Bureau of Land Management Fee-Free Days for 2026

In 2026, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) will waive standard amenity recreation fees for U.S. residents on:

• President’s Day (February 16)
• Memorial Day (May 25)
• Flag Day/President Trump’s Birthday (June 14)
• Independence Day weekend (July 3–5)
• 80th Birthday of the BLM (July 16)
• Constitution Day (September 17)
• Theodore Roosevelt’s Birthday (October 27)
• Veteran’s Day (November 11)

On these dates, standard amenity fees and day-use fees will be waived at many BLM-managed sites, including visitor centers, picnic/day use areas and National Conservation Lands units where fees are normally charged. Expanded amenity fees and other fees, such as group day use, overnight camping, cabin rentals, and individual special recreation permits for the use of special areas, will remain in effect unless specifically waived by an authorized officer. For data collection and accountability purposes, a zero-value receipt equivalent to a one-day pass may be issued.

Fee-free days are authorized under the Federal Lands Recreation Enhancement Act (FLREA) (16 U.S.C. Chapter 87, section 6804(e)), which allows five Federal agencies to establish fee-free days on the lands they manage. These agencies include the BLM, Bureau of Reclamation, National Park Service, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and U.S. Forest Service.

BLM field units in jointly managed areas near or adjacent to other Federal lands are encouraged to coordinate fee-free access where appropriate. Offices are encouraged to actively promote these fee-free days to the public, communities, partners, and youth organizations to advance the Secretary of the Interior’s commitment to enhancing public access for American residents.

For more information about the BLM’s fee-free days for 2026, including participating locations, please visit the BLM Recreation Permits and Fees webpage. For questions about this information bulletin, please contact Raukisha Talley, Outdoor Recreation Planner, Division of Recreation and Visitor Services, HQ430, at [email protected] or (970) 256-4907.