Let’s Talk Park Passes

[INTJohn]

Only because I just bought a new annual Florida State Park Pass this past Saturday. It’s good till the end of the month of purchase of the following year. 64.20$

https://www.floridastateparks.org/learn/florida-state-parks-annual-pass

If you buy it at the beginning of a month you can squeeze 13 months out of it. As much as I hang out in various state parks across Florida, my estimate is around 45 to 50 cents a visit.

An absolute national best deal: bathroom, water(sometimes hot); showers, sometimes electricity and the most beautiful beaches in Murahka.
What's not to love ?

South Carolina: the annual state park pass for 99$ like Florida, good till the end of the month of purchase of the following year - so 13 months if you play it right. SC has a 7 day pass for 65$ which I don’t get.

https://southcarolinaparks.com/park-passports

The only SC state parks I go to are the 4 that are on the Atlantic Ocean and at 8$ for daily charge I opt for the 99$ annual as over a 13 month span I’ll visit those 4 ocean parks 25 to 30 times.

North Carolina State Parks are FREE to enter so why not?

Virginia: the only state park I visit is the one at Virginia Beach and since I’m just passing by for 2 or 3 days at a time I just pay the 8$ daily fee.

Louisiana has free state park entry for over 62 and there are a couple that I stop at on my way west or return.

Michigan: since it’s my state of residence; 12$ at license plate renewal

Last but not least is the Lifetime Senior National Park Pass which I paid 10$ for just before it increased to 80$; which is still a damn good deal.
https://store.usgs.gov/lifetime-senior-pass

bch bum vagabon jon - the ole man ina van

 

[bullfrog !]

Only because I just bought a new annual Florida State Park Pass this past Saturday. It’s good till the end of the month of purchase of the following year. 64.20$

https://www.floridastateparks.org/learn/florida-state-parks-annual-pass

If you buy it at the beginning of a month you can squeeze 13 months out of it. As much as I hang out in various state parks across Florida, my estimate is around 45 to 50 cents a visit.

An absolute national best deal: bathroom, water(sometimes), showers, sometimes electricity and the most beautiful beaches in Murahka.
What's not to love ?

South Carolina: the annual state park pass for 99$ like Florida, good till the end of the month of purchase of the following year - so 13 months if you play it right. SC has a 7 day pass for 65$ which I don’t get.

https://southcarolinaparks.com/park-passports

The only SC state parks I go to are the 4 that are on the Atlantic Ocean and at 8$ for daily charge I opt for the 99$ annual as over a 13 month span I’ll visit those 4 ocean parks 25 to 30 times.

North Carolina State Parks are FREE to enter so why not?

Virginia: the only state park I visit is the one at Virginia Beach and since I’m just passing by for 2 or 3 days at a time I just pay the 8$ daily fee.

Louisiana has free state park entry for over 62 and there are a couple that I stop at on my way west or return.

Michigan: since it’s my state of residence; 12$ at license plate renewal

Last but not least is the Lifetime Senior National Park Pass which I paid 10$ for just before it increased to 80$; which is still a damn good deal.
https://store.usgs.gov/lifetime-senior-pass

bch bum vagabon jon - the ole man ina van

Veterans get a free lifetime pass at National Parks!

 

[INTJohn]

I didn’t have a copy of my 214 with me so just paid the 10$.
I think Florida has a veteran discount too but I don’t bother with that either.

 

[Morgana]

Agree wholeedly on the US and Florida passes. The NM pass has sadly gone up in price but the parks are fantastic.

 

[rruff]

Only because I just bought a new annual Florida State Park Pass this past Saturday. It’s good till the end of the month of purchase of the following year. 64.20$

Day passes only though, right? Where do you park for the night?

 

[bullfrog !]

Day passes only though, right? Where do you park for the night?

Many National Parks out west have BLM or other government land with free dispersed camping near by. It is really easy to find someplace to sleep then spend the daylight hours inside the parks with all the amenities they have.

 

[rruff]

I was thinking about FL State Parks specifically since they have a bunch on the coast and beaches would a very nice amenity in winter. But where to camp? NM has a annual camping pass, but that is unusual.

What amenities are you using at National Parks? I can see going to Bryce or Zion just to see the sights, and it's fairly easy to camp outside the park. I worked at Bryce a couple summers and don't recall any amenities that would be worth a special trip.

 

[bullfrog !]

I was thinking about FL State Parks specifically since they have a bunch on the coast and beaches would a very nice amenity in winter. But where to camp? NM has a annual camping pass, but that is unusual.

What amenities are you using at National Parks? I can see going to Bryce or Zion just to see the sights, and it's fairly easy to camp outside the park. I worked at Bryce a couple summers and don't recall any amenities that would be worth a special trip.

I liked the northern part of Glen Canyon Recreational Area so well I stayed pretty much. Easy place to get a seasonal job with full hook ups, swim or fish and camp from the water most of the hundreds of miles of shore line, hot showers and restrooms, fuel, water, dumpsters and dump stations, internet and free grid power in a climate controlled lobby of a lodge with a restaurant, post office, ATM, laundromat and at the time a medical clinic and basic mini grocery store with shaded picnic tables. BLM and State Trust Lands right out the front gate and several other parks within an hour or two drive with BLM and State Trust Lands and National Forests inter dispersed. Biggest issue is distance to resupply and their costs. With a veteran getting a free lifetime pass why not?

 

[INTJohn]

Day passes only though, right? Where do you park for the night?