NH State Parks License Plate Program Reaches a New Milestone

05/19/2021

In 2010, HB 1620 was passed and signed into law establishing a special registration plate to benefit visitors and the New Hampshire State Park System. The “park plate”, sporting the NH State Division of Parks and Recreation logo, reached total revenues of $1 Million on April 30, 2021, with over 14,000 license plates in circulation.

The proceeds from the park plates have provided additional revenue to operate and improve the 93 parks in the NH state parks system and is a popular item with many NH State Park supporters.

“We have been overwhelmed by the success of the Parks License Plate program”, said Philip Bryce, director NH State Division of Parks and Recreation. “We are the only parks system in the nation that is operationally self-funded. Programs like the parks plate offer our visitors a great way to explore our parks and support the park system.”

The State Park License Plate Program has seen continued growth since inception in 2010, toping 10,000 plates in May 2019 and has continued to grow in popularity during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The holder of a NH State Parks license plate receives free admission for the registered vehicle and its passengers to 26 day-use parks. The list of NH State Park’s day-use parks that accept the park plates can be found at, www.nhstateparks.org/planning/schedule-and-fees/license-plate

The annual fee for the NH State Parks license plate is $85 in addition to normal registration fees. Of the $85, $5 is retained by the Department of Safety to produce the plate and $80 goes to the NH Department of Natural and Cultural Resources to support NH State Parks. The NH State Parks license plate is available at the Division of Motor Vehicles and its substations. Town Clerk offices also have the plate available for purchase by state residents.

The Park License Plates does not include parking meters along state park seacoast beaches, camping, Historic Sites, Cannon Mountain Aerial Tramway and Flume Gorge. NH state parks also offers a variety of season passes at www.nhstateparks.org/planning/schedule-and-fees/passes-promotions.