The rates have jumped around some. As stated, they started at 50c/person-night (not .50c). Then they went up to $3/person-night by around '94. Then there was a big drop back to only $1/person-night until the state started running out of money and threatened to close parks. That led to a rate of $5/person-night which has remained pretty steady until now although a few parks have increased it by a dollar or two. Still plenty of places to camp on BLM land where it's free but I do enjoy some of the amenities at the State Parks.