Maricopa County’s Parks and Recreation Department is funded primarily through user fees. The fees visitors pay directly support daily operations, maintenance of facilities, protection of natural areas, and improvements that enhance the visitor experience in the parks. These include:
- Wildfire prevention and restoration
- Trail repairs and improvements
- Invasive species removal and restoration
- Animal habitat improvements
- Facility repairs
Since the Department depends on user fees to operate the parks, we regularly review these fees to ensure they are sufficient to cover increasing operational costs. The Department is considering fee adjustments and wants to hear your opinion on proposed changes.
Your feedback is essential to help us balance affordability for visitors with the need to keep the parks safe, clean, and enjoyable for everyone.
The Board of Supervisors has set a Public Meeting on December 10, 2025, for those who wish to comment on the proposed fee schedule in person. The meeting will be held in the Maricopa County Board of Supervisors Auditorium, located at 301 W. Jefferson, Phoenix, AZ 85003.
If the Maricopa County Board of Supervisors approves the fees, they will become effective on January 1, 2026, followed by January 1st of 2027 and 2028.
Please take a moment to complete the fee adjustment survey.
Park Entry Feesscroll-trigger
status |
descriptionplaceholder do not deleate
|
current
rate |
proposed 1/1/2026 |
proposed 1/1/2027 |
proposed 1/1/2028 |
|
Update
|
Current: Vehicle entry, all other parks (excludes conservation areas and Desert Outdoor Center)
Proposed: Vehicle entry - other than conservation areas and Desert Outdoor center
|
$7.00 |
$10.00 |
No change. |
$12.00 |
|
Update
|
Current: Spur Cross Conservation Area
- Children under 15 years are free
- The Conservation Area will accept payments via annual passes, Cave Creek resident cards, and cash at the entry station. If paying by cash, please place exact change in iron ranger envelope.
Proposed: Conservation - Spur Cross per person & under 15 free (non-resident of Town of Cave Creek)
|
$3.00/person |
$5.00/person |
No change. |
No change. |
| Update |
Current: Hassayampa River Preserve Conservation Area Entry
- Children 12 and under are free
Proposed: Conservation - Hassayampa per person & under 12 free
|
$5.00/person |
No change. |
No change. |
No change. |
| Update |
Hike/Bike/Equestrian |
$2.00 |
$5.00 |
No change. |
No change. |
| Update |
Watercraft Motorized |
$4.00 |
$5.00 |
No change. |
No change. |
| Update |
Watercraft Non-Motorized |
$2.00 |
$3.00 |
No change. |
No change. |
| Update |
Archery Daily Supply Fee
- Children under 15 are free |
$2.00 |
$4.00 |
No change. |
No change. |
| No change. |
School Bus - All Parks |
$15.00 |
No change. |
No change. |
No change. |
| Update |
Commercial Bus
- Motorized vehicle able to hold greater than 30 passengers |
$55.00 |
$110.00 |
No change. |
No change. |
| Update |
Commercial Passenger Van
- Motorized vehicle able to hold between 10 and 29 passengers |
$25.00 |
$50.00 |
No change. |
No change. |
| Update |
Discount Coupon Book
Five (5) coupons for the price of four (4)
|
$25.00 |
$40.00 |
No change. |
$48.00 |
Annual Pass scroll-trigger
STATUS |
descriptionplaceholder do not deleate |
current rate |
Proposed
1/1/2026 |
Proposed
1/1/2027 |
PRoposed
1/1/2028 |
| |
Annual Day-Use Entry Pass
- Allows card holder to access all Maricopa County Parks
- You may purchase your Annual Pass at any Maricopa County park location.
|
$85.00 |
$120.00 |
$140.00 |
$160.00 |
| New |
Package - 2 Annual Passes (Tier 2) - same household |
|
$150.00 |
$170.00 |
$190.00 |
| New |
Package - 3 Annual Passes (Tier 3) - same household |
|
$170.00 |
$190.00 |
$210.00 |
| New |
Package - 4 Annual Passes (Tier 4) - same household |
|
$185.00 |
$205.00 |
$225.00 |
| Update |
Add motorized watercraft |
$65.00 |
No change. |
$75.00 |
No change. |
| Update |
Add non-motorized watercraft |
$30.00 |
No change. |
$40.00 |
No change. |
| Update |
Archery Supply Fee (Usery only)
- Children under 15 are exempt |
$48.00 |
No change |
$50.00 |
No change. |
| Update |
Hike/Bike/Equestrian |
$30.00 |
$40.00 |
No change. |
No change. |
| Remove |
Additional card for household member
- Must reside in same household |
$20.00 |
Discontinued
12/31/2025. |
_____ |
_____ |
| Remove |
Replacement card for lost/stolen card |
$5.00 |
Discontinued
12/31/2025. |
_____ |
_____ |
| Update |
Senior Discount
- Discount for patrons 65 and older, Day-Use Annual Pass only applies to one single pass in a Tier. For more information, visit the Annual Pass page.
