How much are Blue Ridge Parkway camping fees? Rates might increase at some spots
ASHEVILLE — Camping fees may be increasing for certain front country and backcountry sites on the Blue Ridge Parkway in Western North Carolina.
The National Park Service announced proposed fee changes as high as 50% for camping and other associated fees, and is seeking public comment on the possible change, according to a Feb. 15 news release.
The proposed increases include certain front country and backcountry camping sites, as well as non-camper user fees for shower and dump-station services. The changes could take effect as soon as May.
“The Parkway is a popular camping destination for park visitors and neighbors, and recreation fees provide a vital source of revenue for needed facility maintenance, future campground improvement projects, and increased costs associated with campground operations,” the announcement said.
The last time the parkway applied a major fee change was in 2016. Under the Federal Lands Recreation Enhancement Act, NPS is required to charge appropriate fees for the benefits and services it provides and to ensure the costs are comparable to fees charged by others in the local area for similar benefits and services, according to the release.
The parkway stretches 469 curvy miles from Shenandoah National Park in Virginia and crests the scenic Blue Ridge Mountains, passing directly through Asheville, to its end at the entrance to Great Smoky Mountains National Park in Cherokee. It is the most visited national park site in the country, with 16.7 million visitors in 2023.
There is no entrance fee for the parkway.
“After research of local campground rates and provided services outside the park, the proposed rate increases were found to be comparable with current market rates in the surrounding areas for similar services,” the release said.
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Proposed fee changes in WNC
The proposed fees in WNC include a rate increase from the current $20 to a proposed $30 for standard front country campground sites in Julian Price Campground at Milepost 297, Linville Falls Campground at MP 316.4, Crabtree Falls Campground at MP 339.5 and Mount Pisgah Campground at MP 408.8, about 20 miles southwest of Asheville.
The cost of group sites at Linville Falls Campground in Burke County would also increase from $35 to $45, according to the release.
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There is currently no cost to set up camp at two backcountry camping areas on the parkway, namely Basin Cove at MP 244.7 and Johns River Road at MP 296.9. The proposed changes would add a $15 price tag to those sites, which have a six-person occupancy and a three-night limit.
Other associated fee changes include the following:
Non-camper dumping is allowed at all park campgrounds and would cost $6 instead of $3 under the proposed changes.
Non-campers who would like to shower at Julian Price Park or Mount Pisgah Campgrounds would pay $6 instead of $3.
Parkway leadership is accepting public comments on the proposed fee increases for a period of 30 days, through March 15. Comments can be submitted electronically at https://parkplanning.nps.gov/BLRI2024fees.
Comments may also be submitted via mail to: Blue Ridge Parkway HQ, 199 Hemphill Knob Road, Asheville, NC 28803.
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Ryley Ober is the Public Safety Reporter for Asheville Citizen Times, part of the USA Today Network. Email her at rober@gannett.com and follow her on Twitter @ryleyober
This article originally appeared on Asheville Citizen Times: Blue Ridge Parkway camping fees might increase
