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Changes to Access to the Country’s National Parks Kick Off in the New Year — Higher Fees for Nonresidents
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Estimated reading time: 4 min
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Key takeaways
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- Nonresident fees: Non-U.S. residents face a $250 annual pass, or a $100 per-visit fee for 11 popular parks.
- Scope: More than 400 sites exist, but roughly 100 require an entrance fee.
- Resident fees: Residents typically pay around $10–$20 for similar access.
- Digital passes: “America the Beautiful” passes are being issued digitally, with exemptions for military members, seniors, people with disabilities, certain volunteers, and fourth graders.
- Fee-free days: Updated free-day schedule includes Veteran’s Day remains free; MLK Day and Juneteenth are not free in 2026; new free days include a June 14 date (Flag Day and Trump’s birthday) and Theodore Roosevelt’s birthday on Oct. 27; July 3–5 offer three free days; other no-charge days include Presidents’ Day, Memorial Day, the NPS’s 110th birthday, and Constitution Day.
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What’s changing in 2026
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WASHINGTON — The new year brings changes to the national park system experience, including a new fee structure featuring a surcharge for non-U.S. residents seeking to visit America’s most frequented parks. The Interior Department says the policies are intended to modernize the system and put “American families first.”
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Under the new rules, which took effect Jan. 1, nonresidents will be charged $250 for an annual pass to the national park system, compared to the $80 cost for most Americans. Nonresidents seeking a one-time pass will pay a $100 fee per person to enter 11 of the most visited parks.
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There are more than 400 sites in the system, but only about 100 require an entrance fee; the per-person charge for residents typically sits in the $10–$20 range for these parks. The Interior Department is also promoting a digital, “America the Beautiful” passes, including passes for military, seniors, those with disabilities, certain National Park Service volunteers, and fourth graders.
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The department billed the extra fees for nonresidents as an effort to make “national parks more accessible, more affordable and more efficient for the American people.” But the move has drawn opposition from a group of Democratic senators who asked Burgum to pause implementation pending public input, visitation impact studies, and more information for Congress.
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“America’s national parks serve as destinations for visitors both domestically and internationally to experience our country’s natural beauty, cultural heritage, and history,” the senators wrote. The group included Sens. Alex Padilla, Catherine Cortez Masto, Mazie Hirono, Adam Schiff and Ron Wyden.
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Fee-free days and exemptions
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The administration is changing the dates designated as “fee-free” in 2026. Veteran’s Day on Nov. 11 remains free. There will be no free admission on Martin Luther King Jr. Day in January, nor Juneteenth on June 19. In June, a new free day on the 14th marks Flag Day and Trump’s birthday; in October, Theodore Roosevelt’s birthday on the 27th is a fee-free day. For the Fourth of July weekend, three free days are offered from July 3–5. Other no-charge days include Presidents’ Day on Feb. 16, Memorial Day on May 25, the NPS’s 110th birthday on Aug. 25, and Constitution Day on Sept. 17. These are described as “resident-only patriotic fee-free days.”
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America the Beautiful passes and digital access
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The Interior Department is moving toward digital access for annual passes and providing details to Congress about the changes. The program covers digital access and special passes for military, seniors, those with disabilities, volunteers, and fourth graders, aiming to simplify access and planning for visitors.
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What this means for visitors and planning
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Travelers should plan for price changes, verify which parks require entrance fees, and consider the digital America the Beautiful passes with their eligibility. The policy is part of a broader downsizing conversation that has sparked questions about National Park Service staffing.
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Next steps and concerns
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Some lawmakers expressed concerns about implementing higher fees without public input and studying visitation impacts. The letter-writers include Sens. Alex Padilla, Catherine Cortez Masto, Mazie Hirono, Adam Schiff, and Ron Wyden. Critics warn of crowding and service gaps if staffing is reduced under the so-called U.S. Doge Service.
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Takeaway: This shift signals a trend toward modernization and value-based pricing in public lands, inviting readers to weigh accessibility against resource stewardship.
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\n Source: https://spectrumlocalnews.com/us/snplus/news/2026/01/02/changes-to-access-to-the-country-s-national-parks-kicked-off-in-the-new-year–including-higher-fees-for-nonresidents\n
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