Oregon State Parks visitors will face higher costs starting this fall as the state park system grapples with a projected 14% budget shortfall and seeks to build financial resilience for the future.
Beginning Oct. 1, the Oregon Parks and Recreation Department will eliminate parking fee waivers at 21 additional day-use parks, requiring visitors to pay the standard $10 fee for in-state residents and $12 for out-of-state guests. The change affects some of the system’s most popular destinations, including Harris Beach State Park, which welcomed an estimated 2 million day-use visitors last year.
“State parks are some of the most beloved spaces in Oregon, but we have struggled as a state to sustainably fund them,” Director Lisa Sumption said through a news release. “We’re working to reimagine the future of Oregon State Parks as a financially resilient system that will serve generations to come.”
The parking fees will not apply to visitors who walk, bike, use public transportation or hold valid camping hangtags or annual parking permits. Currently, OPRD charges parking fees at 25 parks while waiving them at more than 225 parks statewide.
More significant changes are planned for overnight visitors beginning May 1. The state’s 29 busiest parks will charge top-tier rates — $29 for tent sites and $52 for full hook-up RV sites — during the peak season from May through September with weekend rates remaining at those levels year-round.
Cabin and yurt prices will also increase to maximum rates throughout the year, ranging from $72 for rustic yurts to $129 for deluxe accommodations. Additional increases include boat moorage fees rising from $15 to $20, and overnight parking, overflow camping and primitive camping fees jumping from approximately $10 to at least $15 per night.
The fee adjustments come as the park system confronts mounting financial pressures from increased operational costs, impacts from record visitation levels and reduced lottery funding. The system operates without general fund tax support, relying instead on lottery funds (just under 50% of the budget), recreational vehicle license plate fees (15%) and visitor fees (35%).
For frequent visitors seeking to minimize costs, annual parking permits remain available for $30 (12 months) or $50 (24 months) and can be purchased online.