Touring several nearby forest service campgrounds lately, I noticed one had some newer signs with rather large print, stating that campers must pay the day-use fee in addition to their camping fee... almost doubling the cost of camping... this rustic campground charged $14/night for camping and $10/day for day-use... At $24/night that's only $3 less than a State park which has hot showers and electric at every site.In past forest campgrounds I've stayed at, I've just paid the camping fee. I've never parked my vehicle in the day-use area (typically a trail head or boat launch). Also I don't own a boat and have never used the boat launch at a forest campground. I've never received a letter, call or visit from a ranger stating I've underpaid for my stay. The signage at past campgrounds led me to believe this was correct.Has anyone noticed anything similar. Are folks typically paying both the camping fee and day-use fee? Is it something new, is it nation wide or up to individual ranger districts?

Haven't seen that in several Forest Service camps we used this summer in Montana. Were these concession aired campgrounds?

Maybe it means the Michigan "Passport" which is $11.00 for the season. Passport is required in addition to any camp fees.More money

GordonThree wrote:Touring several nearby forest service campgrounds lately, I noticed one had some newer signs with rather large print, stating that campers must pay the day-use fee in addition to their camping fee... almost doubling the cost of camping... this rustic campground charged $14/night for camping and $10/day for day-use... At $24/night that's only $3 less than a State park which has hot showers and electric at every site.In past forest campgrounds I've stayed at, I've just paid the camping fee. I've never parked my vehicle in the day-use area (typically a trail head or boat launch). Also I don't own a boat and have never used the boat launch at a forest campground. I've never received a letter, call or visit from a ranger stating I've underpaid for my stay. The signage at past campgrounds led me to believe this was correct.Has anyone noticed anything similar. Are folks typically paying both the camping fee and day-use fee? Is it something new, is it nation wide or up to individual ranger districts?Wow. I've never experienced that. I know that some national forests do charge for "enhanced amenity areas" such as swimming beaches, boat launches, etc. But I've never known a forest to charge for both camping and for enhanced amenity at the same time/place. Seems like double dipping for sure. I checked the websites for the Ottawa, Hiawatha, and Huron Manistee. It looks like the Huron Manistee does have enhanced amenity areas, but when I tried to find more info, I ended up at dead links or messages saying the website is undergoing problems. I suggest that you call the Supervisor's Office and ask to speak to the Recreation Program Manager and ask questions directly.I am a retired USFS Recreation Program manager, and I've NEVER heard of a Forest double charging, but if they have it written on the sign, it seems like they are trying to do it. It seems plain wrong for them to do that.

rjxj wrote:Maybe it means the Michigan "Passport" which is $11.00 for the season. Passport is required in addition to any camp fees.More moneyI believe the Michigan passport is good only at State owned/managed sites and not at the Federal sites. Both state and federal websites seem to confirm this.

Not sure about national forests - but we had a 'day-use boat fee' PLUS camp fees on EACH DAY in one of the South Dakota state parks. We had no boat, came in only to stay the night, and leave the next day traveling.Needless to say, we traveled fairly quickly out of South Dakota -- we also noticed the COE camp about a half mile away was full. The SD state park had about sixty sites, only seven campers. We had no trouble figuring out why.State parks that add day-use fees to camping sites are shooting themselves in both feet.

USFS campground fees? | Good Sam Community

EsoxLucius
Explorer
Sep 05, 2015
There are day use fees being charged in most National Forests for a variety of activities (picnicking, hiking, etc.) but I've never seen a day use fee charged in a campground if a camping fee was charged.
coolmom42
Explorer II
Sep 05, 2015
Was this a Michigan State Forest run by the state of Michigan, or a National Forest run by the USFS?

Sounds like something the state of Michigan would do.

I have never seen a day-use fee in a National Forest.
monkey44
Nomad II
Sep 05, 2015
Not sure about national forests - but we had a 'day-use boat fee' PLUS camp fees on EACH DAY in one of the South Dakota state parks. We had no boat, came in only to stay the night, and leave the next day traveling.

Needless to say, we traveled fairly quickly out of South Dakota -- we also noticed the COE camp about a half mile away was full. The SD state park had about sixty sites, only seven campers. We had no trouble figuring out why.

State parks that add day-use fees to camping sites are shooting themselves in both feet.
dewey02
Explorer II
Sep 05, 2015
rjxj wrote:
Maybe it means the Michigan "Passport" which is $11.00 for the season. Passport is required in addition to any camp fees.

More money

I believe the Michigan passport is good only at State owned/managed sites and not at the Federal sites. Both state and federal websites seem to confirm this.
dewey02
Explorer II
Sep 05, 2015
GordonThree wrote:
Touring several nearby forest service campgrounds lately, I noticed one had some newer signs with rather large print, stating that campers must pay the day-use fee in addition to their camping fee... almost doubling the cost of camping... this rustic campground charged $14/night for camping and $10/day for day-use... At $24/night that's only $3 less than a State park which has hot showers and electric at every site.

In past forest campgrounds I've stayed at, I've just paid the camping fee. I've never parked my vehicle in the day-use area (typically a trail head or boat launch). Also I don't own a boat and have never used the boat launch at a forest campground. I've never received a letter, call or visit from a ranger stating I've underpaid for my stay. The signage at past campgrounds led me to believe this was correct.

Has anyone noticed anything similar. Are folks typically paying both the camping fee and day-use fee? Is it something new, is it nation wide or up to individual ranger districts?

Wow. I've never experienced that.
I know that some national forests do charge for "enhanced amenity areas" such as swimming beaches, boat launches, etc. But I've never known a forest to charge for both camping and for enhanced amenity at the same time/place. Seems like double dipping for sure. I checked the websites for the Ottawa, Hiawatha, and Huron Manistee. It looks like the Huron Manistee does have enhanced amenity areas, but when I tried to find more info, I ended up at dead links or messages saying the website is undergoing problems. I suggest that you call the Supervisor's Office and ask to speak to the Recreation Program Manager and ask questions directly.

I am a retired USFS Recreation Program manager, and I've NEVER heard of a Forest double charging, but if they have it written on the sign, it seems like they are trying to do it. It seems plain wrong for them to do that.
azrving
Explorer
Sep 05, 2015
Maybe it means the Michigan "Passport" which is $11.00 for the season. Passport is required in addition to any camp fees.

More money
bobsallyh
Explorer II
Sep 05, 2015
Haven't seen that in several Forest Service camps we used this summer in Montana. Were these concession aired campgrounds?

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