A day of snow-park parking costs $4 in Oregon, $15 in California, and $25 in Washington
Your snow day just got a price tag, and it depends entirely on which state you park in. Starting November 1, you’ll need a permit to leave your car at a designated Sno-Park in Oregon, Washington, or California, and the gap between them is bigger than most people expect.
A single day of parking runs $4 in Oregon, $15 in California, and $25 in Washington. Same snow, same sled hill, very different checkout screen.
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Oregon: the cheapest way in
Oregon’s permits come in three flavors: $4 for a day, $9 for three consecutive days, and $25 for the whole season. Permits are required in designated Sno-Parks from November 1 through April 30.
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The math is friendly. Buy daily permits and the annual pass pays for itself on roughly your seventh visit, so if you’re a once-a-winter sledder, stick with the $4 day pass.
You can buy the annual permit online through the Oregon DMV, and it comes with a printable interim permit so you’re not waiting on the mail. Retail agents at resorts and sporting goods stores sell all three types, though they may tack on a service fee.
Washington: priciest by the day, better by the season
Washington’s one-day permit is $25 and the seasonal permit is $50, which means the season pass pays for itself on your second trip. If you’ll go twice, buy the season pass. That’s my one firm opinion here, and the math doesn’t leave much room to argue.
Buy online through the state’s ePermits site and you pay the sticker price. Buy at a retail vendor and a $3 handling fee gets added on.
Heading for one of the groomed cross-country trail systems? Those need a separate special-groomed trail permit, which is $70 for the season. Check the state parks winter recreation page to see which lots need it before you load the car.
California: right in the middle
California’s SNO-Park permit is $15 for a day or $40 for the season, and the season starts November 1. One permit works at every SNO-Park lot, so you’re not locked into a single spot.
The season permit beats daily parking on your third visit. Permits are sold online through the state OHV program’s website, and the page notes that 2026-27 permits should be available around October.
So which one should you buy?
Think in trips, not dollars. One snow day? Buy the day pass anywhere. Two or more? Washington’s season pass wins fastest, California’s takes three trips, and Oregon’s takes about seven.
Ever driven an hour to a snowy lot only to find out the permit has to be bought somewhere else? Buy before you go, print or screenshot it, and spend your afternoon actually sledding.
Trip tips: grab a rental car to get out here, book a room before the good ones are gone, or skip both and book a camper van instead.
Which state are you hitting first this winter, the cheap one or the groomed one? Tell us in the comments.
Rules and fees change — always confirm current requirements before you go.
