My Ultimate Guide to Planning a Trip to the National Parks
The US National Park system sees about 297 million visitors each year. People are attracted to the beautiful and natural scenery and even accessibility of the parks. Planning a trip to one of these parks, however, can be a bit overwhelming at times. In this guide to planning a trip to the national parks, I will give you the best tips and guidance to help make your next trip to one of these parks amazing.
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Choosing Where to Visit When Planning a Trip to the National Parks
There are so many amazing national parks in the United States (with many of them having good accessibility for people with disabilities) that it can be hard to choose which one to visit next. For many people, big factors in choosing which park to visit include how much time they have for the trip and budget. I’ve listed here some other factors to consider as well.
Popular vs Less Crowded
Popular parks are that way for a reason, they are beautiful and typically have unique features for visitors to see. On the other hand, sometimes people want to visit less crowded parks. This can be because they want to connect more with nature, or they may have medical issues and compromised immune systems and it is safer for them to be away from the crowds.
Either way, when planning a trip to the national parks, this factor may determine either where you visit or what time of year you choose to take your trip. Historically, less visited parks where you might be able to avoid crowds include:
*North Cascades (Washington State)
*Isle Royale (Northern Michigan)
*Great Basin (Nevada)
*Congaree (South Carolina)
*Voyagers (Minnesota)
*Guadalupe Mountains (Texas)
Popular parks such as Yellowstone, Grand Tetons and Yosemite are usually less busy in the winter and early spring months. The trade-off is that not all areas of the park may be open during your visit. If you want to go during peak season but want to get away from the crowds, consider going to less popular areas of the park or during the early morning or late evening when crowds have thinned.
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What You Want to See/Do
The type of scenery and activities you are interested in will also help dictate which park you visit and even the time of year you go. For example, if you want to see waterfalls at their peak, then you will be visiting in the springtime. Here is a brief list of national parks to visit based on their scenery:
Waterfalls: Yellowstone, Yosemite, Smokey Mountains, Cuyahoga Valley, and Shenandoah.
Mountains: Rocky Mountain, Grand Teton, Mount Rainer, Smokey Mountains, and Acadia.
Desert: Arches, Bryce Canyon, Zion, Canyonlands, Capital Reef, Grand Canyon, and Great Basin.
Near/On the Water: Dry Tortugas, Everglades, Biscayne, Channel Islands, and Olympic.
Please note that this is not an exhaustive list, and there is a total of 63 National Parks. Each one has something special and unique to offer.
Weather
When planning a trip to the national parks, knowing the weather for the parks you are looking to visit is also helpful information and may help you narrow down your choices. Avoiding extreme weather (either extremely hot or very cold) may make you decide to visit some of the western parks in either the spring, fall or even winter. At the same time, some parks (like the more northern ones) have the most pleasant weather in the summer.
It is important to know what type of weather you are looking for and what you can handle. Also, keep in mind that if you are visiting a park which is at a higher altitude the sun will feel more intense. For people who have difficulty regulating their body temperature (like wheelchair users) weather is a key factor in choosing which park to visit and when.
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Planning Your Trip to the National Parks
Now that you’ve chosen your destination, it’s time to start planning! Planning a trip to the national parks can be extremely exciting and/or very overwhelming. In this section, I will answer some common questions and offer guidance to make this part of the process a little easier.
When to Start Planning
The best time to start planning your national park trip is as early as possible. This is especially true for people with mobility issues and wheelchair users as accessible accommodations can fill up fast. The most popular parks (i.e. Yellowstone, Yosemite, Olympic etc.) have lodging sell out a year (or more) in advance.
If for some reason you are not able to plan that far in advance or have a last-minute opportunity to visit a national park, then it is important to be flexible on the dates of your visit. Sometimes cancellations happen and you can find accommodations. That’s why it is important to keep checking even if they are initially fully booked.
Bookmark the site of the hotels, campgrounds etc. in google (or whatever you use) and check back weekly. You can check for your desired dates or view the calendar option which will show you any availability for that month you’re looking at.
Pro Tip: Once you know which park you want to visit, see when lodging first becomes available to book. If you are planning ahead, mark the date on your calendar and set aside time to make reservations as early as you can on that day.
