
Planning becomes essential. Multi-park trips can get pricey without the annual pass.
Tour groups & guided tours
Some companies may absorb the surcharge, but many will likely pass it to customers, making multi-park tours more expensive in 2026.
Why You Shouldn’t Panic (International Travelers)
There are 63 national parks in the United States. Only 11 have the new $100 surcharge.
Which means that if you don’t buy the annual pass, the remaining 52 parks follow the normal fees.
And no, the annual pass is not mandatory.
Plus, state parks, national monuments, and tribal lands are completely unaffected. And trust me — we’re not talking about “lesser” places.
Think Monument Valley, Antelope Canyon, Horseshoe Bend, Mount Rushmore, and thousands of other natural wonders.
You could explore for decades and never run out of jaw-dropping places.
We’ll soon publish a full guide titled: “10 Perfect Southwest Itineraries for 2026 That Don’t Require the National Parks Pass.”
Stay tuned by subscribing to our newsletter at the bottom of this page so you don’t miss it!
Why You Shouldn’t Panic (U.S. Travelers)
For U.S. citizens and permanent residents, nothing major changes in 2026.
Actually, if you ride a motorcycle, things just got cheaper—the updated pass now allows two motorcycles per pass.
The only thing that may shift (I’m hearing this directly from local tour operators we work with) is the price of guided tours. Many smaller companies will need to raise rates to stay afloat.
If you’re planning to hit Las Vegas soon and want to lock in current tour prices, we always recommend Get Your Guide—we use it ourselves for our own weekend escapes.
🇺🇸 Fee-Free / Patriotic Days: Who Actually Qualifies?
For 2026, the National Park Service will roll out several “Patriotic Days” that coincide with major U.S. holidays—Fourth of July weekend, Presidents' Day, Memorial Day, and a few others.
These free-entry days apply only to:
U.S. citizens, and
U.S. permanent residents (green card holders).
Unfortunately, international visitors are not included (at least for now—if anything changes, we’ll update this guide ASAP).
If you need maps to plan your route, you’ll find all of them in our brand-new MAPS section for U.S. National Parks — available right here:
Fees by Park:
What Non-Residents Will Actually Pay in 2026
For international visitors, the key is understanding which parks add the new surcharge.
Here’s a clean breakdown:
Non-Resident Surcharge Table
# | National Park | State | Extra Cost for Non-Residents |
1 | Acadia | Maine | +$100 per person if not buying $250 pass |
2 | Bryce Canyon | Utah | +$100 surcharge |
3 | Everglades | Florida | +$100 surcharge |
4 | Glacier | Montana | +$100 surcharge |
5 | Grand Canyon | Arizona | +$100 surcharge |
6 | Grand Teton | Wyoming | +$100 surcharge |
7 | Rocky Mountain | Colorado | +$100 surcharge |
8 | Sequoia & Kings Canyon | California | +$100 surcharge |
9 | Yellowstone | WY/MT/ID | +$100 surcharge |
10 | Yosemite | California | +$100 surcharge |
11 | Zion | Utah | +$100 surcharge |
Other National Parks & State Parks
No new surcharges apply. Standard fees remain:
$10–35 per vehicle
$10–20 per person (depending on park)
Examples:
Valley of Fire (NV, State Park): $15–20 per vehicle
Capitol Reef (UT): $20 per vehicle
Death Valley (CA/NV): $30 per vehicle
“Damn, I'm visiting from abroad, and I wanted to see exactly those 11 parks… What now?”
This is where smart planning—the kind we always preach here at Getawayk™—really pays off.
Right now, you’ve got two realistic options:
- Option 1: Buy America the Beautiful before January 1, 2026
If you purchase the pass in 2025, you still pay the old price: $80 instead of $250.
Just note: according to the official website, the physical pass usually takes about 3 weeks to be printed and delivered.
- Option 2: If you can’t buy it before Dec 31, 2025
…and you still want to visit one or more of the surcharge parks:
Buy the $250 America the Beautiful Pass and remember:
It’s per vehicle, NOT per person.
It covers all passengers in one non-commercial vehicle.
At “per-person” sites, it covers the pass holder + 3 additional adults.
Kids 15 and under always enter national parks for free, regardless of nationality.
Then, save money on everything else using our local-expert blog posts—things like:
These alone can save you hundreds on your trip.
And don't forget to download our FREE PACKING GUIDE here below, with practical tips on how to save money, time, and headaches:
“OK, but what’s the real advantage of the $250 pass in 2026?”
Honestly? It depends on how badly you want to check off legendary places like:
Grand Canyon
Yosemite
Yellowstone
Zion
Glacier
If at least two of these are on your bucket list, the math is almost always in your favor.
On top of that:
Park entry is valid for 7 days in most locations
→ so you can spend 3 days at Zion and still pay the same rate.
Kids under 15 are always free.
The pass covers 11 surcharge parks, making it a huge cost saver for international visitors.
If it were me?
If I decided to pay the $250 for the annual pass, I’d simply cut costs elsewhere (with the help of our Las Vegas + Southwest travel guides) and fit as many parks as possible into my itinerary.
Sample Cost Scenarios
7-Day Southwest Trip — Family of 4 (International Visitors)
Park | Fee | Notes |
Grand Canyon | $100 per person | surcharge without a pass |
Zion | $100 per person | surcharge without a pass |
Bryce Canyon | $100 per person | surcharge without a pass |
Capitol Reef | $20 per vehicle | no surcharge |
With the $250 America the Beautiful Pass
Total: $250 for the entire family vehicle
Covers all 11 surcharge parks
By far the most cost-effective option
Without the Pass
Surcharges: 4 people × $100 × 3 parks = $1,200
Capitol Reef: $20/vehicle
Total: $1,220
✅ Takeaway: If you’re visiting 2–3 of the 11 surcharge parks, the $250 pass almost always saves money compared to paying $100 per park per person.
