Smokies proposes parkwide parking fee
The Great Smoky Mountains National Park today announced a groundbreaking proposal to charge a daily fee for parking and significantly increase existing frontcountry and backcountry fees within the enormously popular national park. A public comment period is now open, and a virtual public meeting is planned for Thursday, April 14.
“Great Smoky Mountains National Park is at a crossroads,” said Superintendent Cassius Cash. “We’re proud to be the most visited National Park, but it does present challenges due to wear and tear on aging facilities and a strain on park resources and employees. Parking tag sales, at a modest fee, would provide critically needed support to protect and enhance the visitor experience not just for tomorrow, but for generations to come. We appreciate the public’s input throughout this process.”
The proposed daily parking fee is $5, with a seven-day tag available for $15 and an annual tag for $40. The park would remain free to enter — motorists using the park as a scenic drive or commuter route would not be charged. Passholders would have to display the tag in their car while parking it in designated parking spots within park boundaries, but the tag would not guarantee a parking spot at any specific location, with parking continuing to be available on a first-come, first-serve basis.
Unofficial roadside parking would be eliminated to help protect resources and improve safety and traffic flow.
The program aims to create a sustainable revenue source to address longstanding challenges associated with high use, year-round operational needs and resource protection. Fee revenue would support the care of well-loved resources including trails, picnic areas and historic landscapes across the park.
Proposed rates were determined through comparing rates for similar access on public and private lands. The average parking rate in gateway communities where parking fees are charged is $15 per day and $68 per month. In National Park sites where parking fees are charged, the average rate is $9 per day and $50 per year.
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The park also wants to double backcountry camping fees, raising them from $4 to $8 per night, with a maximum of $40 per camper. Backcountry fees provide critical support for trip planning, seven-day-a-week backcountry office support and backcountry law enforcement patrol. These fees have not increased in 10 years, while use of sites has increased to more than 100,000 camper nights per year.
Additionally, the proposal would standardize frontcountry fees across the park, because campground operational costs are now similar across the locations. The proposed fee for all campgrounds for family campsites would be $30 per night for primitive sites and $36 per night for sites with electrical hookups. Formerly, rates for campgrounds varied across campgrounds and ranged from $17.50 to $25 per night. Additional frontcountry fees proposed to be increased include group camps, horse camps and picnic pavilions by between 20 and 30 percent depending on size and location. Rates for daily rental of the Appalachian Clubhouse and Spence Cabin in Elkmont are proposed to be a standard daily rate, resulting in an average increase of the weekly rate and decrease of the weekend rate.
Year after year, Great Smoky Mountains National Park is the country’s most visited national park. Over the last decade, visitation increased by 57 percent to a record 14.1 million visits in 2021. With rising costs and more visitation, additional revenue is critical to support upkeep of the park. The park hopes the proposed fee changes will provide an opportunity for park users to directly contribute towards upkeep of the park.
Under the Federal Lands and Recreation Enhancement Act the park may charge fees to provide funding to support a safe and enjoyable visitor experience. In addition to the repair, maintenance and enhancements of visitor facilities, the park would prioritize using the fee revenue to provide increased ranger presence and maintenance personnel across the park.
A virtual public meeting is scheduled for 5 p.m. Thursday, April 14, to take input on the proposal. The one-hour meeting will include an overview presentation and a question- and-answer session. To attend the meeting, log on at tinyurl.com/mttkdyxs or call in for listen-only mode at 929.436.2866, passcode 980 8025 4376#.
Written comments will be accepted through May 7. Comment online at parkplanning.nps.gov/GRSMfeeproposal2023 or mail hard copy comments to Superintendent Cassius Cash, Attn: 2023 Smokies Fee Program Changes Proposal, 107 Park Headquarters Road, Gatlinburg, TN 37738.
The rate change proposals are available at nps.gov/grsm/planyourvisit/2023-fee-proposal.htm.
