State parks, including Smith Rock, to waive fees day after Thanksgiving

Central Oregon residents wanting to avoid the Black Friday sales can instead burn off some Thanksgiving Day calories at a state park. The Oregon Parks and Recreation Department is offering free day-use parking on Nov. 29, the day after Thanksgiving, to encourage Oregonians to enjoy the outdoors.

State parks will waive day-use parking fees in the 23 parks that are open and charge for parking , including Smith Rock State Park. State parks current day use parking fee of $5 will increase on Jan. 2 to $10 a day.



Prices for 12-month and 24-month permits will stay the same at $30 and $50 respectively. The day after Thanksgiving is one of three days a year that Oregon State Parks waives the day-use parking fee. Other days include First Day Hikes on New Year’s Day and Oregon State Parks Day on the first Saturday in June.

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