National Park Fees
Most, but not all, national park areas now collect entrance fees. In addition, nearly all national park campgrounds levy overnight camping fees. Some tours and guided walks also entail visitor fees. Fees have recently increased as many national park areas attempt to increase revenues that can be used to help cover the cost of maintenance at the parks. Even with increased fees, America's national parks tend to be some of the best vacation bargains.
Entrance Fees
Entrance fees are now charged at most areas administered by the National Park Service. Fees generally range from a few dollars to $20, depending on the park. Some park areas, such as California's Golden Gate National Recreation Area and Minnesota's Voyageurs National Park, still don't charge an entrance fee. The big and popular parks such as Grand Canyon National Park, Grand Teton National Park, Yellowstone National Park, and Yosemite National Park are each at the high end of the range and charge a $20 entrance fee. Less heavily visited parks such as Mesa Verde National Park, Death Valley National Park, Joshua Tree National Park, Big Bend National Park, and Everglades National Park each charge an entrance fee of $10. Smaller national park areas such as Big Hole National Battlefield, Cedar Breaks National Monument, and Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument each charge an entrance fee of $4. The fees mentioned above are all charged per carload. Thus, you can take along friends and family members at no additional charge so long as they are in the same vehicle so long as it isn't a commercial vehicle. Many parks that charge by the vehicle impose a separate fee for individuals who enter via foot, bicycle, or tour bus.
Some parks levy a charge per visitor rather than a vehicle charge. For example, Bent's Old Fort National Historic Site charges $2 per person. Likewise, Castillo de San Marcos National Monument in St. Augustine, FL charges $4 per person. Per person charges are typically levied in park areas where visitors must enter by walking rather than driving. Other National Park Service areas with a per-person charge include Florissant Fossil Beds National Monument ($2), Fort Larned National Historic Site ($2), Grand Portage National Monument ($2), Martin Van Buren National Historic Site ($2), Wupatki National Monument ($3),and Hopewell Furnace National Historic Site ($4).
The National Park Service sells several types of entrance passes. The most popular is the Golden Eagle pass sold for $50 that permits unlimited entrance into any of the parks for one year following the purchase date. This is a terrific deal if you will be visiting several parks during a year. Two other passes are available: The Golden Age Passport for seniors involves a one-time charge of $10; the Golden Access Passport is free to the handicapped. These two passes are even better than the Golden Eagle pass because holders of the Golden Age and Golden Access receive reduced rates on camping and other activities in addition to free entrance. All three passes can be obtained at any national park entrance station and at most national park visitor centers. Many individual parks also offer their own annual passes that grant free entrance at that park only. These are often a good choice if you will be visiting the same park several times during the year.
Camping Fees
Most of the big national park areas offer developed camping facilities. For example, Yosemite National Park, Yellowstone National Park, Rocky Mountain National Park, Glacier National Park, Great Smoky Mountains National Park, and Sequoia/Kings Canyon National Park each offer numerous campgrounds. Other parks such as Devil's Tower National Monument, Capitol Reef National Park, and Arches National Park each offer only a single main campground. Camping fees at the campgrounds range from $4 to $15. Some campgrounds have a fee collection station near the campground entrance while other campgrounds have a self-registration system. Holders of a Golden Age Passport or a Golden Access Passport pay half the regular camping fee. Campers must pay any park entrance fee in addition to the camping fee. Additional information about national park campgrounds can be obtained by clinking on the link at the bottom of the page.
Lodging Fees
Most national park areas do not offer overnight accommodations. Lodges are located in approximately 25 of the 378 national park areas. Parks with lodging include many of the big western parks such as Yosemite National Park, Yellowstone National Park, Death Valley National Park, Glacier National Park, Grand Canyon National Park, Mesa Verde National Park, Olympic National Park, Sequoia National Park, and Kings Canyon National Park. Both the facilities and the prices span a wide range. Tent cabins and cabins without a private bath can often be rented for $35 to $50 while elegant hotels such as the Ahwahnee in Yosemite National Park, Furnace Creek Inn in Death Valley National Park, and Jenny Lake Lodge in Grand Teton National Park each cost over $200 per night. Most national park lodging ranges from $75 to $125 per night for a double room.
Facilities without a private bath are generally less expensive and easier to reserve. Most national park lodges are owned by the government but operated by private concessionaires. Room rates and food prices are generally subject to oversight by the park superintendent in which a lodge is located. National park lodges are heavily used so reservations should be made well ahead of your planned arrival. Click on one of the following links to obtain additional information on national park lodging, camping, or guidebooks.
Contact:
dlscott@valdosta.edu