Good news for Texas...

tatest wrote:
I think Texas has a great state park system, and the fees are what make this possible. I live in a state where most of the parks are free of admission fees, and camping fees are low, but the parks tend to be more primitive and less well managed.

I don't understand comments about non-resident fees. My experience is that the fees in Texas are same for residents and non-residents, unlike some states where only residents can buy annual passes, or there is a huge price difference in fees (as in Michigan where the non-resident daily pass is almost as expensive as the resident annual pass).

I would agree that the Texas parks are in a par with many other states, including my home state of Florida.

I don't think the reference was to non-resident fees but the cost to non-residents. They are charged the same fees as residents but since they use the parks much less, a non-resident is much less likely to purchase an annual pass for $70. For instance if a family of four stop at Palo Duro for two nights on their way through Texas, they will pay a 26/day camping fee and another 20/day (5 each) use fee for a total cost of $92 for the two nights . Since they would only be paying 40 for day use fees, paying 70 for an annual pass wouldn't be economical. Whereas a resident that spends at least three or four weekends a year could make good use of annual pass and would probably do so. A two-night stay with 50 amps FHU at the very nice Oasis RV Resort a few miles away near Amarillo would only cost 70 for the same two nights. I will agree that Palo Duro is much more picturesque but is it worth an additional 11/night? BTW, Florida has some of the best priced campsites in the country and charges no day use fees for campers, even for snow birds! :B