New Yosemite International Visitor Fee (2026): What Foreign Travelers Need to Know

Beginning January 1, 2026, international visitors entering several of the United States’ most popular national parks, including Yosemite National Park, are now subject to an additional entrance surcharge.

The policy was implemented by the U.S. Department of the Interior and is administered by the National Park Service. It adds a $100 per-person fee for non-U.S. residents aged 16 and older when entering certain high-visitation national parks.

For many travelers planning a trip to Yosemite, the change has raised understandable questions. Here’s what visitors, and our gateway communities, should know about how the new policy works and what it means on the ground.

How Yosemite Entrance Fees Work Now

Yosemite has long charged entrance fees to support park operations and visitor services. These fees apply to everyone entering the park.

Current entrance fees for everyone include:

• $35 per vehicle (valid for seven days)

• $30 per motorcycle

• $20 per person entering on foot, bicycle, or bus

US Residents can also purchase the America the Beautiful annual pass for $80, which grants access to national parks and federal recreation lands across the United States for one year.

Under the new policy, international visitors now pay an additional $100 per person surcharge, which is collected in addition to the standard entrance fee.

For example, a car carrying four international visitors could pay:

• $35 vehicle entrance fee

• $100 per international visitor

Total: $435

PRO TIP International travelers who plan to visit multiple parks or have more than 2 people in thier party can alternatively purchase a $250 annual pass for international visitors, which provides entry to more than 2,000 federal recreation sites.

Parks Where the Fee Applies

The surcharge currently applies to 11 of the most visited national parks in the United States, including:

• Yosemite

• Yellowstone

• Grand Canyon

• Zion

• Glacier

• Rocky Mountain

• Acadia

• Bryce Canyon

• Everglades

• Grand Teton

• Sequoia & Kings Canyon

These parks were selected because they receive the highest visitation and represent a significant portion of the National Park System’s infrastructure and maintenance needs.

Why the Policy Was Implemented

According to federal officials, the new fee was created to help address the significant deferred maintenance backlog across the National Park System.

National parks across the country face billions of dollars in needed repairs and upgrades, including:

• aging roads and bridges

• wastewater infrastructure

• historic building restoration

• visitor facilities and trail maintenance

Supporters of the policy argue that international visitors benefit from these public lands but do not contribute to them through U.S. taxes, and therefore should help contribute more directly to maintenance costs.

Yosemite Basecamp and many of our partners disagree and recognize that it would difficult to manage the extensive backlog on the backs of our non-resident visitors. Even Interior Department and NPS estimates suggest revenue projections (around $1B system-wide) barely make a dent in the reported $27 B NPS maintenance backlog.

How the Fee Applies to Guided Adventures

Another important detail for visitors to understand is how the international visitor fee applies to guided tours and transportation services entering Yosemite.

Under the current policy, the surcharge applies to all international visitors entering the park, regardless of how they arrive. That means the fee can still apply if you enter Yosemite:

• with a commercial guide service

• on a private tour

• through a transportation provider operating under a Commercial Use Authorization (CUA)

Guides and tour companies operating in Yosemite under permits from the National Park Service are responsible for ensuring that their guests have paid the required entrance fees before entering the park.

However, as of early 2026, there is an important operational exception.

The surcharge is not currently being collected on passengers arriving via the region’s public transit system, the Yosemite Area Regional Transportation System (YARTS).

YARTS is a regional bus network connecting gateway communities such as Sonora, Merced, and Mammoth Lakes with Yosemite Valley and Tuolumne Meadows. Because it operates as a public transportation provider rather than a commercial tour operator, the new international surcharge has not yet been incorporated into its fare structure.

This means that, at least for now, international visitors entering Yosemite via YARTS may not encounter the additional fee at the same point of entry as visitors arriving by car or through guided tours.

Policies and enforcement details are still evolving, so visitors should always check current requirements before traveling.

PRO TIP Utilize the YARTS system in 2026 to avoid issues with congested parking and non-resident fees.

Advocacy from Yosemite’s Guiding Community

The policy has also prompted discussion among Yosemite’s guiding community.

