State/County Parks: Pay-to-"Park"??

[thenetwork]

I spent most of my earlier years as a resident of Ohio and I loved visiting my local area State Parks for the facilities and activities they offered.

When I finally was old enough to drive and venture out of the state, I was shocked to see so many other states which charged admission to visit a park that, for the most part are already getting money from taxpayers of that state.

How many states, counties, etc.. have some sort of vehicle fee &/or entry fee and what other states (besides Ohio) have no charges to enter or use their parks?

My list so far, based on personal experience:

OHIO -- No charge to enter park (camping / lodging / rental fees apply).
MICHIGAN -- Vehicle Permit or Entry Fee Required
INDIANA -- Vehicle Permit or Entry Fee Required
COLORADO -- Vehicle Permit or Entry Fee Required for State Parks, and many Wildlife Areas run by the Colorado Department of Wildlife.
UTAH -- Vehicle Permit or Entry Fee Required

Other States, Counties &/or Municipalities that charge entry fees?

[corco]

Montana is interesting- there is a semi-mandatory $6 fee on vehicle registration (you can opt out, but it's on by default) that gives you free access to state parks.

In practice, if you have a Montana plate, you can legally park in state parks for free (no easy way to track who has paid and who has not). Out of state plates have to pay the admission fee.

Idaho requires an entry fee.

[SectorZ]

I spent most of my earlier years as a resident of Ohio and I loved visiting my local area State Parks for the facilities and activities they offered.

When I finally was old enough to drive and venture out of the state, I was shocked to see so many other states which charged admission to visit a park that, for the most part are already getting money from taxpayers of that state.

How many states, counties, etc.. have entry admissions and what other states (besides Ohio) have no charges to enter or use their parks?

My list so far, based on personal experience:

OHIO -- No charge to enter park (camping / lodging / rental fees apply).
MICHIGAN -- Entry Fee Required
INDIANA -- Entry Fee Required
COLORADO -- Entry Fee Required for State Parks, and many Wildlife Areas run by the Colorado Department of Wildlife.
UTAH -- Entry Fee Required

Other States, Counties &/or Municipalities that charge entry fees?

Add Massachusetts to the list, but usually they are parking fees, with the only use fees being to swim at any that have lakes or ponds. For about a year, the money went straight to the Dept. of Conservation and Recreation, but since then just goes to the general fund.

[Duke87]

In Connecticut it varies. A bunch of smaller, less popular parks are free. For the larger parks, some charge for admission only on weekends and holidays. Other charge more on weekends and holidays than on weekdays.

All of the parks which charge admission charge a higher rate to out-of-state residents.



New York also likes to charge admission to its more popular state parks although they only do so from Memorial Day to Labor Day. Go off-season and you can get in for free.

[Brandon]

I spent most of my earlier years as a resident of Ohio and I loved visiting my local area State Parks for the facilities and activities they offered.

When I finally was old enough to drive and venture out of the state, I was shocked to see so many other states which charged admission to visit a park that, for the most part are already getting money from taxpayers of that state.

How many states, counties, etc.. have entry admissions and what other states (besides Ohio) have no charges to enter or use their parks?

My list so far, based on personal experience:

MICHIGAN -- Entry Fee Required

Other States, Counties &/or Municipalities that charge entry fees?

Michigan charges a vehicle permit fee, not an entry fee.  The vehicle permit is the same if you drive alone or in a minivan packed to the gills.  If you use a bus, bike, or walk into the park, there is no entry fee.

Illinois charges no fee.

[doorknob60]

I'm pretty sure all Washington State Parks require a fee. Oregon state parks tend to vary: some are free, some aren't.

[Roadrunner75]

New Jersey charges parking fees at some parks, and some of those only charge on weekends.  I buy state park passes for our cars every year, since we use Island Beach somewhat regularly and sometimes Allaire.

[thenetwork]

I spent most of my earlier years as a resident of Ohio and I loved visiting my local area State Parks for the facilities and activities they offered.

When I finally was old enough to drive and venture out of the state, I was shocked to see so many other states which charged admission to visit a park that, for the most part are already getting money from taxpayers of that state.

How many states, counties, etc.. have entry admissions and what other states (besides Ohio) have no charges to enter or use their parks?

