Washington State Parks is raising fees for some stays. See which ones and when

The Washington State Parks system is raising a handful of fees for the first time in more than a decade, amid rising costs and a tightened budget.

More than 40 million people visit Washington state parks every year — and 2.3 million of those visitors opt to stay the night, the state agency said in a Tuesday, March 17 news release.

Washington State Parks manages more than 100 parks spread over a total of 122,000 acres of land, according to the release.

The majority of Washington State Parks’ budget comes from revenue including camping fees and pass sales.

To meet increased costs and demand, the agency is increasing three fees over the next year.

Here’s what to know:

How is Washington State Parks funded?

The Washington State Parks system receives revenue from camping, Discover Pass sales and various fees.

According to the release, this revenue is what keeps the parks “staffed, operational and open for access to all Washingtonians.”

The price of Discover Passes increased from $30 to $45 in October.

Under the state budget, approximately 71% of funding for the State Parks must come from earned revenue, rather than general fund appropriations.

“However, the agency believes in the need to balance rising costs with equitable access to the outdoors and continues to explore opportunities to break down barriers to recreation,” Washington States Parks said in the release.

According to the parks service, utility costs have increased more than 37% and cabin construction costs more than 90% since 2019.

The recently announced fee changes are meant to support the State Parks system without pricing out anyone who wants to access the outdoors.

Which Washington State Parks fees will increase? When?

Beginning April 1, those who do not live in Washington state will have to pay more for reservations at Washington state parks.

The non-resident fee is increasing from $5 to $15.

Any stays booked before April 1 will not be affected by the new fee, according to the release.

“The average non-resident reservation is two nights or more, so this fee change adds less than $5 per night to an average stay while shifting a small percentage of the user fee burden away from Washington residents,” Washington State Parks said in the release.

The Senior Off-Season Pass will increase by $15 beginning Sept. 1 going from $75 to $100.

The pass, which is available for state residents age 62 and older, includes free camping or moorage at State Parks properties during the off-season, from Oct. 1 to April 30.

Seniors must pay a utility fee per night during trips.

The nightly utility fee will increase from $10 to $12 on Sept. 1, according to the release.

This increase does not impact the 50% discount that Senior Limited Income Pass holders receive for the off-season pass.

Do I have to pay more to stay at a cabin or yurt?

Beginning Jan. 1, 2027, the fee for staying in roofed accommodations such as cabins, yurts and vacation homes will rise, Washington State Parks said.

Cabin and yurt pricing will become standardized “to provide customers with more consistency and transparency during the booking process,” the parks system said.

All yurt reservations will cost between $70 and $110 per night, depending on the season and day of stay. Location will no longer factor into yurt costs.

Cabin reservations will cost $70 to $140 per night, depending on the cabin type, season and day of stay.

Reservations for vacation rentals will cost $130 to $535 per night, depending on the location, season and day of stay.

Fees for renting out other accommodations such as adirondacks and teepees will remain the same, according to State Parks.

“Because visitors are able to book reservations up to nine months in advance of their stay, customers will begin to see updated fees on April 1, 2026, for stays beginning Jan. 1, 2027,” the state agency said.

When can I visit Washington State Parks for free in 2026?

The state has fee-free days for public lands every year, allowing visitors to park at Discover Pass areas at no cost.

The remaining free days in 2026 are:

• Thursday, March 19: State Parks’ birthday
• April 22: Earth Day
• June 6 and 7: Free fishing weekend
• June 19: Juneteenth
• Aug. 9: Smokey Bear’s birthday
• Sept. 26: National Public Lands Day
• Oct. 10: World Mental Health Day
• Nov. 11: Veteran’s Day

This story was originally published March 18, 2026 at 11:18 AM.