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Will I Need a Reservation to Visit the National Parks?
With the popularity of many of the national parks, it has led to over tourism and other problems, resulting in the need for many parks to implement a reservation or timed entry program. While this is often seen as an inconvenience for visitors, it is helpful for the park and makes for a more enjoyable experience during your stay.
This is another reason planning your national park trip as soon as possible is important. Like lodging, reservations to popular parks can go fast. To determine if your park requires a reservation, make sure to visit the park page on www.nps.gov as each year the parks requiring reservations can change.
Some parks will require a timed entry to visit, while other parks only require reservations for specific popular activities (for example, sunrise at Cadillac Mountain in Acadia or in at the summit in Haleakala). Be sure to read the details when you visit the park page. Keep in mind that reservations and timed entry may apply to other national sites as well and not just the national parks.
Times when reservations become available to book may also vary by park. Some cannot be booked until 3 months before your visit, while others open reservations for the entire year at one time.
If you are not able to score a pass when they first become available, usually more are released the day before your visit, so check back. Other options for visiting the park without a pass include taking an organized tour, having booked lodging within the park, or visiting during hours when a pass is not needed (typically before 6 am or after 4 pm). Make sure to check the park website for details on exceptions and more information.
How to Make Reservations for the National Parks
Once you have visited the park page to determine what type (if any) reservations are required, as well as when they are available to book, go to www.recreation.gov and set up an account ahead of time (this will make booking faster and easier when it’s time). Then mark the date on your calendar for when you can book. Go to the specific park page on the national park website and click the link to book your ticket.
Deciding Where to Stay When Planning a Trip to the National Parks
Deciding where to stay when visiting a national park is a big decision. You can choose to stay within the park for convenience and less driving time (but usually at a higher cost) or you can stay outside of the park, which can sometimes be cheaper but involves lines each day to enter the park and more driving. Much will depend on your priorities and budget.
If you choose to stay outside of the park, look for nearby towns with available hotels and restaurants. Keep in mind how long it may take each day to get to the park, what the traffic may be like and if the difference in cost is worth it.
If you are camping, look to see what campground amenities are within the park vs outside of the park and what restrictions may apply. For example, not all campgrounds in the national parks have electricity and some campgrounds are for tents only or require hard sides (like when you are in bear country). This may make the decision for you about where you will stay.
How Many Days Do I Need to Visit the Park?
There is no easy answer on how many days you will need to visit the park as the parks vary in size and activities. For larger parks like Olympic or Yellowstone, it’s easy to spend 4 or more days exploring, while smaller parks can be seen in one day.
The answer to this also depends on your travel style. Are you someone who wants to rush to place to place so you can say you’ve been there and seen it (with the picture to prove it) or are you someone that likes to take your time and experience something more slowly, allowing you to live in the moment and take everything in?
There are also people that believe that any amount of time you can spend in a national park is worth it, even if you can’t see everything. Afterall, it just gives you a reason to go back!
One way to get an idea of how much time to spend in a specific park is to look at suggested itineraries for that park. This will give you an idea of what you can see and do in a certain amount of time. You can then use this as a base line and fill your days with the activities and things that you want to do in that park.
How Many National Parks to Visit
Many people have a bucket list goal of wanting to visit all 63 national parks and therefore try to combine multiple national park visits within a trip. The question then becomes, how many national parks to visit during one trip?
This largely depends on how much time you have for your vacation, how you plan to travel (flying vs driving), what area of the country you’ll be visiting and how rushed or relaxed you want your trip to be. On a recent three-week road trip from New York state to Wyoming, I was able to visit 7 national parks, 2 national historic sites and 1 natural national monument. Out of the 7 parks I visited, 5 of them I only had enough time to spend one day in and I felt like I got to see most of the park.
I planned ahead and allotted more time for the final two national parks (Grand Tetons and Yellowstone) because they were larger parks and meant to be the focus of the trip. Ultimately, how many parks to visit and how you choose to visit them is a personal decision. There is no wrong way to plan your trip.
Get Your National Park Pass
Getting your National Park Pass will save you money during your trip and there are a few options to consider.
