Why Do Some National Parks Charge An Entrance Fee?

Above, Yellowstone National Park's South Entrance Gate. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Yahoo! News has posted an article on, "Why do some national parks charge an entrance fee?" 

Frankly, I think the better question would be, "Why do some national parks don't charge an entrance fee?"

Regardless, the article is informative as it explains where the money generated goes to and what for.

This has not been an issue for me, especially after I turned 62 and got the Senior Lifetime Pass. I got it for $10, before the cost went up to $80. Still, even at $80, it is well worth having. Visiting three national parks in one trip would essentially make the Pass pay for itself.

The article begins with:

(NEXSTAR) — There is no question that the more than 400 national parks, monuments, seashores, historic sites, recreation areas, and other sites overseen by the National Park Service are stunning.

But before you can visit some, you may have to pay.

Across the entire National Park Service, which includes 425 units, only 109 charge an entrance fee.

Nearly all have a park-specific annual pass, ranging from $35 to $70. Many also have fees per vehicle, person or motorcycle that vary from $5 to $35. If you’re a frequent visitor to many national parks or federal recreational lands, you may want the America The Beautiful annual pass worth $80.

At this point, you may have had a common realization: we pay federal taxes, which can be used to fund the National Park Service, so why do I need to pay to get into a national park at all?

To read more, go here.

Best Senior Discounts For RVers

Above, Grand Teton National Park in Wyoming. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Senior citizens (or, as Rush Limbaugh used to say, "seasoned citizens") have many avenues for discounts. Some are specifically tailored to seniors and some for people in general.

RV Life has posted an article listing the best senior discounts for RVers.

The start it with:

Camping On A Budget? These Senior Discounts Can Help

Many retirees decide to pack up their belongings and move into an RV. Those who are at least 50 years old will qualify for a variety of camping perks and discounts. Whether you travel full-time, seasonally or just once or twice a year, you can benefit from senior discounts.

Your eligibility for these discounts will vary based on your age, location, and RV type. But regardless, senior citizens can enjoy plenty of reduced prices wherever they travel. This sweetens the deal because many retirees are looking for fun experiences and travel opportunities that might otherwise be too expensive.

Below, we’ve collected information about the best senior discounts that could save you money while camping. Some of these options still cost a bit of money, but the benefits far outweigh the price. In addition, several of these discounts and clubs will pay for themselves in a short period of time! Read on to learn how you can get the most out of your next vacation.

To read on, go here. 

Planning A Southwest Road Trip

Above, an early morning view of The Mittens and Merrick
 Butte at Monument Valley. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Summer is just around the corner and now is the time to start thinking and planning a vacation trip.

If one is stuck wondering about where to go and do, the East Bay Times as a suggestion: an epic road trip through the Southwest.

They begin it with:

When you’re from California, it’s easy to think that some of the world’s most beautiful and wild, rugged places are right here in our lovely state. But while the Golden State has plenty of incredible scenery to offer, both back in those Wild West days as well as now, the landscapes across America’s Southwest are some of the most spectacular to be found anywhere on the planet.

A road trip is a perfect way to see our favorite special spots in the Southwest — Nevada, Utah and Arizona — where you can see ghost towns, hoodoos, natural arches, sandstone spectacles, dark-sky stars and a really huge hole in the ground.

Before you begin, consider purchasing an annual national parks pass at the first park you enter. That $80 pass gets everyone in your car into every national park for a full year. You don’t have to be an American citizen to buy an annual pass, but if you are, and you’re age 62-plus, buy your lifetime pass for $80 and never again pay to enter a U.S. national park. (Considering that Zion National Park’s entry fee is $35 per car, getting the annual pass is something of a no-brainer.)

To read more, go here.

RV Travel Poll: Some National Parks No Longer Take Cash To Enter

Above, an entrance gate to Yosemite National Park. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Some are saying that we have an over-reliance on credit and debit cards. Some are also saying that "digital currency" is the wave of the future. 

