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Yellowstone Entrance Fees to Rise June 1

Beginning June 1, 2018, it will cost $35 per car to get a seven-day pass into Yellowstone National Park.

And it’s not just Yellowstone—all 117 fee-collection national parks will see fees increase for cars.

According to the Bozeman Daily Chronicle, most parks will see a $5 increase in seven-day fee costs.

The proposal does not say whether other Yellowstone entrance fees—including motorcycle and hiker/bike fees—will increase as well. In addition, the move will not affect the price of the annual pass ($80).

The decision comes on the heel of the Interior Department’s decision to walk back a proposal to raise the seven-day car fee to $70 during “peak season.” The move would have affected 17 national parks. The Interior has said a fee increase is necessary to address the maintenance backlog across the National Park system, which measures an estimated $12 billion.

The Interior backed off the proposal after receiving over 100,000 public comments—the bulk of which criticized the proposal. Despite this, the consensus view is more money should be put toward the National Park Service, either through fee increases or more appropriations in the federal budget.

National Parks Conservation Association president Theresa Pierno, speaking to the Chronicle, called the fee increase a “welcomed move.”

“Fees do have a role to play in our parks, and the administration’s move to abandon its original proposal in favor of more measured fee increases will put additional funds into enhancing park experiences without threatening visitation or local economies,” Pierno told the Chronicle.

Earlier this week, Yellowstone Superintendent Dan Wenk said he would not encourage any entrance fee increases, citing the need to ensure families aren’t priced out of the parks.

Wenk also spoke about a proposal from Wyoming to institute a “conservation fee” on Yellowstone visitors; Wenk said the proposal is too open-ended and cast doubt on its feasibility.

About Sean Reichard

Sean Reichard is the editor of Yellowstone Insider and author of Yellowstone Insider For Families 2017.

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