68 Oregon State Parks require a parking permit in 2026: Here’s how to get one

There are currently 68 Oregon state park locations now requiring a day-use parking permit.

Many parks across the state that were once free to visit now require either an annual or daily parking pass, following two rounds of expanded parking fees by the Oregon Parks and Recreation Department over the past year.

However, more than 150 Oregon state parks continue to waive day-use parking fees.

For parks that do charge, Oregon residents pay $10 for a daily permit or $60 for a 12-month permit. Non-residents pay $12 daily or $75 for a 12-month permit.

Here’s what locals and travelers should know about Oregon State Parks parking fees, where permits are required, and how to buy one.

How many Oregon state parks require a parking permit?

A total of 68 Oregon state park locations require a parking permit in 2026.

The number has increased substantially since the beginning of 2025. Oregon State Parks charged parking fees at 25 locations before adding 21 more on Oct. 1, 2025. The department then stopped waiving parking fees at another 22 locations on March 30.

According to Oregon State Parks, locations were selected based on factors including visitation, amenities, operating costs, congestion, seasonal trends, and access to other recreation in the surrounding area.

Parking fees help pay for staff, trail maintenance, restrooms, paving projects, and other park operations.

Which Oregon state parks require a day-use parking permit?

The 68 fee locations are spread across the Oregon Coast, Willamette Valley, Columbia River Gorge, Central Oregon, Southern Oregon, and Eastern Oregon.

The list includes:

North Coast and northern Oregon Coast

• Agate Beach State Recreation Site
• Bob Straub State Park
• Cape Lookout State Park
• Cape Meares State Scenic Viewpoint
• Devil’s Punchbowl State Natural Area
• Ecola State Park
• Fort Stevens State Park
• Nehalem Bay State Park
• Oceanside Beach State Recreation Site
• Oswald West State Park
• Roads End State Recreation Site
• Tolovana Beach State Recreation Site

Central Oregon Coast

• Beverly Beach State Park
• Brian Booth State Park
• Carl G. Washburne Memorial State Park
• Fogarty Creek State Recreation Area
• Gleneden Beach State Recreation Site
• Governor Patterson Memorial State Recreation Site
• Heceta Head Lighthouse State Scenic Viewpoint
• Jessie M. Honeyman Memorial State Park
• South Beach State Park
• William M. Tugman State Park

Southern Oregon Coast

• Bullards Beach State Park
• Cape Arago State Park
• Cape Blanco State Park
• Face Rock State Scenic Viewpoint
• Harris Beach State Recreation Area
• Shore Acres State Park
• Sunset Bay State Park
• Umpqua Lighthouse State Park

Portland and Columbia River Gorge

• Angel’s Rest Trailhead
• Banks Trailhead at Banks-Vernonia State Trail
• Benson State Recreation Area
• Bridal Veil Falls State Scenic Viewpoint
• Crown Point State Scenic Corridor
• Dabney State Recreation Area
• Historic Columbia River Highway State Trail — Mark O. Hatfield Trailheads
• L.L. “Stub” Stewart State Park
• Latourell Falls Trailhead at Guy W. Talbot State Park
• Lewis and Clark State Recreation Site
• Mayer State Park
• Milo McIver State Park
• Molalla River State Park
• Rooster Rock State Park
• Starvation Creek State Park
• Tryon Creek State Natural Area
• Viento State Park

Willamette Valley

• Champoeg State Heritage Area
• Dexter State Recreation Site
• Elijah Bristow State Park
• Fall Creek State Recreation Area
• Jasper State Recreation Site
• Lowell State Recreation Site
• Mongold day-use area at Detroit Lake State Recreation Area
• Silver Falls State Park
• Willamette Mission State Park

Southern Oregon

• TouVelle State Recreation Site
• Valley of the Rogue State Recreation Area

Central and Eastern Oregon

• Cline Falls State Scenic Viewpoint
• The Cove Palisades State Park
• Farewell Bend State Recreation Area
• Hat Rock State Park
• Lake Owyhee State Park
• LaPine State Park
• Prineville Reservoir State Park
• Smith Rock State Park
• Tumalo State Park
• Wallowa Lake State Park

Oregon State Parks maintains a current map of locations requiring permits, and visitors can check individual park pages before traveling.

How much is an Oregon State Parks day-use parking permit?

Oregon residents pay $10 per vehicle for a one-day parking permit. The daily rate is $12 for non-residents.

A daily permit can be used at multiple participating Oregon state parks on the same day, so travelers visiting more than one fee park do not need to purchase a separate permit at each stop.

The fee applies to parking a vehicle, not admission to the park. Visitors who walk, bike, take a bus, or get dropped off do not need a parking permit.

How can visitors buy a one-day Oregon State Parks parking permit?

Visitors have several options for buying a daily permit.

Daily permits can be purchased online on the day of the visit, at the park, or by calling Oregon State Parks reservations at 800-452-5687.

At many parks, visitors will find a small yellow fee machine near the entrance or parking area. Other locations use signs with QR codes that allow visitors to pay using a smartphone.

For QR-code payments, visitors enter their license plate number during checkout. Park rangers can then use the plate number to verify payment, meaning visitors do not need to display a physical receipt for that transaction.

Oregon State Parks recommends purchasing a permit before arriving when possible.

Is an annual Oregon State Parks parking pass worth buying?

Frequent park visitors can purchase a 12-month day-use parking permit instead of paying for individual visits.

The annual permit costs $60 for Oregon residents and $75 for non-residents. At the current $10 daily resident rate, an Oregon resident who visits a fee park six times during the year would spend the same amount as the annual permit.

Annual permits can be purchased online and are available as a digital copy or physical copy.

They are also available at most major Oregon state park offices, and from participating vendors around the state.

A digital permit can be associated with two license plates, while a physical permit can be transferred between vehicles because it is not tied to a particular plate.

Travelers who order a physical permit online receive a temporary permit they can print and use while waiting for the permanent hangtag. Oregon State Parks says the permanent permit should arrive by mail within 30 days.

Can Oregon residents borrow a state parks parking pass for free?

Another option could save visitors the parking fee entirely.

Oregon currently offers 200 parking permits through 82 public libraries as part of a program designed to reduce financial barriers to visiting state parks.

The program is offered jointly by the Oregon Parks and Recreation Department and the State Library of Oregon.

Visitors can check out a physical parking hangtag with a library card at participating libraries. The pass covers one vehicle at Oregon State Parks day-use areas that charge parking fees and can be used any day of the week.

Availability varies by library, and Oregon State Parks recommends checking with a local library to see whether permits are available.

Find participating Oregon libraries and learn how to borrow a permit by visiting the Oregon State Parks website at stateparks.oregon.gov/index.cfm?do=visit.borrow-a-permit.

Do campers need to buy a separate parking permit?

Visitors camping at an Oregon state park do not need to purchase a separate day-use parking permit.

Campers can display their current Oregon State Parks camping receipt on the vehicle dashboard as proof of parking.

That means travelers staying overnight at a state park campground do not need to add another day-use parking charge for their vehicle.

Do federal recreation passes work at Oregon state parks?

Several passes commonly used at recreation areas around the Pacific Northwest do not cover Oregon State Parks parking fees.

The Northwest Forest Pass, Oregon Sno-Park Parking Permit, and America the Beautiful federal recreation passes are not valid substitutes for an Oregon State Parks day-use parking permit.

Travelers using an Oregon Coast Passport should also check the purchase date.

Passports sold in 2025 remain valid at Oregon state parks through their expiration dates, but Oregon Coast Passports sold in 2026 are not accepted for state park parking.