Both are lousy ideas as the corrupt government can control and spy on people through such transactions.

This doesn't affect me since I have my lifetime national park Senior Pass, so I don't have to pay anything.

RV Travel has noticed that some national parks are no longer accepting cash at entrance stations. They have a poll posted asking if this is a good or bad idea. 

They begin it with:

We’ve been noticing that more and more places aren’t accepting cash anymore. Are you finding this true where you are, too? Even some National Parks have said goodbye to cash and are only accepting payments in the form of credit or debit cards.

If you pulled up to an NP booth wanting to pay your entrance fee in cash but they turned you away, how would you feel about this? Is it a good idea or a bad idea? As always, please feel free to leave a comment after you vote. Thanks!

To participate in the poll, go here. 

National Park Senior Pass Still A Bargain

Above, the South Entrance to Yellowstone National Park. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Two years ago this month, the Senior National Park Pass (for seniors 62 and up) cost jumped from $10 to $80.

Many seniors scrambled to get the pass before the price increased on August 28, 2017. But, although the cost jumped up, it is still a bargain if it is used.

For example, this past week I visited Grand Teton and Yellowstone National Parks. The fee at each park per vehicle is $35. So, if I didn't have a senior pass (I bought mine 2016 when it was $10), I could have paid $70 (some parks have a reciprocal program that if one visits more than one national park within a certain period of time, the fee may be waived. But check with the entrance station.). That's $10 shy of the cost of the Senior Pass today.

So it is still well worth it to get a Senior National Park Pass for seniors 62 and older.

T + L: Traveling After Retirement

Above, The Beast at the Grand Canyon National Park Trailer Village. Seniors
get into national parks free with the Senior Pass. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Next month will mark three years since I decided that I had enough of punching in a time clock and retired.

A few months later, I bought a new 2015 Minnie Winnie Class C motorhome, "The Beast". I have no regrets and have visited 17 states in it.

Travel + Leisure has an article on traveling after retirement, whether by RV, plane or otherwise.

They begin it with:

Hitting the road after retirement, whether by vehicle or plane, train, or cruise ship, is the goal of many people contemplating a work-free future. 

Both retirees and those years away from retirement look forward to relaxation, travel, family time, and leisure activities, according to a survey by Prudential Financial. And another study by Bank of America indicated that 95 percent of retirees would prefer to have enjoyable experiences over buying things. Travel is a way to achieve this — whether visiting out-of-town relatives or vacationing together.

To read more, go here. 

National Park Entrance Fees Going Up Today

Above, Grand Canyon National Park. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

The day tourists dreaded has now come. 

Today is the day that the entrance fees at our national parks goes up. It's not as bad as was originally proposed (to held deal with the maintenance backlog of $11 billion).

According to Travel Market Report:

Higher entrance fees at America's national parks go into effect today, June 1.  

The National Park Service will begin charging $5 more for most seven-day vehicle passes to enter the 117 national parks that charge fees, out of 417 national parks, including the nation's most popular parks, Grand Canyon and Yosemite. More than two-thirds of national parks will remain free to enter.  

At the Grand Canyon, one of the nation's most popular parks, park goers will be charged $5 more to $35 per vehicle, while the annual pass will climb by $10 to $70, according to the park service numbers. 

The price of the annual pass and senior pass will remain $80.

To read more, go here. 

Discounts Seniors Didn’t Know They Could Get

Above, Lower Yellowstone Fall. The lifetime senior park pass is number 16 on the list. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Many of us baby boomers have entered or nearing "geezerhood" (becoming a senior citizen). With that, and relying upon retirement savings and Social Security, money is limited. 

We know about senior discounts at restaurants, but there's more money-saving benefits seniors can get access to.

Life'd has posted a list of 19 discounts that many seniors didn't know they can get.

