National Park Pass Fees
It has been pointed out that, like everything, nothing is free anymore. (Is
that a Yogi Berra'ism I just made up?)
Like every other National Park, each of the National Parks we will be visiting
during the 2010 RKRWR charges an entrance fee. So this is a "Plan Accordingly
Alert". (Other "Plan Accordingly Alerts" may be issued to alert you to such
facts as: NEVER approach HippieDave before he's had at least two cups of coffee
in the morning and NEVER raise Second Amendment Rights Issues with DeadEndBill
if you have a bus to catch.)
The National Park Service fee at the present time for motorcycles is $12.00 per
person. Car fees are $25.00 each. (Two up on a MC will be $24.00 -- go figure; I
mean, they could have 6 people in that car!).
This fee will be charged at EACH of the three National Parks we will be
visiting. My attempts to negotiate a one time, week-long pass for all three
parks have apparently failed, having been hampered by the fact that I can't even
figure out who the current Director of the National Park Service is, 'tho I
doubt I would have much success even if I could get through to her.
However, there are a couple of options available to save some cash:
One, (For two-up riders) you can buy an Annual Pass that will let you into all National Parks for a
year. It covers your spouse/significant other as well, (in or on the same
vehicle) (and I believe applies to
other federal facilities -- such as forest service areas etc--, although I have
not been able to confirm this). The cost of the annual pass is $80.00 and it is
good for 12 months from the day or month (not sure which) it is purchased. So,
for the mathematically challenged (such as I--DeadEnd Bill and the Ranger had to
go over this with me)--if you buy it today, it is good through July 2010. This
may save you money if you intend to go into, or just stumble into, any such
facilities between now and the Roundup next May, especially if there are two of
you. I bought one on this last trip, since I and spouse usually go to Yosemite
each fall, and this will get us into Yosemite this fall and then get the two of
us into the three parks next May, for a total savings for the two of us
of...,of..,... (OK, Bill, help me out here.)
The second option, which I will fail to qualify for by ONE WEEK, is the Senior
Pass. If you are 62 when you buy it, you can purchase a LIFETIME pass to the
National Parks for $10.00. The incredibly mean (but not all that unattractive,
now that I think about it) Ranger at Zion said they wouldn't give me a break and
recognize that I WOULD BE 62 sometime that month in 2010. Seems kinda nitpicky
to me, but that's our government at work.
Anyway, Nature gave us these treasures to visit, but somebody's gotta maintain
the bathrooms. Ain't that life for ya.
To purchase an annual pass, go to http://store.usgs.gov/pass/index.html