STARS Act Waives All Federal Recreation Fees for America's 250th Anniversary on September 17, 2026

The new Semiquincentennial Tourism and Access to Recreation Sites Act, or STARS Act, is pretty straightforward: it’s giving everyone a free pass to America’s federal recreation sites for a day. Specifically, on September 17, 2026—the nation's 250th birthday—you won't have to pay to get into the country’s most beautiful spots.

Your Free Pass to the Great Outdoors

This bill mandates that the federal government waive two specific types of fees on this one celebratory day. First, the Secretary of the Interior must waive all entrance fees at sites managed by the National Park Service (NPS). If you’ve ever paid $35 to get your car into a major national park, that fee is gone for the day. Second, the bill requires the Secretaries of Interior and Agriculture to waive standard amenity recreation fees at sites managed by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM), the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the Bureau of Reclamation, and the Forest Service (USFS). This covers those smaller charges you might pay for using a picnic area, a boat launch, or a developed campsite amenity—the kind of fees defined under the Federal Lands Recreation Enhancement Act (SEC. 2).

What This Means for Your Weekend Plans

If you’re a family juggling costs, this is a genuine benefit. Imagine you wanted to take the kids to Yosemite or the Grand Canyon, but the entrance fee was a barrier. On September 17, 2026, that barrier vanishes. For someone who lives near a National Forest, the fee waiver means you can access that popular lakeside picnic area or trailhead without the usual $5 or $10 charge. The goal is to make sure everyone, regardless of budget, can celebrate the anniversary by enjoying the land the government manages on their behalf.

The Trade-Off: Crowds and Cash Flow

While this is a great deal for the public, there are two practical challenges. First, the agencies that manage these lands—like the NPS and USFS—rely on those fees to fund maintenance, staff, and essential services. For that one day, they will lose that revenue (SEC. 2). While it’s a temporary loss, every dollar counts when you’re dealing with a multi-billion dollar maintenance backlog. Second, and perhaps more importantly for the visitor experience, free means crowded. If every entrance fee is waived at every major National Park on a single day, prepare for potential traffic jams, full parking lots, and long lines. The sheer volume of visitors could strain the resources and infrastructure of popular sites, potentially making the experience less enjoyable than usual. It’s the classic policy trade-off: maximizing access versus maintaining quality of experience. The bill, however, is clear and low-vagueness, focusing only on the fee waiver itself.