Our Partner, Echo Adventure Cooperative has been working with other Commercial Use Authorization (CUA) holders who operate tours and educational programs in Yosemite to communicate concerns about the policy to federal representatives.

Guides and small recreation businesses have raised questions about how the new fee could affect:

• international visitation to Yosemite

• the economic health of gateway communities

• operational logistics for guided trips

As part of that effort, outreach has been made to several members of California’s congressional delegation, including:

• Tom McClintock

• Alex Padilla

• Adam Schiff

• Kevin Kiley

So far, Representative McClintock’s office has shown interest in the issue and engaged in conversation with local operators, while no responses have yet been received from the offices of Senators Padilla or Schiff or Representative Kiley.

Discussions about the policy remain ongoing, and recreation businesses across the Yosemite gateway region continue to monitor how the fee may affect visitors and local tourism economies.

Experiencing the Sierra Beyond Yosemite

While Yosemite is one of the most iconic landscapes in the world, it is only a small part of the vast Sierra Nevada mountain range. Just outside the park boundaries lie millions of acres of public lands offering incredible opportunities for adventure, often with fewer crowds and greater flexibility.

Many visitors are surprised to discover that some of the region’s most memorable experiences take place outside the park, particularly in the nearby Stanislaus National Forest.

Gateway communities like Groveland offer easy access to these landscapes and a variety of locally operated adventures, including:

Whitewater Rafting on the Tuolumne River: Sierra Mac River Trips offers guided rafting trips through one of California’s most spectacular wilderness canyons.

Guided Fly Fishing and Stargazing: Echo Adventure Cooperative provides guided outdoor experiences across Yosemite and the surrounding Sierra.

Off-Road Sierra Exploration: Miller's Off Road Adventures offers jeep tours exploring historic mining routes and remote alpine landscapes.

Mountain Biking and Trail Stewardship: The nonprofit Groveland Trail Heads maintains and builds mountain biking trails throughout the Groveland area.

Together, these organizations highlight something locals have always known: the Sierra Nevada experience extends far beyond the boundaries of Yosemite National Park.

Frequently Asked Questions About the Yosemite International Visitor Fee

Do international visitors pay extra to enter Yosemite?

Yes. As of January 1, 2026, non-U.S. residents age 16 and older are required to pay a $100 international visitor surcharge in addition to the standard Yosemite entrance fee.

Can you enter Yosemite National Park without paying the entrance fees?

Yes, technically, the park is open 24 hours a day, so you could enter early before the Entrance Stations open and leave late after the Entrance Stations have closed.

Does the international visitor fee apply to guided tours?

Yes. The surcharge still applies when entering Yosemite with commercial guides and tour operators operating under National Park Service Commercial Use Authorizations (CUAs).

Do passengers on YARTS pay the international visitor fee?

As of early 2026, the surcharge is not currently being collected through fares on Yosemite Area Regional Transportation System (YARTS), the regional public transit system serving Yosemite. Policies may evolve, so visitors should check current requirements before traveling.

Is there an annual pass for international visitors?

Yes. International travelers can purchase a $250 annual pass covering entry to more than 2,000 federal recreation sites.

Can you visit the Sierra Nevada without entering Yosemite?

Absolutely. Nearby areas such as Stanislaus National Forest offer incredible hiking, rafting, mountain biking, and off-road exploration with fewer crowds.

Are there also reservation required to enter the National Parks?

No, at this time the Dept. of Interior has removed reservations from most national parks including Yosemite National Park.

Looking Ahead

Yosemite remains one of the most iconic landscapes in the world, welcoming millions of visitors every year.

As visitation grows and infrastructure ages, the conversation about how to sustainably fund national parks will likely continue to evolve. The new international visitor fee represents one approach to addressing those challenges, though its long-term impacts on tourism and gateway communities are still unfolding.

What remains unchanged is why people travel here in the first place: to experience one of the most extraordinary natural landscapes on Earth.

And that experience continues to inspire visitors from around the world.

Please stop into the Yosemite Basecamp Visitor Center at 18688 Highway 120 in Groveland, CA on your way into Yosemite National Park. We can give you the most updated information and help you make the most of your time in Yosemite!