Background:
OPRD is proposing changes to rules guiding reservations, special access passes, rate ranges and State Parks Day. The proposed changes are designed to improve the long-term financial sustainability of the state park system and maximize the availability of campsites for visitors.
Without changes, the state parks face a multi-million dollar budget shortfall due to increasing costs, the impact of higher visitation and a decrease in Oregon Lottery funds for operations. Visitor fees do not cover the cost of operations, and Oregon State Parks does not receive general fund tax revenue for operations.
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Cancellation Policy
- No refunds on the day of arrival.
- No-show reservations will not be refunded and may count against benefit limits (e.g., for Special Access Pass holders).
- Refunds vary based on how long the reservation was held and how close to arrival it is canceled.
- Change Policy: Mirrors cancellation policy in terms of refund structure.
- Third-party bookings: No unauthorized resale of campsites.
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- Creates clearer rules for cancellations and no-shows.
- Reduces unused reservations and opens more campsites for visitors.
- Offers larger refunds for early cancellations; smaller refunds when closer to the arrival date.
- Ends refunds for visitors who do not cancel their reservation.
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- Rates may vary by day of week, season, holidays, amenities, and demand.
| - Updates reservation fee ranges to reflect future costs.
- These fee ranges set only the minimum and maximum allowed amounts. They are not the actual price visitors will pay.
- Actual fees will continue to be set separately and may stay the same or change gradually over time.
- Allows greater use of demand-based pricing across seasons and park types.
- Supports long-term revenue stability and maintains high-quality park services.
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Special Access Pass (SAP)
- Foster & Adoptive Foster Families (Oregon residents only):
- Waived facility deposit and overnight rental fees (up to 10 nights/year).
- Day-use parking permit fee waived.
- Service-Connected Disabled Veterans (Oregon residents only):
- Waived facility deposit and overnight rental fees (up to 10 nights/year).
- Day-use parking permit fee waived.
- SAP Cancellations:
- Must cancel reservations to avoid losing benefit nights. Refunded nights will be based on length of time reservation is held.
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- Refines Special Access Pass eligibility to Oregon residents.
- Sets a limit of 10 free camping nights per year.
- Helps manage growing demand and reduces program costs.
- Prioritizes benefits for Oregonians while still supporting veterans and foster families.
- Lowers fee waivers by an estimated $2.2 million per biennium (a 46% reduction).
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- Fee Range: $7–$25 daily; $30–$100 (12-month); $50–$200 (24-month*).
- * Not offered this coming year but included in the rate range for future flexibility
- License Plate Integration: Updates language to allow for input of license plate input instead of printed tags.
- Vendor Fees: Vendor fees will be added to the price of the permits and with a maximum set by the Director annually.
| - Give the agency flexibility to adjust parking permit prices over time as costs rise, without raising all fees at once.
- Make permits easier to use by linking them to a license plate instead of a paper tag.
- Vendor processing fees will make it transparent and clear what permit costs are
- Help keep parks maintained and services running by creating a more stable and predictable funding system.
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FAQs:
- Are all state park fees going up to the highest amount in the new rule?
- No. The rule sets a range for each type of campsite or facility. It does not set the actual fee. The actual fees visitors pay may stay the same or change gradually over time.
- What’s the difference between a “fee range” and the fee I pay?
- A fee range is simply the low to high amount OPRD is allowed to charge in the future, slowly over time.
- The actual fee is the price you see when you book a campsite. That is set separately by the agency and we try to stay as low as possible.
- Think of the range like a speed gauge, it is how fast a car could go but the actual fee is how fast the car is really moving.
- Why add a higher fee range?
- Expanding the ranges gives the agency flexibility to adjust fees in the future as costs change. It helps us respond to inflation, park maintenance needs, staffing challenges, and demand.
- It does not automatically raise current prices.
- This is too confusing. Why not list the actual new prices in the rule?
- Administrative rules set the legal boundaries.
- Actual pricing decisions are made later through a public process, agency review, and seasonal adjustments at the time of your booking. This system helps keep Oregon’s state parks both affordable and financially sustainable long-term.
Still have comments you want to share? Leave us a public comment:
Public Comment Period: Open
Public comments are open December 1, 2025 to January 15, 2026.
- Virtual public hearing is December 15, 2025 at 5:30 PM.
Comments Received:
Documents: