Picking the Pocket of Noncitizen Tourists Coming to America

This is kind of stupid. It appears the National Park system is going to charge noncitizen tourists or customers a much higher fee to enter US National Parks. Now why would this be so ignorant?

When you think about it, many of these parks are in areas which require some degree of travel. This means the visitors must also find a place to stay and eat meals at a local restaurant. Even if they were to camp, they would still need to rent a camping site. More likely than not, they would be spending money in other areas of the country outside of the National Park. This entitles the vehicle I am riding in free entry along with the passengers. Not sure what will happen now for non-citizen passengers riding with me. Here is part of the rest of the story.

US national park visitors are leaving after being asked new question at gates for the first time in history, Lauren Feather

 “Are you a United States resident?”

This question is part of a new system at 11 major U.S. national parks designed to “put American families first,” wherein non-U.S. residents including Canadians. They must now pay triple the cost to visit.

In November 2025, the U.S. Department of the Interior (DOI) announced new entrance fees for 11 major national parks. The two-tiered pricing system was activated on January 1, 2026. Foreign tourists (non-U.S. residents) must pay a $100 surcharge in addition to the standard $15–35 fee to enter. They must also pay $250 for an annual pass, which normally costs $80. Residents of the U.S. are exempt from these price hikes. However, they still pay the regular $80 for annual passes and standard entry fees, ranging from $15–35.

Which National Parks does this apply to?

• Acadia National Park (Maine)
• Bryce Canyon National Park (Utah)
• Everglades National Park (Florida)
• Glacier National Park (Montana)
• Grand Canyon National Park (Arizona)
• Grand Teton National Park (Wyoming)
• Rocky Mountain National Park (Colorado)
• Sequoia & Kings Canyon National Parks (California)
• Yellowstone National Park (Wyoming)
• Yosemite National Park (California)
• Zion National Park (Utah)

The US fleecing the international visitors will not go over too well as it is already expensive to get into the parks even as a resident. Since my brother is nearby, I stay with him.

The exaggerated entry fees apply to the most visited parks . . . of course. Going to Yosemite is not cheap as it is. You will pay more for food and drink or any souvenirs you may acquire. You will have to book a room at the hotel well ahead which is not low cost either. Of course, none of this will bode well with international visitors.

Some of this plays on the local businesses also. Fewer visitors result in less income due to decreasing sales. It does hit the pocketbook of the locals. Now, who would have thought of fleecing the international visitors so much. Thinks about it as our current president and Republicans are deporting non-citizens. America for Americans, anybody?

Meanwhile our replacement rate is 1.6 now, well down from the 2.01 replacement rate when I wrote about Joel Garreau’s “300 Million and Counting” piece at Angry Bear.