The National Park Service has faced difficult times in recent years. Beyond the usual challenge of ensuring adequate funding for operations and maintenance, the parks also suffered through a 43-day government shutdown that left returning officials and workers confronted with even larger backlogs of needed repairs and maintenance backlogs, as well as damage from vandalism, among other problems.
Now, the U.S. Department of the Interior has announced a funding change that addresses one of those issues.
The department recently announced that it is implementing America-first entry fee policies, according to the Wildlife Society. Under the updated system, non-U.S. residents will pay a higher rate to enter national parks, which the agency says will help support care and maintenance.
The agency said revenue generated from the new fee structure will support upgrades to visitor facilities, essential maintenance, and improved services nationwide. The new fee structure will be implemented on Jan. 1, 2026. The annual pass will cost $80 for U.S. residents and $250 for nonresidents. Nonresident visitors without annual passes will also pay a $100 per person fee at certain parks like Grand Canyon, Yellowstone, Yosemite and Acadia national parks.
Dan Hounsell is senior editor for the facilities market. He has more than 30 years of experience writing about facilities maintenance, engineering and management.?
