Yellowstone & Grand Teton entrance fees could more than double
The National Park Service is considering a proposal to increase fees at highly visited national parks during peak visitor seasons. The list includes Yellowstone and Grand Teton National Parks and 15 other national parks across the country.
The increases would apply to entrance fees and revised fees for road-based commercial tours. According to the Park Service, the revenue would fund improvements to aging infrastructure, including roads, bridges, campgrounds, waterlines, bathrooms, and other visitor services.
Yellowstone Park officials have identified a number of improvement projects. You can see the list here.
And proposed improvements to Grand Teton National Park are available here.
“The infrastructure of our national parks is aging and in need of renovation and restoration,” said U.S. Secretary of the Interior Ryan Zinke. “Targeted fee increases at some of our most-visited parks will help ensure that they are protected and preserved in perpetuity and that visitors enjoy a world-class experience that mirrors the amazing destinations they are visiting. We need to have the vision to look at the future of our parks and take action in order to ensure that our grandkids’ grandkids will have the same if not better experience than we have today. Shoring up our parks’ aging infrastructure will do that.”
Basic private vehicle entrance fees at both Grand Teton and Yellowstone National Parks are currently $30.
Under the proposal, entrance fees would increase to $70 for private, non-commercial vehicles, $50 per motorcycle, and $30 per person on bike or foot. A park-specific annual pass for any of the 17 parks would be available for $75.
The cost of the annual America the Beautiful- The National Parks and Federal Recreational Lands Pass, which provides entrance to all federal lands, including parks for a one-year period, would remain $80.
Entrance fees are not charged to visitors under 16 years of age or holders of Senior, Military, Access, Volunteer, or Every Kid in a Park (EKIP) passes. The majority of national parks will remain free to enter; only 118 of 417 park sites charge an entrance fee, and the current proposal only raises fees at 17 fee-charging parks.
The 17 identified parks would also implement new commercial fee adjustments. The Park Service is also proposing entrance and permit fee adjustments for commercial operators.
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
The 17 parks are the country’s top revenue producing parks. They collect 70 percent of the total of all entrance fees throughout the country.
Under the plan, all of the money collected would stay within the Park Service. 80 percent will remain in the park where it is collected. The other 20 percent will be spent on projects in other national parks.
The Park Service said the increased fees would increase entrance fee revenues by 34.3 percent over fiscal year 2016, from $199.9 million to $268.5 million annually.
A public comment period opened October 24 and will close November 23, 2017. You can make a comment here.
To comment use the “Document List” or “Open For Comment” project links in the left side navigation menu. Open the document and use the “Comment Now” button. Comments will also be accepted in writing. To submit written comments, mail comments to National Park Service, Recreation Fee Program, 1849 C Street, NW, Mail Stop: 2346 Washington, DC
