Congress opens all federal parks free for one day in 2026
H.R. 4285 — Semiquincentennial Tourism and Access to Recreation Sites Act · Filed by Celeste Maloy (R-UT) · Introduced Jul 2, 2025 · Passed chamber
Your members of Congress
Enter a ZIP to see where your representative and both senators stood on this bill.
Looked up on this device — your ZIP is never stored on our servers.
What it does
This bill directs the Interior Secretary and Agriculture Secretary to make all federal recreational sites free to enter on September 17, 2026—Constitution Day—to celebrate America's 250th anniversary. National Parks, Bureau of Land Management sites, Fish and Wildlife refuges, Bureau of Reclamation areas, and National Forests will waive entrance and standard amenity fees for one day, allowing all Americans to visit these public lands without charge.
Why we flagged it
The bill is a one-day fee waiver at federal recreational sites tied to a national anniversary. It is commemorative in purpose (celebrating the 250th anniversary) and functional in mechanism (a temporary, broad public access measure with no private beneficiaries or hidden riders).
What the text implies
- One-day fee waiver may create operational challenges for park staff (crowd management, parking, facility strain) on a single high-traffic day, though this is a known and manageable consequence of the stated policy.
- The bill does not address whether parks will receive supplemental appropriations to cover lost revenue or manage increased visitation, leaving implementation details to agency discretion.
Who it affects
Citizens gain free access to public lands they already own for one day, removing a financial barrier to recreation and outdoor access. The cost is minimal—one day of foregone fees—and the benefit is broad and direct: any American can visit a National Park, National Forest, or public recreation site without paying.