So there is a proposal right now to change the entrance fees for half the year for the top parks. You can read the details below but here's the rough of it. Currently the fee is $20 per car load or $10 per pedestrian, bicycle, or motorcycle. The change would move it to $70 per car, $50 per motorcycle, and $30 per pedestrian.
I understand their reasoning because the funds go to repair infrastructure in the parks and I'm sure after budget cuts their money is tight. But my concern is this could potentially kill the parks by having the reverse impact by people just not going anymore due to the cost. I know for me I go all the time and have had an annual pass for years but if it goes crazy high cost I wouldn't get the pass anymore.
FYI there is a part in the story that shows where you can send a comment back to them. They are collecting data for 30 days to see if they want to move forward with it.
https://parkplanning.nps.gov/projectHome.cfm?projectId=75576
As part of its commitment to improve the visitor experience, the National Park Service is considering increases to fees at highly visited national parks during peak visitor seasons. Proposed peak season entrance fees and revised fees for road-based commercial tours will generate badly needed revenue for improvements to the aging infrastructure of national parks.
Under the proposal, peak season entrance fees would be established at 17 national parks. The peak-season for each park would be defined as its busiest contiguous five month period of visitation.
During a five-month peak-season at each of the 17 parks, the entrance fee would be $70 per vehicle, $50 per motorcycle, and $30 per person. All of the funds would be used to improve facilities, infrastructure, and visitor services, with an emphasis on deferred maintenance projects.
The peak season for each park is defined as the busiest contiguous five month period and would be as follows:
- May 1-September 30 for Arches National Park, Bryce Canyon National Park, Canyonlands National Park, Denali National Park, Glacier National Park, Grand Canyon National Park, Grand Teton National Park, Olympic National Park, Sequoia & Kings Canyon National Park, Yellowstone National Park, Yosemite National Park, Zion National Park
- June 1-October 31 for Acadia National Park, Mount Rainier National Park, Rocky Mountain National Park, Shenandoah National Park
- January 1-May 31 for Joshua Tree National Park
I understand their reasoning because the funds go to repair infrastructure in the parks and I'm sure after budget cuts their money is tight. But my concern is this could potentially kill the parks by having the reverse impact by people just not going anymore due to the cost. I know for me I go all the time and have had an annual pass for years but if it goes crazy high cost I wouldn't get the pass anymore.
FYI there is a part in the story that shows where you can send a comment back to them. They are collecting data for 30 days to see if they want to move forward with it.
https://parkplanning.nps.gov/projectHome.cfm?projectId=75576
As part of its commitment to improve the visitor experience, the National Park Service is considering increases to fees at highly visited national parks during peak visitor seasons. Proposed peak season entrance fees and revised fees for road-based commercial tours will generate badly needed revenue for improvements to the aging infrastructure of national parks.
Under the proposal, peak season entrance fees would be established at 17 national parks. The peak-season for each park would be defined as its busiest contiguous five month period of visitation.
During a five-month peak-season at each of the 17 parks, the entrance fee would be $70 per vehicle, $50 per motorcycle, and $30 per person. All of the funds would be used to improve facilities, infrastructure, and visitor services, with an emphasis on deferred maintenance projects.
The peak season for each park is defined as the busiest contiguous five month period and would be as follows:
- May 1-September 30 for Arches National Park, Bryce Canyon National Park, Canyonlands National Park, Denali National Park, Glacier National Park, Grand Canyon National Park, Grand Teton National Park, Olympic National Park, Sequoia & Kings Canyon National Park, Yellowstone National Park, Yosemite National Park, Zion National Park
- June 1-October 31 for Acadia National Park, Mount Rainier National Park, Rocky Mountain National Park, Shenandoah National Park
- January 1-May 31 for Joshua Tree National Park
