Castillo de San Marcos entrance fee to rise

It will soon cost you a little more to visit the Castillo de San Marcos.

Citing maintenance and infrastructure needs, the National Park Service says they’re raising the Castillo de San Marcos entrance fee for adults to $15, starting June 1st. That is $5 over the current entrance fee. An annual park pass will also go up $5, to $45.

Children 15-years-old and younger get in for free, but must be accompanied by an adult.

“Entrance fees collected at Castillo de San Marcos are critical to this iconic St. Augustine fort. This additional revenue will allow us to increase our historic preservation and visitor services capacity,” says a statement from Superintendent Gordie Wilson.

NPS says more than 800,000 people visited the Castillo de San Marcos in 2017. They say the increased visitation, added to the aging infrastructure, puts a strain on the facilities nationwide. The new fee structure- which also includes changes at other parks and for other annual passes- is expected to boost revenue for NPS by $68 million annually.