Need help planning your budget?
We built a free Smart Budget Calculator for your Las Vegas + National Parks planning. You'll find it right below:
What’s Happening with Guided Tours? Will Choices Shrink in the Future?
Most likely, yes — and this affects both domestic and international travelers.
Big companies will probably be able to absorb much of the extra costs, while some will raise prices. Smaller operators — the local, more intimate tours that aren’t “double-decker buses to the Grand Canyon” — are already canceling some of their classic routes to popular national parks.
Unfortunately, some won’t survive a tough season for U.S. tourism, others will raise prices, and some will try to reinvent themselves.
In short, it’s a time of big changes and reshuffling in the tour industry.
“Where Can I Buy a U.S. National Park Annual Pass?”
You can purchase it directly on the official National Park Service website HERE, ensuring you get a legitimate pass without any third-party fees.
The pass is available in both digital and physical formats — the digital version is perfect for your phone, while the physical one works if you prefer something tangible.
Alternatively, you can buy the pass in person at the entrance of your first park, which is convenient if you’re traveling spontaneously.
Tips for Saving Money on Tours & Travel
• Explore Smaller Parks: Focus on the 50+ national parks that don’t charge extra fees — perfect for budget-friendly adventures.
• Ask Your Tour Operator: Check if park entrance fees are included. Some operators absorb costs, others pass them on. Knowing this upfront avoids surprises.
• Avoid Unnecessary Hotel Fees: Book through trusted platforms like Booking.com, which clearly show total prices including resort fees — especially important for Las Vegas stays.
• Rent a Car with Free Cancellation: Booking.com and RentalCars.com offer competitive rates with major U.S. companies, real traveler reviews, and free cancellation up to a few hours before your trip — perfect for last-minute changes.
• Travel Smarter Using Our Blog and Full Digital Guides: Our tips come from years of personal experience — including mistakes we’ve made — so you don’t have to. Living and working as local guides gives us insider, up-to-date info you won’t find just by googling or asking AI.
Book your hotel, flight, or rental car safely through Booking.com (we’ve been using these services for 15+ years):
Final note
A Traveler-to-Traveler Humble Advice
It’s so easy to get stressed about things we can’t control, especially when those things repeatedly hit our wallets.
And it’s just as easy to get pulled into political debates about whether these changes are “good” or “bad,” without ever getting to an actual solution.
I’ve been there too, for years, until traveling itself taught me something simple but powerful: the only things I can truly control are my choices.
As long as I stay aligned with my values—freedom, growth, contribution—the path becomes clearer. The present moment is always the perfect moment to take action, to remind ourselves why traveling is essential for our well-being.
Obstacles will always show up; they’re simply there to test how much we really want something.
So if you’ll take a tip from one traveler to another: don’t focus on the parts of your trip that add stress or make you doubt whether you should go.
Focus on why you need it and what you can do with the budget you have.
Read through the tips Anna and I share here on the blog—we wrote them to help you travel smarter, save where it counts, and get the most out of every mile.
And remember: America isn’t only National Parks, and this moment isn’t filled with just “bad news.”
We guide travelers all year long, and the joy and smiles they bring home after a trip here are priceless. Also, there are so many good people here ready to help you have a great time.
If coming to the U.S. is truly in your heart, don’t let a few obstacles stop you—go ahead and book that trip.
Your future self will thank you for it.
FAQ: 2026 America the Beautiful Pass & New Surcharges Explained
1. Q: What is the new 2026 price for the America the Beautiful Pass?
A: For U.S. residents, the annual pass remains $80. For international visitors, a new $250 America the Beautiful – International Pass has been introduced, designed to cover entry to all national parks for one full year.
2. Q: Does the $100 peak-season surcharge apply to every national park?
A: No. The surcharge applies only to 11 high-traffic “crown jewel” parks such as Grand Canyon, Yellowstone, Yosemite, Zion, and Glacier. All other national parks maintain standard entry fees.
3. Q: If I buy the $250 International Pass, do I still have to pay the $100 surcharge at major parks?
A: No. The $250 International Pass automatically covers all surcharges at the 11 peak-season parks for the full year. You won’t pay anything extra at the gate.
4. Q: Are tour companies allowed to cover park fees or surcharges for visitors?
A: Yes. Many tour operators include the required entrance fees in the total trip cost. Policies vary, so it’s best to ask before booking—especially for tours to Grand Canyon, Yosemite, or Yellowstone.
5. Q: What is the best way for international travelers to save money if visiting multiple top parks?
A: If your itinerary includes at least two or more surcharge parks, the $250 International Pass is almost always the most cost-effective option. You can also mix surcharge parks with standard-fee parks for additional savings.
6. Q: Are park entrance fees charged per person or per vehicle?
A: Most U.S. national parks charge fees per vehicle, not per person. This makes visiting far more affordable for families or small groups traveling together.
7. Q: Do children need to pay entrance fees at national parks?
A: No. Kids 15 and under always enter national parks for free, regardless of nationality or pass type.
8. Q: Are these new fees permanent or part of a temporary pilot program?
A: The surcharge is currently planned as an ongoing policy for 2026 and beyond, with future adjustments possible based on demand, crowding levels, and park infrastructure needs.
9. Q: Does the surcharge apply year-round or only during busy months?
A: The surcharge is designed for peak-season months, typically late spring through early fall. Exact dates vary by park and may be adjusted annually.
10. Q: Can I enter a park without paying if I only want to use facilities like restaurants or gift shops?
A: No. Even if you do not plan to hike or sightsee, all park areas require a valid entrance pass or payment, including lodges, rest areas
