A trip to Yellowstone, Yosemite or the Grand Canyon now costs international visitors noticeably more than it costs Americans, and the rules behind it are being challenged in court. An Arizona tour company has sued the US Department of the Interior over the $100 per-person fee charged to foreign visitors at America's busiest national parks. Separately, the cost of an ESTA, the online travel authorisation needed by visitors from Visa Waiver Program countries, rises slightly from 16 October 2026.
Here is what overseas travellers planning a US road trip need to know.
The $100 nonresident fee: how it works
According to the National Park Service (NPS), non-US residents aged 16 and over pay a $100 nonresident fee per person, on top of the standard entrance fee, at 11 of the most visited national parks:
- Acadia
- Bryce Canyon
- Everglades
- Glacier
- Grand Canyon
- Grand Teton
- Rocky Mountain
- Sequoia & Kings Canyon
- Yellowstone
- Yosemite
- Zion
The fee stems from an executive order by President Donald Trump directing the Interior Department to raise fees for nonresidents, with the money to go towards park infrastructure and visitor access.
Other changes for 2026:
- New annual pass prices. Since 1 January 2026, the America the Beautiful annual pass costs $80 for US residents and $250 for nonresidents.
- Fee-free days are for residents only. On national park fee-free days, non-US residents must pay the entrance fee and any nonresident fee as normal.
- Older passes are honoured. An annual pass bought before 1 January 2026 remains valid for 12 months from purchase on its original terms.
The lawsuit
Fox 10 Phoenix reported on 7 October that Across Arizona Tours has filed a lawsuit against the Department of the Interior seeking to block the $100 surcharge. The company, represented by the Pacific Legal Foundation, argues that the fee exceeds the executive branch's authority, and says it has lost dozens of international customers.
The Department of the Interior defended the fees, saying the revenue goes towards park upkeep. It is not yet known when a judge will hear the case. For now, the fee applies, and travellers should budget for it.
The maths: why the $250 pass often wins
For many visitors, the nonresident annual pass is the cheaper option. According to the NPS, the $250 pass covers entrance fees and nonresident fees for:
- the pass holder and everyone in their private vehicle (up to 15 passengers), or
- the pass holder and passengers on two motorcycles, or
- the pass holder plus three additional people aged 16 and over at parks that charge per person.
Example: two adults driving into Yellowstone would pay $200 in nonresident fees plus the standard vehicle entrance fee, which brings them close to the $250 price of the pass. Because the pass also covers entry and nonresident fees at other fee-charging national park sites for a year, adding a second park to the trip makes it clearly the better deal.
ESTA fee rises on 16 October
Travellers from Visa Waiver Program countries such as the UK, Germany, Japan and Australia need an approved ESTA before flying to the US. Following a Federal Register notice published on 1 October, the fee changes from 16 October 2026:
| Until 15 October | From 16 October | |
|---|---|---|
| Approved ESTA | $40.27 | $40.62 |
| Denied application | $10.27 | $10.62 |
The 35-cent rise is an annual inflation adjustment under the law known as H.R. 1. Approved ESTAs stay valid, so you do not need to reapply because of the fee change. Visa industry sites VisaVerge and VisasNews also report that the EVUS enrolment fee for eligible Chinese holders of 10-year visitor visas rises to $31.75.
Practical tips
- Apply for ESTA only on the official site. The official address is esta.cbp.dhs.gov. Third-party sites often charge much more for the same thing.
- Buy the nonresident pass if you are visiting two or more of the 11 parks, or travelling as a carload.
- Bring ID. Annual passes are checked against photo ID at the park entrance.
- Reserve where required. Some popular parks use timed-entry or vehicle reservations at busy times. Check each park's page on nps.gov before you go.
- Follow the lawsuit. If a court blocks the fee, the NPS website will be the first place to confirm the change.
FAQ
How much is the national park fee for foreign tourists? $100 per person aged 16 and over at 11 major parks, on top of the regular entrance fee.
Which parks charge the nonresident fee? Acadia, Bryce Canyon, Everglades, Glacier, Grand Canyon, Grand Teton, Rocky Mountain, Sequoia & Kings Canyon, Yellowstone, Yosemite and Zion.
Does the $250 nonresident pass cover the $100 fee? Yes. It covers entrance and nonresident fees for the pass holder and passengers in a private vehicle, or the holder and three other adults at per-person sites.
How much does an ESTA cost now? $40.62 for an approved application submitted from 16 October 2026, up from $40.27.
Sources
- National Park Service: Nonresident fees
- National Park Service: Entrance passes
- Fox 10 Phoenix: Arizona tour company sues Department of the Interior over national park fee for foreign guests (7 October 2026)
- Official ESTA website: FAQ on the ESTA fee increase
- VisaVerge: ESTA and EVUS fees rise for US-bound travelers (10 October 2026)
- VisasNews: ESTA fee increases starting October 16, 2026
