Yellowstone Season 5 Part 2 Release Date Finally Revealed—Everything You Need to Know

Yellowstone National Park will soon cost foreign tourists an extra $100 per head, after the U.S. Interior Department confirmed a new “resident-focused” fee structure taking effect 1 January 2026. The surcharge applies to 11 of America’s most-visited parks—including Yellowstone, Grand Teton, Yosemite and Zion—as part of a plan officials say will keep prices steady for U.S. families while tackling a multibillion-dollar maintenance backlog. Why Yellowstone matters • Record demand: The world’s first national park welcomed 4.5 million recreation visits in 2024; roughly 15 percent were international travelers, a figure officials expect to rebound as global tourism normalizes. • Infrastructure strain: Aging boardwalks around Mammoth Hot Springs, crumbling bridges over the Yellowstone River and overbooked campgrounds top a to-do list that the new revenue—estimated at $55 million a year for Yellowstone alone—aims to address. • Wider rollout: Annual “America the Beautiful” passes for non-residents will jump from $80 to $250, while domestic pricing remains unchanged. Reaction from gateway communities Tourism businesses in Gardiner, West Yellowstone and Cody worry sticker shock could push high-spending visitors toward other bucket-list destinations. “If Australians pay triple what locals pay, some will simply skip the park,” said Cara McGary, owner of wildlife-tour operator In Our Nature. Hoteliers near Glacier and Grand Teton voice similar concerns, warning of a ripple effect on rural jobs dependent on park traffic. What travelers need to know for 2026 bookings 1. Budget early: Factor the $100 per-person fee into multi-day itineraries; a family of four will pay $400 on top of vehicle admission. 2. Consider the annual pass: Extended U.S. road-trippers may find the $250 non-resident pass cheaper than paying per park after three or more visits. 3. Arrive off-peak: Spring (late April–May) and fall (mid-September–October) shoulder seasons still offer geyser eruptions, wolf sightings and shorter entrance lines. 4. Reserve lodging now: In-park hotels and popular campgrounds open reservations a year out and sell out within minutes. Frequently searched questions • Will U.S. citizens living abroad pay the surcharge? No. Eligibility is based on citizenship, not residency. • Does the fee apply to commercial tours? Yes; the $100 surcharge is levied whether visitors arrive in personal vehicles, on foot or via tour bus. • Can I upgrade to a resident pass later? Only U.S. citizens can purchase the standard $80 annual pass. Proof of citizenship will be required at pickup. Bottom line Yellowstone’s new pricing signals a decisive shift toward “user-pays” funding. International travelers should lock in 2025 trips to avoid the hike or plan ahead for 2026 budgets—because the pull of Old Faithful, Lamar Valley wolves and the park’s 10,000 geothermal features is unlikely to fade even at $100 more.