American Samoa National Park Joins Yellowstone, Yosemite, Grand Canyon, Acadia, And Other U.S. National Parks Offering Free Access For Americans: International Visitors Face An Additional Hundred Dollar Charge Starting In 2026

Starting in 2026, American Samoa National Park will begin offering free access to Americans for park visitation, and will join the likes of Yellowstone, Yosemite, Grand Canyon, and Acadia National Parks. This is the first time the National Park Service has prioritized access for domestic visitors to the National Park Service’s most frequently visited and stunning park attractions. However, international visitors continue to face a 100-dollar additional charge to enter U.S. National Parks, regardless of free entry days on the calendar. This new policy is part of the “America First” program and represents a fundamentally new set of visitation privileges available to Americans and foreign visitors to the U.S. National Parks. Now, with American Samoa National Park included in this initiative, U.S. residents can visit and explore a number of the world’s most incredible landscapes parkwide free of charge. Travel And Tour World explains the implications of this on forthcoming visits to America’s National Treasures.

U.S. Residents Get to Go to American Samoa National Park First: Casual First Policy!

There’s no other place like American Samoa National Park. As America shifts to a new way of presenting the National Park System, American Samoa National Park will lead the way. Starting in 2026, American Samoa National Park will also include and offer to U.S. residents other National Parks like Yellowstone, Yosemite, and the Grand Canyon. Starting next year, the America First Policy will offer U.S. residents free admission to America’s National Parks, and it is a huge opportunity for tourists to take advantage of.

However, the new America First Policy will be the opposite for foreign tourists. Starting next year, foreign tourists will pay an additional $100 to visit popular National Parks, including American Samoa National Park, on days when U.S. tourists can visit for free. Starting next year, American National Parks will have a new operational model to improve the visiting experience for U.S. residents. This is a huge shift in how other tourists will see the wild.

Americans First: New Policy Change Impacting Travelers in America

In early January 2024, during a government briefing, Biden announced a proposed policy change branded “America First”. The America First policy change will most greatly impact both American tourists and resident travelers and will impact the America’s National Parks visitation policy. Beginning in 2026, Americans will be able to access their country’s national parks and public lands for free ten times a year. Those ten days will be aligned with American holidays, giving Americans the opportunity to visit and appreciate parks and sites such as Yellowstone, Yosemite, and Grand Canyon for free on holidays.

In an effort to continue prioritizing American citizens during their visits to America’s National Parks and Public lands, on December 14, 2025, the National Park Service announced a change in the policy designed to increase the number of free visitation days aligned with American holidays. Starting in 2026, the number of free visitation days will increase from 6 to 10, giving Americans more opportunities to visit parks and sites at no cost.

What Americans can now do for free at America’s National Parks and Public lands: walk the famous Half Dome in Yosemite, view the Grand Canyon from the vertigo-inducing cliffs, and hike amongst the geothermal features in Yellowstone. It’s a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to be free of charge, and Americans should take advantage of it.

What Makes American Samoa National Park So Special?

American Samoa National Park is one of the most unique destinations in the United States National Park System and, as of recently, one of the few, if not the only, national park that Americans can visit for free. Located in the South Pacific Ocean, American Samoa National Park is unlike any other park in the United States. Featuring tropical rainforests, volcanic mountains, and vibrant coral reefs, the park is tropical oasis. The spectacular views that the nation’s parks are known for is enhanced by the volcanic peaks and rugged coastlines, a combination not often found in U.S. national parks.

For several decades, American Samoa National Park has been an accessible tropical oasis. However, upcoming changes to policies regarding park admission will limit free access to American Samoa to only United States citizens. This change reflects a new focus on domestic tourism, with Americans being the only nationality able to visit the park and have free access on select days.

While this will be an exciting change for American Samoa and other parts of the United States, the new access policies will be a significant loss to international travelers as they will incur new costs to access originally free, one of the most stunning and diverse national parks in the United States.

