Raise national park fees to $70? Commenters rage; U.S. backs off

[rk911]

https://amp.azcentral.com/amp/483242002

[V3600]

$70 for 7 days? $10 a day is pretty cheap and a per day rate isn't offered. Normally I'm opposed to having to pay to visit places owned by we the taxpayers but these parks are over-crowed to the point they aren't worth visiting.

I recommend charging all the foreigners an outrageous entry fee into our national parks and maybe it will reduce some of the over-crowding we have to put up with. If it doesn't then it sure will help fund the maintenance costs of our parks.

[Freqz]

Feet should be cheap to get in but tires should be expensive. Yosemite was dang near ruined for me because of the traffic in the Valley when I visited a couple of years ago.

I can't imagine the Grand Canyon is any better.

[winniman]

Originally Posted by V3600

$70 for 7 days? $10 a day is pretty cheap and a per day rate isn't offered. Normally I'm opposed to having to pay to visit places owned by we the taxpayers but these parks are over-crowed to the point they aren't worth visiting.

I recommend charging all the foreigners an outrageous entry fee into our national parks and maybe it will reduce some of the over-crowding we have to put up with. If it doesn't then it sure will help fund the maintenance costs of our parks.

Thats a brilliant idea. Maybe all us foreigners will not come and spend 10 grand in a few months. That will help with crowding, as half the people will be unemployed. Where I live in Ontario, it is a tourist area as well. You have to put up with all the people in the summer here, as that is what employs half the people. Without tourism, there would be a lot of people hurting in lots of those areas.

[Tetonchief]

Tax payer dollars don't come close to paying for the National Parks but they deserve every dime they get--they are National Treasures. Fees should keep pace with inflation and up keep of park facilities, roads, trails, and personnel. Americans travel abroad every year visiting the sites of many countries. We should be glad so many foreigners want to visit America and see all it's beauty. Likewise, all Americans should travel the 50 States to see the vast differences in our country. It is unfortunate so many of our National Parks are subject to seasonal travel due to weather. Also, our school system with children off for a few months during the peak season contributes to large crowds. Finally, populations are growing--the parks aren't.

[Eastham]

I make a living in tourist areas.in the south and the east.love you foreigners .Just keep on coming and bring lots of cash.We love you.

[Superslif]

It's a two edged sword. One side of the fence saying people / famlies of less means will less likely plan a visit to a major national park in their future. Does a person's financial standing determine who enters?

The other side leaning towards the national parks should get closer to being self-sustaining and are all for increasing fees across the board.

I had no problem when they raised the senior life-time pass from $10 to $80. Still think it is a great deal for the 62 and older crowd. But the per park vehicle pass (7 day) to $80 at the major parks is a little too much. Some families will combine a number of national parks into one vacation. At $80 each, it can be a heavier expanse for some families.

[TXTiger]

I have traveled around the world and many places charge higher fees for foreigners. In Europe the price on the English menu is higher in many restaurants. In Asia the price for admission to a museum is higher for English speaking visitors. I have no problem charging foreigners more for admission to America’s National Parks.

[twogypsies]

Originally Posted by V3600

$70 for 7 days? $10 a day is pretty cheap and a per day rate isn't offered. Normally I'm opposed to having to pay to visit places owned by we the taxpayers but these parks are over-crowed to the point they aren't worth visiting. So if you own them then you could help to pay the upkeep.

I recommend charging all the foreigners an outrageous entry fee into our national parks and maybe it will reduce some of the over-crowding we have to put up with. If it doesn't then it sure will help fund the maintenance costs of our parks. How would you feel crossing the Canadian border and visiting Banff or any Provincial park and being charged an outrageous entry fee? Visitors contribute a lot of money in many ways.

The proposal was only for the 7-day pass during peak season. It wasn't for any other pass or for the rest of the year and it was only for a small number of the busiest parks.

Keep in mind that there is an Interagency Annual Pass - America The Beautiful that only costs $80. That was not going up. It is good for the driver and passengers for one year for any national park or national wildlife refuge. It can also be used for day use at any national forest area, BLM or COE. So really, for $10 more you could have a pass that lasts a year. It would even be possible if you planned your vacation time right to have two years of vacations in the national parks for the one $80 fee. Go in August one year and July the next using the same pass.

The Senior Pass is $80. The Access Pass (disability) is FREE.

All parks keep 80% of the fees collected for use in their park.

