“Are you a U.S. resident?” Since January 1, 2026, rangers at national park entrance stations have been asking that question, and at 11 of the busiest parks, the answer can add $100 per person to the cost of getting in. For U.S. citizens and green card holders, nothing about the price has changed. What has changed is that you now need to be able to prove it.
The short version: bring a physical ID for every adult in your car. Here’s what counts, who pays more, and how to avoid a surprise charge at the gate.
What Changed in 2026
The Department of the Interior introduced a two-tier fee system under a 2025 executive order directing higher fees for international visitors.
| U.S. residents | Nonresidents | |
| America the Beautiful annual pass | $80 | $250 |
| Entry to the 11 nonresident-fee parks | Standard entrance fee only | Standard entrance fee plus $100 per person age 16+ |
| Entry to all other parks | Standard entrance fee | Standard entrance fee |
| Fee-free days | Free entry | Regular fees apply |
The nonresident annual pass covers the $100 fee for the pass holder and three additional nonresidents age 16 and older. Passes bought before 2026 are honored until they expire.
For a deeper breakdown of the pricing, see our guides to the national parks nonresident fee and the America the Beautiful pass for nonresidents.
The 11 Parks With the Extra Fee
| Park | State |
| Acadia | Maine |
| Bryce Canyon | Utah |
| Everglades | Florida |
| Glacier | Montana |
| Grand Canyon | Arizona |
| Grand Teton | Wyoming |
| Rocky Mountain | Colorado |
| Sequoia & Kings Canyon | California |
| Yellowstone | Wyoming, Montana, Idaho |
| Yosemite | California |
| Zion | Utah |
Every other park, monument, and recreation area charges the same entrance fee to everyone. That includes popular spots like Arches, Great Smoky Mountains, Olympic, Joshua Tree, and Shenandoah.
IDs the Park Service Accepts as Proof of Residency
According to the National Park Service, you can prove U.S. residency with any of these:
- A U.S. passport (book or card)
- A driver’s license or state ID issued by a U.S. state or territory
- A Permanent Resident Card (green card)
That’s the whole list. Rangers ask anyone 16 and older entering a nonresident-fee park, and anyone using a resident pass may be asked to show ID that matches the name on it.
A few practical points:
- A REAL ID star isn’t required. A standard license works. If you’re getting a new card anyway, our REAL ID documents and state ID card guides cover both kinds.
- Phone photos of your ID are risky. The NPS list refers to physical documents. Bring the card.
- Every adult needs their own. One driver’s license doesn’t cover four adults in the car.
- Kids under 16 don’t need ID and don’t pay the nonresident fee.
Don’t have a license? A passport or state ID works just as well, and many states offer free or reduced-fee state IDs for seniors.
Gray Areas at the Gate
Green card holders
Lawful permanent residents pay resident rates. Bring your green card. If it has expired and you’ve filed to renew it, carry the expired card with your I-90 receipt notice, which extends its validity. Our green card renewal documents guide explains how that extension works, and traveling with an expired green card covers flights and border crossings on the same trip.
Visa holders living in the U.S.
The NPS defines a resident as a U.S. citizen or permanent resident, so students, H-1B workers, and other visa holders technically fall on the nonresident side. In practice, someone showing a valid state driver’s license may be treated as a resident at the booth, since the license is on the accepted list. Don’t count on it. If you’re on a visa and planning several of the 11 parks, the $250 pass may be the safer buy. Keep your passport, visa, and I-94 with you anyway; our U.S. visa documents page lists what to carry.
Americans living abroad
Citizens are residents for this purpose no matter where they live. But if your state license has expired or you left it at home, your U.S. passport is your proof. Expats who show up with only a foreign ID may be charged the nonresident fee. An expired license can also cause trouble at the airport on the way there; see flying with an expired driver’s license.
Forgot your ID
Rangers can charge the nonresident fee if you can’t show proof. Some visitors report being let through after showing other documents, but that’s at the ranger’s discretion, not a rule.
