National parks to require photo ID for visitors 16 and up

December 5, 2025

Starting Jan. 1, 2026, a new national park ID requirement will take effect at many of America’s busiest parks. The change may slow entry lines for millions of visitors. Everyone age 16 and older will need to show a government-issued photo ID at the gate. This is a shift aimed at enforcing new residency-based fees that begin next year.

The rule supports a new $100 per-person surcharge for non-U.S. residents at 11 major national parks, including Yosemite, Yellowstone, Grand Canyon, Glacier, and Zion. While many travelers already know about the fee, fewer may be aware that U.S. residents must now prove residency through ID checks — even if they hold a valid annual pass.

A spokesperson for the Department of the Interior (DOI) said, “Visitors will confirm their residency by providing a ZIP code when purchasing a pass online and must present a U.S. government-issued photo ID when using it.” Anyone unable to show an accepted ID “will be asked to upgrade to the nonresident annual pass.” RVtravel