To amend the Federal Lands Recreation Enhancement Act to provide that entrance fees shall not be charged for entry to Federal recreational lands and water on certain days, and for other purposes.
Introduced June 11, 2026 · Last action June 11, 2026
Plain English Summary
This bill amends the Federal Lands Recreation Enhancement Act to prohibit the National Park Service, U.S. Forest Service, Bureau of Land Management, and other federal agencies from charging entrance fees on certain designated days each year. Currently, these agencies can charge fees for entry to federal recreational lands and waters; this bill would eliminate those fees on specific dates, making visits free for all Americans on those days.
Who benefits
Families and individuals of all income levels who visit federal parks, national forests, and Bureau of Land Management lands; low-income households and large families for whom entrance fees create barriers to recreation; tourists and outdoor recreation enthusiasts; educators bringing school groups to federal lands; seniors and disabled persons who would benefit from free access days
Who pays / loses
Federal agencies (National Park Service, U.S. Forest Service, Bureau of Land Management, Fish and Wildlife Service) that lose fee revenue currently used for operations, maintenance, and visitor services; private concessionaires operating at federal recreation sites who may experience reduced visitor spending on days when entry is free; local gateway communities dependent on visitor spending associated with fee-paying recreation visits
Funding & Lobbying Interests
Outdoor recreation advocacy groups, conservation organizations, and public lands access nonprofits typically support free-entry days legislation. The National Parks and Conservation Association, Sierra Club, The Wilderness Society, and similar organizations have historically backed entrance fee elimination or free-access policies. Outdoor recreation equipment manufacturers and retailers (such as REI Co-op and other outdoor gear companies) benefit from increased participation in outdoor activities. Rural tourism boards in gateway communities near major federal recreation areas have mixed interests depending on whether they view free-entry days as attracting additional visitor spending or cannibalizing fee-paying visits.
Political Impact
Affected Groups
Approximately 312 million annual visitors to U.S. national parks and federal lands (2022 NPS data); families earning under $50,000 annually who cite entrance fees as barriers to park access; rural and low-income Americans in counties with high federal land concentration (western states: Nevada, Utah, California, Montana, Idaho, Colorado, Wyoming where federal lands comprise 25-85% of total acreage); school groups and educators; seniors aged 65+ and disabled persons eligible for reduced-fee programs
Political Subtext
Proponents argue that free-entry days democratize access to public lands, reduce financial barriers for low-income families, and increase outdoor recreation participation and public health. They contend that parks belong to all Americans and should be accessible regardless of ability to pay. Critics counter that entrance fees fund essential park maintenance, ranger services, and visitor infrastructure, and that eliminating fees on certain days reduces revenue without increasing total visits materially—merely shifting when people visit. They warn of degraded conditions and safety issues if parks lack maintenance funding. Non-partisan analysis from the Congressional Research Service and park management studies show that fee elimination increases visitation on designated days but does not consistently increase total annual visitation; fee revenue funds approximately 15-25% of operating budgets at major parks.
Real-World Stakes
If enacted, federal recreation agencies will lose entrance fee revenue on the designated free-entry days. The National Park Service collects approximately $140-160 million annually in entrance fees; free-entry days would reduce this proportionally (estimates suggest 5-15% annual loss depending on the number of days designated). Agencies may reduce ranger patrols, maintenance crews, restroom servicing, and visitor information services on those days or reallocate budgets from other programs. Analogous policies: the National Park Service has operated fee-free days since 1998 (currently 5 days annually); this bill likely expands the number of free-entry days. When parks implemented fee-free days in Oregon (2005-2007) and California (Proposition 70, 2000), visitation increased 8-18% on free days, but parks reported crowding issues, parking shortages, and increased maintenance costs. Gateway communities saw mixed results: some experienced increased spending in local restaurants and lodging (offsetting lost park fees), while others saw no net economic gain because visitors stayed shorter periods.
Sponsor
Sponsor information not available.
Vote Record
No recorded votes.
Campaign Finance — Primary Sponsor
No campaign finance data available yet.
501(c)(4) disclosure: Contributions from 501(c)(4) "dark money" organizations are not required to be publicly disclosed and are not reflected in the figures above. Data sourced from FEC public disclosure filings.
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