Don’t want to pay $100 non-resident fees for U.S. National Parks? Visit these places instead (Part 1)
In July 2025, President Trump issued Executive Order “Making America Beautiful Again by Improving Our National Parks”. As a result, non-U.S. residents aged of 16 or older who visit any of 11 U.S. national parks—Acadia, Bryce Canyon, Everglades, Glacier, Grand Canyon, Grand Teton, Rocky Mountain, Sequoia & Kings Canyon, Yellowstone, Yosemite, and Zion—are charged a $100 non-resident fee per person, in addition to the standard entrance fee at each of these parks.
Charging foreign visitors more than residents for national park entrance is nothing new. Many countries around the world implement this dual pricing concept for their parks and attractions. Back in 2023, the idea for applying a surcharge on international visitors to U.S. national parks was proposed in this article: How Overseas Visitors Can Help Steward Our National Parks. Although the article discusses how the surcharge on international visitors can increase revenue stream for many national parks, it fails to offer whether the parks should anticipate reduction in visitations from the surcharge and any potential negative effects on the communities near those national parks that rely on having those visitors, but I digress.
These 11 U.S. national parks are our country’s treasures. They are beautiful and popular with international visitors for a reason. However, additional $100 per person for each park is a significant amount of money. An international group visitor of four would have to spend an extra $800 to visit a couple of these parks on top of all other expenses. Luckily, the U.S. National Park Service makes the America the Beautiful Annual Pass available for non-U.S. residents as well.
America the Beautiful Non-Resident Annual Pass
For those who are not familiar with it, America the Beautiful Passes cover entrance or standard amenity (day-use) fees to thousands of parks and recreation areas managed by six U.S. Federal agencies: Forest Service, National Park Service, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Bureau of Land Management (BLM), Bureau of Reclamation, and U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. Yes, U.S. national parks and national monuments are managed by these agencies.
America the Beautiful Annual Pass for non-U.S. residentsA $250 Digital America the Beautiful Pass for non-U.S. residents covers entrance fees and day-use fees. The Pass is valid for 12 months, from purchase date through end of the same month in the following year. If you visit any of the 11 national parks that charge a $100 non-resident fee, the Non-Resident Annual Pass covers the non-resident fee for those admitted with the pass. According to the National Park Service website, if you want a physical version of the Non-Resident Annual Pass, do not purchase the Digital Pass in advance. Instead, wait to purchase your pass in person when you visit a federal site.
The Non-Resident Annual Pass does not cover expanded amenity fees such as camping, parking, special tours, special permits, or ferries. The Pass also does not cover entrance fees for state parks, county parks, or municipal parks.
Each America the Beautiful Pass is issued to one person (the pass holder) who must be present, with valid photo identification, each time the pass is used. Note that,
- For locations that charge fees per vehicle, an America the Beautiful Pass admits the pass holder and passengers in one non-commercial vehicle, or up to two motorcycles.
- For locations that charge fees per person, an America the Beautiful Pass admits the pass holder plus 3 adults (16 and older), not to exceed 4 adults.
So, for international visitors to the U.S. who plan to visit any of these 11 national parks, be sure to purchase the Non-Resident Annual Pass. You will need to sign up for Recreative.gov account to purchase.
Still don’t want to visit these parks?
But what if you don’t want to visit any of these 11 national parks or if you won’t travel to the nearby area of these parks? Then I have some suggestions for you based on our own travel experience. There are lots of wonderful places in the U.S. West and Mountain West that we have visited. Some are national parks. Some are state parks. I will cover them in three installments. Follow along.
All the places I mentioned in this and next two posts are marked in a map below. You can click the map below to open a zoomable uMap.
For a zoomable uMap, http://u.osmfr.org/m/1431713/Pacific Northwest
Mount Rainier National Park, Washington
On a clear day in the Pacific Northwest, it’s hard to compete with the view of Mt. Rainier behind Seattle skylines. However, seeing Mt. Rainier up-close from the Paradise area of Mt. Rainier National Park is even a better experience. Pictures below are from Skyline Trail in late August. If you love wildflowers, plan to visit between mid-July to mid-August.
View of Mt. Rainier from ParadiseHiking Skyline Trail in Mt. Rainier National ParkA marmot on Skyline TrailOlympic National Park, Washington
Olympic National Park is one of the most diverse national parks in the contiguous U.S. It encompasses glaciated mountains, temperate rainforest, and rugged coastline. Olympic National Park covers a larger area. Consider different base camps when you visit to minimize driving time when exploring different parts of the park.
View from Hurricane Ridge Hoh Rain ForestThe Coast of Olympic National ParkMount St. Helens National Volcanic Monument, Washington
Seeing evidence of the aftermath of the 1980 eruption and scars the eruption left on the landscape with one’s own eyes is the main reason to visit Mt. St. Helens National Volcanic Monument. Unlike all other peaks in the Cascade Range, the landscape surrounding Mt. St. Helen is still quite barren, but slowly vegetation is growing back. So is the lava dome in the crater.
An open source image of Mt. St. Helens from Pixabay by PublicDomainPicturesAn open source image of Mt. St. Helens from Pixabay by Ken1843Mount Hood National Forest, Oregon
About one and a half hours from Portland, Oregon, Mt. Hood is a popular recreational area in this part of Oregon. Standing 11,249 ft (3,429 m) above sea level at the top, it is Oregon’s tallest mountain. When David and I were still full-time RVers, we spent quite a bit of the summertime in the Mt. Hood area. There are lots of activities to do here including hiking, canoeing, wild berry picking.
Trillium LakeA section of Pacific Crest TrailMt. Hood and White RiverHiking in the Mt. Hood Meadows areaView from Mirror Lake Trail near Tom Dick and Harry MountainCrater Lake National Park, Oregon
One of the bluest bodies of water you will ever see. Crater Lake National Park is the only U.S. national Park in Oregon. The lake is a caldera of Mt. Mazama. It is the deepest lake in the U.S. A 33-mi (53-km) scenic Rim Drive is a must-do for visitors to Crater Lake. Plan many stops along the drive for different vantage points of the lake. Bring picnics.
Crater Lake with Mt. Thielsen in the background (center-right)At one of many view points along Rim DriveCrater Lake has no streams flowing into it. It receives water only from rain and snow melt, so the water is very clean.Smith Rock State Park, Oregon
With its dramatic towering cliffs, Smith Rock State Park is popular with rock climbers. This Oregon’s park is located in Central Oregon, just north of the Bend-Redmond area. Crooked River flows through the park. The park is also popular for hiking and picnicking. Come watch climbers scaling the iconic Monkey Face. For spectacular views of the park and surrounding areas, hike Misery Ridge Trail/Loop.
Dramatic cliffs of Smith Rock State ParkMonkey Face with Mt. Jefferson in the background (right)Crooked RiverThe Oregon Coast
Oregon’s coastlines stretch, from north to south, 363 miles of sandy beaches and dunes, tide pools, and rugged rock formations. U.S. Highway 101 connects Astoria in the north to Brookings near the southern border. There are activities for everyone in the family to do. Bring warm clothing even on a warm day in the valley as the weather on the coast can be appreciably cooler.
Expansive view of the coast from Cascade Head, looking south toward Lincoln CityHeceta Head LighthouseRugged Oregon CoastExplore tide poolsThe Seal Rock area between Newport and WaldportSisters Rock State ParkMisty coastline is common on the Oregon Coast.References:
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