Access Pass
If you are a resident of the United States and have a permanent disability, you can qualify for an Access Pass. This allows you lifetime access to the national parks and other national sites such as national monuments, historic sites etc. This pass is free if obtained in person at one of the national sites (and requires documentation from your doctor stating that you are disabled) or can be ordered online for a $10 fee.
Veteran’s Pass
If you don’t qualify for the access pass, there is another free pass available for veterans. This pass also requires you to be a US citizen and provide proof of your service. This pass is also available to current US military and gold star family members. It can be obtained in person at any national park or online with a $10 fee.
4th Grade Pass
The final free pass is for 4th graders, and is part of the Every Kid Outdoors initiative. This pass is good for one year and can be obtained by visiting the Every Kid Outdoors website where you will print out a paper pass. When you visit a national park or other national site that charges a fee, the paper pass will be exchanged for a yearly pass.
Annual and Senior Passes
If you don’t qualify for any of the above passes, you can also purchase an annual park pass ($80) or if you are 62 years old (or older), you can purchase a lifetime senior pass which is also $80 but is good for the rest of your life. Both passes can still save you money if you plan on visiting multiple national parks (typically entrance to each national park is $30 or $35 per vehicle).
When you or someone you are traveling with holds a park pass, it covers everyone in the vehicle.
Planning a Trip to the National Parks: Getting to the Park
How you decide to travel to the park will influence how much time you have to spend in the park, how many parks you may be able to visit and your experience at the park. The two options for getting to the parks are flying or driving.
If you only have a week to travel and want to visit a park that is further away, then flying is a great option. You can then rent a vehicle once you land and have the freedom to explore. If you require an accessible vehicle, they may be more readily available in some places vs others.
If, however, you have more time or plan to visit a park closer to where you live, you may want to take a road trip. This allows you to see more sites along your way to and from the park.
Cost may also be a big determining factor, so compare flight prices vs gas prices to see which one better fits your budget. Don’t forget to factor in the price of a rental vehicle or any tours you would take if you didn’t have your own vehicle to explore.
Making Your Itinerary
Okay, so you’ve decided which park or parks you plan to visit, when you want to travel, whether reservations are needed (and booked them) and now it’s time to make your itinerary. There are a few steps to take as you do this.
If you are planning on a road trip, make sure to consider how much time per day you feel comfortable driving. This will dictate stops you will make along the way. Then decide whether you want to drive every day until you get to your destination or whether it would be helpful to break up the trip and do some sightseeing along the way.
1. Find Information on Accessibility
Once you know what park or parks you plan to visit, research to find information on the accessibility of the park. There are a couple of ways you can do this.
First, for a general idea, you can visit the specific park page on the national park website. Click on “Plan Your Visit” and then there will be another tab for accessibility information.
Another fantastic way to find firsthand information on the accessibility of a park is to look on accessible travel blogs (like this one). I have a whole page on national parks as well as other national sites. for you to look through to help give information on accessibility, places to stay and things to do.
As you are doing your research, make notes on accessible activities that may interest you, where you may want to stay etc. That will make the next steps easier.
2. Make a List of Things You Want to Do
As I mentioned above, make a list of accessible things that you’d like to do. Even write down things that you’d like to do (maybe that you’ve heard about from others) even if you don’t know how accessible they are. You can use this list to go back and research whether this activity may or may not be a good fit for you.
Essentially, this is a brainstorming activity, and you can come back later to add or eliminate options based on how much time you have and whether an activity or site is accessible.
3. Highlight Activities That are Near Each Other
Once you have your list, in which a separate one should be made for each destination you’ll be visiting, get multiple-colored highlighters so you can highlight the activities or sites that are near each other. This will make it easy to look at a glance of which things can be combined when you are making your daily schedule.
4. Jot Down Estimated Time it Will Take to Do Each Activity
Another helpful thing will be to estimate how long you think it will take to do an activity and jot this information down next to it on your list. A lot of the time this information can be found on blogs or searching on the internet. Having this information handy will help to ensure you don’t over or under plan your days.
5. Start Creating a Daily Itinerary
Now that you have lots of information at your disposal, start creating a daily itinerary of activities and sites to see. Take into consideration how much time it will take to get from one activity to another, how long the activity itself will take and how busy or full you want your days to be.
Write down what you plan to see or do for each day of your trip and in order that it makes sense to do them in. It may also be helpful to include the address of each item, whether you should get tickets in advance or other valuable information.
