Dec. 24 -- Ring in the new year with a free visit to one of New Mexico's 35 state parks.
New Mexico residents will be able to visit state parks for the day at no cost from New Year's Day to April 30.
Visitors from out of state, however, may not be such happy campers. The free visits are part of a fee restructuring at the New Mexico State Parks Division, which includes increased costs for out-of-state visitors and a bump to annual camping and day-use passes. The changes are expected to bring in an additional $4.8 million to the division annually.
Going forward, in-state visitors can access the parks for the day for free seven months out of the year, from the beginning of October to the end of April. The rest of the year, day use will cost $5 for residents. Nonresidents will pay $10 year-round.
Day-use fees will be assessed per vehicle.
The cost of a night of primitive camping will increase from $8 for everyone to $10 for residents and $15 for nonresidents. Those camping fees will also be assessed per vehicle, per day, and include campers walking or biking into the parks.
A New Mexico license plate or ID is required to prove residency.
Annual passes will see some of the largest increases. The annual day pass, previously $40, will now be $75 for residents and $150 for out-of-state visitors. Annual camping passes will increase from $180 to $300 for residents, and from $225 to $600 for out-of-state campers. Those annual passes will also now run through the calendar year from January to December, instead of expiring a year after the passes was purchased. Prorated passes will be available in 2025 for those who bought a pass in the middle of this year.
At a September meeting of the state Legislature's Water and Natural Resources Committee, officials for the State Parks Division said it had been many years since the last fee increase and prices haven't kept up with decades of inflation.
The majority of the division's budget comes from fees.
"State parks offer invaluable outdoor experiences, but our fees haven't kept pace with rising operational costs," said division Director Toby Velasquez in a December news release. "These adjustments are essential to enhance visitor experiences and protect our parks for future generations."
The division also announced changes to boating regulations: Kayakers, paddleboarders and anyone cruising on a muscle-powered vessel will have to wear a life jacket or other Coast Guard-approved floatation device.