Twenty-one Oregon state parks will begin charging a new parking fee in October, and the cost of camping, yurt, and cabin rentals will increase beginning May 1, 2026, according to the Oregon Parks and Recreation Department (OPRD).
The changes are aimed at addressing a projected $14 million budget shortfall by 2027.
Without additional revenue, the state agency said it could face the possibility of closing parks. The new fee structure is intended to help sustain operations while maintaining access to recreational spaces.
“State parks are some of the most beloved spaces in Oregon, but we have struggled as a state to sustainably fund them,” OPRD Director Lisa Sumption said, as reported by Statesman Journal.
“We’re working to reimagine the future of Oregon State Parks as financially resilient system that will serve generations to come,” Sumption added.
The upcoming parking fee will apply to high-traffic parks that have previously allowed free parking, including Fort Stevens, Oswald West, and South Beach. The fee will be $10 for Oregon residents and $12 for out-of-state visitors.
Currently, OPRD charges for parking at 25 parks.
With this addition, 46 parks will now require paid parking. Visitors who walk, bike, use public transit, or possess a valid 12- or 24-month parking permit or campground hangtag will be exempt from the new parking fees.
In addition to parking, OPRD will raise nightly rates for various types of overnight accommodations across Oregon’s most popular parks. These increases will apply to weekends, Friday through Sunday, starting May 2026.
Camping fees will rise to $29 for a tent site and $52 for a full-hookup RV site at 29 of the state’s busiest parks, such as Silver Falls, Milo McIver, and Nehalem Bay. The agency said the changes reflect a “dynamic pricing model” already in use by other states.
Lodging prices for yurts and cabins will also increase year-round. Rustic yurts will cost $72 per night, deluxe yurts and deluxe cabins will each cost $129, rustic cabins will be $81, and mini deluxe cabins will be priced at $100.
State park funding is sourced from three main areas: roughly 35% comes from visitor park fees, 15% from recreational vehicle license plate sales, and just under half from dedicated Oregon Lottery funds.
The 21 parks affected by the new parking fees include Beverly Beach, Bullards Beach, Crown Point, Face Rock, Fort Stevens, Harris Beach, LaPine, Lowell, Oswald West, South Beach, and Valley of the Rogue, among others.