On exploring some of our national park entrance fees, I've come across several that will be increasing their fees this year.

Yellowstone & Grand Tetons 7 day car pass goes from $20 to $25 as of May 1, 2006 http://www.nps.gov/yell/planvisit/or...n/entrfees.htm

Grand Canyon 7 day vehicle pass goes from $20 to $25 on May 1, 2006. http://www.nps.gov/grca/pphtml/newsdetail22261.html and Yellowstone will both be $25.00 for a 7 day vehicle pass.

Death Valley's fees increased as of Jan. 1 http://www.nps.gov/deva/Pdf/NR_Fee_Increase.pdf

Bandelier National Monument http://www.nps.gov/band/pphtml/newsdetail21551.html

Joshua Trees National Park http://www.nps.gov/jotr/pphtml/newsdetail21817.html

These are just the ones I've found. There could be more.

The National Park pass is staying at $50 so it will be a much better value!

Utahtea

"The National Park pass is staying at $50 so it will be a much better value!"

Absolutely. I've saved almost $100 in the last year with my pass. I almost feel guilty, like I should be giving them some of that because they need money for so many things.

Skyline Drive will also have an fee increase for entry and some of the other activities.

I am all for it. Our National Parks are such amazing treasure available to all of us. All parks you mentioned are spectacular (we visited only two) and to maintain them to our satisfaction involves a proper budget. As you know all federal support is getting smaller and smaller. I wouldn't be surprised if the annual pass was more than $50.00. Golden Pass is still only $10.00 for a lifetime of a holder and it includes all passengers in a car.

We've been to dozens of National Parks on that Golden Pass for 11 years now. We've become more generous in our dropping a few bucks here and there in the visitor center bins. What an incredible bargain that pass is.

Many people won't be able to visit national parks now. Too expensive already

Given the prices are per car and you can get an annual pass for $50, I think these parks offer terrific value even with these increases to some of them.

I have no real idea, but I'm guessing these prices are a fraction of what places like Disney cost. When I was in LA a few years ago, the Magic Mountain theme park cost about $40 per person. I'm obviously not comparing similar things here but it's an interesting comparison anyway.

You are right, Where2Travel. And many of the people who will scream about the high cost of National Parks are the very ones who go to Disney and drop hundreds instead.

earlxx, you are right that some people can't afford the $50 for a full pass or $25 for a weeek for the whole family-- but then they wouldn't be able to afford the transporation to get there either, so what difference does it make?

My first National Park pass cost $8.

I would suggest getting the Golden Eagle Sticker as well as the pass. This is money well spent.

http://www.nps.gov/fees_passes.htm

I would like to change my answer. For some reason I thought $25 would be per day. National parks are a real treasure of this country and need our support. I agree the annual pass and golden pass are incredible bargains.