Oregon State Parks to add surcharge

No different than buying an out of state fishing/hunting license.
I would like to know why there are so many Idahoans here camping. Never seen so many ID plates before. Been to Idaho several times and found it to be very nice for camping. Why the big drive to Oregon when they have someplace already nice?

As someone who would have to pay that fee if traveling to Oregon, I think it's fair. I don't pay taxes in Oregon -- so why should Oregon taxpayers subsidize my recreation? And California universities certainly impose extra tuition for out of state students. So this practice, albeit discriminatory, is well-established.

Plus, frankly, the Oregon State Parks are usually much more nicely kept than those in California (which is where I live). Admittedly, "better than Calif" is a pretty low bar. ;)

bobsallyh wrote:
Oregon State Parks are going to add a "Virus Surcharge" to out of state folks.

https://nbcmontana.com/news/local/oregon-imposes-new-fee-for-out-of-state-campers

Maybe it would be better to go to the source.

OPRD our of state surcharge

TUCQUALA wrote:
AFHauler, the $5 fee is only when making a reservation for non-residents. Many states have such. It is not added to the daily camping charge. Maybe a minor difference, but not like OR adding up to 30% per day for non-residents!! I believe that when we went into BC a few years ago, we had to pay non-resident fees at both Nat Parks and BC Provincial Parks.

We weren't complaining about the fee. It's a beautiful continent we all live in and we 'were' lucky to be able to enjoy it. Hopefully we can do it again soon.

AFHauler, the $5 fee is only when making a reservation for non-residents. Many states have such. It is not added to the daily camping charge. Maybe a minor difference, but not like OR adding up to 30% per day for non-residents!! I believe that when we went into BC a few years ago, we had to pay non-resident fees at both Nat Parks and BC Provincial Parks.

goducks10 wrote:

dodge guy wrote:
And just what will the extra fee do? Just another way to make money off of a pandemic that has been used line people’s pockets!

It will help with the shortfall of revenue from the shutdown. Or St parks have been doing quite well until the shutdown and reopening. It's time for those out of state that take in staters spots to anty up.

I believe the biggest issue isn’t out of staters, rather the people that live close by and book sites because they may want to use them. As an out of stater I would love to be able to see the beautiful NW states, but not if they are going to take advantage of me, since I’m already coming out there, spending money on gas and food!

Never bite the hand that feeds you!!!!!!!

Ed_Gee wrote:

rhagfo wrote:
I am of the belief that the surcharge is to reduce the number of out of state campers coming into Oregon, as part of Covid 19 prevention.

Probably so - and I'm 100% behind that attempt. Besides I am tired of not being able to get into our own Parks, filled up with out of staters, while I pay the taxes to support those parks. Kudos to Oregon SP.

Ed,’the only “Tax” that goes OPRD is 60% of your Oregon RV registration “Fee”. The two other sources are user fees and lottery dollars.

doxiemom11 wrote:
New Mexico won't even let out of state people stay in the state parks right now. Different rules everywhere.

New Mexico won't even let New Mexicans stay in state parks, all state parks are closed to camping. They are allowing day use for residents and after a news story on out of state visitors they started checking ID on any out of state plates on all pass angers, no NM state ID no entry. This was primarily Elephant Butte state park, the largest lake in the state & most out of state where TX from El Paso area a couple hr drive. Summer holidays the lake swells to 125,000 in a town of under 2,000. The state requires 14 day quarantine for all out of state people, the exception is those passing trough can stay over night. RV parks are putting over nigters in a separate area from residents.

The park I am in right now has 3 sections, long term residents, weekly like myself (in the area on business) & over night. Meets all state requirements. Parks that are open are private run & not all have opened, no state park has camping currently.

rhagfo wrote:
I am of the belief that the surcharge is to reduce the number of out of state campers coming into Oregon, as part of Covid 19 prevention.

Probably so - and I'm 100% behind that attempt. Besides I am tired of not being able to get into our own Parks, filled up with out of staters, while I pay the taxes to support those parks. Kudos to Oregon SP.

TUCQUALA wrote:
ksg5000, WA parks DO NOT (at this time!!) charge "extra" to non-residents!! They have various levels according to services and seasons. There is a charge for the "Discover Pass" to access day use areas and some other parks, but it is not charged for or required when paying for a campsite. If you are an oldie, you probably remember the fee wars of the '70s and early '80s when a whole bunch of states charged extra for non-residents. It was Oregon that started the war!!!

When we made reservations last year to stay at Cape Disappointment State Park in Washington in December 2019 we were charged $5.00 as a "non-resident recreation fee". We have been charged this fee whenever we made a reservation in Washington for several years now.