25 Oregon State Parks to double day-use parking fees, to $10, starting Jan. 2; 1-year, 2-year permits on discount
SALEM, Ore. (KTVZ) — The day-use parking fee will increase from $5 to $10 per day at the 25 Oregon State Parks that currently charge for parking, starting Jan. 2, Oregon State Parks reminded Wednesday. The 12-month and 24-month permits will remain the same price in 2025, and a discount is now available.
The permits cost $30 for 12 months and $50 for 24 months. Visitors can get a $5 discount on the 12-month permit for the month of December as part of Oregon State Parks’ annual sale.
Only 25 of the more than 250 Oregon State Parks currently require a day-use parking permit. The fee helps pay for operations and maintenance.
The day-use parking fee increase was announced in September, along with increases in reservation and camping fees, as part of an ongoing effort to keep pace with rising costs. The last parking fee increase was more than 15 years ago, officials noted.
The Oregon Parks and Recreation Department has three main sources of funding. A little less than half comes from constitutionally dedicated lottery funds, about 15% comes from recreational vehicle license plate fees and roughly 35% comes from park fees from visitors. OPRD is not funded by taxes.
These resources and programs can help with access to Oregon State Parks.
- Special access passes for free camping and day-use parking permits are available for:
- Parking fees are waived on the following days: The day after Thanksgiving, New Year’s Day and Oregon State Parks Day (first Saturday in June), which also includes free camping.
OPRD said in announcing the parking fee hike that it "will continue to explore options in the future that reduce cost as a barrier while earning needed revenue to maintain Oregon State Parks and manage congestion."
