Pinnacles National Park to raise entrance fee in 2019

This information was provided by Pinnacles National Park.

Pinnacles National Park will raise  its entrance fees starting January 2019 to $30.00 per vehicle or $25.00 per motorcycle. Annual park passes are expected to cost $55.

At least 80 percent of revenue from the increase will go to Pinnacles National Park. A news release from the park states that the increase will be for infrastructure and maintenance needs to enhance the park visitor experience. 

“Visitors will directly see improvements at the East Side entrance, in restroom and parking facilities, on trails, in the campground, and at the Nature Center,” Pinnacles Superintendent Karen Dorn said.

There will be a 15% increase for all entrance fee-charging parks, rather than the higher peak-season fees.

“Throughout the country, the combination of an aging infrastructure and increased visitation has put a strain on park roads, bridges, campgrounds, waterlines, bathrooms, and other visitor services and led to a $11.6 billion deferred maintenance backlog nationwide,” the news release reads.

The Pinnacles release explained that additional revenue from entrance fees will support restoration of the Historic Bear Valley School, purchased by the park and the construction of a new entrance station.

“The [National Park Service] estimates that once fully implemented, the new fee structure will increase annual entrance fee revenue by about $60 million,” the release states. 

The current rate of $25 per vehicle or $20 per motorcycle has been in effect since January 1, 2018. The park is one of 117 National Park Service sites that charges an entrance fee, while the other 300 national parks will remain free to enter. The price of the annual America the Beautiful National Parks and Federal Recreational Lands Annual Pass and Lifetime Senior Pass will remain $80, according to the release.