Entrance Fees At NJ State Parks Return After 2-Year Pause

NEW JERSEY — Entrance fees at New Jersey state parks, forests and recreational areas returned this month after a two-year pause, according to the state Department of Environmental Protection.

Summer entrance fees are currently in effect for nearly all state parks through Sept. 3. The only exception is Island Beach State Park, which has a year-round entrance fee.

"The New Jersey State Park Service has historically charged entrance or parking fees at some of its parks during the summer, including Island Beach State Park. These fees were waived in 2022 and 2023 as part of the Murphy Administration’s fee holiday coming out of the pandemic," a spokesperson for the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection told News 12 New Jersey.

Entrance fees to state parks are charged by vehicle, according to the NJDEP website. An oversized vehicle's fee is twice that of a regular vehicle. Walk-in fees range from $2 to $3 per person for both residents and non-residents.

Here's a list of summer entrance fees by park:

Allaire State Park

• Weekdays: Free
• Weekends/Holidays: NJ residents - $5, Non-residents - $7

Atsion Recreation Area

• Weekdays: NJ residents - $5, Non-residents - $10
• Weekends/Holidays: NJ residents - $10, Non-residents - $20

Bass River State Forest

• Weekdays: NJ residents - $5, Non-residents - $10
• Weekends/Holidays: NJ residents - $10, Non-residents - $20

Batsto Village

• Weekdays: Free
• Weekends/Holidays: NJ residents - $5, Non-residents - $7

Belleplain State Forest

• Weekdays: NJ residents - $5, Non-residents - $10
• Weekends/Holidays: NJ residents - $10, Non-residents - $20

Cheesequake State Park

• Weekdays: NJ residents - $5, Non-residents - $10
• Weekends/Holidays: NJ residents - $10, Non-residents - $20

High Point State Park

• Weekdays: NJ residents - $5, Non-residents - $10
• Weekends/Holidays: NJ residents - $10, Non-residents - $20

Hopatcong State Park

• Weekdays: NJ residents - $6, Non-residents - $10
• Weekends/Holidays: NJ residents - $10, Non-residents - $20

Island Beach State Park

• Weekdays: NJ residents - $6, Non-residents - $12
• Weekends/Holidays: NJ residents - $10, Non-residents - $20

Parvin State Park

• Weekdays: Free
• Weekends/Holidays: Free

Ringwood Manor

• Weekdays: Free
• Weekends/Holidays: NJ residents - $5, Non-residents - $7

Round Valley Recreation Area

• Weekdays: NJ residents - $5, Non-residents - $10
• Weekends/Holidays: NJ residents - $10, Non-residents - $20

Shephard Lake - Ringwood

• Weekdays: NJ residents - $5, Non-residents - $10
• Weekends/Holidays: NJ residents - $10, Non-residents - $20

Skylands

• Weekdays: Free
• Weekends/Holidays: NJ residents - $5, Non-residents - $7

Spruce Run Recreation Area

• Weekdays: NJ residents - $5, Non-residents - $10
• Weekends/Holidays: NJ residents - $10, Non-residents - $20

Stokes State Forest

• Weekdays: NJ residents - $5, Non-residents - $10
• Weekends/Holidays: NJ residents - $10, Non-residents - $20

Swartswood State Park

• Weekdays: NJ residents - $5, Non-residents - $10
• Weekends/Holidays: NJ residents - $10, Non-residents - $20

Washington Crossing State Park

• Weekdays: Free
• Weekends/Holidays: NJ residents - $5, Non-residents - $7

Wawayanda State Park

• Weekdays: NJ residents - $5, Non-residents - $10
• Weekends/Holidays: NJ residents - $10, Non-residents - $20

A full list of state parks, forests and recreation areas that require fees can be found here.