They begin with:

There are many special discounts that are available to seniors. Retirees are offered discounts at most retailers, restaurants, parks, on public transport and at hotels. But you won’t get these discounts unless YOU ASK for them. 

Simply ask the question, “Do you offer a senior discount?” and see how much you can save. You’ll be able to save money every time you find yourself reaching for your wallet or purse. Here is a list of 19 discounts seniors get only if they know to ask about them in 2018. Not only can you read about them here, you can click the links provided if you want to take advantage of these special discounts.

To read more, go here. 

How To Plan and Spend Retirement

Above, The Beast at Yosemite National Park. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

It has been two years since I retired. Like many have said, it takes about three months to get used to the new lifestyle. Don't worry, the time goes by quickly.

The Press-Enterprise has an article with seven tips on how to plan and spend your retirement.

It begins with:

Retirement is an enormous transition for most people. You’ve been working long hours for years and you have a general idea of what you will do with your retirement. 

For instance, you will have free time to sleep in, sit around watching television or play on your computer. All of these things were activities you couldn’t do while you were working. 

People are healthy and living longer. You probably (hopefully) have a financial plan to help you through retirement. Do you also have a plan to stay engaged and productive? You should explore different retirement activities and choose the ones most appealing to you.

One tip they provide is an obvious one: travel. Getting a national park lifetime senior pass (now $80, but still a bargain) will save seniors a lot of money.

They wrote:

You might like to travel in groups on cruises, train tours, motor home caravans or with tour guides to foreign lands.  Groups like these might get together once or twice a year but after you’ve taken the trips over many years with the same people, you develop a tight social network of good friends.

To read the other six tips, go here. 

Trailer Village And The Senior Pass

Above, the sign at Trailer Village registration office. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

If one is a holder of the national park Senior Pass (also known as the Golden Age Pass), they will not be able to use it at Grand Canyon National Park's Trailer Village for a discount for camping.

Trailer Village is concessionaire-operated and the nightly charge is $45/night. As the sign above indicates, the Golden Age Pass is not accepted. It is only good for the entrance fee into the park, which is generally $30 per carload.

Where's My National Park Senior Pass?

Above, seniors who have the Senior Pass will save $30 to enter Grand Canyon National Park. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

When it was announced that the lifetime Senior National Park Pass fee was being raised from $10 to $80, many seniors ordered the pass before the August deadline to get the pass for the lower price.

Now, three months later, many seniors still haven't received the pass they ordered.

There's a reason for that and the Austin American-Statesman tells why.

They wrote:

Some senior citizens who applied for — but have yet to receive — their lifetime passes to the nation’s parks may find a gift in their stockings this Christmas that will benefit them for the rest of their days. That’s because the government expects all of the passes to be mailed out sometime in the next 30 days, according to the AARP. 

The news comes after the National Park Service said that seniors rushing to beat a steep price increase on lifetime passes created a logjam so severe that it delayed the processing of the requests. 

The park service announced in July that it was raising the price on lifetime passes for seniors at the nation’s national parks and federal lands from $10 to $80 to “enhance the visitor experience in parks.” People age 62 and older qualify for the passes, which have cost $10 for the past 23 years. 

Many seniors use the holidays to tour national sites and parks as many of their working-age family members have time off to accompany them. Even without the passes in hand, seniors who can produce a receipt or email confirmation can still enjoy the benefits, AARP reports, citing a parks spokesperson. 

The price hike was set to take place on August 28, 2017, causing a flood of requests. To get a picture of the frenzy created by the price hike, the park service says that for all of 2016, they received 33,000 orders for lifetime passes. This year, it ballooned to 957,000, with nearly two-thirds of that coming in August, the AARP reports.

To read more, go here. 

The Beast's National Parks

Above, The Beast in Yosemite Valley. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

The Beast is tallying up a number of national parks it has taken me to since I bought it two and a half years ago.

It is still running like new. It performed like a champ during the last trip. It now has a little over 22,000 miles on the odometer (the engine is broken in now). I actually managed to camp in three parks: Yosemite, Joshua Tree and Lassen Volcanic.

