New 2026 Non-Resident Fee Changes For Montana National Parks

It was not too long ago that decisions were made that will change national park fees. It will not impact U.S. citizens, but for international visitors, the increase is significant at some of the most popular parks. There have been a few clarifications since the announcement, so here is what you should know, especially here in Montana.

Beginning in 2026, some busy parks will have a two-tier pricing system. International visitors aged 16 and up will pay an extra $100 per person, in addition to the regular $35 vehicle entrance fee.

Here in Montana, the increase applies only to Glacier National Park and Yellowstone National Park. These parks were included due to heavy visitation and ongoing maintenance needs.

For U.S. citizens and permanent residents, the regular rates remain in place. The annual America the Beautiful pass still costs 80 dollars for residents. International visitors, however, will pay $250 for the same pass. It makes sense for visitors to go ahead and purchase the Non-resident annual pass if visitors plan to visit more than one park.

Another big change is to the “Fee-Free Days.” In 2026, these will be called “Patriotic Fee-Free Days” and will only be free for U.S. citizens. Martin Luther King Jr. Day and Juneteenth have been removed from the list, while Flag Day and Constitution Day have been added.

While the price increases are steep for international visitors, they only apply to specific parks, and the funds are expected to generate 90 million, which are ONLY allocated to the National Parks.