Canadians planning to visit U.S. national parks may soon have to pay more at the gate, following a new executive order signed by President Donald Trump. The order mandates increased entrance fees for foreign tourists, marking a significant change in how non-Americans are charged for accessing federally protected natural sites.
According to a statement from the White House, the policy is meant to align with global practices and ensure that foreign visitors contribute more directly to the preservation and improvement of U.S. parks. “Charging higher entrance fees to foreign tourists is a common policy at national parks throughout the world that supports both conservation and affordable access for residents,” the statement reads.
The administration argues that Americans already contribute heavily to park funding through taxes and shouldn’t be paying the same entrance fees as foreign nationals. “President Trump is ending this unfair situation and putting Americans first,” the White House noted, emphasizing that the move will support conservation efforts, reduce the parks’ maintenance backlog, and fund critical infrastructure upgrades.
The executive order also instructs the National Park Service to give U.S. citizens priority in any reservation systems for high-demand park access.
While the exact fee increase and implementation timeline have not yet been disclosed, the announcement signals a clear shift in how Canada–U.S. travel—especially leisure visits to national parks—could be impacted going forward.