This national park will now charge tourists after visitation almost doubled since 2019
Tourists swarmed a 15-mile stretch of shore along one of the country’s Great Lakes after it became a national park.
Now people will have to pay to visit.
Indiana Dunes became a national park in February 2019. Since then, the number of visitors almost doubled, from 1.7 million people in 2019 to more than 3 million in 2021, the National Park Service said.
As visitation skyrocketed, park officials added an entrance fee for the first time ever. Starting March 31, everyone will need to pay to enter the park about 35 miles southeast of Chicago.
“The new fee revenue will help fund the Marquette Greenway Bike Trail, parking and transportation improvements and visitor services for a park that has seen its attendance increase,” the National Park Service said in a Jan. 24 news release.
The fee will be $25 for a one- to seven-day vehicle pass. The national park also offers an annual pass for $45 and a per person walk-in rate of $15.
Tourists will be able to buy an entrance pass at visitor centers, the park entrance station or online.
“This is a positive step to keep the park accessible, safe and vibrant for all, while allowing us to grow and meet the increased needs of our visitors,” park superintendent Paul Labovitz said in the news release. “Out of town guests expect a fee at most places they visit.”
More than 100 National Park Service sites charge an entrance fee that ranges from $5 to $35. All national parks will be free to visit on four days in 2022 as entrance fees are waived.
- Saturday, April 16 – First Day of National Park Week
- Thursday, Aug. 4 – Anniversary of the Great American Outdoors Act
- Saturday, Sept. 24 – National Public Lands Day
- Friday, Nov. 11 – Veterans Day
More people have been visiting the national parks than ever during the coronavirus pandemic. In 2020, 327 million people visited national parks, according to the park service.
In 2021, the National Park Service said it had one of the busiest summer seasons on record after the coronavirus pandemic halted many vacation plans.
Some national parks have been overrun by long lines, overflow parking and overcrowded attractions. Before the summer started, national parks were shattering visitation records.
This story was originally published January 27, 2022 at 12:43 PM with the headline "This national park will now charge tourists after visitation almost doubled since 2019."