Recreation Permits and Fees

The BLM is committed to offering outstanding recreation opportunities to the public while ensuring good stewardship of public lands and resources. Special Recreation Permits (SRPs) are issued to ensure public health and safety, protect natural and recreational resources, reduce user conflicts, achieve recreation and other resource management objectives, and enhance the public’s opportunity for quality recreation experiences.

SRPs are authorizations for commercial use, competitive events, group activities, recreation events, and providing vending services or supplies associated with recreation events. These permits include conditions of use (stipulations) that ensure that the permitted recreation use meets BLM’s goals of providing opportunities for recreation experiences, and ensure that the use is consistent with other resource management objectives.  SRPs also ensure that the public receives a fair-value return for certain recreational uses of the public lands, by charging fees for permitted activities, and provides for economic development in surrounding communities through sustainable recreation uses.

Learn more about special recreation permits.

Developed day use areas, visitor centers and some National Conservation Areas charge standard  amenity fees, while developed campgrounds charge expanded amenity fees. The method of payment depends on the particular site, but commonly includes; fee envelope at the site, through a visitor contact station or visitor center, through an online reservation system, or by other electronic means.  Check the Visit  pages before you go to learn more. Visitors may also purchase recreation passes that cover standard amenity recreation fees and some expanded amenity fees.

These permits are issued when extra measures are required for natural and cultural resource protection, or to provide for the health and safety of visitors. They may also be used to disperse recreation use or help ensure that the number of visitors does not exceed the capacity of the land or adversely affect the visitor experience. 

Access our lottery and online permit systems.

The Federal Lands Recreation Enhancement Act (FLREA) allows the BLM to collect recreation fees at sites and areas that provide certain amenities, and the BLM then uses these fees to maintain and improve these sites. Learn more about the BLM's use of fee revenue: FLREA Revenue and Spending Plans

BLM requires each recreation fee site or area to complete a business plan which analyzes and explains how fees are consistent with criteria set forth in the Federal Lands Recreation Enhancement Act. Business plans assist in determining appropriate fee rates, outline the cost of administering fee sites, and identify priorities for future expenditures. A primary purpose of the business plan is to serve as public notification of the objectives for use of recreation fee revenues and to provide the public an opportunity to comment on these objectives before a fee site is designated, or when existing site fees are adjusted.

For business plans for our local fee areas visit this page.