Tips For Planning The Ultimate National Park Trip

INTRODUCTION

The United States is a very diverse place. It has something for everyone, from large cities to remote wilderness. When it comes to adventure, there is no place on earth like the U.S. Many Americans would like to spend more time outside and in nature, but they are unaware of the vast number and range of opportunities that exist. The U.S. has so many beautiful national parks and so many ways to go on adventures.

Planning a national park trip can be a daunting task. There are many things to think about, like when is the best time to go, which parks to visit, and where to stay. This blog is here to help by answering those questions and giving you information on all of these topics in one place. If you want to visit a national park this summer or in the future, the information below is what you need to know. 

HOW TO PLAN THE PERFECT NATIONAL PARKS TRIP

There were so many logistics to consider when planning our national parks trip. Did you want to spend your time hiking, exploring, and camping? Or maybe you wanted to make it more of an adventure by doing some of the activities they offer in their hotels, like zip-lining. This article will give you the nitty gritty details you need!

HOW TO CHOOSE A NATIONAL PARK

There are currently 63 national parks in the USA that protect unique natural and cultural treasures. It’s no surprise many people want to visit some of these parks but aren’t sure which one is right for them to choose.

When deciding which national park(s) to visit, I believe these are the most important questions to ask yourself:

• Do you want to drive from home or fly and rent a car locally? Some national parks can be reached by bus, but not all of them can be reached this way.
• Do you want to stay away from crowds?
• What is the most important thing to you: the scenery, the wildlife, the hiking, or the history?
• Are you planning to travel on a tight budget, or do you intend to splurge?
• What time of year or type of weather are you planning for?

Now that we have covered all of these points let us assist you in choosing a wonderful national park to visit.

CHOOSING A NATIONAL PARK: LOCAL VS FAR AWAY

There are two ways to go about deciding on the right national park for your trip. 

The first method is to look at the local parks in your area or just choose one nearby. This will give you a nice, short trip that can be done within a single day. 

The second option is to look at faraway parks and then plan out a longer trip there. Whether you want to take a week or more, this can be quite exciting!

CHOOSING THE RIGHT NATIONAL PARK: POPULAR VS LESS CROWDED

When choosing a national park, you have to consider the crowds. National parks are one of the most crowded places on earth. The crowds are an unavoidable part of the experience, but they can also be a good thing.

If you’re looking for a place that is less crowded, then consider visiting a lesser-known park or one that hasn’t been updated recently. If you want to see more people, then consider going during off-season or during peak season.

CHOOSING A NATIONAL PARK: TYPES OF SCENERY

When you’re planning your National Parks trip, the scenery is half the fun. You want to see the amazing natural phenomena that make this country so beautiful, but you also want to do it in a way that’s convenient for your schedule.

There are different types of scenery within the National Park system:

• Scenery: Grand Canyon, Mount Rainier, Zion Death Valley, Olympic, Badlands, Lake Clark.
• All-rounders:  Yosemite, Great Smoky Mountains, Grand Teton, Glacier, Rocky Mountain.
• Wildlife: Denali, Everglades, Yellowstone, Katmai, Biscayne (underwater).
• Hiking: Kings Canyon, North Cascades, Gates of the Arctic, Shenandoah
• Natural history: Crater Lake, Petrified Forest, Carlsbad Caverns, Lassen Volcanic
• Human history: Gateway Arch, Mesa Verde, Hot Springs, Cuyahoga Valley

CHOOSING A NATIONAL PARK: LUXURY VS BUDGET TRAVEL

Whether you’re planning a budget trip or a luxury tour, there are several things to keep in mind when choosing which parks will be the focus of your trip.

Budget travelers should look for parks with few crowds, short hiking trails, and accessible lodgings. These parks are often less than an hour away from the nearest city and have no more than 1,000 people visiting them per day. The most famous examples of this type of park are Yellowstone National Park and Glacier National Park.

Luxury travelers will want to visit parks that have more amenities or are located in areas that offer unique experiences like kayaking or horseback riding. These parks often have more than 1,000 visitors per day but can still offer plenty of hiking trails and lodging options that cater to smaller groups. Some examples include Yosemite National Park and Acadia National Park

CHOOSING A NATIONAL PARK: TIME OF THE YEAR AND WEATHER

The weather and conditions in the national parks of the United States vary widely. Here are my top recommendations for each season and type of weather:

• Tropical: Dry Tortugas, Haleakala, Hawaii Volcanoes, Virgin Islands, 
• Spring: Yellowstone Yosemite, Grand Canyon,  Arches, Capitol Reef, Joshua Tree. Summer: Glacier, Mount Rainier, North Cascades, all the Alaskan parks
• Autumn: Acadia, Great Smoky Mountains, Zion, Grand Teton, Shenandoah.
• Winter: Big Bend, Death Valley, Bryce Canyon, Redwood. 

