US roads and national park fees (NV/AZ/UT)
Discussion
As many main roads go through the national park areas, is it always the case of having to pay just to drive through there ? I'm specifically asking about the roads of Nevada, North Arizona and South Utah as will be going from Vegas to Page and back, which has at least 3 national parks on the way.
I entered directions in Google Maps for a route on which I know I would have to use a toll road to complete, which was from Dennis the Menace Park in Monterey, CA to The Inn at Spanish Bay (a short distance away), and G-Maps accurately flagged the route as having tolls. I then entered directions for Las Vegas, NV to Page, AZ and G-Maps did not have any toll flags showing. When I dragged the route so that the journey would pass through Zion NP, the toll flag appeared.
I suggest you map out your desired route on G-Maps and look for where the tolls are indicated. Then phone those NPs to determine the toll amounts or re-route as you see fit. I'm not sure this is a 100% accurate way to definitively determine all roads where a toll may be charged, but it seems like it will likely alert you to most of them. A good place to start, anyway.
I suggest you map out your desired route on G-Maps and look for where the tolls are indicated. Then phone those NPs to determine the toll amounts or re-route as you see fit. I'm not sure this is a 100% accurate way to definitively determine all roads where a toll may be charged, but it seems like it will likely alert you to most of them. A good place to start, anyway.
Edited by BBL-Sean on Thursday 24th April 08:11
I'm sure i went through a national park somewhere where the main road didn't incur the fee, provided you didn't stop or venture off said main road. I cant for the life of me remember where it was though. And pretty much every other national park, national monument and likely state park requires the fee to be paid on entry, either at the Gate, visitor center or honesty box.
Having said that there are some remote corners of some parks where a road dips into a park and they don't bother charging at that area, one example would be US191 Gallatin rd north of West Yellowstone to Bozeman, which passes through Yellowstone NP, There are some restrictions, such as hazardous material carriage, the speed limit is reduces etc but there is no fee for use. But that isn't the park i was thinking about above.
As for NV/AZ/UT. The back road off the I15 into the back canyons of Zion is pay for, the road through the tunnel (SR9) is pay for. All the roads into the grand canyon are fee paying, but if you stay on 89/89A you wont have to pay anything through vermillion cliffs or the grand staircase. Cant for the life of me remember if SR12 through the top of Bryce is fee paying but i have a vague recollection it is. You can drive the main road through monument valley without paying, but you would miss out of a lot by not going in, even if it looks amazing from the main road. I think Capital reef is free if you stay on SR24, only a few $ to go on the scenic routes though.
Not sure what parks you would go through in NV between LV and Page but death valley is fee paying to drive through.
Any others?
Having said that there are some remote corners of some parks where a road dips into a park and they don't bother charging at that area, one example would be US191 Gallatin rd north of West Yellowstone to Bozeman, which passes through Yellowstone NP, There are some restrictions, such as hazardous material carriage, the speed limit is reduces etc but there is no fee for use. But that isn't the park i was thinking about above.
As for NV/AZ/UT. The back road off the I15 into the back canyons of Zion is pay for, the road through the tunnel (SR9) is pay for. All the roads into the grand canyon are fee paying, but if you stay on 89/89A you wont have to pay anything through vermillion cliffs or the grand staircase. Cant for the life of me remember if SR12 through the top of Bryce is fee paying but i have a vague recollection it is. You can drive the main road through monument valley without paying, but you would miss out of a lot by not going in, even if it looks amazing from the main road. I think Capital reef is free if you stay on SR24, only a few $ to go on the scenic routes though.
Not sure what parks you would go through in NV between LV and Page but death valley is fee paying to drive through.
Any others?
Thanks for the feedback...
I would THINK national park fees and road tolls would be different things as one is usually $25 to enter the park (and explore) and the other to drive through ?
Maybe I will email the NPS.
I'm aware of the annual pass but so far my plans include just 2 days of driving and possibly 2 or 3 parks on the way (Grand & Glen Canyon and Zion probably to drive through which seems on the main road) so that wouldn't make sense, unless I decide to come back later on.
I would THINK national park fees and road tolls would be different things as one is usually $25 to enter the park (and explore) and the other to drive through ?
Maybe I will email the NPS.
I'm aware of the annual pass but so far my plans include just 2 days of driving and possibly 2 or 3 parks on the way (Grand & Glen Canyon and Zion probably to drive through which seems on the main road) so that wouldn't make sense, unless I decide to come back later on.
I think google just says toll road to indicate there is a fee to use the road, but it is the NP entry fee, not a couple of bucks toll fee.
If you want to see the grand canyon you will have to pay the park fee. If you use SR9 through zion you will pay their fee, and if you want to see the park you will have to park your car and catch the bus up the canyon unless you go in off season.
If you want to avoid zion, you can use SR59 and SR389 which goes the long way round to the south from St George to kanab or the the northern route out the back of cedar city on SR14 stopping off for a gander at cedar breaks on the way. BTW don't think that the road through zion is the quickest as its the most direct. If its summer it will be busy, There are a load of switchbacks up to the tunnel and the tunnel is single lane with alternating traffic, so you will likely queue all the way up the switchbacks.
To be honest if i was only doing one park out of Zion and Bryce i would head to Bryce, if your not prepared to go on the bus in Zion or are just driving through, it really isn't worth the fee. If you don't have time to stop in either then go to cedar breaks as its a mini Bryce. As they say if cedar breaks was anywhere else, it would be a national park, but with its neighbors and the spectacular scenery around its busted down to a mere State park.
As for Glen canyon, its pretty much all under water but i have a feeling they charge you when you drive into the marina, but not if you stay on US89 or 89A but there are often fees if you park up anywhere. If your boating on Lake Powell I can do another post about that, done a 3 day and 7 day house boat trip before.
If you want to see the grand canyon you will have to pay the park fee. If you use SR9 through zion you will pay their fee, and if you want to see the park you will have to park your car and catch the bus up the canyon unless you go in off season.
If you want to avoid zion, you can use SR59 and SR389 which goes the long way round to the south from St George to kanab or the the northern route out the back of cedar city on SR14 stopping off for a gander at cedar breaks on the way. BTW don't think that the road through zion is the quickest as its the most direct. If its summer it will be busy, There are a load of switchbacks up to the tunnel and the tunnel is single lane with alternating traffic, so you will likely queue all the way up the switchbacks.
To be honest if i was only doing one park out of Zion and Bryce i would head to Bryce, if your not prepared to go on the bus in Zion or are just driving through, it really isn't worth the fee. If you don't have time to stop in either then go to cedar breaks as its a mini Bryce. As they say if cedar breaks was anywhere else, it would be a national park, but with its neighbors and the spectacular scenery around its busted down to a mere State park.
As for Glen canyon, its pretty much all under water but i have a feeling they charge you when you drive into the marina, but not if you stay on US89 or 89A but there are often fees if you park up anywhere. If your boating on Lake Powell I can do another post about that, done a 3 day and 7 day house boat trip before.
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