Visit USA launches petition against new national park entry fees

The Visit USA Association (UK) has launched a petition against a new international visitor surcharge for entry to 11 US national parks.

From January 1, 2026, international visitors will be charged $100 per person, per park to enter the most popular national parks.

The cost of the annual ’America the Beautiful’ pass for non-residents will also rise, from US $80 to $250.

Non residents aged 16 and above will have to pay the $100 fee in addition to the regular entrance fee, unless they have a non resident annual pass. Currently most parks managed by the National Park Service are free to visit, but some require an entrance pass.

Parks affected are: Acadia National Park, Bryce Canyon National Park, Everglades National Park, Glacier National Park, Grand Canyon National Park, Grand Teton National Park, Rocky Mountain National Park, Sequoia & Kings Canyon National Park, Yellowstone National Park, Yosemite National Park and Zion National Park.

Visit USA (UK) is now calling on the UK travel industry to support its petition to raise awareness of the impact the move by the government’s Department of the Interior could have on US visitor numbers.

It is sending the petition out to all members and asking them to share the information and petition with industry colleagues, including travel agents. This will include a link for industry professionals to sign the petition.

Kate Kenward, chief executive, Visit USA (UK), said: “This news has hit our membership hard, as the national parks, and especially these 11 are a major driver for holiday bookings, representing a bucket list USA experience.

“Our membership is concerned that UK consumers may change their holiday plans for 2026 and beyond, which could impact our UK visitor numbers to the USA.”

More than four million Brits visited the US in 2024, which Kenward said was “holding steady” for 2025. 

Next year, Visit USA is hoping for a record-breaking year with the Fifa World Cup, the US’s 250th commemorations and the 100th anniversary of Route 66.

She said: “We are hoping for a record-breaking year, but this latest news has the potential to affect booking plans and visitor numbers.

“We are asking the travel industry to join together to show their concern and to request that the US Department of the Interior reconsider its plan and to investigate alternative methods to ensure the financial sustainability of the National Parks.”

According to the National Park Service, in 2022, international visitors contributed more than $7 billion to the US economy.