Also, I am making good use of my Senior Park Pass since I bought it in 2016.

So far, I've been to the following national parks in The Beast:

2015

Above, in Zion National Park. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming
Grand Teton National Park, Wyoming
Zion National Park, Utah
Joshua Tree National Park, California


2016

Above, at the Grand Canyon. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Yosemite National Park (twice), California
Grand Canyon National Park, Arizona


2017

Above, at Lassen Volcanic National Park. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Crater Lake National Park, Oregon
Lassen Volcanic National Park, California

I am considering a little jaunt in November to Redwoods National Park on the California coast, along with a side trip to the Napa Valley to "raid" the wineries. I haven't done that in ages.

$80 Lifetime Senior National Park Pass Starts Tomorrow

Above, the Lassen Peak Trailhead parking lot. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Well, you can't say you haven't been warned. At least if one is a regular reader of this blog.

The $10 lifetime Senior National Park Pass is ending today. Tomorrow, it will cost people age 62 and over $80 for the same pass.

Fortunately for me, I turned 62 last year and immediately bought the Senior Pass then. It has paid for itself many times. During my most recent trip, I visited 2 national parks. I didn't have to pay an entrance fee at either. I only had to pay $24 to camp at Lassen Volcanic National Park's Manzanita Lake Campground. I could have obtained a 50% discount of the camping fee with the pass, but I didn't bother since $24 to camp is cheap enough (actually, I didn't think of it). I'm not squawking.

Still, even at $80, it is still a bargain. All one has to do is to visit 3 national parks who charge a $30 entrance fee and it paid for itself. Crater Lake National Park charges $15 per car and Lassen Volcanic National Park charges $20. Grand Canyon National Park and Yosemite National Park each charge $30.

However, if anyone who doesn't want to pop $80 for a lifetime Senior Pass at once, they can do it in an "installment plan". They can buy an annual Senior Pass for $20 for 4 years and on the fourth year, they automatically qualify for a lifetime Senior Pass without paying extra. The trick is, keeping records of their pass purchases.

Lassen Volcanic National Park

Above, Lassen Peak is the correct name, but many call it Mount Lassen. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Following my visit to Crater Lake National Park, I headed back into California for the first time in over a week to pay a visit to Lassen Volcanic National Park.

Lassen was the first national park my parents took me to 49 years ago. On that trip, we camped in my grandfather's canvas umbrella tent at the Manzanita Lake Campground, which is located just inside of the north entrance into the park. While my mom an I had comfortable, and warm, sleeping bags on that trip, my dad had a rather thin sleeping bag and just about froze.

This time, being in The Beast, I was much more comfortable. It was in the 80s during the day, but the temperature would head down into the 40s at night. (I woke up and found Sierra under the covers between the bathroom wall and me. Apparently, the cold air was even too much for her natural fur coat.)

Above, Mt. Shasta in the morning haze. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

The trip down was via U.S. 97 to Interstate 5, which is a picturesque drive that took me past Mount Shasta, another volcano in the Cascade Range (Lassen Peak is another volcano in this chain as is Mt. St. Helens and others). Lassen last erupted back in 1915 to around 1921 and has been dormant since. There are still some volcanic activity in the park.

Up until Mt. St. Helens erupted in 1980, Lassen Peak was the last volcano to erupt in the lower 48 states.

Above, the entrance to Manzanita Lake Campground. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

I pulled into the Manzanita Campground's entry, located near the store, and it was a self-registration process. All one has to do is to grab a pay envelope, go into one of the loops to find an open campsite, and complete the envelope (vehicle plate, site number, days staying) and put cash or a check in it and take it to the entrance to drop it into a pay slot. Easy!

Above, the campsite pay envelopes and pay slot. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

As I mentioned, the campground has a store, as well as a gas station and showers. It also has an amphitheater where nightly informative programs are presented by the park rangers and experts.

