Idaho State Parks

[R__Walter]

Anyone have experience staying in Idaho's state parks? I'm set to be a volunteer in one of them this summer and was wondering. What did you like and not like? Do you have a favorite park in their state system? Have you ever been a volunteer in the Idaho State Parks?

[CapnCampn]

Huh. Scrolling further down - who would a thunk! I swear I looked all over for that info.

Thanks!

[TUCQUALA]

Towards the bottom of the site are a series of boxed info which show the "various" extra fees!! Quite a bit of reading!! Neat that residents with valid rv reg stickers don't have to pay the reservation fee!! Like to see more states do that. But here in WA we have the "wonderful" Discovery Pass for $30!! So I guess I really can't complain too much aboot Idaho!! Only good thing is if you are camping in state park, you don't "need" the Discovery Pass!! But we do pay a reservation fee!!

[CapnCampn]

Ok, I submit! I re-reread the fees page from the link you quote, and it does say:

Current Idaho RV Registration Holders

Reservation fees are waived for Idaho residents who have current, valid Idaho RV registration stickers. Reservation fees for these customers are paid for by a grant from the Idaho RV Program. Proof of registration is required at time of arrival.

And...

Note: Prices below do not include MVEF (Motor Vehicle Entrance Fee), prices in the high end of range include additional fees for popular destination parks, premium camp sites and non-residents. Discounts may apply for MVEF or Idaho Residents.

but danged if I can find any place that specifies how much those fees are, and I'm not gonna create an out of state profile on Reserve America to find out!

Thanks for setting me straight.

I still hope you all had a good time! 🙂

CC

[TUCQUALA]

Yep, they DO charge extra for "non-resident" camping and other things!! See the attached Idaho State Parks site:

https://parksandrecreation.idaho.gov/activities/camping

Been there, done it!!!!

[CapnCampn]

Interesting, I just looked around the bruneau website & the reserve America site and found nothing about out of state fees.

There are different fees for the differing loops in Broken Wheel campground due to the services being different (30A, 50A, none).

I don't know what to say, other than I hope you had a good time!

CC

[caver]

I was at Bruneau Dunes last September and there was a higher camping fee for out of state folks.

[CFerguson]

CapnCampn wrote:
Idaho charges everybody $5 for state park entrance fees, not just out of staters. We're equal opportunity. 🙂

The Idaho State Parks Passport sticker is available for $10/year for Idaho residents, or $40/year for non-residents. This will waive the $5/day Motor Vehicle Entrance Fee (MVEF). So if you're staying for a while, it could be worth it.

I like Bruneau Dunes (in the spring!)City of Rocks & Ponderosa the best.

Have fun!
CC

Yeah, that's the kind of yearly fee that I have seen in other states. And I am fine with that.


Oh, its not the money- that isn't a problem. Its just if someplace charges more for one group over another, it appears to me that they prefer some folks over others. No Prob with that- that is their right. As is my right to vacation in another state's park system.

[obgraham]

Every Idaho park we have stayed in has been great. 3-Islands in particular. We usually stay just overnight on our way to somewhere, but find the parks all convenient and well run.

I think it is just fine for state parks to charge a few dollars more for out-of-staters. All the parks are having financial problems these days.

[CapnCampn]

Idaho charges everybody $5 for state park entrance fees, not just out of staters. We're equal opportunity. 🙂

The Idaho State Parks Passport sticker is available for $10/year for Idaho residents, or $40/year for non-residents. This will waive the $5/day Motor Vehicle Entrance Fee (MVEF). So if you're staying for a while, it could be worth it.

I like Bruneau Dunes (in the spring!)City of Rocks & Ponderosa the best.

Have fun!
CC

[ReneeG]

CFerguson wrote:
Interesting that ISP's charge extra for out of state. I have never encountered that (tho have seen different rates on year/season passes in some states). Is that typical? What other states do that?
That kind of thing hints to me that I'm not as welcome there as a resident of Idaho is.

Many states, CT, WA, WI, RI, and MT to just name a few, charge a different rate for non-resident. It's not meant to discourage visitors, but most likely for some state expense. What I don't know. Doesn't bother me. We travel enough that staying in any state park is way cheaper, and often more scenic, than RV parks.

[CFerguson]

Interesting that ISP's charge extra for out of state. I have never encountered that (tho have seen different rates on year/season passes in some states). Is that typical? What other states do that?
That kind of thing hints to me that I'm not as welcome there as a resident of Idaho is.

[ReneeG]

We often stay at Idaho State Parks. Since we are Idaho residents, we purchase an annual pass with our licence plates that allow us free entrance for camping, but the overnight camping fee is still applicable. We've camped at Bruneau Dunes, Three Island Crossing, Ponderosa, Massacre Rocks, Farragut, Henry's Lake, Hells Gate, Castle Rocks, Smokey Mt CG, Lake Cascade, Priest Lake, and Winchester. We've never been volunteers, and like most things about the state park system. We have several favorites - Farragut, Castle Rocks, and Henry's Lake.

[TUCQUALA]

Most Idaho parks we've visited are nice, but hasn't been many!! Biggest negative in my mind is the extra charge for entrance if you're from another state. Not a terrible amount, $5 if I remember, but another extra charge for your pocketbook. Kind of like when WA and OR were pissed off with each other in the late '70s and early '80s!! Biggest thing was that WA was only charging OR residents not the rest of the states!! OR was doing everybody!!

[padredw]

We've only stayed in our Idaho state park: Henry's Lake in Island Park. It was a great place for a couple of days--and would be for more but that's all the time we had on this trip. The sites were great, well spaced and level. Hosts were friendly. I can't really think of a negative. That's our only experience with Idaho state parks, but a good one.