Federal Lands Go Free for a Day: STARS Act Waives Park Fees on September 17, 2026, for Nation's 250th

The Semiquincentennial Tourism and Access to Recreation Sites Act, or the STARS Act, is a short, punchy piece of legislation aimed squarely at celebrating America’s 250th birthday. Simply put, this bill designates one specific day—September 17, 2026—as a fee-free day across almost all federally managed public recreational lands.

The One-Day Access Pass

This isn't a permanent change, but a focused, one-day celebration. The STARS Act mandates that the Secretaries of the Interior and Agriculture waive certain fees at sites they manage on September 17, 2026 (SEC. 2). What does that mean for you? If you’re planning a trip to a National Park, a National Wildlife Refuge, or a National Forest, you won't have to pay the standard entrance fee or the “standard amenity recreation fee” on that specific date. This covers sites managed by the National Park Service (NPS), the Bureau of Land Management (BLM), the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS), the Bureau of Reclamation, and the Forest Service.

For a family of four who might normally pay $35 to enter a major National Park like Zion or Yosemite, or pay a smaller day-use fee at a popular BLM hiking trail, this is a clear win. It removes a small but real barrier to access for a day, encouraging people to get out and celebrate the nation’s 250th anniversary by visiting its natural treasures. This is a clear, straightforward policy decision: use public lands to celebrate a public milestone.

Who Carries the Cost?

While the public benefits from free access, the agencies themselves—the NPS, the Forest Service, etc.—will temporarily lose out on the revenue they would have collected on September 17, 2026. These entrance and amenity fees often help fund essential services, maintenance, and staff at the parks, especially for those sites that rely heavily on fee revenue. Since the bill is limited to a single day, the financial impact is minimal and highly predictable, but it’s still a cost borne by the federal land managers in the form of foregone income. Given the date is fixed and the fees waived are clearly defined by existing law (SEC. 2, Definitions), implementation should be smooth and require little complex bureaucratic maneuvering beyond putting up a sign at the entrance gate.