The California Department of Parks and Recreation has announced that Californians can now check out a free, one-day vehicle pass that is usable at over 200 California State Parks from their local California state library.
The only requirement for the California State Library Parks Pass is a valid public library card, which can also be obtained from any California public library for free. Passes are checked out like library books and must be returned within the timeframe established by the specific local library.
According to the California State Library, the pass is only valid at participating state parks, and cannot be used for parks (such as Carrizo Plain National Monument, which is free to access) managed by private, local, or federal agencies. Readers can click here for a complete list of California State Parks that are not participating in the program.
The California State Library says the purpose of the pass is to “advance safe and equitable access to state parks and open spaces for all Californians who have a library card at any public library statewide. By removing the economic barrier of vehicle day-use fees and connecting communities with their libraries, the benefits of parks will be expanded.”
The pass does not cover other costs, such as camping fees. California State Park vehicle passes typically cost between $4–$20, per day. The revenue collected from these fees typically goes toward park maintenance and other associated costs.
Note: Camping News posts on RenegadeCamping.com are objective statements. While the rest of our site is opinion-based, these posts are purely meant to inform our readers of relevant camping news in California, where we are based.
– Christian Southards, Chief Editor of Renegade Camping & EDC
(Featured Photo of Anza-Borrego Desert State Park: Matthew Dillion, CC BY 2.0)
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