Some Oregon and Coastal State Parks to Add Parking Fees, Raise Camping Rates

Published 08/02/25 at 7:45 a.m.
By Oregon Coast Beach Connection Staff

(Bandon, Oregon) – Late 2025 will be a little more expensive for some visitors to the Oregon coast – and elsewhere around the state. After some price hikes earlier this year, Oregon Parks and Recreation Department (OPRD) just announced a camping fee hike and it will begin charging for parking at some state parks that have not previously done so. (Bandon, courtesy Manuela Durson - see Manuela Durson Fine Arts for more)

OPRD said it will implement new visitor fees at select state parks beginning October 1, 2025, as part of a broader effort to stabilize the financial future of Oregon's park system.

Starting this fall, parking fees will be added at 21 additional day-use parks across the state – including 9 on the coast. The current parking fee is $10 for in-state visitors and $12 for out-of-state visitors. These fees help fund essential maintenance and operations, which have struggled to keep pace with rising costs and record visitation.

The parks that will begin charging for parking on October 1, 2025, include:

Beverly Beach State Park (Newport)
Bullards Beach State Park (Bandon)
Cline Falls State Scenic Viewpoint
Crown Point State Scenic Corridor
Dexter State Recreation Site
Face Rock State Park (Bandon)
Farewell Bend State Recreation Area
Fort Stevens State Park (Warrenton)
Harris Beach State Recreation Site (Brookings)
Hat Rock State Park
LaPine State Park
Lewis and Clark State Recreation Site
Lowell State Recreation Site
Oswald West State Park (Manzanita)
Prineville Reservoir State Park
South Beach State Park (Newport)
Starvation Creek State Park
Sunset Bay State Park (Coos Bay)
Tolovana Beach State Recreation Site (Cannon Beach)
Tryon Creek State Natural Area
Valley of the Rogue State Recreation Area

Why are they charging for parking at additional parks?

Harris Beach (OPRD)

Among the newly added parks is Harris Beach State Park on the south Oregon coast, which saw an estimated 2 million day-use visits last year. OPRD noted that visitor fees have not kept pace with the cost of maintaining and operating the parks, and the department’s share of lottery funding has declined in recent years.

In short, it's become rough seas out there – financially.

Oswald West State Park (Oregon Coast Beach Connection)

The new fee structure, along with internal cost-cutting measures and efforts to modernize procurement and explore new revenue sources, is intended to preserve current service levels and ensure long-term accessibility.

“The park system faces a projected 14% budget shortfall due to increasing costs, impacts from record visitation and a reduction in lottery funds for operations,” said OPRD.

The agency said it has not added parking fees to additional parks in decades.

Tolovana State Park

Parking fees will not apply to visitors who arrive by walking, biking, or public transportation, nor to those with valid camping hangtags or annual parking permits. Currently, OPRD charges for parking at 25 parks and waives fees at more than 225 parks statewide.

In addition to parking changes, overnight camping rates will be updated beginning May 1, 2026. At the 29 busiest parks, overnight rates will increase to the top of the current range from May through September, and year-round on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday nights. The top rate is $29 for tent sites and $52 for full hook-up RV sites.

Other statewide changes include:

Cabin and yurt prices will rise to the top of the rate range year-round, with top rates ranging from $72 for rustic yurts to $129 for deluxe cabins and yurts.
Boat moorage fees will increase from $15 to $20.

Overnight parking, overflow camping, and primitive camping fees will rise from approximately $10 to at least $15 per night.

“State parks are some of the most beloved spaces in Oregon, but we have struggled as a state to sustainably fund them,” said OPRD Director Lisa Sumption. “We’re working to reimagine the future of Oregon State Parks as a financially resilient system that will serve generations to come.”

Oregon State Parks are funded through three primary sources: constitutionally dedicated lottery funds (just under half), recreational vehicle license plate fees (about 15%), and visitor park fees (roughly 35%). The system does not receive funding from Oregon’s general fund taxes.

Visitors can save on parking by purchasing annual or 24-month permits. A 12-month permit costs $30, while a 24-month permit is available for $50. Both can be purchased online.

OPRD is also collecting public feedback at Reimagine Oregon State Parks - Oregon State Parks to help guide its efforts to reimagine a stronger, more resilient park system. The survey includes questions about priorities for experiences, services, and amenities, as well as public views on partnerships, sponsorships, and alternative funding options.

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