ASSATEAGUE — Assateague Island National Seashore will increase entrance and camping fees beginning July 15 in order to fund important maintenance and improvement projects.
However, in response to public comments, the increase of the Assateague Island National Seashore annual entrance fee will not be implemented until Jan. 1, 2016. The fee increases that go into effect on July 15 are generally modest and across the board. For example, the entrance fee per vehicle will increase from the current $15 to $20. The per-person entrance fee will increase from $3 to $5, the motorcycle entrance fee will increase from $10 to $15 and the NPS Ranger-led kayak programs will increase from $10 to $20.
In terms of the camping fees, the in-season front-country camping fee will increase from $25 to $30, the off-season front-country camping fee will increase from $20 to $30, back-country camping fee will increase from $6 to $10, the horse camping fee will increase from $30 to $50 and the group camping fee will increase from $40 to $50.
On Jan. 1, 2016, the Assateague Island National Seashore annual entrance pass will increase to $40. The current cost of an annual pass is $30. The annual entrance pass allows the holder and all of those in the same vehicle unlimited access to the park and to Chincoteague National Wildlife Refuge in Virginia.
“This modest fee increase will allow us to continue to protect, preserve and share the special places here at Assateague Island National Seashore with current visitors and future generations,” said Superintendent Debbie Darden. “After carefully considering the impact of a fee increase on visitors and community members, we came to the conclusion that this is the right course of action to improve facilities and services important to visitors.”
Entrance fees have supported a wide range of projects that improve the park and visitor experiences, including providing lifeguard services in Maryland and Virginia, campground improvements, providing shade and weather structures near public beaches, improving ADA access, building a new visitor contact station on the island and removing invasive plants. Additional revenue from this fee increase will help Assateague Island National Seashore complete projects such as improving and upgrading water lines, improving ADA access to the ocean and bay shorelines and facilities and constructing more resilient visitor facilities.