DRIVE Across America Act of 2026: New $1 Billion Plan to Install EV Chargers in National Parks and Forests

If you’ve ever hesitated to take your electric vehicle into the deep woods of a National Forest or the remote corners of a National Park for fear of a dead battery, the DRIVE Across America Act of 2026 is looking to change that. This bill establishes the 'Cleaner TRAILS' Initiative, a massive coordination effort between the Forest Service and the National Park Service to build out charging stations and hydrogen fueling spots across federal lands. With $200 million in annual funding authorized from 2027 through 2031, the goal is to make sure your family road trip or weekend hike isn't limited by where the nearest suburban outlet is located. Beyond just the parks themselves, the bill allows for infrastructure to be built within 25 miles of these sites, potentially bringing new charging options to small gateway towns and tribal lands that serve as the entrance to our favorite outdoor spots.

Powering Up the Great Outdoors

The bill isn't just about sticking a few plugs in the ground; it’s a full-scale strategy to modernize how we move through nature. Under Section 3, agency heads are required to develop a plan that includes everything from upgrading the local power grid and adding energy storage to training a workforce that can maintain these high-tech systems. For the average visitor, this means clearer mapping data on agency websites so you can plan your route with confidence. For the agencies themselves, the bill sets a 2030 target where at least 25% of their fleet and shuttle buses—the ones that ferry you from the parking lot to the trailhead—must be zero-emission vehicles. This shift aims to reduce the noise and exhaust that often clutter the peaceful experience of visiting a landmark like Yosemite or the Great Smoky Mountains.

Beyond the Trailhead: Travel and Tourism

This legislation also reaches out to the broader travel industry through Section 6, which rebrands the Electric Vehicle Working Group as the 'Electric Vehicle Commission.' This group will now include voices from the travel and tourism sectors, specifically focusing on how to get you from the airport to the park in a clean vehicle. It sets aside 10% of existing charging infrastructure grants specifically for 'traveler electrification,' targeting airports and popular long-haul corridors. If you’re a traveler who relies on rental cars or rideshares, the bill encourages states to prioritize electrification for those services, making it easier to land at a hub like Denver or Salt Lake City and grab an EV for your mountain excursion without worrying about the return trip.

The Fine Print and Road Ahead

While the bill is largely a green light for modernization, there are some logistical hurdles to watch. Section 3(b)(1)(S) allows agency heads to bypass the 2030 fleet goals if they can prove 'documented barriers' like supply chain issues or lack of suitable vehicle models, which gives the government a bit of an out if the transition gets rocky. Additionally, the bill makes a permanent change to federal law (Section 7) that allows clean vehicles to use HOV lanes indefinitely, removing the previous 2025 expiration date. For the daily commuter or the weekend warrior, this means your zero-emission ride stays in the fast lane for good. While the bill allocates serious cash—$100 million each for the Park Service and Forest Service annually—it caps administrative costs at 4%, ensuring the bulk of the money goes toward the actual hardware and vehicles that make the initiative run.