National Parks - Why Don't People Who Go Get Annual Passes?

[nevets88]

I don't get it. You can use it as much as you want for the year so if you only go to a park twice it pays for itself.  Asking because NPS considering raising entrance fees except for annual pass. 

http://www.cnn.com/travel/article/national-park-service-fee-proposal/index.html?sr=twCNN102517national-park-service-fee-proposal0217PMStoryGal

 

[David in FL]

Because I don't go to a National Park once per year, let alone twice...

Edited October 26, 2017 by David in FL

[Patch]

We do volunteer work for the nps. I can tell you  with a straight face that alot of the money raised by these pay hikes does not seem to make to the betterment of infrastructure.

I have seen alot of nps stuff needing replacement/repairs for years at a time. Same thing in state parks.  I don't know where the money goes, but I assume it goes into a general fund of some sort to be used as someone sees fit.  

[nevets88]

7 hours ago, Patch said:

We do volunteer work for the nps. I can tell you  with a straight face that alot of the money raised by these pay hikes does not seem to make to the betterment of infrastructure.

I have seen alot of nps stuff needing replacement/repairs for years at a time. Same thing in state parks.  I don't know where the money goes, but I assume it goes into a general fund of some sort to be used as someone sees fit.  

It pains me how poor the bathroom facilities are in some of the parks. Like Arches. Not gonna kill the budget to make a small change that makes a big difference.

[Valleygolfer]

I live right next to one and don't buy either one. They are for tourists. People come up for a weekend or few days here and only need so much time. Annual passes are more commonly bought by locals. It's easier to gouge tourists and the locals set the price.

[Lihu]

43 minutes ago, nevets88 said:

It pains me how poor the bathroom facilities are in some of the parks. Like Arches. Not gonna kill the budget to make a small change that makes a big difference.

You might have gone at a bad time? Moab and Arches are usually in much better shape. Any answer to your third sentence is going to sound politically motivated, but I agree it would be a wiser way to spend the money.

In answer to your OP, I do buy the yearly pass when I visit one of the parks. Generally don't visit more than once or twice a year these days because my kids are so busy, but when I do go I get the pass just to contribute.

[dennyjones]

I only visit national parks when I travel.   A few years ago we went to Arches, Bryce and Zion but my brother had a national parks pass.   It wouldn't be worth my time and $$ to buy one since I don't visit the national parks often.

In Michigan, the state park fee is included in the license plate fees.   One could opt out of the small fee but it is a great deal 

[Patch]

I purchased a senior pass for $10. That same pass is now $80 for folks 62 and over. 

[Groucho Valentine]

The National parks are disasters. CANCEL THEM! 

Edited October 26, 2017 by Groucho Valentine

[Marty2019]

46 minutes ago, Patch said:

I purchased a senior pass for $10. That same pass is now $80 for folks 62 and over. 

Ha!  I got one too!  Ten bucks! 

(Patting myself on the back.)

 

Edited October 26, 2017 by Marty2019

[colin007]

1 hour ago, Patch said:

I purchased a senior pass for $10. That same pass is now $80 for folks 62 and over. 

WTF??? That's insane....

45 minutes ago, Groucho Valentine said:

The National parks are disasters. CANCEL THEM! 

SAD!!!!

[Groucho Valentine]

15 minutes ago, colin007 said:

WTF??? That's insane....

SAD!!!!

[nevets88]

BURN THEM ALL!!!

NO, NUKE 'EM. TWICE. 

The senior pass is lifetime. So 80 is still a lot but amortized over lifetime, not that much more. 

[iacas]

15 hours ago, David in FL said:

Because I don't go to a National Park once per year, let alone twice...

This, for me.

I can go to Presque Isle State Park for free, too. And Moraine State Park. Etc.

[Missouri Swede]

2 hours ago, nevets88 said:

BURN THEM ALL!!!

NO, NUKE 'EM. TWICE. 

Careful. Yellowstone can fight back. 

[nevets88]

8 hours ago, Lihu said:

Moab and Arches are usually in much better shape.

There are lots of WCs, the ones I used were basically porta-potties in a brick housing. Gross. Come on, these are our national parks. You want those memories of beautiful scenery sullied by that nasty bathroom?

[Lihu]

35 minutes ago, nevets88 said:

There are lots of WCs, the ones I used were basically porta-potties in a brick housing. Gross. Come on, these are our national parks. You want those memories of beautiful scenery sullied by that nasty bathroom?

I completely agree with you that they should be in much better shape than they were when you needed them.

However, I reserve the word "nasty" for the 3rd day of a large music festival in the middle of the desert.

Edited October 26, 2017 by Lihu

[Valleygolfer]

1 hour ago, nevets88 said:

There are lots of WCs, the ones I used were basically porta-potties in a brick housing. Gross. Come on, these are our national parks. You want those memories of beautiful scenery sullied by that nasty bathroom?

I always thought the bathrooms were nice. Brown on the bottom with a nice green canopy. They are every where out there.