INFOGRAPHIC: Great American Outdoors Act Projects

Two years ago, the landmark Great American Outdoors Act was signed into law. Championed by the RV industry, this bipartisan legislation is the largest investment in our public lands in nearly a century and the funding is already making a difference by modernizing and expanding campgrounds and ensuring safe and adequate access to public lands and waters for generations of RVers to come.

“As we look back on this monumental win for outdoor recreation this funding has come at a critical time as camping participation and RV production are at an all-time high” said RV Industry Association Director of Government Affairs Chris Bornemann. “Our team is committed to work closely with our federal lands partners to ensure the implementation of this historic law continues to have a positive impact on the RV and outdoor recreation industries. To that point, the U.S. Forest Service and the National Park Service have already committed hundreds of millions in funding to campground, road and RV-related projects in just the first two years of the five-year program. This is a huge step forward to ensure RVers and all park visitors have safe access and enjoyable experiences for years to come.”

The infographic above provides an overview of some of the key projects that are being funded by the Great American Outdoors Act. Below is more information on these and other GAOA-funded projects.

1. Modernize Grand Canyon Infrastructure

Grand Canyon National Park outlined four main projects in the coming years on the South Rim: replacing and relocating the APS power substation in the village for $17 million, increasing the capacity of the heli-base, and replacing the wastewater treatment plant for $40 million. These initiatives will also support the largest project -- upgrading the Transcanyon waterline at a cost of $88 million including replacement of pumps at Roaring Springs.

Location: Grand Canyon
Amount: $145 million

2. Yosemite Campground Repair and Improvement

Yosemite National Park’s largest campground is receiving a major overhaul with funding from the Great American Outdoors Act. The $20 million project will rehabilitate and modernize the Tuolumne Meadows campground which hosts more than 150,000 campers annually. Renovations include walk-in, drive-in, and fully accessible sites designed for RV, tent, backpacker, group, and equestrian use.

Location: Yosemite National Park
Amount: $26.2 million

3. Minute Man Revitalization

$27 million in funding from the Great American Outdoors Act will help Minute Man National Historical Park resolve their $12.4 million maintenance backlog, revitalize historic structures that were present during the Revolutionary War, and improve trails and park landscapes.

Location: Minute Man National Historical Park
Amount: $27 million

4. Great American Outdoors Act Will Fund Rehabilitation Of 17-Miles Of Scenic Roadway

Great Smoky Mountains National Park is using $31 million in funding from the Great American Outdoor Act to repave the Foothills Parkway West, from Chilhowee Lake to Walland. The project will reduce more than $25 million in deferred maintenance associated with the Parkway, support 400 jobs, and contribute $85.5 million to the nation’s economy. The 17-mile roadway provides recreational experiences for more than 700,000 visitors annually.

Location: Great Smoky Mountains National Park
Amount: $31 million

5. Millions In Road, Bridge Repairs Planned For Yellowstone National Park This Summer

The National Park Service is implementing $155 million’s worth of road and bridge upgrades in Yellowstone this summer. The park has a nearly $600 million backlog of deferred maintenance, over half attributed to roads. In particular, Yellowstone National Park is upgrading twenty-two miles of the Grand Loop Road that connects the West Thumb of Yellowstone Lake to Old Faithful. The park also plans to replace two bridges: the Lewis River Bridge, which is expected to be completed next fall, and the Yellowstone River Bridge near the Northeast Entrance, which should be complete in 2025.

Location: Yellowstone National Park
Amount: $155 million

6. Mountain to Sands Greenway Project

The Mountains to Sound Greenway Project used $14 million in Great American Outdoors Act funds last year to address deferred maintenance, improve infrastructure, increase user access, and support rural economies while also meeting conservation goals. Dr. Bronaugh, the Deputy Secretary of the Department of Agriculture, announced that this fiscal year the area would receive an additional $7.1 million to upgrade failing infrastructure and improve experiences for the more than 1.5 million visitors that come to the site every year.

Location: Mountains to Sound Greenway Project
Amount: $21.1 million

7. Kit Price Campground Renovations

A popular campground on the upper Coeur d’Alene River reopened with new infrastructure thanks to funding from the state of Idaho and the federal Great American Outdoors Act. Kit Price Campground, located along the North Fork of the Coeur d’Alene River, about 26 miles north of Interstate 90, has been closed since 2018. The campground remained closed last year while it underwent a complete redesign and renovation thanks to more than $1 million provided through a grant from the Idaho Department of Parks and Recreation and from funding received through the federal Great American Outdoors Act.

Location: Kit Price Campground
Amount: $1 million

8. Rehabilitate Ohanapecosh Campground

The Ohanapecosh campground is open from May until October and receives 100,000 visitors annually. This funding will improve campground facilities through grading camp sites, repairing fire grates and picnic tables, and converting facilities to meet Architectural Barriers Act Accessibility Standards for visitors with disabilities.

Location: Mount Rainier National Park
Amount: $2.8 million

9. Moraine Park Campground

The Moraine Park Campground’s deferred maintenance encompasses outdated critical infrastructure, including the electrical and water and wastewater systems. Visitors will benefit from replacing above-ground primary electrical distribution lines; addressing drainage issues at campsites; improving accessibility at campsites, comfort stations, and toilets; rehabilitating the ranger station and entrance kiosk; and adding food lockers to campsites.

Location: Rocky Mountain National Park
Amount: $31.9 million

South Campground in Zion National Park

All facilities within the campground are in poor condition and have continued to be used beyond their design life, resulting in a maintenance/repair work need that requires total rehabilitation of the campground. Despite its condition, campsites at the South Campground are filled to 90-100 percent occupancy annually. Around 100,000 visitors utilize the campground each year, and it is one of two most heavily used campgrounds in the Main Canyon. Restoration of the existing campsites will improve the visitor experience. Additionally, due to this campground’s relationship to the South Entrance and transportation system, the majority of Zion’s 4.3 million annual visitors will be positively impacted by this rehabilitation.

Location: Zion National Park
Amount: $11.3 million

Crater Lake National Park

This project will eliminate all backlog maintenance related to this road’s features and will provide greater visitor access to the park. This project will allow visitors to experience a smooth and stable historic roadway alignment by rehabilitating the narrow, wavy, pot-holed, and rockfall damaged pavement currently associated with the existing route. It will also apply modern safety standards for sight lines, curvature, and elevation changes that will vastly improve the RVing experience.

Location: Crater Lake National Park
Amount: $45 million

Great American Outdoors Act Funds Campground Maintenance

Last year, the Modoc National Forest used funds from the Great American Outdoors Act to repair and improve local recreation site water systems and maintain campgrounds. Several projects were selected for funding, including the Forest-Wide Campground Maintenance Project View here the full list of campgrounds and recreation sites that received improvements.

Location: Modoc National Forest

Great American Outdoors Act Monies Coming To Kawishwi District To Fund Multiple Projects

Last year, the Superior National Forest, using funds from the Great American Outdoors Act, selected four local parks to receive the first round of improvements. The revitalization efforts included bridge repair and design; pavilion structural repair and restoration; deferred maintenance and rehabilitation; and campground amenity repairs and upgrades.

Location: Superior National Forest