Westerly - As her family's minivan pulled into the Misquamicut State Beach parking lot early Tuesday, Trisha Bourcier did a double take when she looked out the window at a sign displaying new parking rates.

"We pulled up and we kind of went, 'Did that say out of state $20?' It was pretty shocking," said the Manchester resident.

Several beach patrons Tuesday afternoon expressed surprise and disappointment with the Rhode Island beach's parking rate increases, which went into effect July 1. The increases have hit Connecticut residents - and other out-of-state patrons - particularly hard.

For example, it costs a Connecticut resident $20 to park at the state-run beach on a weekday, which is 66 percent higher than the $12 it cost previously. On weekends, Nutmeggers will pay $28 to park - double the $14 it cost in the past.

John Faltus, the deputy chief of Parks and Recreation for the Department of Environmental Management, said the rate increases were a budgetary decision spearheaded earlier this year by Gov. Lincoln Chafee's administration. The DEM oversees Misquamicut State Beach.

"The administration came in here with the proposal to look at various ways to increase fees and revenues in the state of Rhode Island," he said.

A public hearing on the parking and season pass increases was held in May. Faltus said two people attended.

While several people Tuesday voiced their displeasure with the increases, Bonnie Mello, a manager at Misquamicut, said she has yet to see a drop-off in patrons visiting the beach.

"They're surprised when they show up if they haven't heard about it. Especially out-of-staters," Mello said. "But a lot of people realized (the rates) were going to go up. If you look at (the Fourth of July), we were full."

Mello said the rates had not been raised since 2002. She also said they were raised to better reflect the parking rates at neighboring private beaches.

David Picard, a beach patron from Suffield, said that he understood the "financial crunch" that Rhode Island and other states are in. He also said the $20 parking fee he paid Tuesday averaged out to $4 per person for his family of five, which he found reasonable.

"It's an increase like everything - gasoline, food, everything else," Picard said as he packed a cooler in the back of his Dodge Grand Caravan. "Do I like it? No. Absolutely not. But for me, it was still a good value for a family of five for $20."

Pam Rau, of East Hampton, said the size of the increase surprised her. A patron of Misquamicut for 30 years, she said she thought state beaches should be accessible to everyone, and she wondered how families and people on fixed incomes would afford the new rates.

Nearby in the parking lot, Tara Dusenberry, of Enfield, said she was amazed by the parking increases. She visited Misquamicut last Thursday, the day before the new rates went into effect, and came back Tuesday.

"It's ridiculous. I have four girls and we'll come all the time when I can around my work schedule," said Dusenberry, who said she works as a chef. "Now we might end up staying in New London or somewhere local."

jeff.johnson@theday.com

WEEKDAY PARKING RATES

Rhode Island residents: $10

Out-of-state residents: $20

Rhode Island seniors: $5

Out-of-state seniors: $10

WEEKEND PARKING RATES

Rhode Island residents: $14

Out-of-state residents: $28

Rhode Island seniors: $7

Out-of-state seniors: $14

Season Parking Rates

Rhode Island residents: $60

Out-of-state residents: $120

Rhode Island seniors: $30

Out-of-state seniors: $60

In Connecticut, Hammonasset and Rocky Neck State Parks:

WEEKDAYS

State registered vehicle: $9

Out-of-state registered vehicle: $15

State registered vehicle after 4 p.m.: $6

Out-of-state registered vehicle after 4 p.m.: $7

WEEKENDS/HOLIDAYS

State registered vehicle: $13

Out-of-state registered vehicle: $22

State registered vehicle after 4 p.m.: $6

Out-of-state registered vehicle after 4 p.m.: $7

Season passes to state parks cost $67 for Connecticut residents and $112 for out-of state residents.