Heading to a state or national park this year? Fees are going up — here's how to plan around them

Colorado Parks and Wildlife (CPW) has announced that those with out-of-state tags will pay higher to visit the state’s parks, CBS News reported (1). Visitors from outside the state will pay $15 per day; those with Colorado license plates will continue to pay $10 a day.

For seven specific parks, both Coloradans and those from out of state will pay an additional $2 fee to access, they are Chatfield, Elkhead Reservoir, Golden Gate Canyon, Pearl Lake, Stagecoach, State Forest and Steamboat Lake state parks.

According to CBS, officials said the fee increases will help CPW work towards financial resilience.

Vacation costs

Planning a vacation means figuring out a budget, and costs can vary widely depending on the destination and the type of trip you’re taking.

Travel site Budget Your Trip says that travelers in the U.S. can expect to spend between $848 and $6,486 for a one-week trip, with an average spend of $2,274 (2). These estimates include costs for sightseeing, local transportation, food and hotels.

When it comes to hotel accommodations, Budget Your Trip estimates the average hotel in the U.S. costs $171 per night, with high-season prices around $319 (3).

A recent report by USA Today (4) found that because of the higher costs of traveling, some Americans are saying no to vacations altogether.

“Many travelers are waiting longer to book, hunting for the lowest fare, and looking for more price certainty up front,” Melissa DaSilva, deputy CEO of travel company Trafalgar, told the outlet.

According to the U.S. Travel Association (5), using Bureau of Labor Statistics data, the costs of travel, measured by the Travel Price Index, have risen a staggering 25.5% from February 2019 to February 2026. Food and beverage costs rose 38.6% since 2019, and hotels and motels have climbed 13.1%.

Airline fares have jumped recently, with the data showing that, compared with February of last year, prices have jumped 7.1%.

For Americans who want to travel, but are keeping a close eye on their budgets, planning is one of the best ways to save. Research will be worth the time spent, so give yourself ample time to search out affordable activities, accommodations and travel fares.

When it comes to booking a hotel, it may actually be cheaper to book closer to your travel dates, according to Travel + Leisure (6). The magazine says that since hotels use dynamic pricing, it’s normal to see big changes in rates depending on demand.

Melanie Fish, vice president of global public relations for Expedia Group, told Travel + Leisure that, “Hotels.com data showed that those who booked within a week paid about 35% less during the summer months for domestic travel and 25% less for international travel.”

Of course, booking so close to your travel dates could leave you with fewer options. Be mindful of when you’re traveling, especially if there are special events or holidays that coincide with your trip.

Visiting a national or state park

Given higher costs for vacations, visiting a state or national park can be a less expensive alternative.

But Colorado isn’t alone in raising its prices.

Michigan’s state parks (7) increased camping and overnight lodging rates last August. For “modern campsites,” prices were raised between $4 and $10 per night; overnight lodging rates now range from $60 to $120 per night; there were no rate increases for “rustic campsites in state parks or state forest campgrounds.”

Delaware also increased its state parks fees this March (8). For ocean parks, Delawareans saw an increase from $5 a day in 2025 to $10 day, and from $4 to $5 a day for inland parks; out-of state visitors will pay $20 a day (up from $10 in 2025) for ocean parks, and $10 for inland parks (up from $8).

For national parks, although international visitors face a dramatic new $100 fee in 2026, which the Department of the Interior announced (9) starting Jan. 1, annual passes remain $80 for U.S. residents (nonresidents could previously purchase the annual pass for $80).