International Tourists’ Response to Financial Squeeze: $100 Surcharge for Major US Parks

Foreign visitors contending with the “America First” policy will have to pay higher fees and have restricted access to US National Parks. Starting in 2026, international visitors will have to pay $100 extra on top of current entrance fees for the 11 most visited national parks in the US, which include American Samoa National Park, Yellowstone, Yosemite, and Grand Canyon.

This latest surcharge will be implemented for all international visitors, regardless of the free entry days designated for US residents. This means that on some days, when US citizens will have free access, foreign visitors will have to pay this surcharge and be restricted from access to these important landmarks.

This will include parks such as the Grand Canyon, Yosemite, and Yellowstone, which all have millions of international visitors annually. This new fee policy is designed to increase the costs for international tourists wanting to experience these world-famous national parks.

Implications of the America First Policy on Global Tourism

International tourism will be influenced significantly by the recent $100 fee added to international visitors to US National Parks. While the America First Policy will be able to help finance the maintenance and upkeep of the US National Parks, many critics do not welcome the America First Policy. Critics believe the added fees will deter international visitors to the US, especially those intending to visit several US National Parks.

For some international visitors, the added fees may result in some National Parks being too expensive. In turn, border towns in the US National Parks may experience a downturn in tourism that will hurt the local economy. Tourism-dependent businesses in the local economy will be impacted by the lower economic activity.

American Residents’ Unique Privileges: Why the U.S. Citizens “First” Policy is a Win

The “America First” Policy is wonderful for U.S. citizens and residents, who can now, more than ever, enjoy the splendor and majesty of the country’s natural heritage. In particular, with the 10 free entry days to the national parks in 2026, Americans can enjoy Yellowstone, Yosemite, and the Grand Canyon hassle-free and with zero entry costs. For Americans, this is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to see and appreciate cultural and natural heritage sites that are national treasures and do so for free.

2026 will have even more free entry days, including July 4, Presidents’ Day, and Veterans Day. Americans can finally enjoy the country’s natural wonders free of entry fees.

While Americans will benefit the most, the “America First” policy will most likely disadvantage foreign visitors. They will likely have to endure the steep price increases to do the U.S. national parks tour they have been dreaming about. It is rare that citizens and residents of any country are so definitively and directly prioritized. U.S. citizens and residents will enjoy the remarkable national parks for free on specific days of their choosing.

The Top Ten Must-Visit U.S. National Parks in 2026

The America First policy opens the choice to visit America’s National Parks and access the most breathtaking sceneries in the country while paying no entrance fee. Below are the 10 National Parks to visit, along with their unique specialization:

Yellowstone National Park (Wyoming/Montana/Idaho)
First in line is the world’s first national park, Yellowstone. Special geothermal features such as Old Faithful and various wild animals call Yellowstone home.

Yosemite National Park (California)
Next in line is the American National Park with beautiful granite cliffs like El Capitan and Half Dome as well as the ancient Mariposa grove of giant sequoias. Yosemite is home to iconic and breathtaking granite cliffs.

Grand Canyon National Park (Arizona)
Grand Canyon provides various stunning views of the canyon, as well as activities such as hiking, rafting, and exploring the area’s layered rock structures.

Acadia National Park (Maine)
Acadia is also one of the earliest sunrise spots in the country, providing beautiful views from Cadillac Mountain. Acadia is also home to beautiful coastal and mountain scenery.

Great Smoky Mountains National Park (Tennessee/North Carolina)
The Great Smoky Mountains feature misty mountains, diverse wildlife, and a UNESCO World Heritage Site, where you’ll find numerous hiking trails.

Zion National Park (Utah)
The last national park on the list is Zion. Hikers and Rock climbers go to Zion for its stunning views and for the exciting climb to the top of the red rock cliffs and the impressive canyon.

Death Valley National Park (California/Nevada)
Only Death Valley National Park can say it has the hottest place on Earth! And on top of that, it has dramatic scenery highlighted by Badwater Basin, the lowest point in North America.

