Motorcycle riders who enjoy touring through America’s national parks may soon see a permanent change that restores fairer access for motorcycles. On March 3, 2026, the U.S. House of Representatives passed the America the Beautiful Motorcycle Fairness Act, legislation introduced by Rep. Tim Walberg (R‑Michigan) aimed at correcting a policy that many riders felt unfairly targeted motorcyclists.
What Does The Bill Mean To Bikers
The bill focuses on the “America the Beautiful” annual pass, an $80 pass that provides access to national parks and other federal recreation lands. Under previous practice, riders traveling together on separate motorcycles could use a single annual pass to enter a park. However, a 2024 policy change by the National Park Service limited the pass to only one motorcycle per entry, forcing riding partners to purchase separate passes or pay additional entrance fees.
Supporters of the legislation argued that the policy unfairly treated motorcycles differently from other vehicles. A standard passenger vehicle entering a national park can carry several occupants under a single pass, while motorcyclists riding together were suddenly required to pay separately even when traveling as a group.
The America the Beautiful Motorcycle Fairness Act would restore fairness by allowing two motorcycles to enter federal recreation lands using a single annual pass. The bill also seeks to formally amend the Federal Lands Recreation Enhancement Act, ensuring the policy is written into law rather than relying on administrative rules that can change from one administration to the next.
The legislation has received strong support from the American Motorcyclist Association (AMA) and other rider advocacy groups, who say the change promotes fairness and encourages motorcycle tourism across the country.
Motorcycle touring plays a major role in tourism to many national parks, particularly in western states where scenic highways and mountain roads attract riders from around the world.
How Does This Affect Riders
For example, the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally in South Dakota draws hundreds of thousands of riders each year to the Black Hills region, where many riders take day trips to nearby attractions such as Mount Rushmore, Wind Cave National Park, and Devils Tower. Attendance at the rally has historically ranged from roughly 500,000 to more than 700,000 riders, making it one of the largest motorcycle gatherings in the world.
In Colorado, riders frequently travel through Rocky Mountain National Park, including Trail Ridge Road—one of the highest paved roads in North America. These routes are part of popular multi‑state motorcycle tours linking Colorado with Utah, Wyoming, and South Dakota.
In Nevada, motorcyclists visiting Las Vegas often extend their rides to nearby national parks, including Death Valley National Park and Great Basin National Park, both known for scenic desert highways that attract touring riders.
In California, national parks such as Yosemite, Sequoia, Kings Canyon, and Joshua Tree are major destinations for motorcycle travelers riding along famous roads like Tioga Pass, the Pacific Coast Highway, and routes through the Sierra Nevada mountains.
For many riders traveling in pairs or small groups, the previous rule requiring one pass per motorcycle meant doubling their entrance costs when visiting multiple parks during a road trip. With the restored two‑motorcycle policy, two riders traveling together can share one $80 annual pass, potentially saving money across multiple park visits during a touring season.
Although the bill passed the House, it is not yet law. It must still be approved by the U.S. Senate and signed by the President before becoming permanent. In the meantime, the Department of the Interior has restored the two‑motorcycle entry policy administratively for 2026, meaning riders traveling together should once again be able to use a single annual pass to enter national parks.
If the legislation ultimately becomes law, it would ensure that the rule remains in place permanently, giving motorcycle riders long‑term certainty when planning their next national park adventure.
