2. User Fees
As stated in Section IV, there is considerable range in user fee rates. Camping fees differ the most, ranging from no charge to $4 per night. The following table indicates the number of campgrounds and campsites for which various fee rates are charged.
| Number of Campgrounds* | Number of Campsites | Fees Per Night |
|---|---|---|
| 96 25 82 1 83 22 309 |
1,813 2,651 9,175 130 11,696 3,602 29,067 |
None $1.00 2.00 2.50 3.00 4.00 |
Average campsite fee: $2.44 per night
*Includes only family campgrounds with automobile access. No backcountry or group campgrounds.
The quality of services and facilities at campgrounds also varies widely from park to park.
Recommendation
A uniform and equitable rate structure, on a park-by-park basis, is needed for camping as well as for certain kinds of tours, elevator service, and backcountry use. User fee rates and services should be evaluated and recommendations for each park made for implementing a more uniform, equitable rate structure based on the cost of providing services and facilities. Fee rates for camping and certain tours should be in line with rates for similar commercial services in close proximity to parks. Fee rate increases for camping should not exceed the $4 ceiling listed in the Code of Federal Regulations without revision.
TABLE III.
ENTRANCE FEE PARKS
(ranked by operating budget)
| PARK | OPERATING BUDGET (in thousands) |
PROPOSED ENTRANCE FEE RATE |
REVENUE (in thousands) |
|---|---|---|---|
|
|
|||
| Yellowstone NP | $ 7,602.9 | $3 per vehicle | $ 1,202.2 |
| Yosemite NP | 5,444.3 | $1.50 per person | 1,245.8 |
| Grand Canyon NP | 3,895.6 | 1,587.3 | |
| Sequoia/Kings Canyon NP | 3,690.0 | 457.3 | |
| Everglades NP | 3,475.4 | 376.4 | |
| Glacier NP | 3,327.7 | 215.5 | |
|
|
|||
| Mt. Rainier NP | 2,838.6 | $2 per vehicle | 281.2 |
| Shenandoah NP | 2,671.5 | $1 per person | 854.8 |
| Grand Teton NP | 2,554.3 | 354.5 | |
| Rocky Mountain NP | 2,157.3 | 560.9 | |
| Colonial NP | 2,109.1 | 261.7 | |
| Gulf Islands NS | 1,409.8 | 111.8 | |
| Mesa Verde NP | 1,294.1 | 198.7 | |
| Lassen Volcanic NP | 1,258.8 | 78.0 | |
| Cape Cod NS | 1,213.8 | 222.8 | |
| Carlsbad Caverns NP | 1,181.7 | 356.4 | |
| FDR/Vanderbilt NHS | 991.1 | 98.2 | |
|
|
|||
| Crater Lake NP | 945.8 | $1 per vehicle | 101.4 |
| Zion NP | 932.8 | 50¢ per person | 166.9 |
| Petrified Forest NP | 715.7 | 175.8 | |
| Chick-Chatt NMP | 706.7 | 6.5 | |
| Morristown NHP | 663.4 | 22.9 | |
| T. Roosevelt NMemP | 624.2 | 24.8 | |
| Badlands NM | 591.8 | 128.8 | |
| Minute Man NHP | 581.3 | 955.0 | |
| Bryce Canyon NP | 578.9 | 62.9 | |
| Edison NHS | 551.7 | 9.9 | |
| Saguaro NM | 440.2 | 12.5 | |
| Bandelier NM | 435.8 | 27.7 | |
| Pinnacles NM | 374.4 | 23.2 | |
| Castillo de San Marcos NM | 361.3 | 261.1 | |
| Colorado NM | 358.4 | 19.2 | |
| White Sands NM | 331.7 | 74.4 | |
| Ft. Pulaski NM | 317.1 | 14.6 | |
| Sagamore Hill NHS | 395.4 | 38.8 | |
| Appomattox Court House NHP | 248.3 | 21.8 | |
| Ft. Davis NHS | 247.8 | 12.0 | |
| Great Sand Dunes NM | 244.6 | 31.9 | |
| Craters of the Moon NM | 240.3 | 15.8 | |
| Chiricahua NM | 226.6 | 8.2 | |
| Pea Ridge NMP | 204.4 | 14.3 | |
| Devils Tower NM | 201.8 | 21.3 | |
| Black Canyon of the Gunnison NM | 183.3 | 37.6 | |
| Longfellow NHS | 180.2 | 4.9 | |
| Montezuma Castle NM | 173.2 | 63.1 | |
| Salem Maritime NHS | 173.2 | 1.1 | |
| Adams NHS | 172.4 | 15.1 | |
| Ft. Union NM | 164.2 | 2.6 | |
| Andrew Johnson NHS | 158.6 | 1.6 | |
| Arches NP | 161.4 | 29.7 | |
| John Muir NHS | 158.6 | 6.1 | |
| Walnut Canyon NM | 144.6 | 23.0 | |
| Casa Grande Ruins NM | 142.7 | 19.0 | |
| Capulin Mountain NM | 138.2 | 12.3 | |
| Scotts Bluff NM | 128.7 | 10.4 | |
| St. Gaudens NHS | 123.7 | 3.3 | |
| Tumacacori NM | 122.1 | 14.2 | |
| Tuzigoot NM | 115.3 | 12.6 | |
| El Morro NM | 111.0 | 4.8 | |
| Pipe Spring NM | 105.9 | 4.1 | |
| Aztec Ruins NM | 97.7 | 17.1 | |
| Tonto NM | 90.8 | 5.7 | |
| Natural Bridges NM | 87.8 | 6.9 | |
| J.F.K. NHS | 82.6 | .1 | |
| T.R. Birthplace NHS | 71.7 | 2.8 | |
|
|
|||
| TOTAL | $11,310.0 | ||