Biscayne National Park (Florida)
Biscayne National Park has stunning, clear waters that are filled with life, along with some of the most beautiful coral reefs in the world.

Badlands National Park (South Dakota)
South Dakota’s Badlands National Park is home to some of the most unique rock formations on earth, along with an incredible history of fossils, including dinosaur fossils.

Yellowstone National Park (Wyoming)
The first national park in the world, Yellowstone, offers incredible geothermal wonders, diverse wildlife (including wolves, grizzlies, and bison), and is home to some of the most breathtaking scenery in North America!

There are currently 63 recognized national parks in the United States, segregated into 24 states, 2 overseas territories, and Washington, D.C.

The parks are:

1. Acadia National Park, Maine
2. American Samoa National Park, American Samoa
3. Arches National Park, Utah
4. Badlands National Park, South Dakota
5. Big Bend National Park, Texas
6. Biscayne National Park, Florida
7. Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park, Colorado
8. Joshua Tree National Park, California
9. Bryce Canyon National Park, Utah
10. Canyonlands National Park, Utah
11. Capitol Reef National Park, Utah
12. Carlsbad Caverns National Park, New Mexico
13. Channel Islands National Park, California
14. Congaree National Park, South Carolina
15. Crater Lake National Park, Oregon
16. Cuyahoga Valley National Park, Ohio
17. Death Valley National Park, California/Nevada
18. Denali National Park & Preserve, Alaska
19. Everglades National Park, Florida
20. Gates of the Arctic National Park & Preserve, Alaska
21. Gateway Arch National Park, Missouri
22. Glacier National Park, Montana
23. Grand Canyon National Park, Arizona
24. Grand Teton National Park, Wyoming
25. Great Basin National Park, Nevada
26. Great Sand Dunes National Park & Preserve, Colorado
27. Great Smoky Mountains National Park, North Carolina/Tennessee
28. Guadalupe Mountains National Park, Texas
29. Haleakalā National Park, Hawaii
30. Hawai’i Volcanoes National Park, Hawaii
31. Hot Springs National Park, Arkansas
32. Indiana Dunes National Park, Indiana
33. Isle Royale National Park, Michigan
34. Joshua Tree National Park, California
35. Kenai Fjords National Park, Alaska
36. Kings Canyon National Park, California

National Parks Closest To Kobuk Valley National Park

1. Lassen Volcanic National Park (California)
2. Mammoth Cave National Park (Kentucky)
3. Mesa Verde National Park (Colorado)
4. Mount Rainier National Park (Washington)
5. National Park of American Samoa (American Samoa)
6. New River Gorge National Park and Preserve (West Virginia)
7. North Cascades National Park (Washington)
8. Olympic National Park (Washington)
9. Petrified Forest National Park (Arizona)
10. Redwood National and State Parks (California)
11. Rocky Mountain National Park (Colorado)
12. Saguaro National Park (Arizona)
13. Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks (California)
14. Shenandoah National Park (Virginia)
15. Theodore Roosevelt National Park (North Dakota)
16. Virgin Islands National Park (U.S. Virgin Islands)
17. Voyageurs National Park (Minnesota)
18. Washington D.C. National Mall and Memorial Parks (Washington D.C.)
19. Wind Cave National Park (South Dakota)
20. Yellowstone National Park (Wyoming/Montana/Idaho)
21. Yosemite National Park (California)
22. Zion National Park (Utah)

Conclusion: Don’t Miss the Entry Days in 2026

Thanks to the “America First” policy, the residents of the U.S. have the privilege of visiting the National Parks in the country for FREE. Take advantage of the special free entry days scheduled for 2026 to visit some of America’s wonderful, natural sights, including the Great Smoky Mountains, Yellowstone, and the Grand Canyon. Take advantage of this special opportunity to visit and experience one of America’s national jewels.

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