Visitors are being asked to pay their entrance fees to help maintain Idaho state parks. Parks are seeing big increases in visitors and around 75 percent are not paying the $5 entrance fee.
The fee helps support the parks, especially in times of financial trouble, such as the COVID-19 pandemic. Many parks have closed fee kiosk booths to keep staff and visitors safe, but the entrance fee still applies. Visitors without park passports are asked to pay the fee at the tube near the entrance.
Only 10 percent of state park funding comes from Idaho taxpayers. Between campground closures and a new registration system, the reliance on entrance fees has grown.
The Idaho Department of Parks and Recreation cannot maintain the parks efficiently with the majority of daily visitors not paying the fee. All park visitors should come prepared with $5 in cash to place in the fee-tube when headed out.
