Want to camp in Oregon but don’t live there? It will cost you more, state park says
If you’re looking to camp in Oregon coming from out of state, it will cost you a little more.
The Oregon Parks and Recreation Department announced Friday that it will be upcharging nonresident campers to use its state’s campsites.
“To encourage local recreation and provide funding to operate the Oregon State Park system, the Oregon Parks and Recreation Department (OPRD) will add a nonresident surcharge to new campsite reservations and first-come, first-served campers starting Monday, Aug. 10,” OPRD said in a news release. “The change does not affect existing reservations or people currently camping in a state park.”
The additional fee will add up to 30% to what it costs to stay overnight in a state park, making it about $42 for nonresidents for new full-service RV site reservations, Oregon officials said. The average tent rate will increase from $19 per night to $23 for people coming from out of state.
The surcharge will be in effect for the rest of the year, and officials will decide about rates for 2021 in the fall.
“We love serving all people, no matter where they live,” Oregon Parks and Recreation Department Director Lisa Sumption said in the release. “Even so, this temporary change is needed to remind people to stay as close to home as possible while enjoying the outdoors, and to provide much-needed support for the Oregon state park system, which faces a projected $22 million shortfall between now and June 2021.”
There are 256 state parks in Oregon, and 58 include camping options, according to the state park system. It’s one of the most popular state park systems in the country with 2.5 million campers every year, according to Oregon State Parks.
Oregon Gov. Kate Brown told officials this week that she “is in active conversations about possible travel restrictions to slow the spread of coronavirus between states,” The Oregonian reported.
“As the Governor has stated previously, our focus is on restrictions related to tourist travel from hot spot states and communities,” Charles Boyle, a spokesman for Brown, told The Oregonian. “Conversations are ongoing about how those restrictions could work.”
This story was originally published August 7, 2020 at 4:57 PM.