I really don't think people realize what it costs to operate these popular parks for you. The entrance fees don't begin to cover the costs. The backlog for repairs is astounding. Having volunteered in these parks we saw firsthand what goes into them - the work and the costs and still, they never get on top of the to-do list.

The rangers have a saying 'our parks are being loved to death'. Many visitors vandalize them... just for something to do.

Would you have liked it better if, when the parks were created, that they designated them as wilderness parks accessible only by foot? People want all the conveniences but don't want to contribute to their costs.

I understand how difficult a national park vacation can be for many families financially. However, they are spending a big chunk of money to drive there and stay there. If they purchased the $80 annual pass it could be used for that big trip and also for many nearby places to their home all year. Perhaps budgeting for that $80 by eating out less in restaurants during the year, don't take the family to the movies a few times, don't buy that carton of cigarettes or a few bottles of booze or a few cases of beer during the year. Budgeting is very difficult for some and I totally understand that but if folks are already planning that big trip then saving an additional $80 the prior year in some way is possible.

[SeeTheUSA]

Here’s something to think about related to this discussion ...

For those of you familiar with Yellowstone NP, you know how many big tour busses lumber through the park and choke up all the parking lots, daily! They just keep coming! Nearly all of them packed, typically about 40 or more people jammed into them. Some of the passengers, BUT NOT ALL, off the boardwalks and out of bounds, crowding ahead of you in lines, messing up the restrooms, etc.

Any guess how much they pay to get in? The same as you? More than you? Neither! It’s a flat rate of $300 for the entire bus. Even with just 40 passengers, that’s only $7.50 per person. Bus not fully loaded? Okay, with only 30 people, that just $10 per person (although most seats filled, some even with standing room only). Most of these passengers are not taxpayers or citizens of the country they are visiting. Nice for foreign visitors to enjoy our beautiful park, but a real bargain for them! Not so much of a bargain for Yellowstone or it’s owners.

Other national parks suffer from the same upside down logic when it comes to fees ... citizens and taxpayers bear the load, it seems. So are their tourist dollars worth it? Maybe to a few hotel and restaurant owners outside of and unaffiliated with our parks, and maybe to the Prevost bus owners .... but not to our national parks and the high cost of welcoming them in.

JMHO ... YMMV

[Superslif]

Originally Posted by SeeTheUSA

Here’s something to think about related to this discussion ...

For those of you familiar with Yellowstone NP, you know how many big tour busses lumber through the park and choke up all the parking lots, daily! They just keep coming! Nearly all of them packed, typically about 40 or more people jammed into them. Some of the passengers, BUT NOT ALL, off the boardwalks and out of bounds, crowding ahead of you in lines, messing up the restrooms, etc.

When we visited Yellowstone / Teton's last May / June. 50-60% of the visitors were over-sea's visitors on bus tours. Maybe more.???

And yes, many didn't know how to read the sign that says "Stay On Boardwalk" These are very fragile grounds. Saw a few visitors in total disregard for "our" countries natural wonders. All to take that personal Selfie.

So if these really popular parks had to do something to lower the visitor counts, to control over crowding. Do you limit US citizens entry by lottery or raising the entrance fees. OR, do you limit "non-US citizens" entry?

I would be hell bent, if places like Zion put in a lottery, as tossed around recently and over-seas visitors are put to the front of the line all in the name of foreign visitor revenue. You don't think the powers to be in the tour business would magically get preferential treatment....

[twogypsies]

RE: Tour Operators - here are some interesting links. The operators pay more than just the entry fee.

https://nationalparkstraveler.org/20...es-tour-groups

https://www.nps.gov/aboutus/commerci...orizations.htm

[SeeTheUSA]

Originally Posted by twogypsies

RE: Tour Operators - here are some interesting links. The operators pay more than just the entry fee.

https://nationalparkstraveler.org/20...es-tour-groups

https://www.nps.gov/aboutus/commerci...orizations.htm

These new rates that will be imposed are certainly better than what they are now ... haven’t been raised since 1998.

[SteveW123]

Originally Posted by winniman

Thats a brilliant idea. Maybe all us foreigners will not come and spend 10 grand in a few months. That will help with crowding, as half the people will be unemployed. Where I live in Ontario, it is a tourist area as well. You have to put up with all the people in the summer here, as that is what employs half the people. Without tourism, there would be a lot of people hurting in lots of those areas.

Well said!!