National Parks Entry Fees May Rise Dramatically For Popular Sites

Entry fees to some of the most popular national parks could rise dramatically under a new proposal put forth by the Department of the Interior, a move that is intended to generate revenue to improve the infrastructure of the attractions.

The fee increase would be for peak season — the busiest contiguous five month visitation period — at 17 national parks. Under the proposal, the entrance fee during peak season would be $70 per vehicle, $50 per motorcycle and $30 per person. The parks service said it is also proposing fee increases for commercial tour operators.

“The infrastructure of our national parks is aging and in need of renovation and restoration,” U.S. Secretary of the Interior Ryan Zinke said in a statement. “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.”

Below are the 17 national parks that would be affected:

• Peak Season May 1-Sept. 30
  • Arches National Park, Utah
  • Bryce Canyon National Park, Utah
  • Canyonlands National Park, Utah
  • Denali National Park, Alaska
  • Glacier National Park, Montana
  • Grand Canyon National Park, Arizona
  • Grand Teton National Park, Wyoming
  • Olympic National Park, Washington
  • Sequoia & Kings Canyon National Park, California
  • Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming
  • Yosemite National Park, California
  • Zion National Park, Utah
• Peak Season June 1-Oct. 31
  • Acadia National Park, Maine
  • Mount Rainier National Park, Washington
  • Rocky Mountain National Park, Colorado
  • Shenandoah National Park, Virginia
• Peak Season Jan. 1-May 31
  • Joshua Tree National Park, California

Watch: Visiting A National Park Could Be Way Pricier In 2018

A public comment period opened Oct. 24 and will end Nov. 23. After the public comment period, the parks service will determine whether peak season fee rates will be implemented.

The parks service says the proposed pricing will likely increase total entrance fee revenues from $199.9 million to $268.5 million annually.

Currently, the per vehicle fee is between $25-$30 and the per motorcycle fee is between $12-$25, while the per person fee is between $10-$15. Under the new proposal, some fees for the regular season would also increase. The per vehicle fee would remain the same while the per person fee would be between $12-$15 and the per motorcycle fee would be between $20-$25. The park-specific annual fee would be $75 both during the regular season and during peak season. Park-specific annual passes are currently between $35-$60.

"All of the money will stay within the National Park Service. 80% of the money will remain in the park where it is collected," the parks service said. "The other 20% will be spent on projects in other national parks. The funds will be expended on projects and activities that further the mission and purpose of the NPS, with an emphasis on deferred maintenance. This includes roads, bridges, campgrounds, waterlines, bathrooms, and other visitor services."

The proposal does not change the price of the annual America the Beautiful-The National Parks and Federal Recreational Lands Senior Pass. The price for that pass already went up from $10-$80 toward the end of the summer.

Access to the majority of the national parks remains free.

Photo by David McNew/Getty Images News/Getty Images