WHEN TO START PLANNING A NATIONAL PARKS TRIP

Planning a national parks trip can be tricky. It’s important to start planning your trip as soon as possible, but it’s also important to plan in advance so that you can maintain flexibility in the event of delays or unexpected changes.

If you want more freedom, you could plan your trip further in advance, which gives you time to do more research and ask for vacation days, book campsites, etc. But it can also make it harder to change your plans since the weather and the state of the park can change quickly.

RESEARCH YOUR CHOSEN NATIONAL PARK(S)

When planning your trip to the National Parks, you must first research your chosen parks. First, find nearby national parks and choose the ideal one for you. This is a wonderful choice if you want to hike in the Smokies. Skiing in Rocky Mountain National Park is also possible. Check if there are any nearby state parks. If so, include them in your trip.

PLANNING YOUR NATIONAL PARKS ITINERARY

You can put together a Google Sheet or Excel document to help with planning. If you are going to be traveling with a group, it’s a good idea to get the other members’ input as well so that everyone has an idea of what they want to see and do within the national park system.

For example, if there is a particular trail or hike that is important to you, mention that as part of your itinerary so that they can make sure that it is included in their plans as well. You might also want to consider how long each day will take and what time of day you want to visit certain areas. 

MAKE A NATIONAL PARKS TRIP MAP

Before you can even think about where to go, you need to know how long it’ll take to get there. You need to know what kind of gear is necessary for certain kinds of weather or terrain, and how much time it’ll take you to get there with all that equipment.

If you’re looking for the perfect national parks trip, It is helpful to put together a trip map via Google Maps! It’s jam-packed with information about all of the best national parks in America.

GETTING TO THE NATIONAL PARKS

The next thing you need to do when organizing a trip to one of the national parks is to choose how you will get there (s).

THIS WILL DEPEND ON A FEW FACTORS. 

Some of these factors may include the following:

• How far is it from your house to the park?
• Is there an airport near the park?
• Does your local airport fly to that airport?
• Do you have a tight budget for your trip?
• Do you like your own car better?
• Will it be necessary to drive off-road? (4×4 only)
• Will you be staying in hotels or in tents?
• How many people are going on your trip?

If you don’t have much money, you might want to take the bus or train. This can be a quick and easy way to get to the national parks. It can also be cheaper than flying.

WHERE TO STAY DURING YOUR NATIONAL PARKS TRIP

The next thing to think about when planning a trip to a national park is where you will stay. Each national park has a different range of places to stay, but in general, there are a variety of options both inside and outside the park. Here are some things that will help you decide where to stay:

WHERE TO STAY: HOTELS AND LODGES

Hotels and lodges are the most common option for overnight stays in national parks. These can range from small, family-owned B&Bs to large, modern hotels. While they may be expensive, they are also usually more comfortable than camping and offer amenities such as pools, hot tubs, and even spas. 

If you’re planning on staying at a hotel or lodge within the park itself, make sure that it is well-maintained by checking out its website before booking. This will help ensure you get a room with enough sunlight and good ventilation. You should also check if it offers any discounts for children or seniors who don’t want to camp out in the wilderness all night long!

WHERE TO STAY: VACATION RENTALS: 

Vacation rentals offer another option for lodging while visiting national parks. These homes are often owned by local families who rent out rooms during their off-season when they aren’t using them themselves. They may be located in the gateway towns leading up to a national park or even inside a national park itself!

WHERE TO STAY: GLAMPING: 

Glamping is another way to experience life at its most authentic—without sacrificing comfort or convenience! Glamping tents offer guests all the comforts of home while staying outdoors in their own private space.

Car Camping: This type of camping allows you to stay in your vehicle and sleep inside or outside of it. You will need to bring your own tent and sleeping bags or blankets.

WHERE TO STAY: BACKCOUNTRY CAMPING: 

This type of camping is similar to backpacking but involves staying more sheltered in a more remote location away from roads and trails. Most backpackers will use this method when they travel into wilderness areas where no motorized vehicles are allowed.

HOW TO MAKE NATIONAL PARK RESERVATIONS

Some hikes, activities, and places to stay in national parks do need reservations ahead of time. Each park is different, so make sure to do enough research before you go. Here are some general rules to remember:

• Most campgrounds have some sites that can be reserved ahead of time through Recreation.gov and some that are first come, first-served.
• For some of the most popular hikes, like Half Dome in Yosemite, the Wonderland Trail on Mount Rainier, Mount Whitney in Sequoia, and the Rim-to-Rim Trail in the Grand Canyon, you have to enter a lottery to get a permit. Even though some of these hikes still have a small number of walk-up permits for the day of.
• In most national parks, you need a backcountry permit to camp in the wilderness. Most of the time, you can get these at the Backcountry Rangers Station or Visitor Center of a park.
• Parks like Denali have a lottery system that lets people drive their own cars on Denali Park Road for four days every September.

