Average Costs of Recreation on National Forests in the South

Operation, maintenance, construction, overhead, and opportunity costs were gathered for almost all kinds of sites and areas managed for recreation by the Forest Service in the South, and costs per visitor-day were computed. Costs varied considerably, but many recreation activities proved more expensive than might be expected. Family campgrounds, for instance, cost $1.28 per visitor-day. Wilderness areas often regarded as expensive but thought to provide a “high quality” experience, cost $6.03. Use of such places as observation sites, where visits are typically brief, may cost as little as $.07 per visit. Average costs are shown along with suggestions as to how they might be used. Some implications are drawn regarding future research needs.