Arizona State Park camping fees
Wow! Doesn't look like I will be able to stay in State Parks in Arizona. At $30-$33 per night with no discounts available, I'll have to look elsewhere. Guess I'll have to stay in BLM and NF area...
Forum Discussion
Unfortunately, there is a lot more to state parks than just maintaining a campground. In California, the Department of Parks and Recreation is not only in charge of outdoor recreation (e.g., camping), but also in the protection of our natural and cultural resources. It costs a lot of money to keep the buildings at Bodie from further deterioration. It costs a lot of money to keep our cultural museums operating (not to mention restoring archaeological and other historical artifacts for viewing). It costs a lot to repair damage caused by flooding, fires, vandalism, etc. The costs spent to camp helps the department do all those other things.
So while it may be that a $2 increase to camping fees is enough to support the campground, it's not enough to support the rest of the work being done.
Now, some state parks departments ONLY manage campgrounds and day use areas. In those states, a slight fee raise may be sufficient to support the functions of the department in full. But in other states, there is so much more being done by the department on those fees and taxes that no one else wants to pay.
So while it may be that a $2 increase to camping fees is enough to support the campground, it's not enough to support the rest of the work being done.
Now, some state parks departments ONLY manage campgrounds and day use areas. In those states, a slight fee raise may be sufficient to support the functions of the department in full. But in other states, there is so much more being done by the department on those fees and taxes that no one else wants to pay.