BUY A NATIONAL PARKS ANNUAL PASS

The National Parks Annual Pass is a great way to see all of our national parks in one year. This pass covers entrance fees, parking fees, and other expenses related to visiting all 58 different parks across the country. It’s also an excellent option if you’re planning on visiting multiple parks during your trip; each pass has its own set of benefits, but they’re all designed around the idea that you’ll want to visit as many parks as possible during your trip.

WHERE YOU CAN USE AN ANNUAL PARKS PASS

This annual park pass covers more than 2,000 recreation areas, not just the 62 National Parks. Here are the places where America the Beautiful Passes are accepted:

• Bureau of Reclamation 
• Bureau of Land Management
• USDA Forest Service 
• Fish and Wildlife Service 
• U.S. Army Corps of Engineers 
• National Park Service 

WHERE TO BUY AN ANNUAL PARKS PASS

Passes can be bought at hundreds of places across the country, including many Federal parks and recreation areas. See where the Annual Pass can be bought.

USGS (888-275-8747, option 2) or http://store.usgs.gov/pass can also help you get an annual pass (note that passes ordered from USGS ship within 3-5 business days).

MAKE THE MOST OF YOUR NATIONAL PARKS VISIT

There are a few things that you can do to get the most out of your trip to the national parks in the United States. Some of these can be taken into account when planning a trip to a national park, while others are more important once you get there.

CHAT WITH A RANGER DURING YOUR VISIT.

National parks are a treasure trove of natural beauty and history, but you don’t have to be an expert to enjoy them.

During your visit, chat with a ranger about the park’s history, or ask them for tips on where else to explore. You might just find your next favorite hiking trail!

HOW TO PLAN NATIONAL PARK HIKES

Planning a national park hike is an exciting process, but it can also be stressful if you don’t prepare.

Here are some tips for planning your next national park hike:

• Look at the map and other information you’re given when you enter a national park. Often, these brochures have hiking tips for the different parts of the park.
• Stop by the visitor center to find out how the trails are and what you can and can’t do at that time of year. You can also check again to see if you need a permit for a certain hike.
• If you want to plan hikes before you get to the park, you can check the NPS website and the All Trails (website or app) to see how they are right now.
• Make sure you know the rules for hiking in that particular park. Should you know about bears? If you don’t know, ask a park ranger.
• Find out what hiking gear you might need for the terrain and weather you’ve chosen.

NATIONAL PARK HIKING TRAIL ETIQUETTE

When you’re hiking, there are a few things that you should know and follow to keep your trip as safe, comfortable, and enjoyable as possible. Here are some of the most important steps to take when you’re out on the trail:

HIKING ETIQUETTE GUIDELINES YOU SHOULD KNOW AND FOLLOW:

• Unless it says otherwise, give way to hikers going uphill, and horses and other pack animals always have the right of way.
• Say “hello” to other hikers to let them know that you are coming (and to create a welcoming atmosphere on the trail).
• Don’t talk loudly on the phone, yell at your friends over and over, or play loud music on the trail (please, no speakers!). Keep the noise down out of respect for other hikers and wildlife. Many animals use natural sounds to talk to each other, and if you mess with those sounds, it can hurt their chances of survival.
• When yielding, don’t leave the trail unless you have to. Getting off the trail can hurt plant and animal species and harm the ecosystems of the trail.
• Always follow the Leave No Trace rules (more on this below): leave rocks, plants, and artifacts where you find them so that other people can enjoy them.
• Give animals space by keeping a safe distance and not startling them suddenly. NEVER feed animals in the wild.

WHAT TO PACK FOR A NATIONAL PARKS TRIP

Packing for a trip to our national parks should not be daunting or stressful. As with any other type of vacation, some planning and a little advance preparation can help tremendously when you pack.

NATIONAL PARK PACKING ESSENTIALS:

If you’re planning on taking a trip to national parks, the following items should be included in your pack:

• Water + reusable bottle
• Food (including snacks)
• Identification
• Reusable plates/cups
• Day bag/fanny pack
• Comfortable shoes
• Insulated jacket
• Cash + debit/credit cards
• Annual national parks pass
• Cooler for food storage
• Picnic tablecloth
• Reusable cutlery/utensils
• Rain jacket
• Camera + batteries
• Phone + phone charger
• Sun hat
• Sunscreen
• Sunglasses
• Mosquito repellent
• First aid kit
• Park map