Residents in Michigan to Pay Slightly Higher Fees for Recreation Passport

Starting March 1, residents in Michigan will pay a slightly higher fee for their Recreation Passport, which gives them year-round vehicle access to over 100 state parks, recreation areas, boating access sites, campgrounds, and thousands of miles of trails. 

The fee will increase from $12 to $13 for vehicles and from $6 to $7 for motorcycles, marking the first increase in three years.

The increase is a result of a statutory provision that links the cost of the Recreation Passport to the Consumer Price Index, as determined by the federal Bureau of Labor Statistics.

The Recreation Passport, which was introduced in 2010, provides a unique funding opportunity for the state’s parks and recreation system. 

The purchasing opportunity was put in front of more residents when the annual resident Recreation Passport was tied to the Secretary of State’s vehicle registration process. 

This shift resulted in more purchases and better support for outdoor spaces and protection of natural and cultural resources.

In fiscal year 2022, 40% of eligible vehicles in Michigan had the Recreation Passport. 

All revenue generated from the sales goes into a restricted fund that supports state park infrastructure, operations, and other outdoor initiatives such as local grants for community recreation agencies, cultural and historic resource restoration, and marketing and promotion.

Michigan state parks are largely self-supporting, with 97% of their funding generated by user fees and royalty revenues and only 3% from the state’s General Fund tax dollars.

Ron Olson, DNR Parks and Recreation chief, says, “The Recreation Passport model provides a unique funding opportunity for the state’s parks and recreation system. Not only was the purchasing opportunity put in front of more residents, but the cost per vehicle also dropped significantly. That shift resulted in more purchases that ultimately better support these outdoor spaces and protect natural and cultural resources for the next generation.”

For those who haven’t purchased a Recreation Passport yet, there’s a $5 convenience fee (except for Belle Isle Park) when it’s not purchased at the time of license plate registration renewal.

Nonresident Recreation Passport fees, including the nonresident annual pass, went into effect on January 1.

To learn more about the Recreation Passport, visit Michigan.gov/RecreationPassport.