As was announced in this blog a few months ago, some of the nation’s most popular national parks have increased their visitor fees. The entrance fee rose from $25 to $30 at these parks:
- Bryce Canyon
- Glacier
- Grand Canyon
- Grand Teton
- Yellowstone
- Yosemite
- Zion
Other parks have implemented similar increases. These affect motorcyclists, bus passengers and even pedestrians entering the parks. Also going up are camping fees and fees for cave tours and other activities.
Not long ago, you could visit both Grand Teton and Yellowstone for a single entrance fee. Now, it’s a separate fee for each or a combined fee for both. The combined fee is $50 for private noncommercial vehicles and $40 for motorcycles.
If you’re planning to visit several parks, you might consider the $80 annual pass good at all federal recreational areas. You can also purchase an unlimited entry pass for a single park you may visit frequently. If you’re 62 or older, you can get a lifetime pass with a one-time payment of $10.
Other park news
- The fee increase hasn’t put a dent in crowding at Yellowstone National Park, where visitation is up 24 percent from last year.
- At Yosemite National Park, the Mariposa Grove of giant sequoias is closed for a restoration project expected to last until spring 2017. The park’s two other sequoia groves are much smaller and require hiking to access.
- Bryce Canyon National Park has restricted RV parking to a few designated areas from now until September 24. These do not include the visitor center or the most popular viewpoints. The park offers a free shuttle service to these locations; the station is at Bryce Canyon City, 3 miles north of the park entrance. If you’re towing a vehicle with your RV, you might want to use your towed vehicle to visit the park, and leave the RV at the shuttle station.
Please check each park’s website for the latest on current conditions.