Zion, Bryce Canyon among 11 national parks with new nonresident entry fee starting in 2026

Bryce Canyon National Park Photo: Anqi Lu // UnSplash

PARK CITY, Utah — International visitors to some of the nation’s most popular national parks, including Utah’s Zion and Arches national parks, will face significantly higher entrance costs beginning in 2026 under a new fee structure announced by the U.S. Department of the Interior.

Under the policy, which takes effect Jan. 1, 2026, non-U.S. residents will be required to pay $250 for an annual America the Beautiful Pass — more than triple the $80 annual rate that will continue to apply to U.S. residents. International visitors who do not purchase the annual pass will be charged an additional fee to enter 11 of the country’s most visited national parks.

Zion and Bryce Canyon are among the parks included in the new pricing structure, which will require international visitors to pay $100 per person in addition to standard entrance fees. Other parks where international visitors must pay a surcharge are Grand Canyon, Yellowstone, Yosemite, Acadia, Everglades, Glacier, Grand Teton, Rocky Mountain, and Sequoia & Kings Canyon.

The new year will also see new digital passes, updated annual pass designs, and expanded access for motorcycle riders. Federal officials describe the initiative as the most significant modernization of national park access in decades.

“These policies ensure that U.S. taxpayers, who already support the National Park System, continue to enjoy affordable access, while international visitors contribute their fair share to maintaining and improving our parks for future generations,” Interior Secretary Doug Burgum said in a statement.

In addition to fee changes, the Department of the Interior announced that all America the Beautiful passes — including annual, senior, military, access and fourth-grade passes — will be available in a fully digital format through Recreation.gov beginning in 2026. Visitors will be able to purchase and store passes on mobile devices and link them to physical cards, a move officials say will streamline entry and reduce wait times at park gates.

The National Park Service will also roll out updated graphics for annual passes, which will appear on both digital and physical versions, and implement new validation tools and staff training to support the digital system.

As part of the changes, the agency announced a series of resident-only fee-free days in 2026, including Memorial Day, Independence Day weekend and several commemorative dates tied to U.S. history and the National Park Service.

The announcement also includes expanded access for motorcycle riders. All America the Beautiful passes will now cover entry for two motorcycles per pass, a change officials say is intended to improve affordability for riders and families traveling by motorcycle.

According to the Department of the Interior, revenue generated from the new fee structure will be reinvested directly into national parks, supporting visitor facilities, maintenance projects and services nationwide.

It remains unclear how the higher nonresident fees may affect visitation patterns at Utah’s national parks, which have already implemented reservation systems, shuttle requirements and timed-entry programs in response to crowding and infrastructure strain.