Above, the Manzanita Lake Campground store. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Fortunate for me, there were plenty of campsites available to choose from. I found a nice site in Loop B. Loop D is strictly for tent camping.

Back in 1968, we saw no evidence of bears in the campground, just a lot of deer. There are now bear-proof containers at each campsite for campers to store their food. There were none in 1968. I only saw one deer at the campground, and that was while I was leaving the park.

After relaxing for about a couple of hours, I headed off to explore the park.

By the way, speaking of national parks, today is the last day that the Senior Pass is $10. It goes up to $80 starting tomorrow! Better get yours today!

Here are some more photos at Lassen Volcanic National Park:

Above, Sierra hanging around and enjoying the views. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Above, a description of the 1915 eruption at Devastated Area. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Above, The Beast with Lassen Peak at the Devastated Area viewpoint. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Above, a description of the eruption's effects at Devastated Area. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Above, Lassen Peak peeks over a hill and meadow. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Above, Lassen Peak from the Lassen Peak trailhead. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Above, a different side of Lassen Peak. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Above, The Beast at Manzanita Lake Campground. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Above, a view of Manzanita Lake. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Above, the bear-proof food container at my campsite. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Above, Devastated Area. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Above, Manzanita Lake Campground. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Seniors Hurrying To Buy $10 Lifetime National Park Passes

Above, my senior pass hangs on the rear view mirror. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

In 18 days, the national park lifetime senior pass will go from its current $10 fee to $80. The last day for getting the senior pass at the lower price is August 27.

CBS Sacramento reported that seniors aged 62 and up are buying passes in droves.

They wrote:

Beginning Aug. 28, the price of the lifetime senior pass will increase to $80. 

To lock in at the current price, seniors who are 62 and older are flocking to National Park Service visitors’ centers.

Already, long lines and busy signals are greeting many seniors who are trying to cash in on the deal. 

Passes are also available at www.yourpassnow.com for $10, plus an additional $10 service fee.

To read more, go here. 

National Park Lifetime Senior Pass Deadline Nears

Above, the bottom of Lower Yosemite Falls. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

The deadline is fast approaching!

Here's another reminder for those of you who are age 62 and up that the national park lifetime senior pass will go up $70 on August 28.

The Ledger-Enquirer wrote:

The deadline is fast approaching for those National Park Service fans who are planning to visit as many of America’s scenic and historic destinations as possible in their retirement years. 

U.S. citizens and permanent residents age 62 and older have until Aug. 27 to purchase a lifetime senior park pass for $10, rather than the $80 it will cost starting Aug. 28. The $10 fee has been in effect since 1994, but federal legislation passed last year increased the fee. 

There are 59 national parks in the United States and its territories, with nearly 120 more national monuments. Not all of them charge an entrance fee, such as the Great Smoky Mountains National Park that straddles the Tennessee-North Carolina border. In fact, only 118 of 417 National Park Service sites do charge to enter it. 

But many of the iconic parks in the West — such as Yellowstone, Grand Canyon, Yosemite, Zion, Arches and Rocky Mountain — do have fees to enter them and the charges can pinch the wallet. For instance, Yellowstone, America’s first national park, charges $30 per private vehicle and $25 per motorcyle. The passes also allow the official holder and three additional adults to enter a site that charges a per-person fee for free.

Now is the time to hop out of your rocking chairs and get your lifetime Senior Pass before the price goes up.

To read more, go here. 

National Park Senior Pass Price Hike Editorial

Above, The Beast at Joshua Tree National Park. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

It is now less than a month before the national park lifetime Senior Pass jumps eight times from the current $10 to $80 on August 21.

The price hike may seem like a big jump (well, it is), but it is not unreasonable and is still a bargain. As one can imagine, there is a big backlog in purchases online.

