How much would you be OK with paying to visit national parks?/Canyonlands National Park vista, Rebecca Latson
How much is a national park visit worth to you? It's a question that floats to the surface from time to time when talk turns to the National Park Service's funding woes and nearly $12 billion maintenance backlog.
So, how much is too much? Instead of paying $25 or $30 per carload for a week in a park, would you be willing to pay, say, $25 or $35 per person in your car? Would you be OK with being charged a flat $100 per carload for seven days?
One-hundred-dollars per carload might seem expensive, but it also might still be a bargain, if you consider that in 1916 it cost $10 to enter Yellowstone National Park. If that $10 fee continued to rise annually with the rate of inflation, today the fee would be $244.
So, travelers, what maximum price would you place on visiting a national park? At what price point would you say, "Whoa, that's more than I can comfortably afford with my budget"?
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Comments
The National Park’s already belong to the people of the U.S. and should not be excessively charged. The cost of maintaining roads and local infrastructure should be the charge. I would anticipate $25 per vehicle.
We are not rich by any stretch, but we try to live frugally and save for meaningful things. Based on our budget, $150 per carload is about tops for us.
A fair price is equal to a family of 4 one day pass to The Magic Kingdom - approximately $400.00
You are out of your mind, to enjoy the environment that is untouched and sanctioned for all people, so if I wanted to enter the park it would cost 100.00, absolutely crazy.
I would pay more, especially if it helps with resource management. However; we all should share in the cost equally, No more discounts for seniors or military,etc. Also please limit the number of us coming in. The current allowances are hurting the resources, degrading facilities and changing the experience. One last thing be tougher on visitor misbehavior, I would pay more for that alone.
$25 per car for a day pass or $100 per car for a week seems fair to visit one of our national treasures! People pay far more for trivial possessions.
I think non-citizens should pay more since they don’t pay our taxes. Not an illegal immigrant statement but when buses cart in 10,000 Japanese tourista a day for one bus fee, this trail traffic and sight congestion puts strain on the infrastructure.
This is offensive on so many levels.
I tend to agree with the bus loads paying more. And be more curtious too.
Totally agree!
I Agree. Busses should be much more heavily charged. They contribute greatly to the damaging hordes of visitors in Old Faithful, Canyon and Mammoth.
I would like to see the daily admission increased to about $50, but also raise the annual pass from $80 to at least $150. That should reduce the traffic and raise revenue
it’s about Time to raise the price for annual pass .and please only one Signature .german People sell the pass for half price for the 2 Signatur .
I would be willing to pay $50-$75 entry fee .
I'd gladly pay $100 or maybe a little more if it helps the parks.
The question would be easier to answer if we actually knew how much it cost to run the parks, how much is being collected now and how those collected monies are being spent. Currently it is a black hole.
I believe having a flat rate per vehicle fee coupled with a per person charge would be beneficial to helping the NP‘s with maintenance costs and still being affordable for visitors. An example would be; $35/vehicle plus $10/person.
Echoing and endorsing Ron Raulston. My family visits multiple parks every year with an annual pass. $80 is a steal. It should be at least twice that, perhaps $200.
i have thought for a little no time the NPS should charge $100 per week per car. After all, a family of 4 would spend at least that much for a MLB game.
I’m in Canada right now, visiting Banff and Jasper. I paid under $79 US to get an annual National Parks pass here. The US has more designated national parks than Canada, I imagine, though a handful of them shouldn’t be in this tier, and therefore not worth a glance let alone a visit. Nevertheless, considering the numbers, I would pay more, but certainly not much more. Twice as much as Canada’s annual pass, tops.
Depends on the park and the nature of the visit. Devil’s Tower NM is ridiculously expensive for a casual visit. Large, heavily visited parks that need a lot of maintenance and infrastructure, tend to have longer stays, or have especially fragile ecosystems should charge more. In my home state I can visit huge portions of N Cascades and Olympic and pay no fees at all because the parks straddle major transportation routes. The annual parks pass is a screaming deal and I‘d pay at least 50% more for it than NPS is currently charging. It seems like a good way to spread fees across the board and encourage repeat visits.
It’s hard to answer this question with the backdrop of a one trillion dollar tax cut giveaway that could have been used for so many other things. $12B is only a little more than one percent of $1T
No more than the present $25. As others have said the parks belong to the American people, all of the American people, not just the rich and affluent. Raising fees would effectively deny access to people who have a right to that access.
As a holder of a senior pass that cost practically nothing, I see no problem paying 50% of the entrance fee or handing A free will donation when presenting any park service pass. Even at $25 per person for A seven day pass is a bargain when considering the cost of the total vacation. How about enlisting various groups, persons required to give public service etc to perform maintenance. How about a mentor program where young persons are teamed up with retired seniors With specific skills to improve the parks.
Think creativity raise the fees along with trying something new
I think that entance fee for U.S. citizens should be free. You pay federal taxes, that should properly fund the NPS, and you shouldn’t be charged twice. Visitors from other countries should be charged a fee. I believe the park entrance fee goes to the federal “general fund” and only under certain circumstances the park, that collects the fee, gets keep any of that money.
