West Virginia Explorer

Harpers Ferry National Historical Park pilots cashless fee collection

National Parks

April 15, 2023

David Sibray

HARPER’S FERRY, W.Va. — Harpers Ferry National Historical Park in the eastern panhandle of West Virginia has instituted a three-month pilot program to collect cashless entrance fees for vehicles.


Park officials anticipate that moving to a cashless system for the summer will allow the park to be a better steward of visitor dollars, according to Kristen Maxfield, a spokesperson for the National Park Service.

The system will reduce transaction times and the amount of time park staff spend managing cash and will improve accountability and reduce the chances of errors, Maxfield said.

Park visitors bringing vehicles into the park may pay entrance fees in several ways.

  • They may purchase an entrance pass on the park website before visiting. Applicants will need to print out the receipt and display it on their vehicle’s dashboard.
  • They may purchase an entrance pass at the park entrance station at 171 Shoreline Drive in Harpers Ferry using a credit or debit card. Proof of entrance fee payment must be displayed on the vehicle’s dashboard in the park.
  • Upon arrival, they may purchase a digital entrance pass using a smartphone and credit or debit card in park-maintained parking areas. New signage in the train station parking lot provides step-by-step instructions on this payment option. Digital passes are connected to license plate numbers.
Harpers Ferry, West Virginia

Hikers take in the view of Harpers Ferry, West Virginia from Maryland Heights. Photo by Rick Burgess

Visitors with motor vehicles may also purchase Harpers Ferry National Historical Park annual passes or Interagency passes upon arrival to the park. Pedestrian visitors are not required to hold passes and may walk freely into the park. Visitors in motor vehicles may also park outside the park and walk in.

The national park uses 100 percent of entrance fees collected for projects that enhance the visitor experience. Recent project examples include improvements to restrooms and picnic areas and the preservation of historic structures within the park.