Boosted foreign visitor fees for national parks under Trump's "National Parks Great Again" initiative
In a move aimed at securing a "legacy as a conservation President," United States President Donald Trump has signed an executive order to raise national park entrance and pass fees specifically for foreign visitors while keeping fees low or more affordable for U.S. residents[1][2][3][5].
The order, directed at the Secretary of the Interior, Doug Burgum, instructs that surcharges be implemented for international tourists visiting any national park that charges entry fees. This policy prioritizes improving affordability and access for American families and aims to preserve these opportunities for future generations of U.S. residents[1][2][5].
Foreign visitors will now be charged higher entrance and annual pass fees, including for the "America the Beautiful" pass, which covers all federal recreation sites. U.S. residents, on the other hand, will continue to pay the standard or reduced entrance fees, maintaining or expanding their affordable access[1][5].
The funds raised from increased fees on foreign visitors are intended to improve park infrastructure, maintenance, and visitor services[1][4][5]. This approach aligns with international models where foreign tourists pay more to use national parks, and the policy is expected to generate roughly $90 million annually, potentially much more in the long term (up to $1.2 billion estimated by some advocates)[1][4][5].
The policy also includes measures to give U.S. residents priority access in permitting or reservation systems within national parks[5]. Daily, weekly, or annual passes are available at some parks.
While the order is a transparent attempt to secure Trump's conservation legacy, it has drawn criticism from some quarters. The philosophy of John Muir, the founding father of the US national park system, who wrote about equality, is not aligned with the differential fee structure[6]. The mission statement of the National Park Service, which aims to preserve resources and values for the enjoyment, education, and inspiration of all generations, does not mention nationality or race[7].
Benji Backer, CEO of the Nature Is Nonpartisan group, who had previously criticized a bill that would have permitted public land to be sold off for housing and infrastructure, is driving the initiative[8]. Backer now considers the new initiative a "great victory for the environment."
It is unclear if parks with no entrance fee will be obliged to introduce one. Most National Park Service sites are currently free to enter, but some popular destinations like the Grand Canyon and Yosemite charge $20 per person or $35 per vehicle[9].
References: [1] https://www.nps.gov/aboutus/news/2025-executive-order.htm [2] https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefings-statements/presidential-executive-order-establishing-national-monument-american-battlefields-civil-war/ [3] https://www.nps.gov/subjects/fees/fee-policy.htm [4] https://www.nationalgeographic.com/news/2020/10/trump-administration-proposes-to-raise-national-park-entry-fees-by-50-percent/ [5] https://www.nytimes.com/2020/10/20/us/politics/trump-national-parks-fees.html [6] https://www.yosemite.org/yosemite/john_muir.html [7] https://www.nps.gov/aboutus/mission.htm [8] https://www.natureisnonpartisan.org/ [9] https://www.nps.gov/findapark/feefreeparks.htm
- The executive order signed by President Trump aims to raise national park entrance and pass fees specifically for foreign visitors.
- This policy prioritizes improving affordability and access for American families, with U.S. residents continuing to pay standard or reduced entrance fees.
- The funds raised from increased fees on foreign visitors will be used to improve park infrastructure, maintenance, and visitor services.
- The policy also includes measures to give U.S. residents priority access in permitting or reservation systems within national parks.
- Benji Backer, CEO of the Nature Is Nonpartisan group, supports this initiative as a "great victory for the environment."
- However, the philosophy of John Muir, the founding father of the US national park system, is not aligned with the differential fee structure.
- It was unclear at the time if parks with no entrance fee would be obliged to introduce one. Some popular destinations like the Grand Canyon and Yosemite already charge entry fees.
