Parking fees coming to Great Smoky Mountain National Park

[TTMartin]

Fee Changes Coming to the Most Popular National Park in the U.S.

Here are the comments I made on the proposal

Parking Fees, should mirror other parks entry fees. Entrance Fees by Park Which actually means I feel the base parking fee should be higher. However, I feel the parking pass should be free to holders of Handicap Access, Senior and America the Beautiful Access pass holders.

It was particularly annoying to me to have paid $80 for a one year America the Beautiful Pass. Then get to Mount Rushmore and be charged a $20, because the pass was for Admission (which was free), not Parking.

They also plan on raising all campground fees to $30 without electric hookups and $36 with electric hookups. I feel $30 is too high for campgrounds without electric hookups.

While I understand fees have to support the services provided, that level of campground fee seems to go beyond that. Most State Park campgrounds are closer to $25 many including electric hookups for that price.

To me campground pricing appears to be an attempt to price based on demand, not cost of operation. Regulating capacity by fees is contrary to the concept of a public facility. The ability to have access to National Park campgrounds shouldn't be based on a person's financial status.

To comment yourself follow this link: Proposed Smokies Fee Program Changes for 2023

[TTMartin]

Originally Posted by TTMartin

To comment yourself follow this link: Proposed Smokies Fee Program Changes for 2023

Comment period closes May 11, 2022 at 11:59 PM Mountain Time

[NCBill]

On making money on camping, it is my understanding that the park service continues to lose money every year. On the camping fees, typically camping outside a national park tends to be double or triple the national park rate. Many state park campgrounds charge higher rates too, at least the ones I stop at. Check campground rates next GSMNP.

[oldwave]

Originally Posted by TTMartin

Fee Changes Coming to the Most Popular National Park in the U.S.

Here are the comments I made on the proposal

Parking Fees, should mirror other parks entry fees. Entrance Fees by Park Which actually means I feel the base parking fee should be higher. However, I feel the parking pass should be free to holders of Handicap Access, Senior and America the Beautiful Access pass holders.

It was particularly annoying to me to have paid $80 for a one year America the Beautiful Pass. Then get to Mount Rushmore and be charged a $20, because the pass was for Admission (which was free), not Parking.

They also plan on raising all campground fees to $30 without electric hookups and $36 with electric hookups. I feel $30 is too high for campgrounds without electric hookups.

While I understand fees have to support the services provided, that level of campground fee seems to go beyond that. Most State Park campgrounds are closer to $25 many including electric hookups for that price.

To me campground pricing appears to be an attempt to price based on demand, not cost of operation. Regulating capacity by fees is contrary to the concept of a public facility. The ability to have access to National Park campgrounds shouldn't be based on a person's financial status.

To comment yourself follow this link: Proposed Smokies Fee Program Changes for 2023

I doubt if the Park Service is making a profit on the campgrounds (Full disclosure I retired from the NPS in 2017). However the trend has been to outsource the management of campgrounds and this may be reflecting the price increases.

I'm happy to get a 30 campground these days and 35 with electric is also hard to get.

On the other hand, I am against entrance fees to National Parks as a matter of Philosophy as it discourages people who don't have a lot of money. Not all parks get to keep entrance fees locally, at least that's the way it used to be.