State Parks Implement Parking Pass Program

The Oklahoma Tourism and Recreation Department has implemented a new Parking Pass Program for state park visitors.

To roll out the new program, the agency is giving away 10 free annual passes! For your chance to win, simply post a photo from your favorite Oklahoma park in the comments section, sign up for their newsletter at okstateparks.camp/Newsletter and in a few weeks, Bixby the Beaver will select the 10 lucky winners. Once selected, winners will be notified via direct mail. For more information, visit okstateparks.camp/Updates

The program, which began June 15, was implemented after a 2019 analysis of state park facilities and infrastructure found that, for years, funding levels have been well below the amount needed to adequately maintain Oklahoma state parks at a level that would ensure the safe and enjoyable use of parklands. In response, the tourism department developed a multi-pronged strategy to streamline processes, reduce operational costs and increase revenue to adequately fund capital reinvestment in Oklahoma parks. Funding generated by the Parking Pass Program will provide much-needed resources to return park facilities and infrastructure to an acceptable standard and maintain them at that standard.

Parking pass fees from each state park are reinvested into the park where they were generated. With some exceptions, all areas of participating parks will require visitors to purchase a parking pass. Exceptions include golf courses and some concessionaire areas, as identified by park management and approved by the parks director. Signs will be placed at park entrances and in parking areas to notify visitors of parking pass requirements.

The following state parks are participating in the program: Arrowhead Area at Lake Eufaula State Park, Beavers Bend State Park, Boiling Springs State Park, Cherokee Landing State Park, Fort Cobb State Park, Foss State Park, Honey Creek Area at Grand Lake, Great Plains State Park, Great Salt Plains State Park, Greenleaf State Park, Keystone State Park, Lake Eufaula State Park, Lake Murray State Park, Lake Texoma State Park, Lake Thunderbird State Park, Lake Wister State Park, Natural Falls State Park, Osage Hills State Par, Robbers Cave State Park, Sequoyah State Park, Tenkiller State Park and Twin Bridges Area at Grand Lake State Park.

There are several state parks in Oklahoma that visitors can use without a parking pass, including Alabaster Caverns State Park, Black Mesa State Park, Bernice Area at Grand Lake State Park, Cherokee Area at Grand Lake State Park, Spavinaw Area at Grand Lake State Park, Little Sahara State Park, McGee Creek State Park and Roman Nose State Park.

A one-day pass is $10, $25 for three days and $75 for an annual pass. A parking pass for buses is available for $25. Vehicles with Oklahoma or Oklahoma tribal license plates will receive a 20 percent discount on rates. When purchasing passes, visitors will select the dates and time they want their pass to begin and end. The annual pass is valid for all Oklahoma state parks. Other passes are valid for the individual park selected during the purchasing process.

There are several ways to purchase a parking pass:

*TextPay -- Upon arrival to the park, instructional parking lot signs will direct visitors to text a park-specific code to 504504, which will take them to a website to purchase a pass. The text message also provides visitors the opportunity to download a mobile app. https://www.premiumparking.com/text-pay

*TravelOK.com -- Each state park page on TravelOK.com contains a link that visitors can use to pre-purchase passes before their visit.

*Mobile App -- Visitors may download the Premium Parking app from the app store or at https://www.premiumparking.com/mobile-parking

*Pay Machines -- Pay machines are placed at park offices and other locations within participating parks.

*Purchase of Annual Passes -- On Premium Parking’s initial screen page, where it requests “address, location or destination” – type in “Oklahoma State Parks.” On the second screen page, select a state park (it will receive the revenue from your subscription). Your pass is good at all Oklahoma state parks. Up to three vehicles can be registered on your annual pass account. To pay for your account, click the “Pay for Subscription” button. If you’re an Oklahoma resident, as you enter your Oklahoma car tag number, your account will be credited with the 20 percent discount at the last step of the subscription protocol.

For visitors who have reserved lodging or campsites, each paid reservation will include a parking pass for one passenger vehicle that will cover the entire reservation.

The following groups will receive discounts:

*State of Oklahoma and Oklahoma tribal license plates: 20 percent discount on parking passes automatically applied during the purchase process.

*Honorably discharged veterans who are residents of Oklahoma: 100% discount with eligibility verification by Oklahoma State Parks. For verification, the following documents are acceptable:

A valid Oklahoma driver license or state photo identification card and military discharge papers (DD Form 214) or similar evidence of an honorable discharge from the United States Armed Forces; or,

A valid Oklahoma driver license or identification card issued by the Department of Public Safety with a flag emblem and the word “veteran” in the upper left-hand corner of the front of the driver license or identification card.

*Oklahoma residents age 62 years and older and their spouses: 100 percent discount with eligibility verification by Oklahoma state parks. For verification, a driver’s license with an Oklahoma address is acceptable.

*Individuals who have been certified as totally disabled under state or federal law and their spouses: 50 percent discount with eligibility verification by Oklahoma state parks. For verification, the following documents are acceptable:

The presentation of a Medicare card issued to an individual before their 65th birthday;

A Notice of Award letter from the Social Security Administration; hunting and fishing license that notes total disability;

Award letter issued by the Department of Veterans Affairs or a document issued by a retirement or insurance board, commission or administration that attests to the individual's total disability; or,

A physician’s letter on letterhead stationery that declares the individual is totally disabled.

Visit any state park office and provide the required documentation listed above. Park staff will assist you in obtaining your parking pass account, which will reflect your discount.

Restaurants and other concessionaires may offer validations to patrons upon approval of the park manager and the parks director. Validations are provided via a promo code.

For patrons who have rented boat slips at a marina, marina concessionaires will provide one parking hangtag to each slip renter. This tag is good for the park where the marina is located and must be returned to the marina at the end of the slip lease term.

The parking pass requirement is enforced 24/7 by park staff and park rangers. Vehicles without valid passes may be subject to warnings, violation notices, towing and/or other enforcement measures.

For customer service and support, contact Premium Parking at (844) 236-2011.

KXMX News Staff

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