With record numbers of visitation increasing at Oregon’s State Parks, the department in charge of their stewardship is increasing prices across the board to cover the rising cost of maintenance and operation.
For the first time since 2017, the Oregon Parks and Recreation Department (OPRD) announced that it is increasing its prices for parking, camping, and reservations across all of its state parks in 2025. Depending on the type of fee, most increases are in the $2-5 range, according to OPRD.
“We know that raising fees by any amount can be challenging for visitors, and we don’t make this decision lightly,” OPRD Director Lisa Sumption said in a press release.
The fee increases are the result of record visitation numbers across Oregon’s state parks in recent years. More people are visiting Oregon and exploring its public lands than ever before. That puts more pressure on the state parks, increasing the cost and need for upkeep across the board. As an example, ORPD points to utility costs, which have risen 28% throughout the state over the last 4 years.