DEP announces changes to state park fee schedule
In order to continue to provide high quality visitor services and affordable nature-based recreation, the Florida Department of Environmental Protection’s Florida Park Service will implement a modest fee increase beginning Wednesday, July 1, in conjunction with the state’s fiscal calendar.
“Florida’s award-winning state parks provide inexpensive, high quality recreation in an unmatched natural setting,” said DEP Deputy Secretary of Land and Recreation Bob Ballard. “This fee increase will help keep Florida’s state parks open for residents and visitors to experience while still proving to be one of the most affordable activities in the state.”
As the first fee update in five years, additional state park user fees will supplement current revenue sources used to maintain the state’s valuable natural and cultural resources within Florida’s 160 state parks. Nearly half of the $81 million used to operate the state park system is raised from entrance and usage fees. Some of the most common fees that will change include:
– Day-use entrance fee for vehicles with up to eight people: average increase of $1 – $3.
– Camping fees: average increase of $4 per night.
– Cabin rental fees: average increase of $10 per night.
– Annual Pass: $60 for individuals and $120 for families up to eight people.
The Florida Park Service Annual Pass is good for day-use entrance into Florida’s state parks and a 33 percent discount for individual admission to Homosassa Springs Wildlife State Park, Skyway Fishing Pier State Park and Weeki Wachee Springs State Park.
In addition to these increases, the Florida Park Service will lower the cost of admission at Weeki Wachee Springs State Park in Spring Hill to bring the cost of admission down to rates more consistent with Florida’s other state parks. The cost of admission for an adult will decrease from $26.57 to $13 and from $18.05 to $5 for children.