Arizona State Park camping fees

wildtoad wrote:
I don't get it when a state charges you an access fee and a camping fee. I understand parks having to become more self sufficient and don't mind paying what they think their sites are worth. Just think it's odd that I'm staying one night, just passing through and have to buy a pass and then pay for camping.

South Dakota is that too - campsite fee and day-use fee even if you're only over-night.

Seems other states are heading in that direction with fees ... some have resident fees AND visitor fees higher. Makes little sense to me, as the visitor adds quite a bit of "travel money' to local economies, but yet gets hit harder in the camping (and fish license) areas too.

I'd think it makes more sense to DISCOUNT travelers to attract that money into the state. When we camp in areas like S Dakota, we stay short trips and pass thru quicker ... when we camp in states like Texas or Oregon (both = veterans discounts) we stay weeks at a time and spend more money locally - food, gas, treats, etc.

Some folks say: Well, that local money doesn't go to campgrounds - well, maybe. But taxes do go to state, and we spend more in taxes than a day-use fee over time... altho' I haven't exactly done that math, and have no intention of checking it for accuracy. :)