International Visitors May See Big Fee Hikes At Wyoming Parks

International visitors to Yellowstone and Grand Teton National Parks in 2026 may pay significantly more than they do this year.

The US Interior Department says there's a price hike looking for people visiting not just Yellowstone and Grand Teton but National Parks in general. The plan suggests that an additional entrance surcharge for international visitors would nearly double the revenue from fees in the National Park System.

The money raised would benefit maintenance and improvements. Tate Watkins with the Property and Environment Research Center has said in the past that the added revenue could go a long way to the NPS.

When you think of the types of visitors who are able to pay multi-thousands of dollars for a big, often bucket-list trip to some of the incredible sites that we have at our national parks, most wouldn't blink at paying a little bit more, or even potentially a decent amount more.

Not everyone is in favor of a price increase. Tour operators fear that the change could hurt business because many international travelers visit more than one park during their trip, and the increased prices may deter them from doing so.

However, America the Beautiful Pass is available for purchase by anyone from any country to cover any National Park Service (NPS) gate fee, which is now $80. Currently, the individual park entry fees for Wyoming's National Parks are $35 per private vehicle, $20 per person, and $70 for an annual pass to the park.

The money raised through the price hikes would be used to help maintain infrastructure, trails, and other facilities within the National Park System (NPS).