America the Beautiful pass price for non-residents

The America the Beautiful pass costs $250 for nonresidents in 2026. U.S. citizens and permanent residents pay $80 for the same annual pass. The higher price came with the National Park Service’s new two-tier fee system, which started on January 1, 2026.

For international visitors heading to the busiest parks, the $250 pass is often the cheapest way in. It covers entrance fees at more than 2,000 federal recreation sites for a year, and it also covers the new $100 per-person nonresident fee at 11 popular national parks for the pass holder and up to three other adults.

What You Get for $250

Feature	Nonresident pass
Price	$250
Valid for	12 months from the month you buy it
Standard entrance fees	Covered at all federal sites that charge them
$100 nonresident fee at the 11 parks	Covered for the pass holder plus three adults 16 and older
Children under 16	Always free; no nonresident fee
Per-vehicle sites	Covers everyone in one private, noncommercial vehicle
Per-person sites	Covers the pass holder and up to three adults

The 11 parks that charge the nonresident fee are Acadia, Bryce Canyon, Everglades, Glacier, Grand Canyon, Grand Teton, Rocky Mountain, Sequoia & Kings Canyon, Yellowstone, Yosemite, and Zion. See our national parks nonresident fee guide for how the fee works at the gate.

Does the Pass Pay Off?

Most of the 11 parks charge $35 per private vehicle on top of the nonresident fee. Here’s the math for nonresidents arriving by car:

Trip	Paying at each gate	With the pass
1 adult, 1 park	$135	$250
1 adult, 2 parks	$270	$250
2 adults, 1 park	$235	$250
2 adults, 2 parks	$470	$250
4 adults, 3 parks	$1,305	$250

The pass wins once you visit two of the 11 parks, or one park with three or more adults. If your trip only includes parks outside the list, like Arches or Joshua Tree, compare the pass price with each park’s regular entrance fee instead.

Who Counts as a Nonresident

The National Park Service treats you as a U.S. resident only if you can show:

• A U.S. passport or passport card
• A driver’s license or state ID from a U.S. state or territory
• A green card

Everyone else pays the nonresident price, including tourists, students, and many temporary visa holders. If you live in the U.S. on a visa and hold a state driver’s license, read our national park ID requirement guide; the gray areas are covered there.

Green card holders qualify for the $80 resident pass. If your card has expired, see traveling with an expired green card for how the I-90 receipt notice helps.

How to Buy It

• Online at Recreation.gov. You get a digital pass on your phone and can buy before you leave home.
• At a park entrance station or visitor center that sells passes.
• Through the USGS online store, which mails a physical card.

Buying in advance saves time at busy gates, especially in summer at Yellowstone, Yosemite, and Zion.

How to Use It at the Gate

• The pass holder must be there. The pass isn’t transferable, and rangers may ask for a matching photo ID. For international visitors, that’s usually your passport; carry it with your visa if you have one. Our U.S. visa documents page lists what to keep with you.
• Sign the pass. Physical passes must be signed. Digital passes are tied to the buyer’s name.
• Bring reservations separately. Some parks require timed-entry or vehicle reservations at busy times. The pass doesn’t replace them.

Planning a Multi-Park Trip

International visitors often fly between parks, such as Las Vegas for Zion and the Grand Canyon, then Jackson for Grand Teton and Yellowstone. Your passport works as ID for those domestic flights; see what ID you need to fly. Keep the pass on your phone and a screenshot as a backup, since cell service is often weak near park entrances.

What the Pass Doesn’t Cover

• Camping, lodging, and tour fees
• Reservation and booking fees on Recreation.gov
• Parking fees at some sites
• Commercial tour vehicles, which pay their own fees
• State parks, which are run separately

If You’re a U.S. Resident

You don’t need the $250 pass. Buy the $80 resident version with a U.S. passport, state ID, or green card. If you don’t have a current ID, our state ID card documents and passport application documents guides show what to bring. Seniors, military members, veterans, and people with permanent disabilities may qualify for discounted or free passes, though all of them require U.S. citizenship or permanent residency.

Pass Questions, Answered

Question	Answer
Can two people share one nonresident pass?	It covers companions traveling with the pass holder, but the holder must be present.
Are passes bought before 2026 still valid?	Yes, until they expire.
Does the pass cover fee-free days?	Fee-free days now apply only to U.S. residents, but your pass still covers entry.
Can I get a refund?	Passes generally aren’t refundable once bought.
Do kids need their own pass?	No. Children under 16 enter free.