Oregon wants to shake up state park rules. Will other states do the same?

December 4, 2025

If you’ve ever struggled to snag a campsite in a popular state park, Oregon’s latest move might catch your attention. Facing a multimillion-dollar budget gap and fed up with empty sites caused by late cancellations, the state is weighing a major overhaul of how its parks operate—from refunds to pricing to perks for passholders. And for campers watching from other states, the big question is unavoidable: Could these changes be coming your way next?

The Oregon Parks and Recreation Commission voted in November to reopen its rulebook as it confronts an $8 million budget shortfall. The agency is proposing tighter refund rules, smaller free-camping benefits for certain passholders, and permission to use dynamic pricing for busy campgrounds.

A public comment period runs through January 15 (submit comments by email to OPRD.Publiccomment@oprd.oregon.gov), with a virtual hearing set for December 15. If approved, the changes would take effect March 1, 2026, according to the department.

Crowded campgrounds and last-minute cancellations are driving much of the change. The parks department says roughly 30% of all reservations are canceled, often too late for another camper to pick up the site.

At a November meeting, Oregon parks spokesperson Katie Gauthier told commissioners that the current system—which allows full refunds for cancellations within three days of arrival—has contributed to empty sites at high-demand parks. The commission is considering a tiered refund system that rewards early cancellations and eliminates refunds for no-shows, a central part of its state parks dynamic pricing and cancellation policy overhaul.

The agency also wants the flexibility to adjust campsite prices by season, day of the week, or demand. Oregon officials emphasized during the meeting that they aren’t planning immediate increases, but want the option as costs rise—another component of the proposed state parks dynamic pricing and cancellation policy. RV Travel