When the Nonresident Pass Pays Off
Most of the 11 parks charge $35 per private vehicle. Here’s the math for nonresidents arriving by car:
| Trip | Paying at the gate | With the $250 nonresident pass |
| 1 adult, 1 park | $135 | $250 |
| 1 adult, 2 parks | $270 | $250 |
| 2 adults, 1 park | $235 | $250 |
| 2 adults, 3 parks (e.g., Zion, Bryce, Grand Canyon) | $705 | $250 |
| 4 adults, 2 parks | $870 | $250 |
The pass also covers the standard entrance fee at every fee-charging federal site for a year, so a multi-park road trip almost always favors it. Buy it ahead of time on Recreation.gov to skip the line.
Hosting International Visitors? Consider These Swaps
If friends or family from abroad are joining your trip and the pass doesn’t make sense, nearby parks outside the list of 11 charge only the regular entrance fee. Some swaps that keep the same kind of scenery:
| Instead of | Try | Why it works |
| Zion or Bryce Canyon | Capitol Reef, Arches, or Canyonlands | Red-rock canyons and arches in the same corner of Utah |
| Yosemite or Sequoia & Kings Canyon | Lassen Volcanic or Pinnacles | Granite, volcanic peaks, and fewer crowds in California |
| Rocky Mountain | Great Sand Dunes or Black Canyon of the Gunnison | Big Colorado landscapes within a day’s drive |
| Grand Canyon | Petrified Forest, plus Glen Canyon’s overlooks | Desert vistas on the same Arizona road trip |
| Acadia | Cape Cod National Seashore | Rocky coast and beaches in New England |
None of these swaps is a perfect replacement for Yellowstone or Glacier, which is often where the nonresident pass earns its price.
Fee-Free Days Are Now for Residents Only
Starting in 2026, fee-free days apply only to U.S. residents. Nonresidents pay normal entrance and nonresident fees on those days. The 2026 resident fee-free days were Presidents Day, Memorial Day, Flag Day, the July 3–5 Independence Day weekend, the Park Service’s birthday on August 25, Constitution Day, Theodore Roosevelt’s birthday, and Veterans Day. The 2027 schedule is usually announced in late fall, and you’ll need resident ID at the gate on those days too.
Other Passes Also Need ID
Discounted lifetime and annual passes have their own documentation requirements:
| Pass | Who qualifies | What to show |
| Senior Pass | U.S. citizens or permanent residents 62+ | Proof of age and residency, such as a license, passport, or green card |
| Military Pass | Current service members, dependents, veterans, Gold Star families | Military ID, veteran ID, or other proof of service |
| Access Pass | U.S. citizens or permanent residents with a permanent disability | Proof of residency plus documentation of the disability |
| 4th Grade Pass | Fourth graders and their families | Paper voucher from the Every Kid Outdoors program |
Military families may need to update their dependent ID first; see military dependent ID documents and DEERS enrollment. Digital versions of all America the Beautiful passes are sold through Recreation.gov, and you can link them to a physical card.
Before You Drive to the Gate
- Each adult has a physical ID: passport, state ID, license, or green card
- Your annual or lifetime pass, printed or saved in the Recreation.gov app
- Any timed-entry or vehicle reservation the park requires, which is separate from the entrance fee
- If you’re flying in, an ID that also works at TSA; see what ID you need to fly
Questions From Park Visitors
Do U.S. citizens pay the $100 fee?
- No.
- You just need ID to prove you’re a resident.
Does the fee apply to kids?
- Only from age 16.
- Children 15 and under enter on the family’s regular fee.
Can I use a resident pass for a friend visiting from abroad?
- The pass covers people in your private vehicle for the standard entrance fee.
- The NPS treats the $100 as a per-person nonresident fee, so a nonresident companion may still be charged at the 11 parks. Ask at the entrance station.
Is the nonresident fee being challenged?
- Yes, it has drawn a legal challenge.
- The fee was still being collected as of late 2026. Check NPS.gov before your trip.
Can I pay the nonresident fee online?
- Tour operators can prepay through Recreation.gov.
- Individual visitors usually buy the nonresident annual pass online or pay at the gate.