US National Parks $100 Nonresident Fee: Which Parks Charge It and How International Visitors Can Save

The short answer: in 2026, visitors to 11 of the most visited US national parks who are not US citizens or residents and are aged 16 or older must pay a $100 nonresident fee per person in addition to the regular entrance fee, unless they enter with an annual pass. The affected parks are Acadia, Bryce Canyon, Everglades, Glacier, Grand Canyon, Grand Teton, Rocky Mountain, Sequoia and Kings Canyon, Yellowstone, Yosemite and Zion. The America the Beautiful Non-Resident Annual Pass costs $250 (the resident version is $80) and covers both the entrance fee and the nonresident fee at all of these parks for a year, for the pass holder and passengers in one private vehicle. If you plan to visit two or more of the 11 parks, or one park with a group of adults, the nonresident pass is almost always the cheaper option. Children aged 15 and younger are not charged the nonresident fee.

This guide explains who pays, how residency is checked, how the passes work and how to plan a budget friendly national parks trip.

What changed in 2026

The National Park Service (NPS) introduced a two tier pricing system for 2026:

• A $100 nonresident fee per person aged 16 and older at 11 high visitation parks, charged on top of the standard entrance fee.
• A Non-Resident Annual Pass priced at $250, available from 1 January 2026, alongside the $80 Resident Annual Pass for US citizens and residents.
• Fee free days for US citizens and residents only. From 2026, free entrance days no longer apply to international visitors.

The rest of the National Park System, which includes hundreds of parks, monuments, historic sites and recreation areas, does not charge the $100 nonresident fee. Many of those sites charge a normal entrance fee, and many charge nothing at all.

Which parks charge the nonresident fee

According to the NPS passes page, the $100 fee applies at these 11 parks:

Because several of these parks sit close together, a typical Western road trip, such as Zion, Bryce Canyon and the Grand Canyon, or Yellowstone and Grand Teton, can include two or three of them in a week.

Who pays the $100 fee

Nonresidents aged 16 and older

The fee applies to each non US resident aged 16 and over. NPS states that visitors aged 15 and younger are not charged entrance fees or the nonresident fee.

Who counts as a resident

US citizens and US residents pay standard prices and can buy the $80 resident pass. NPS lists acceptable proof of residency as:

• A US passport.
• A US government (state or territory) issued driver's license or state ID.
• A Permanent Resident Card.

If you cannot show one of these, expect to be treated as a nonresident.

Groups with US residents and international visitors

In a mixed group, residents pay standard prices and nonresidents aged 16 and older pay the extra fee, unless someone in the vehicle holds a pass that covers the whole vehicle (see below). If an international visitor is traveling with US resident friends, it is worth checking which pass works out cheapest for the whole car.

How the passes work

Non-Resident Annual Pass: $250

The America the Beautiful Non-Resident Annual Pass is open to anyone. According to NPS, it covers:

• The entrance fee and the nonresident fee at the 11 parks above.
• Standard entrance fees at other national parks and federal recreation sites that charge them.
• At sites that charge per vehicle, the pass holder and passengers in a private, non commercial vehicle (up to 15 people).
• At sites that charge per person, the pass holder plus three additional people aged 16 and over.

A digital nonresident pass is valid for 12 months, from the purchase date through the end of the same month the following year.

Resident Annual Pass: $80

The $80 pass is for US citizens and residents only. Nonresidents cannot use it.

Important pass rules

• Passes are non refundable, non transferable and cannot be replaced if lost or stolen.
• The pass holder must be present and may be asked to show photo ID.
• Digital nonresident passes are final sale.

Where to buy

NPS lists three options:

• In person at over 1,000 federal recreation sites, including park entrance stations.
• Digital pass through Recreation.gov, which you can buy before your trip and keep on your phone.
• By mail from the USGS Online Store, which NPS says may take up to three weeks.

Buying a digital pass before you arrive saves time at busy entrance stations. Download it to your phone in case there is no signal at the gate.

Is the nonresident pass worth it?

For most international visitors, the answer depends on how many of the 11 parks you plan to visit and how many adults are in your group.

Worked example: a family road trip

Two adult visitors from abroad and two children aged 10 and 13 rent a car and visit Yellowstone, Grand Teton and Grand Canyon.

The children pay nothing in either case. The pass saves at least $350 before the entrance fees are even counted.

Worked example: a solo traveler visiting one park

One adult visitor drives into Zion and nowhere else.

Here, paying at the gate is cheaper unless the traveler adds another affected park, at which point the pass becomes competitive. Standard entrance fees vary by park and by vehicle or per person entry, so check the park's own "Fees and Passes" page for the exact amount.

Rule of thumb

• Two or more affected parks: the pass is almost always cheaper.
• One affected park, two or more adults in one car: the pass usually wins.
• One affected park, solo visitor: paying at the gate is usually cheaper.

How to plan a budget friendly national parks trip

1. Include parks without the surcharge

The National Park System is far larger than the 11 parks on the list. Arches, Canyonlands, Capitol Reef, Joshua Tree, Death Valley, Olympic, Mount Rainier, Great Smoky Mountains and many others are national parks that are not subject to the $100 nonresident fee. Some, such as Great Smoky Mountains, do not charge an entrance fee at all, although parking or permit fees may apply. Always check each park's fees page before you go, because fees and rules can change.

2. Consider other public lands

National forests, Bureau of Land Management lands and state parks often offer similar scenery, trails and campgrounds at lower cost. State parks set their own fees, sometimes with a higher rate for out of state visitors, but they are usually far cheaper than a $100 surcharge.

3. Group your affected parks into one trip

Because the nonresident pass lasts 12 months, it rewards visiting several affected parks on the same trip, or returning within the year. A Utah and Arizona loop or a Wyoming and Montana loop can cover several parks for a single $250 payment.

4. Share one vehicle

At per vehicle parks, the pass covers everyone in a private vehicle. Traveling together in one car is cheaper than splitting into two vehicles, where only one would be covered by a single pass.

5. Travel outside peak season

Entrance fees do not change by season, but accommodation and car rental prices do. Spring and autumn are often cheaper and less crowded, though some roads and facilities in mountain parks close in winter. Our step by step trip planning guide explains how to choose a travel window.

6. Book reservations early

Some parks require timed entry reservations or permits for certain areas or seasons. These are separate from entrance fees and the nonresident fee, and they often sell out. Check Recreation.gov and the park's website when you start planning.

7. Pay smart

Paying entrance fees and passes by card is standard. If you are using a card issued outside the United States, avoid unnecessary foreign transaction and conversion fees by following our guide to avoiding foreign transaction fees abroad.

Budget planning checklist

• List the parks you plan to visit and mark which of them are among the 11 affected parks.
• Count travelers aged 16 and over who are not US residents.
• Compare the $250 Non-Resident Annual Pass with paying per park.
• If buying the pass, buy a digital pass on Recreation.gov before you travel and download it.
• Check each park's entrance fee, timed entry reservations and permit requirements.
• Add parks, forests and state parks that do not charge the surcharge.
• Remember that free entrance days apply only to US citizens and residents from 2026.
• Arrange travel insurance that covers outdoor activities and medical costs; see our guide to what travel insurance covers.
• Prepare for hikes with our day hiking safety checklist.

Visiting responsibly

Higher fees fund park operations, but the best way to protect these places is how you visit. Stay on marked trails, keep a safe distance from wildlife, pack out all trash and follow fire restrictions. Our responsible travel guide covers the principles in more detail.

Frequently asked questions

Which national parks charge the $100 nonresident fee?

Acadia, Bryce Canyon, Everglades, Glacier, Grand Canyon, Grand Teton, Rocky Mountain, Sequoia and Kings Canyon, Yellowstone, Yosemite and Zion. Other national parks charge only their normal entrance fee, if any.

Do children pay the nonresident fee?

No. The fee applies to nonresidents aged 16 and older. NPS states that visitors aged 15 and younger are not charged entrance fees or the nonresident fee.

Does the $250 Non-Resident Annual Pass cover the $100 fee?

Yes. The pass covers the entrance fee and the nonresident fee at the 11 parks for the pass holder and passengers in a private vehicle, or the holder plus three other people aged 16 and over where fees are charged per person.

How do I prove I am a US resident?

NPS accepts a US passport, a US state or territory issued driver's license or state ID, or a Permanent Resident Card as proof of residency.

Can international visitors enter free on fee free days?

Not from 2026. NPS states that free entrance days are for US citizens and residents only.

Can I share my annual pass with friends?

Passes are non transferable and the holder must be present. At per vehicle parks, the pass covers everyone traveling with the holder in one private vehicle.

Sources

• National Park Service, Entrance Passes (nonresident fee, list of parks, pass prices, fee free days): nps.gov
• National Park Service, Commercial Tours and Nonresident Fees FAQ (ages, proof of residency, pass validity): nps.gov
• Recreation.gov, digital America the Beautiful passes and timed entry reservations: recreation.gov
• US Geological Survey Store, America the Beautiful passes by mail: store.usgs.gov
• National Park Service, Find a Park: nps.gov/findapark