If you find that you are running out of time to do all the things you wanted, go back over your list, and prioritize what is most important to you. Another option, if it’s available, is to add more time to your trip.
6. Stay Organized
With so much planning, there can be many details which sometimes can get missed or overlooked. That’s why it’s important to stay organized throughout the planning and actual trip. Get a calendar and write down a timeline of important things that need to be done (booking lodging, getting reservations etc.).
In addition to the calendar, you’ll want an easy and concise way of having information for your daily activities and an overall summary of your trip. Don’t worry, I’ve got you covered!
When you sign up for my email list, you’ll get a free trip planning template to help you with all of this. This template includes sections for budgeting, comparing lodging options, a sheet to list all your desired activities, a daily itinerary template, and a summary of your trip. Best of all, it’s FREE! Click the image below to claim your travel planning template now.
What Should I Pack for My National Park Trip?
When planning a trip to the national parks, make sure to look at the typical weather for the park you will be visiting and the time of year you will be there. Overall, I’ve found layers to be key. While days may be hot, nights and early mornings can be chilly. Layers will help you stay comfortable no matter what Mother Nature decides to do.
Make sure to pack items that will keep you dry if it rains. You don’t want to miss out on the activities you had planned just because it’s raining. A rain jacket, poncho and water-resistant shoes are essential for this.
Tips for Visiting the National Parks
Making the Most of Your Visit
Go to the Visitor Center
When planning a trip to the national parks, make sure heading to the visitor center when you arrive is on your list. This will allow you to get some information on the park like current conditions, recommendations, any closures etc. Many times, the visitor center will have informative films on the park and or exhibitions for you to look at.
Attend a Ranger Program
Ranger programs are a great way to learn more about the park. There are multiple topics that can be covered including: geology, wildlife, history and more. Times and locations of these talks can be found in the visitor center or online on the park page.
Get Information on Accessible Trails and Trail Conditions
When planning a trip to the national parks, it’s important to remember that trail conditions can change year to year or even within the same season. Getting recommendations on which trails are accessible, as well as their current conditions will help give you more options to explore and avoid disappointment if a trail is closed or no longer wheelchair accessible.
Use the Gypsy Guide App for Your Own Personal Tour
If you want to feel like you are on your own personal tour without having to dish out loads of cash, then the Gypsy Guide app is perfect! This app is free to download to your phone and then you only pay for the tours you are interested in.
There are combination tours for parks that are close together and are reasonably priced. Once you download the tour, it does not require cell service or Wi-Fi to access it. Using the GPS locator on your phone, it knows where you are within the park and will provide commentary related to your location. I found it very informative.
Take Time to Enjoy the Sights
It can be really easy to pack a lot in so we can see and do it all, but does that really allow us to experience the park? No matter what your travel style is, take time to be present in the moment. Be aware of the smells, specific details of the sights, how it feels to be there etc.
Being mindful of what you are experiencing will help create lasting memories that when you recall them, you will also recall those sensations. After all, travel is an experience and not just a checklist.
Be Flexible and Pack Your Patience
I cannot stress enough just how important it is to be flexible and patient during your visit. Unexpected things WILL come up. The thing you wanted to see may be closed or there may be tons of people crowding around and being not so polite.
By being flexible and patient you will have a better trip. Yes, you are allowed to be disappointed that you won’t see something you wanted to or frustrated that people can be rude or inconsiderate, however, if you start letting these emotions take over completely, then it’s your trip that is going to be ruined.
Leave No Trace
It is always important whenever you are in nature, but especially in our national parks, to leave no trace. That means don’t write your name on any rocks or structures, pick up your trash, and don’t damage the environment by touching something you’re not supposed to. This helps to ensure that everyone can enjoy the beautiful place you are visiting.
In the same regard, leave no trace also means don’t take anything from the park either. While it may seem harmless to take home a rock as a souvenir, if everyone did this, what would be left for people to enjoy? It’s best to just take pictures and long-lasting memories instead of part of the park itself.
Wildlife Viewing in the National Parks
One of the many reasons people visit national parks is to get the opportunity to see animals in the wild. It is a special moment the first time you see a moose or a bear out in nature. While this is something everyone wants to experience, it’s not always easy and requires a bit of luck and a lot of patience.
