Quick PSA: As of July 1, Shenandoah National Park no longer takes cash for entrance or campground fees. With the turn of the new month, visitors will need to bring debit or credit cards or other digital payments to get into the park or pay for entrance, campground, and permitting fees in advance at recreation.gov.
Once guests are in the park, paper dollars are still being accepted at Shenandoah’s concession facilities, gift shops, and restaurants.
As national parks across the country face budget and personnel shortfalls this summer, entrance fees are an important source of revenue for destinations like Shenandoah, and, according to a press release from the National Park Service, going cash-free will make parks able to collect income more efficiently.
“Moving to a cashless system reduces the amount of time park staff spends accounting for cash, improves accountability and reduces risk, and increases the amount of fee revenue available to support critical projects and visitor services,” the release states.
Find more info here.
Photo: Shenandoah National Park’s Swift Run Entrance Station (NPS Photo)
