New Fee at Kennesaw Mountain National Battlefield Park to Fund Critical Park Improvements

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Kennesaw, GA — On November 13, Kennesaw Mountain National Battlefield Park will implement a vehicle entrance fee program at its parking lots to help improve park facilities and infrastructure and provide enhanced services.   
 
“Vehicle entrance fees will enable the park to enhance visitor safety measures, address deferred maintenance and improve visitor services,” said Nancy Walther, superintendent, Kennesaw Mountain National Battlefield Park. “The park received a largely favorable response from visitors during the public commenting period. We believe visitors will generally understand our need to enhance the park’s recreational and battlefield experiences. Once funds from this program are in place, we will add a public restroom to the south end of the park and purchase an additional shuttle bus to transport more visitors up the mountain.” 
 
Funds generated through implementation of the vehicle entrance fee program may be also be used for earthwork stabilization, visitor safety, trail stabilization and repair, cannon restoration at outdoor cannon displays, youth programs, historical exhibits, and internship opportunities. The park has had no means of generating revenue since its inception in 1935.

A public comment period for the proposal of a fee program at the park occurred in the fall of 2017 and the requisite Federal Registry comment time was completed in February 2019.  

How The New Vehicle Entrance Fee Program Will Work:
 
To gain entrance into the park, visitors must either have a park-specific $5 daily or $40 annual pass, or an America the Beautiful™ interagency pass. Passes can be purchased at recreation.gov or at the park’s visitor center, located at 900 Kennesaw Mountain Drive, NW, Kennesaw, GA 30152. Credit and debit cards will be the only accepted terms of payment online and at the park’s visitor center. Payment of an entrance fee does not guarantee a parking space. During busy periods, park visitors are strongly encouraged to find a parking space before purchasing a daily pass online. 
 
The park will conduct compliance checks at all of its parking lots at various times throughout the day and evening. Park staff will check for hard copy passes on dashboards of cars (for those with physical passes) or for valid vehicle license plate number registrations on recreation.gov registrations for visitors completing online pass purchases. 
 
Park visitor parking is available at: 
The Visitor Center lot (GPS Coordinates: 33.983216, -84.578771),
Mountain Top lot (GPS Coordinates: 33.978042, -84.577639),
Old 41 (Overflow) lot (GPS Coordinates: 33.985047, -84.582952),
Gilbert Road lot (GPS Coordinates: 33.976017, -84.599580),
Burnt Hickory Road lot (GPS Coordinates: 33.963276, -84.594391),
Cheatham Hill Road lot (GPS Coordinates: 33.933020, -84.604780),
Cheatham Hill Drive/Illinois Monument lot (GPS Coordinates: 33.936937, -84.596903),
Kolb Farm lot (GPS Coordinates: 33.910438, -84.596796), and the 
Horse Trailer lot (GPS Coordinates: 33.913270, -84.597761). 
 
During the week, visitors to the park will have the opportunity to drive their personal vehicle to the top of Kennesaw Mountain. Visitors to the park on the weekends may not drive their personal vehicle, but will have the opportunity to take the shuttle bus, based on space and availability, to the top of Kennesaw Mountain included in their entrance charge.
 
For any questions, please visit www.nps.gov/kemo or call 770-427-4686.