Starting July 1, Shenandoah National Park will no longer accept cash for entrance or campground fees. According to a recent announcement, all payments for those services must be made using a debit card, credit card, or online through www.recreation.gov before arriving.
However, visitors can still use cash at other park locations, like bookstores, gift shops, restaurants, lodging, and wayside stops.
The money collected from entrance and camping fees helps fund things like facility upkeep, trail improvements, and overall visitor experience upgrades. Switching to a cashless system also saves staff time handling money and helps the park retain more of its revenue to support important projects.