🇺🇸 New U.S. National Park Prices for International Travelers — Clear Information for Travelers
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If you’ve been scrolling TikTok, reading Belgian/NL Facebook groups, or checking random travel blogs… you’ve probably seen confusing and contradictory information about U.S. national park prices.
Especially claims like:
❌ “All national parks will cost $100 per person.”
❌ “Arches is on the list.”
❌ “Annual Pass stays $80 for everyone.”
❌ “Everglades is cheap, don’t worry.”
Much of this is outdated, incomplete, or completely wrong.
This blog gives you the correct information, based on the official National Park Service announcements — and explains how non-US travelers can save a LOT of money under the new rules coming in 2026.
Let’s make it simple.
🚏 Table of Contents
- 📢 1. The 2026 Fee Changes — In Simple Terms
- 🧨 2. Most Important Rule: The Annual Pass Cancels the $100 Surcharge
- ❌ 3. Common Misconceptions — Corrected
- 💡 4. Money-Saving Hacks for Non-US Travelers
- 🛑 5. What Non-US Travelers Need to Watch Out For
- 📌 6. Quick Decision Table (Save, screenshot, share!)
- 🎉 7. Conclusion: Correct Information = Big Savings
📢 1. The 2026 Fee Changes — In Simple Terms
Beginning January 2026, the U.S. will use a modernized pricing system that impacts non-U.S. residents differently than Americans.
Here’s the clean breakdown:
🇺🇸 For U.S. Residents
- Annual Pass remains $80
- Standard 7-day vehicle fees remain $15–$35
- No surcharges for the top 11 parks
No big changes.
🌍 For International Visitors
You will choose between:
Option 1 — Buy the International Annual Pass
$250 per vehicle
Covers:
- 1 vehicle
- Up to 4 adults
- All national parks
- No $100 surcharges
OR
Option 2 — Pay the New $100/Person Surcharge
This applies only at 11 major parks.
Vehicle entrance fees also still apply.
🧭 The 11 U.S. National Parks With the $100 Surcharge (Correct List)
These are the only parks where the per-person surcharge applies for travelers without the $250 pass:
- Grand Canyon
- Yosemite
- Yellowstone
- Zion
- Bryce Canyon
- Rocky Mountain
- Acadia
- Glacier
- Grand Teton
- Sequoia & Kings Canyon
- Everglades
If you enter any of these parks in 2026 as a non-resident without the pass →
You pay $100 per adult.
Under 16? Free.
🧨 2. Most Important Rule: The Annual Pass Cancels the $100 Surcharge
The America the Beautiful Annual Pass (International Version) becomes one of the best-value items you can buy for a U.S. road trip.
It covers:
✔️ Entrance for 1 vehicle
✔️ Up to 4 adults (16+)
✔️ Unlimited entry to every national park
✔️ All $100 surcharges at the 11 parks are waived
This means:
- Visiting 2+ major parks? → Annual Pass is usually cheaper
- Traveling with 3 or 4 adults? → Annual Pass is much cheaper
- Doing the Mighty 5? → Annual Pass is essential
- Visiting Everglades + another major park? → Annual Pass saves money
- Think of it like this:
- Without Pass
- Zion: $100 × adults
- Grand Canyon: $100 × adults
- Yosemite: $100 × adults
- With Pass
- Just $250 total per vehicle.
❌ 3. Common Misconceptions — Corrected
These are the myths we see in FB groups and TikTok comments every day.
❌ “Annual Pass is $80 for Non-US travelers.”
Wrong.
Only U.S. residents keep the $80 version.
International version = $250 from 2026.
❌ “The $100 surcharge is per car.”
No.
It’s $100 per person.
❌ “The annual pass covers unlimited adults.”
No — it covers max. 4 adults per vehicle.
❌ “Everglades is cheap.”
No — Everglades is one of the 11 surcharge parks.
❌ “Buy the pass when you arrive.”
Not always smart (see hacks below).
💡 4. Money-Saving Hacks for Non-US Travelers
✔️ Hack 1: Traveling in 2026?
Buy the annual pass NOW for $80
If your trip starts before the price change, you can still buy:
- The $80 pass
- Valid for 12 months
- Covers up to 4 adults
This can save your group up to $170.
Perfect for early or mid-2026 travel if purchased just before Jan 2026.
✔️ Hack 2: Visiting 2+ of the major parks?
Buy the $250 Annual Pass
Example: 3 adults visiting Grand Canyon + Zion
Without pass:
$100 × 3 × 2 parks = $600
With pass:
$250 total
Savings: $350
✔️ Hack 3: Visiting only 1 surcharge park with 1–2 adults?
Pay the $100 per adult
Example: 2 adults visiting Yosemite
Cost = $200
Cheaper than $250.
✔️ Hack 4: Doing a Florida trip?
Everglades surcharge applies
If you’re also visiting a 2nd major park later in the trip →
Annual Pass becomes smarter.
✔️ Hack 5: Traveling with 4 adults?
Annual pass = insane value
$250 / 4 = $62.50 per person
And covers all 11 major parks.
🛑 5. What Non-US Travelers Need to Watch Out For
Even with the upcoming system, keep these things in mind:
✔️ Entrance fees ≠ everything
Camping fees, tours, shuttles, and timed-entry permits remain separate.
✔️ The pass activates on first use
Not on the day of purchase.
✔️ Renting 2 cars?
Each car needs its own pass.
✔️ Kids under 16
Always free — huge savings for families.
6. Quick Decision Table (Save, screenshot, share!)
| Your Travel Scenario | Best Choice |
| Trip in 2026 | Buy $80 pass now |
| 3–4 adults visiting 2+ major parks | $250 annual pass |
| 1–2 adults visiting only one major park | Pay $100 surcharge |
| Florida trip with Everglades only | Surcharge unless 4 adults |
| Families with children | Annual pass (kids free) |
| Two rental cars | Need 2 passes |
🎉 7. Conclusion: Correct Information = Big Savings
Thanks to outdated videos, old Facebook posts, and pre-2024 travel blogs, Belgian and Dutch travelers are more confused than ever. But now you know exactly how the new pricing system works:
- 11 major parks have $100/person surcharges
- Annual Pass for internationals costs $250 (from 2026)
- Annual Pass covers up to 4 adults
- It removes all surcharges
- Sometimes paying the surcharge is cheaper
- Smart timing can save $100s
With the right pass — and the right strategy — your USA national park trip stays affordable, smooth, and stress-free.
🚗🇺🇸 Planning a USA Road Trip? Make It 100× Easier With Our RoadBooks & CityBooks
If you want a stress-free way to plan your national park adventure — from park entrances and fees to daily routes, hidden gems, food stops, and Google Maps integration — our US RoadBooks & CityBooks are built exactly for you.
Each guide includes:
✔️ Pre-planned and optimized itineraries
✔️ Clickable Google Maps routes you can import instantly
✔️ Tips for national park entrances, shuttles & fees
✔️ Budget breakdowns for Belgian & Dutch travelers
✔️ The best viewpoints, hikes & photo stops
✔️ Restaurant and hotel recommendations
✔️ Hidden gems you won’t find on TikTok
✔️ Offline-friendly checklists and daily planning pages
Whether you're exploring Zion, Bryce, Yosemite, Grand Canyon, Yellowstone, Everglades, or big cities like Miami, New York, San Francisco, or Los Angeles — our guides take out all the stress so you can focus on enjoying your trip.