Entry Fees At Maryland National Parks Are Going Up Soon

Entrance fees to popular national parks will rise this summer but the price increase will not be as dramatic as the Interior Department had originally proposed. The National Park Service says the changes include a $5 increase to most seven-day vehicle passes and more than two-thirds of national parks will remain free to enter.

The increase in entrance fees is needed to raise additional revenue to address the $11.6 billion in deferred maintenance across the parks system, according to the National Park Service (NPS).

The entrance fee increase applies to five national parks in Maryland.

• Antietam National Battlefield
• Assateague Island National Seashore
• Chesapeake & Ohio Canal National Historical Park
• Fort McHenry National Monument & Historic Shrine
• Fort Washington Park

The fee proposal introduced in October had a public comment period that ended in November, and Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke said the public's input helped the department to come up with a plan that focuses on modest increases at 117 parks. The October proposal would have dramatically increased entrance fees at 17 of the most popular national parks.

The changes will be implemented in many parks starting June 1, while some parks will see changes at different times. The NPS says all of the revenue from the fee increases will remain within the service and at least 80 percent of the money will stay in the park where it is collected.

Here’s how prices at Maryland national parks will be changing:

• Antietem National Battlefield; Sharpsburg, Maryland

Park-Specific Annual Pass — Current: $30; starting Jan. 1, 2020: $35
Per Vehicle —Current: $10; starting Jan. 1, 2019: $15; starting Jan. 1, 2020: $20
Per Person — Current: $5; starting Jan. 1, 2019: $7; starting Jan. 1, 2020:$10
Per Motorcycle — Current: $7; starting Jan. 1, 2019: $10; starting Jan. 1, 2020: $15

• Assateague Island National Seashore

Park-Specific Annual Pass — Current: $40; Jan. 1, 2020: $45
Per Vehicle —Current: $20, Jan. 1, 2020: $25
Per Person — Current: $5; May 1, 2018: $10; Jan. 1, 2020: $15
Per Motorcycle — Current: $15, June 1, 2020: $20

• Chesapeake & Ohio Canal National Historical Park

Park-Specific Annual Pass — Current: $30, Jan. 1, 2020: $35
Per Vehicle —Current: $10, Jan. 1, 2019: $15; Jan. 1, 2020: $20
Per Person — Current: $5, Jan. 1, 2019: $7; Jan. 1, 2020: $10
Per Motorcycle — Current: $10; Jan. 1, 2020: $15

• Fort McHenry

Park-Specific Annual Pass — Current: $40, June 1, 2018: $45
Per Person — Current: $10, June 1, 2018: $15

• Fort Washington

Park-Specific Annual Pass — Current: $30, Jan. 1, 2020: $35

Per Vehicle —Current: $10, Jan. 1, 2019: $15; Jan. 1, 2020: $20

Per Person — Current: $3, Jan. 1, 2019: $7; Jan. 1, 2020: $10

Per Motorcycle — Current: $7; Jan. 1, 2019: $10; Jan. 1, 2020: $15

• You can see the full list of parks where prices are increasing here.

RELATED: Visit National Parks For Free In Maryland This Weekend

There are several days a year when national parks are free, including April 21, 2018. If you're not able to get out this weekend, don't worry. The National Park Service is holding two other free entry events this year, including Sept. 22 for National Public Lands Day and Nov. 11 for Veterans Day

Photo of Assateague by Elizabeth Janney.