The National Park Service is considering raising entrance fees during peak visitation periods in 17 of its most popular national parks. The hike in price would raise revenue to go to long-needed maintenance and infrastructure renovations, with the affected areas including roads, restrooms, campgrounds and other essential services.

This increase in price is thought by many to be necessary in order to keep our national parks pristine and running correctly.

“The infrastructure of our national parks is aging and in need of renovation and restoration,” said U.S. Secretary of the Interior Ryan Zinke. “Targeted fee increases at some of our most-visited parks will help ensure that they are protected and preserved in perpetuity and that visitors enjoy a world-class experience that mirrors the amazing destinations they are visiting.”

According to the National Park Service, the entrance fee would be raised to $70 per vehicle and $30 per person during peak seasons. This is more than doubling the current entrance fees at the majority of these parks. Estimates suggest this could increase revenue within the national park system by $70 million per year.

Although the proposed increase is seemingly needed to help maintain our parks, many are worried that it will impede people’s ability to visit these national landmarks.

"Glacier and Yellowstone should be accessible to all of us. This decision will price Montana families out of our public lands, and hurt local economies, which thrive thanks to our National Parks," said Democratic Sen. Jon Tester of Montana, in which two of the affected parks are located.

It is vital that the economic and societal impacts of this increase are considered. A month-long public comment period opened on Tuesday, October 24 and will continue until November 23. Comments can be made on the NPS Planning, Environment and Public Comment (PEPC) website or sent through the mail.

Out of the 417 parks run by the National Park Service, only 118 of them charge entrance fees and this proposal will impact the 17 that already provide the most revenue. The increased prices would be implemented during the busiest 5-month period for each park, usually occurring during the summer.

Many believe the raising of park prices follows the Trump administration’s proposed budget cut of $296.6 billion to the National Park Service in 2018.

The parks affected would be Arches, Bryce Canyon, Canyonlands, and Zion in Utah; Joshua Tree, Sequoia & Kings Canyon, and Yosemite in California; Grand Teton and Yellowstone in Wyoming; Mount Rainier and Olympic in Washington; Shenandoah in Virginia; Acadia in Maine; Rocky Mountain in Colorado; the Grand Canyon in Arizona; and Denali in Alaska.