Revised. Senior Pass (Discount $20 off applies to only one single pass in a Tier)
|
$20.00 off |
No change. |
No change. |
No change. |
| Update |
Disabled Veteran Discount
For more information on the Disabled Veteran Discount, visit the Annual Pass page.
Revised: (50% off applies to only one single pass in a Tier) |
|
No change. |
No change. |
No change. |
| New |
Pass Holders - 10% discount on souvenir items and fee-based programming |
|
10% discount on souvenir items and fee-based programming. |
Camping Fees (Tent & RV)scroll-trigger
STATUS |
Single site camping |
current rate |
PROPOSED 1/1/2026 |
PROPOSED 1/1/2027 |
PROPOSED 1/1/2028 |
| Update |
Camping Reservation Fee
- Non-refundable reservation fee |
$8.00 |
$10.00 |
No change. |
No change. |
| Update |
Cancelation/Modification Fee - Applies to all camping categories |
$10.00 |
No change. |
No change. |
No change. |
| Update |
Additional vehicles not in tow will be assessed a daily fee upon entering the park. |
$7.00 |
$10.00 |
No change. |
$12.00 |
| Update |
Developed sites
- Designated camping sites with electrical and water hook-ups, dump station access, restrooms, picnic tables and grills. |
$32.00 |
$40.00 |
$50.00 |
$60.00 |
| Update |
Semi-Developed
- Designated camping site with restrooms, picnic tables, and grills |
$22.00 |
$25.00 |
$35.00 |
$45.00 |
| Update |
Primitive camping
- Non-designated or designated site, no amenities (Only available at Lake Pleasant) |
$15.00 |
$20.00 |
$25.00 |
$30.00 |
| Update |
Shaded RV Sites
- Designated camping sites with water and electricity provided, shade cover |
$40.00 |
$65.00 |
$70.00 |
$75.00 |
| |
|
|
|
|
|
| STATUS |
GROUP AND YOUTH CAMPING
- Designated areas for large groups (adults 18 and over) or large groups of youth (aged 17 and younger, with parent/guardian)
|
PRICE |
PROPOSED 1/1/2026 |
PROPOSED 1/1/2027 |
PROPOSED 1/1/2028 |
| Update |
Group/Youth Reservation fee
- Non-refundable reservation fee.
|
$45.00
|
No change.
|
No change. |
No change. |
| Update |
Group per camping unit fee/night (semi-developed rate) |
$22.00 |
$25.00 |
$30.00 |
$35.00 |
| Update |
Youth per camping unit fee/night - 50% discount off semi-developed
|
$11.00 |
$12.00 |
$15.00 |
$20.00 |
Facility Rental Feesscroll-trigger
STATUS |
Day Use Picnic Areas |
CURRENT RATE |
PROPOSED
1/1/2026
|
PROPOSED
1/1/2027 |
PROPOSED
1/1/2028 |
| |
Small Picnic Ramada Rental Fee
- Available in the morning 9 am - 1 pm / afternoon 2 pm - 6 pm / full-day 9 am - 6 pm
- 2 to 4 Picnic tables, capacity up to 32 individuals |
$30.00 |
No change. |
No change. |
No change. |
| |
Medium Picnic Ramada Rental Fee
- Available in the morning 9 am - 1 pm / afternoon 2 pm - 6 pm / full-day 9 am - 6 pm
- 6 to 10 Picnic tables, capacity up to 80 individuals |
$55.00 |
No change. |
No change. |
No change. |
| |
Large Picnic Ramada Rental Fee
- Available in the morning 9 am - 1 pm / afternoon 2 pm - 6 pm / full-day 9 am - 6 pm
- 12 to 16 Picnic Tables, capacity up to 128 individuals |
$100.00 |
No change. |
No change. |
No change. |
| |
Amphitheater Rental
- Two (2) hour minimum rental is required |
$30/hour |
No change. |
No change. |
No change. |
| |
Classroom Rental (Business Hours) |
$40/hour |
No change. |
No change. |
No change. |
| |
Classroom Rental (After Hours) |
$60/hour |
No change. |
No change. |
No change. |
| Remove |
Meeting room - per hour |
$25/hour |
Discontinued. |
Discontinued. |
Discontinued. |
Other Feesscroll-trigger
STATUS |
SERVICE |
current
rate |
PROPOSED
1/1/2026 |
