The National Park Service last week announced “modest” increases to park entry fees, saying the additional revenue is needed to repair and update the aging system. Most seven-day passes will increase from $30 to $35 and will be implemented beginning June 1. Two-thirds of national parks will remain free to enter.
“All of the money from the fee increases will remain in the National Park Service, with at least 80 percent of the money staying where it is collected,” stated the NPS. The money will be used to tackle the $11.6 billion maintenance backlog.
Secretary of the Interior Ryan Zinke had originally proposed raising entry fees to $75 but faced backlash from lawmakers and the public, who said higher fees would exclude many Americans from enjoying the country’s parks. The Department of the Interior received more than 109,000 comments on Zinke’s original plan, most of them opposed.
To read the complete NPS announcement, click here.