Tips for Viewing Wildlife
1. Best Viewing is at Dusk and Dawn
Animals, just like humans, don’t like hot temperatures or lots of noise. They tend to come out the most during the cooler times of the day and when things quiet down (usually dusk and dawn). Building time into your trip for wildlife viewing at these times of day will help to ensure you are successful.
2. Check with rangers for best viewing areas and where recent sightings have been
The best locations to see wildlife in the park will vary from park to park. Talk with a ranger to get their recommendations and to see if there have been any recent consistent sightings of a particular animal in a specific spot. They can also tell you what to look for and what types of areas certain animals gravitate towards.
3. Respect the Animals
Please, please, please remember that these animals are wild and unpredictable. They can be dangerous when they feel threatened (and you don’t know what will set them off).
- Keep a safe distance, at least 25 yards and 100 yards for larger animals
- Don’t turn your back on them
- Do not harass them
- For God’s sake don’t try to pet them
- Do NOT feed them. This can be very harmful to them and gets them used to human food. In some cases, as with bears, getting acclimated to human food can make them more aggressive in seeking it out. This can result in the death of the animal.
Let’s respect that we are in their home and territory. We are the visitors and are lucky enough to see them in their natural habitat. Let’s keep wild animals wild.
4. Don’t have your heart set on seeing a particular animal
Sure, we would all love to see a moose, bear, or wolf. But having your heart set that you must see that animal to have a great trip is a huge mistake. By doing this it negates all the other wonderful experiences you had within that park. Be grateful for every experience you have at the park.
Nature is not a zoo, there are no guarantees that you will see wildlife at all not alone a specific animal. If you don’t see the wildlife you were hoping to, it gives you another reason to come back and visit again.
5. Have Realistic Expectations of What Pictures of and Viewing Wildlife Will Look Like
We’ve all seen amazing pictures on social media, and it can be easy to believe that our experience will be the same. The truth, however, is that when you see wildlife it most likely won’t be that perfect image.
Photographers spend days waiting to get those shots and have cameras that look like telescopes with their professional zoom lenses. The reality is that you may see some great animals, but they may be far away and in tall grass or brush where you don’t get clear shots of their faces. Often, you may only see their rear ends.
Seeing animals in the wild is still exciting and wonderful even if it’s not in picture perfect conditions. Don’t be disappointed if your pictures are not like the ones you see on social media. Enjoy your imperfect but realistic experience.
6. Know Your Camera
Ok, so now that we have realistic expectations, it doesn’t mean that we still don’t want to get pictures of the wildlife we see. Many people rely on their phones during their travels (which is absolutely fine). But as amazing as technology has gotten, taking pictures with your phone still has some limitations. The main one being zoom.
If animals are far away, it will be very difficult to get good pictures of them with your phone. There are even challenges using a camera. The more you zoom in, the shakier everything gets. To get a clear picture with a camera that is zoomed in often requires a tripod.
Know what your camera’s capabilities are and how to get a good picture take practice. There are some great amateur photography instructional videos on YouTube that you can check out before your trip. Then just practice using your settings and features so that you are familiar with them when you need them.
Strategies for Viewing Wildlife in the National Parks
It all depends on who you ask as to what’s the best way to see wildlife in the national parks. In the end, it really comes down to two different strategies. Both strategies require patience and a bit of luck.
Pick one popular spot and wait
Many professional photographers will choose to pick a popular spot where wildlife is often seen and just wait. They will have their camera equipment all set up and ready to go and scan the area using binoculars. Some days you’ll have tons of wildlife and get really lucky and some days you’ll see nothing at all.
Move to another spot if there’s no action
Other people will check out a wildlife spotting area and if there is nothing there, move on to the next location in hopes of having better luck. While in theory this sounds practical, wildlife don’t have a set schedule. You could’ve just left an area and that’s when the animals decide to make their presence known.
Final Thoughts on Planning a Trip to the National Parks
While traveling to the national parks can take a lot of planning, it also offers a huge reward. It’s a process that’s both exciting and daunting at times. I hope that this guide to planning a trip to the national parks makes the process easier for you. Now start planning your trip!