PROPOSED
1/1/2027 |
PROPOSED
1/1/2028 |
| SPECIAL USE PERMIT |
| Update* |
Application fee |
$100.00 |
$200.00 |
$250.00 |
$300.00 |
| Update* |
Per participant |
$2.35 |
$5.00 |
No change. |
No change. |
| Update* |
Land use fees - per acre - per day |
$641.00 |
$700.00 |
No change. |
No change. |
| Update* |
Competitive track / Four Peaks Event Area - per day |
$250.00 |
$500.00 |
No change. |
No change. |
| Update* |
Trailhead - per day |
$150.00 |
$250.00 |
No change. |
No change. |
| Update* |
Amplified Music Fee |
$25.00 |
$30.00 |
No change. |
No change. |
| Update* |
Vendor Fee - per vendor - per day |
$25.00 |
$50.00 |
No change. |
No change. |
| |
*Fees associated with Special Use Permit as presented on website (including to memorialize). |
| NEW |
Commercial Photography Use - per vendor - per day |
|
$50.00 |
No change. |
No change. |
| |
Photocopy Fee |
$0.50 |
No change. |
No change. |
No change. |
| |
NSF Returned Check fee |
$25.00 |
No change. |
No change. |
No change. |
| |
Bounce House Fee |
$10.00 |
$15.00 |
No change. |
No change. |
| |
Fee-based programming/Special Interest Classes
- As determined by Department |
Determined by Department. |
|
|
|
| |
Coupon books, discounts, incentives
- Department may offer seasonal discounts, coupons, and promotional incentives |
Determined by Department. |
|
|
|
| NEW |
Special Use Permit Fees - may be reduced per the Director or designee pursuant to the Board of Supervisors' Resolution - ##. |
| NEW |
Day-use fee waiver for service in lieu of fee. |
Determined by Department. |
|
|
|
| Update |
Department authorized to provide free entry days: Veterans' Day (Veterans' enter free and National Take A Hike Day (public enters free). |
Desert Outdoor Center at Lake Pleasantscroll-trigger
STATUS |
DESERT OUTDOOR CENTER at LAKE PLEASANT |
current
rate |
PRoposed
1/1/2026 |
PRoposed
1/1/2027 |
PRoposed
1/1/2028 |
| Update |
Reservation Fee
- Non-refundable reservation fee |
$75.00 |
$100.00 |
No change. |
No change. |
| |
SCHOOLS
- Rates are per person, 25 person minimum |
|
|
|
|
| |
Day Session |
$10.00 |
No change. |
No change. |
No change. |
| |
Overnight Use
- Includes use of dormitories |
$25.00 |
No change. |
No change. |
No change. |
| |
ALL OTHER GROUPS
- Rates are per person, 25 person minimum
|
|
|
|
|
| Update |
1/2 day |
$13.00 |
$15.00 |
No change. |
No change. |
| Update |
Full Day |
$18.00 |
$20.00 |
No change. |
No change. |
| Update |
Overnight Use
- Includes use of dormitories |
$40.00 |
$42.00 |
No change. |
No change. |
| Update |
Program request - per hour per interpretive ranger |
$40.00 |
No change. |
No change. |
No change. |
| Update |
Kitchen Rental
applies to DOC Only
|
$100.00/day
|
$125.00/day |
No change. |
No change. |
| |
wEDDING PACKAGES
- Labor Day through Memorial Day
|
|
|
|
|
| Update |
Up to 99 people |
$3,000.00 |
$3,500.00 |
No change. |
No change. |
| Update |
100-150 people |
$3,500.00 |
$4,000.00 |
No change. |
No change. |
| Update |
150-200 people |
$4,000.00 |
$4,500.00 |
No change. |
No change. |
| |
Each additional hour |
$500.00 |
No change. |
No change. |
No change. |
| Update |
Each additional rehearsal hour (1 hour included in package - after 1 hour charges apply) |
$200.00 |
No change. |
No change. |
No change. |
| |
Off-season Discount
- Memorial Day through Labor Day |
-$1,000.00 |
No change. |
No change. |
No change. |
| Update |
Ceremony/Amphitheater Only (Year-round) 3 hours, including 1 hour rehersal |
$1,000.00 |
No change. |
No change. |
No change. |