The News-Review has an editorial on the subject and they begin it with:

Get your lifetime senior pass for the national parks and federal recreational areas by Aug. 28, or it’ll cost eight times as much, headlines have blared through the summer months. 

Everyone’s in a desperate hurry to snap up the $10 pass before its price jumps to $80 on that date, and some seniors just under the 62-year age limit naturally feel a bit resentful. If you’ve already got a pass though, don’t worry, it remains valid for life even though you only paid $10 for it. 

Not surprisingly, the federal government has a backlog of senior pass orders to process, as park lovers scramble to pick up their passes before the deadline. It’s recommending seniors purchase their passes at the first National Park Service site they visit rather than ordering online or by mail if they will need to use their pass in the next three months. Nevertheless, orders postmarked before Aug. 28 will be valid for the $10 rate.

If one doesn't want to pay $80 in one pop, there's an "installment plan" that works like this:

For seniors who don’t feel they’ll make enough park visits to be worth the new $80 price, there’s a new annual senior pass for $20. Buy four of those, and you’ll automatically be eligible for a lifetime pass without paying again.

The hike isn't unreasonable as it seems as it does go for a good cause. The price hasn't been raised since 1994 and three visits to a national park that charges $30 per carload will effectively make the pass pay for itself.

To read more, go here. 

New Annual National Park Senior Pass

Above, the Gibbons River in Yellowstone National Park. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

There's a feature that last year's legislation mandating the $80 price hike for the lifetime national park Senior Pass that I hadn't been aware of.

It is a new annual Senior Pass that will sell for $20 a year. But there's more to it.

According to CNBC:

The legislation mandating the price hike includes a new payment plan to help seniors get a lifetime pass. For the first time, the National Park Service will issue an annual senior pass for $20 and once four annual senior passes have been purchased, the individual will automatically qualify for a senior lifetime pass with no additional fee.

That's a great idea! Seniors won't have to pay $80 for the lifetime Senior Pass in one pop. All they have to do is purchase four annual Senior Passes to qualify for the lifetime pass. The price hike goes into effect August 28.

To read more, go here.

Things To Know About The National Park Senior Pass Price Hike

Above, Yosemite Valley in the early morning. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Regular followers of this blog are aware that the national park Senior Pass is about to cost more starting August 28.

The Dayton Daily News has posted five things people should know about the price hike.

They begin with:

Columbus - The price for the lifetime senior pass to visit National Parks is about to skyrocket from $10 to $80 —the first price increase since 1994.

To see with the five things are, go here. 

See The Grand Canyon The Right Way

Above, the Grand Canyon from Yaki Point. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

During the past couple of years, while talking to people about national parks, I found it surprising that many of them have never been to Grand Canyon National Park. A lot of people have never been to Yosemite National Park either.

Personally, I've been to the Grand Canyon about five times, one of which was to the North Rim. The views from the North Rim are equally spectacular (some say it is even more so). The North Rim is actually at a higher elevation than the South Rim. At the North Rim, you'll find yourself amoung pine trees, whereas, on the South Rim, it is desert terrain. My most recent visit was to the South Rim last November.

The entrance fee into the park was $30, but my Senior Pass got me in free.

Above, The Beast at Yaki Point parking area. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

If one has never been to the Grand Canyon, Do It Yourself RV has some great tips on seeing it "the right way".

They begin with:

When I began planning our trip to the Grand Canyon, I wasn’t excited in the least.

So it’s one of the seven natural wonders of the world – I’d seen pictures. 

It’s just a bunch of red rocks and cliffs in the middle of a bland desert – so I thought. 

It looked cool enough, but I assumed it would be the kind of place to hop out of the RV, take a few pictures, and keep driving onto someplace less well known. 

But I was wrong! 

Not only did the Grand Canyon blow my mind, I still get goose bumps just thinking of the view. 

To do the Grand Canyon the right way, you’ve got to visit more than just the main event. 

You’ve got to do a little exploring and sightseeing away from the main touristy points of interest.

To read more, go here.