David et al, parks that charge entrance fees get to keep 80 percent of those fees, with the remaining 20 percent sent to Washington to be redistributed to parks that don't have entrance fees.
Kurt I was employed by NPS for 24 years, we were told the fees go to the general fund, except when there is an immediate need, then it must be approved.
That's changed, David.
https://www.nps.gov/aboutus/fees-at-work.htm
Thank you for the link Kurt. I retired in 2005 and was unaware that the National Park change occured.
the Fee should be no more than it currently is. If we kept the Money raised by the parks in the parks instead of it going into the general fund this would solve the infrastructure problems many times over.
$100 for seven days is excessive. Raising the price for the America The Beautiful Pass from $80 to $150 is a start. I but the pass every year and I do not mind paying more.
amusement parks $60+ per person. $100 per day per car $1000 For a day per bus. That would be fair. You don’t go there everyday.
ZERO...why would I pay to visit my own land?
The same reason you pay your monthly bills to live in your house.
index to cost of imax movie. Charge per person just like movies. Kids and seniors get discount just like movies.
Very Park dependent. Stop charging per vehicle and charge per person with an added vehicle charge depending on type of vehicle, Bus/Motorhome, car/motorcycle and no added charge for someone walking in or on bicycle. I agree with those saying eliminate all the discounts. I understand the argument but I'm opposed to charging foreigners more.
$25 a person and double the annual pass cost (if not triple it).
I’d pay up to $60 but I’d want there to be some kind of low income discount.
I’ve been to over 30 National Parks and is be willing to pay $100 a person, if that would ensure the rangers and services provided are fully funded. The current rate of $25-30 is a steal, $50 is reasonable but if you kick it up to $100 now I don’t want to hear any BS about subpar services or government shutdowns.
For me, I travel mostly solo. So that $244 per car is pretty steep. I think $25 a carload, but per day, not for 7 whole days. If people want a 7-day pass, then up the price to $150 a week.
I live near and go to the Everglades on a regular basis. They have a $30 per vehicle for 7 days charge. Most people who visit maybe do 2 days at the most, unless camping. Most drive through in a few hours and head to the Keys or Miami. They should have a per day charge, a per week charge, and a regular pass holder charge.
I agree with Barbara! I, too, travel mostly solo so the per car fees can be steep. The fee per day would work. I also live near Everglades NP and 'day trip' regularly. I would pay $20/visit. Everglades NP has 4 locations and several don't have entrance fees so they are needing help as well. Anyone heading to the Homestead entrance (Ernest F Coe) be sure & stop at Robert is Here and get a freshly made key lime milkshake - the best in the entire state!
$0 we pay taxes which should fund the parks.
I buy an annual pass for $80 dollar. Raising America the Beautiful annual pass to say, $125/year would be fair. Another thing, charge foreigners a higher fee when visiting our National Park. They’re enjoying it as much but not paying taxes.
The price we charge is far lower than other countries. I think there should be a tiered system - one price for US residents, and a much higher price for tourists from other countries.
I would say 50.00 a day and 200.00 for season pass.
I have to chuckle a little. I'm guessing that those that want to charge "those from other countries" more are the same ones calling Donald Trump a racist and demanding free healthcare and education for illegal immigrants. I have done a significant amount of internation travel and touring (all legal). I have never noted a differention in pricing based on country of origin.
After traveling all over the world, I see how common it is to chathe non-locals, and specifically non-citizens more to enjoy the parks paid for by citizens tax dollars. Living in the northwest, every summer our parks are full of tourists from all over the world. Let them pay the market price that we cannot subsidize, and continue to encourage low income scout groups to have camp sites. Currently, we need to book a year in advance just to ensure we can enjoy the wild places in our backyard because Europeans, Chinese and others are coming with money to rent RVs and take their American tour. If they can afford a few weeks driving across the US to see our special places, they can pay a bit more
I've read all the comments and agree with many and disagree with some. I've never visited Disneyland or Disney World nor taken my children there because we could never afford it. We don't go to major sporting events for the same reason. We drive because we can't afford to fly. We pack picnic lunches instead of eating in restaurants. We pay our taxes. We visit our National Parks. We live on Social Security alone, about $18,000 a year. We live within two hours of Yellowstone and Teaton Parks and couldn't visit without our parks pass. Get a grip, you rich people. Not everyone can afford your vacations and paying for seven days when I'm only visiting for one is excessive. I agree that those who don't pay taxes shouldn't benifit from the labor of those who do and their impact on the parks is massive. That said, I agree that the parks should have different fees depending on their popularity and I would be willing to pay, say $50 per car for Yellowstone or the Grand Canyon, but not for Harper's Ferry or Assateague. Thanks for asking.
I would pay nothing - I HAVE THE SENIOR PASS - YIPPEE
A family entereing any amazing park, pays much more.
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