Camping at the McCormack Creek Campground at Lake Owyhee State Park, found in the far reaches of eastern Oregon. Jamie Hale/The Oregonian
By Samantha Swindler | The Oregonian/OregonLive
Fees to use Oregon state parks will increase in 2025, as the Oregon Parks and Recreation Department works “to keep pace with the rising cost of utilities, operations and maintenance,” according to a news release.
Camping fees last increased in 2017.
The following new camping rates will take effect Oct. 15 for all reservations made for 2025:
- $2 increase for misc. sites (includes tipis, meeting halls and other facilities)
- $3 increase for tent sites (includes horse tent sites, horse group sites, group tent) and primitive sites (includes overflow, fly-in and walk-to-sites)
- $4 increase for RV sites (includes full hookup, electrical, horse RV and group RV sites)
- $5 increase for cabins and yurts (includes rustic, mini, totem and deluxe sites)
Camping rates vary by location and season, but currently range from $17 to $38.
Starting Jan. 1, online reservation fees will increase from $8 to $10 per site, and day-use parking permits will double from $5 to $10. Annual and two-year parking permit costs will remain the same: $30 per year or $50 for a two-year permit.
“We know that raising fees by any amount can be challenging for visitors, and we don’t make this decision lightly,” parks director Lisa Sumption said in a statement. “We try to keep costs and fees as low as possible to minimize the impact while still fulfilling our commitment to stewardship and recreation.”
George Custer lives in Oakridge with his wife Sayre. George is a former smokejumper from his hometown of Cave Junction, a former captain in the U.S. Marine Corps. and ran a construction company in Southern California. George assumed the volunteer duties as the Editor of the Highway 58 Herald in 2022. He loves riding his Harley-Davidson motorcycle, building all things wood, and playing drums on the weekends in his office.
