America the Beautiful 2026 Annual Pass artwork features President Trump
November 27, 2025 - On Tuesday, the Trump Administration announced that as of January 1, 2026, foreign visitors will need to pay an additional $100 to visit 11 popular national parks—on top of existing fees. The park pass will also jump to $250 for international visitors, and they will be excluded from fee-free days.
Related: Department of the Interior Announces New National Park Annual Pass Design for 2026 Features President Trump and George Washington, and a New Fee of $250 for Nonresidents for the Annual Pass or Over $100 Per Person Fee to Enter 11 of the Most Visited Parks
Emily Thompson, executive director of the Coalition to Protect America’s National Parks, said in response:
“In a year where national park staff have already been cut by nearly 25%, we worry this will be yet another burden for already overworked employees. And to what end? International visitation has been an important economic driver for our parks and for gateway communities around the U.S., and this could end up negatively impacting them.
“While the Administration has not yet clarified the details of how this policy will be implemented or how the money will be used, we know there are better options. If the administration wants to support the National Park System, we urge them to help ensure our national parks are fully funded and fully staffed. That’s the answer rather than focusing on complicated directives that will only increase the workload for park staff already overstretched to keep everything running. National parks should b
The Coalition to Protect America’s National Parks represents over 3,400 current, former, and retired employees and volunteers of the National Park Service, with over 50,000 collective years of stewardship of America’s most precious natural and cultural resources. Recognized as the Voices of Experience, the Coalition educates, speaks, and acts for the preservation and protection of the National Park System, and mission-related programs of the National Park Service. More information can be found at https://protectnps.org
Source: Coalition to Protect America’s National Parks
