On. my first trip in a RV, we visited the Grand Canyon and Petrified Forest National Parks as we traveled from Texas to California. While I remember being awed at the Grand Canyon and loving the rocks of the Petrified Forest, it didn’t strike me as that remarkable. After all, I was 13 and was more excited getting to California and Disneyland. Since then, I have learned to deeply appreciate the treasures we have in our National Parks and have now visited many more.
In our six years on the road, the National Parks have become a favorite destination. I am constantly thankful for the small group of people who had the foresight to set these special places aside. In the past few years, it seems more people are enjoying these sites. Since starting records in 1904, the NPS has logged more than sixteen billion visitors with a significant uptick in all the Parks over the last few years. While this is great news, it also means that it more important than ever to take care of these places and support the National Park Service’s (NPS) efforts.
When it comes to National Parks, you have A LOT of choice and variety. Of course, there are the “big” 63 Parks with National Park in their name, but the NPS also oversees more than 400 other parks which include national monuments, historic battlefields, recreational areas and other historically significant areas. With more than 84 million acres to explore, you are sure to find a favorite spot. It is always a great idea to look at the area you plan to visit to see if you can include a National Park. Even if some are out of the way, they are sure to be worth the extra miles.
As you plan a trip, here are a few tips to help you enjoy it more.
Plan Ahead
With record crowds, many of Parks have put reservation systems in place. This might restrict your ability to get into the park or to use the shuttle system. Check with specific Park on their rules and if possible, plan more than two months out. Several of the systems open up reservations a month or more ahead. Then, open a few more in the week or so before. The more you know, the better your odds. Once those tickets open at a specific time of day, they go quickly, so be sure to hit refresh and book the minute your date comes available.
In Zion, you were required to take the shuttle on Canyon Scenic Drive from March to August. The week before we visited, I went online every morning to get tickets and was not successful. I knew that it was too far to hike and too hilly for me to bike, so we rented electric bikes and had a blast riding along this beautiful road. It actually worked well, since we could stop at more vistas than the designated bus stops.
Check the NPS website
This is your best resource for updated information especially on closures and conditions. While it may be June and warm where you are, that doesn’t mean all the snow has melted in Glacier National Park. When they say that a pass is closed due to snow, they mean it. And you will want to know the conditions before you head out on a hike that may end abruptly or be closed due to wildlife activity.
Best Times to Visit
Every season has its own rewards and challenges for visiting a National Park. While summer might bring the best time for full access and seeing wild life, it is also likely the most crowded time of year. Winter is the least crowded, but often the wildlife is in hibernation. That said, I think seeing Yellowstone in snow would be beautiful. If you have the flexibility, figure out the shoulder season for the Park you visit. Those periods, just as the roads and trails are opening or before they close, can offer less crowds.
Another things to try is to visit on weekdays when the crowds are often less. Tuesdays and Wednesdays tend to be less popular days. Most Parks have entrance gates that are manned during specific times. Outside those times, you can still enter without paying the fee so getting there early can help beat the crowds and the fees. Not being morning people, we have also discovered that the late afternoon can also be great times to visit, especially during the summer when daytime lasts longer. We often get to the Park in late afternoon just as the crowds are leaving.
You can also plan around the most crowded and the most popular parks. Some of the Parks like Sequoia or Cuyahoga are much lower in attendance, but still wonderful to visit.
During Your Visit
Be sure to stop by the Visitor Center to pick up information and review the exhibits. It adds so much to your experience.
Bring plenty of water and snacks. Even if you don’t think you will be hiking or in the Park for long, it is good to be prepared in case you find something to make you stay. The Parks often have concessions, but some have limited hours.
Practice Leave No Trace PLEASE. Pack out what you bring in or dump in the many trash cans. Remember, not only does litter ruin the beauty, but it could also disrupt a delicate ecology or teach wildlife to get closer to humans. Neither a good outcome!
Speaking of wildlife, don’t be a Touron. If you haven’t heard this term, it is a tourist crossed with a moron. There is an entire Instagram dedicated to these folks. Tourons seem to think that those cuddly bears are for touching and that elks are just large tame deer. I have been shocked the behavior of people who have no regard for the wildness of these areas.
Favorites
We have made it to more than twenty of the 63 National Parks plus an assortment of the other parks. Each one is special in its own way. For me, my favorite is the Grand Tetons. It is much more manageable than Yellowstone in size and scope, but has such a variety of landscapes and wildlife. We had a special encounter with a mama moose as well as saw gorgeous birds while visiting. The hikes were great as well and that vista of the Teton Range is one of my favorites!
For Barry, Yosemite has always been his favorite. The various areas and landscapes give him so many opportunities for photography. He has been several times and is always ready to return.
Resources
Apps
NPS has a good app that gives great updated information. We also like to use Just Ahead, an app that acts as a tour guide as you travel through the National Park. It doesn’t need connectivity, but there is a cost for each Park that you download. There are similar apps so browse for the best option for your Park.
Books
I love actual print or ebooks to see places we are visiting. Here are two of my favorite:
This one shares a short description to help you see why you might want to visit the various parks.
This one gives a few off the beaten track ideas of things to see and do in various parks.
Podcasts/Videos
There are plenty of videos and podcasts that focus on the National Parks. One of our favorites is RV Miles, a great podcast and YouTube channel that covers stories from the Parks. We have a playlist of some of our visits to the Parks.
We feel so blessed that our nomad lifestyle allows us the opportunity to see these magnificent places. How awesome is it to take off from work to drive one hour and walk a trail among trees over 1000 years old! #Thankful. Thank you John Muir, Theodore Roosevelt and the millions of others who created this system and maintain it. Now, let’s do our part – visit with respect and support the Parks.
Now get out there and find your favorite.
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