My list so far, based on personal experience:

MICHIGAN -- Entry Fee Required

Other States, Counties &/or Municipalities that charge entry fees?

Michigan charges a vehicle permit fee, not an entry fee.  The vehicle permit is the same if you drive alone or in a minivan packed to the gills.  If you use a bus, bike, or walk into the park, there is no entry fee.

I may have been too specific for defining "entry fees".  I guess what I meant to say that if you drive into a park, there is a fee attached.  Here in Colorado, it is a Vehicle Permit Fee for the both the state parks & selected wildlife areas. 

OP has been revised...

[hbelkins]

No entry fee for Kentucky; however, some specific attractions may charge a fee.

[cpzilliacus]

Some Maryland state parks are "free," others charge an admission charge. 

[bulldog1979]

The current system Michigan uses is a big improvement over the older one. When it was introduced a few years ago, the Recreation Passport was an additional $10 paid when renewing a license plate. That compared to $25 for the previous annual pass offered. Residents must purchase the passport to use state parks, and there is a window sticker option if purchased separate from a plate renewal. This last year, the price was increased to $11, but the motorcycle rate was left at $5.

For non-residents, there is either a $9/day vehicle parking fee, or a $31/year passport option. Some businesses participate in the Passport Perks program and offer discounts to Recreation Passport holders.

[Zmapper]

In Colorado, the fee is per-vehicle. A couple that hiked or bicycled into the state park would pay double compared to if they were to drive in (some parks offer a $3 walk-in pass, but I am uncertain if this applies to all parks or if bicycles technically are considered not walk-ins but vehicles for pricing purposes).

Entry fees are also rather high - $7-9 per vehicle, per day, or $70 per year.

http://cpw.state.co.us/buyapply/Pages/ParksPassInfo.aspx

[SteveG1988]

Island beach state park isn't one I'd consider to be paid parking, as the money goes to more than paying for road upkeep, it goes towards facilities and life guards, and stuff like that

[Roadrunner75]

Island beach state park isn't one I'd consider to be paid parking, as the money goes to more than paying for road upkeep, it goes towards facilities and life guards, and stuff like that

I would think that it would be typical for 'parking' fees at many state parks to be for more than just road/lot upkeep, as many parks have facilities, staff, etc.

[Pete from Boston]

It varies in the parks I've been to, in Mass. and elsewhere.  Often there's a carload/parking fee.  Others simply ask for donations.  "Already funded by taxpayers" assumes the parks are fully funded by their cash-strapped governments. 

[empirestate]

New York's state parks have a vehicle use fee, meaning that there is no charge for admission to the parks unless you are bringing a (motorized) vehicle. Which, of course, is almost all the time for almost everybody.

[Mapmikey]

Virginia is mixed and some that charge don't always charge over the winter...

Mapmikey

[Alex]

Delaware charges fees for entry, with double the amount charged to out of state vehicles. State Parks there were free in the 1990s.

Florida state parks all charge fees for entry.

The one state park I went by in Nevada last month charged an entry fee as well.

[wphiii]

Some Maryland state parks are "free," others charge an admission charge.

I've noticed that some of the ones that charge have a reduced rate for cars with Maryland plates. I understand why it's done - the notion that MD residents are already "paying admission" with their taxes - but it's kind of mean in practice in places like Garrett County, such as Swallow Falls, where I'd reckon a substantial percentage of the patrons are from PA and WV.

[Urban Prairie Schooner]

Louisiana charges for entry to state parks, usually a nominal fee. The standard entry fee is $2, and Longfellow-Evangeline and Audubon State Historic Sites charge $4. Other higher fees are charged for overnight parking and camping.

[realjd]

It's a usage fee. They lower the tax burden across the general populace by adding a fee to those using the park. It works out very well here in FL because we have a large proportion of out of state visitors who otherwise wouldn't pay taxes toward the park.

The little visited parks here don't have an entry fee while the most visited have the highest fee. State forests have a system where you drop your money in a numbered envelope and toss it in a bin, tearing off an attached numbered tag you put in your windshield. Every so often a ranger will come by and collect the envelopes and any car parked in the lot without a corresponding money envelope gets a ticket.