The Washington State Parks system is older than the National Parks system and stewards 122,000 acres of land in every corner of the state. Many of the icons that signify a place in Washington can be found in a state park—the Deception Pass bridge, the state waterfall at Palouse Falls, orcas off the point at Lime Kiln, and so much more.
State parks are beloved by residents and travelers alike. They see the most visitors despite having the fewest acres of any state-managed lands agency, more than 40 million visitors a year. And of those, 2.3 million choose to stay the night in one of more than 100 parks.
The revenue state parks earns from roofed accommodations, camping, Discover Pass sales and other fees is a core funding stream that helps keep state parks staffed, operational and open for access to all Washingtonians.
To continue to meet the needs of its visitors, the agency is increasing some fees in 2026 and early 2027. The fee increases include the Senior Off-Season Pass, non-resident reservation fee, and roofed accommodation fees, which apply to cabins, yurts, and vacation homes.
Fee changes for Washington State Parks
Effective April 1, 2026, the non-resident reservation fee will change from $5 to $15. Reservations made before April 1, 2026, will not be affected by the fee change.
The average non-resident reservation is two nights or more, so this fee change adds less than $5 per night to an average stay while shifting a small percentage of the user fee burden away from Washington residents.
Effective Sept. 1, 2026, the Senior Off-Season Pass will increase from $75 to $100. The additional nightly utility fee will also increase from $10 to $12. Senior Limited Income Pass holders will continue receiving a 50% discount on the Senior Off-Season Pass.
This is the first time both the Senior Off-Season Pass and the non-resident reservation fee have been adjusted in more than a decade.
Effective Jan. 1, 2027, roofed accommodation fees will increase. Adirondack, teepee and some vacation rental fees will not change. Cabin and yurt pricing will also be standardized to provide customers with more consistency and transparency during the booking process.
Because visitors are able to book reservations up to nine months in advance of their stay, customers will begin to see updated fees on April 1, 2026, for stays beginning Jan. 1, 2027.
Discount pass program
State Parks recognizes rising costs aren’t just impacting the agency—they’re impacting park visitors as well, so any fee adjustments are made under careful consideration. Since 2019, utility costs have increased by more than 37 percent, and cabin construction costs have increased by more than 90 percent.
In 2025, in response to the state’s budget shortfall, the Legislature reduced State Parks’ general fund appropriations and added new costs to the agency. Approximately 71% of the funding for State Parks must come from earned revenue.
However, the agency believes in the need to balance rising costs with equitable access to the outdoors and continues to explore opportunities to break down barriers to recreation.
The agency currently administers five discount pass programs that offer discounted or free camping to eligible residents.
State Parks also has 12 Discover Pass Free Days in 2026, and programs like Check Out Washington and Everyone Outdoors that provide community members and organizations with the opportunity to visit state parks with donated Discover Passes.
Learn about other free ways to visit state lands at discoverpass.wa.gov.
About Washington State Parks
The Washington State Parks Commission manages more than 100 state parks and properties totaling approximately 120,000 acres. The Commission provides a variety of recreation opportunities for citizens and provides stewardship protection for a diverse array of natural, cultural and historic resources. State Parks’ statewide programs include long-distance trails, boating safety and winter recreation.
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RVT1253b
Washington state is sending the message, “don’t come, unless you are dumb enough to be bent over paying our fees.”
Well there are other US states more friendly to RVers.
There are other States more friendly to WA. TAX Payers. If they could stop the TAX base from leaving WA., they could fund the parks but alas, the DOOM LOOP continues.
✌️😎
Kinda sounds like NY.
Right!?!?
34.7% vacancy rate in high rise buildings in Seattle. 27% vacancy rate for other retail space. The Mayor’s solution…. a new tax on the building owners for the vacant space….. like the landlords want vacant space…! And the DOOM LOOP keeps looping and looping….. and more businesses and employers leave so to make up the revenue decline….. they implement a NEW TAX, 9.9% additional on people making over $1m per year…… so those people move out and the DOOM LOOP keeps looping and looping.
New York you say?….. same same same.
Beyond bad policy.
“they implement a NEW TAX, 9.9% additional on people making over $1m per year”
And to think that is all a ruse. WA Supreme Court will say it is unconstitutional as it is not being applied equally to all income. So, the Democrats will, rather than killing the tax, will apply it ALL INCOME and blame the Court!
Exactly. But, unfortunately, the California migration to WA and OR has cause these two state to follow the same mindset. You know, cause it has worked out so well for CA.
All three States have spending problems and now it appears two have the same fraud issues as MN.
Oregon tacks on a 25% additional charge for non-resident campsites!
I understand cost go up but to triple the reservation fee is ridiculous this really impacts a one or two night stay.
I had one state charge me the reservation fee when I extended my stay in person their comment was I had to use the computer to make the change
Michigan is another state that rapes out of state campers with high state park fees. Would love to see more of the UP but have put travels there on hold. Other states have hordes of mosquitoes and black flies for less camping costs, LOL.
This is taxation without representation. Oh well, there’s plenty of more camper friendly states with lots to see where we will spend our vacation money.
Cool! Another place that regular people are priced out of for us to check off of our list and not visit! Money saved.
After years of living in Washington and loving our close state pals, they all started screwing us with this out of state fees. Washington didn’t. So I have written many times to the xxx in charge at our wa. state parks. Instead of having a fee war, just make a deal for no out of state fees for our closest State rather than a war.
Obviously no one we pay taxes to takes the time to think about it.
So here we are, we campers paying more and more, on top of fuel prices. Guess no one saw this coming, the past few months.
I’m off to our state parks, adios to my other great campgrounds.
Hope to see ya sometime!
Thank you for the information, RV Travel. Have a great day and safe travels!