There are 63 National Parks and 40 National Recreation Areas to choose from when planning your adventurous trip. How do you pick?!?!
First things first, consider the weather and the season of your travel dates. There are parks for each time of year. If you're hoping to hike and experience the parks comfortably, mid 60-70 degree temps are your best bet. However, if you desire driving through hopping in and out of the car at overlooks and exhibits, your temperature range can be a bit wider. As a general rule, stick to southern parks in the winter and northern parks in the summer. Always remember that late May through July is PEAK SEASON for the majority of the parks.
Enter: SHOULDER SEASONS. Spring and Fall are ideal for those wanting to escape the crowds and save some money on accommodations. Spring equals thawing snow pack, rushing waterfalls, baby wildlife, a rebirth of nature after a long winter. Fall brings vibrant foliage as trees change colors and crisp air.
Recommended Parks for Summer: Mount Rainier, Glacier, North Cascades
Recommended Parks for Spring: Yosemite, Yellowstone, Grand Teton
Recommended Parks for Fall: Acadia, Shenandoah, Rocky Mountain
Recommended Parks for Winter: Big Bend, Joshua Tree, Saguaro, Everglades
Let's dig into accessibility. I remember a conversation with a waiter at Many Glacier Hotel where he shared that a visitor had commented to him, "Why did they put a park all the way out here?!?". Folks, the parks are remote. That's the beauty of the whole idea, preserving these areas for the enjoyment and the benefit of the people - so generations can enjoy the same views that John Muir, Lewis & Clark, and Teddy Roosevelt all perceived as profound. There are some with more access to the developed world than others. Unless you plan a year in advance and can afford to book a historic hotel within the park, or are willing to camp, expect to stay outside the park and commute 20-40 minutes to get to where you're going.
You must know thyself when planning your National Park trip. Do you pay for convenience? Do you appreciate a beautiful scenic commute to a trailhead? Do you need a plethora of restaurants that are open late? A cute coffee shop? Do you need boutique shops? Do you want to be near lakes, waterfalls, mountains, or in the desert? What animal encounters scare you the most? Do you want to be surrounded by people or are you craving solitude? Be prepared to answer all of these BEFORE you select your park.
You've completed Step 1: Picking your travel dates, Step 2: You've defined what you NEED, Step 3: Budget. Actually, your budget might be a better first step, but that's no fun haha.
The most expensive parts of your trip will be your flight, rental car, and accommodations. Food, souvenirs, and activities can all be adapted.
When I started out traveling, I would pick destinations based on which airport hubs were cheapest. For example, Las Vegas, Phoenix, Denver, Boston, Salt Lake City, Seattle, and San Francisco were typically great options out of Fort Lauderdale. Using the "Explore Feature" on Kayak and Google Flights yields some great deals. Flexible dates make things easier, but if you're locked in due to child care or work schedules you can watch specific flights and be alerted when the price is the best to buy. This has become a hobby for me. If I wasn't writing this post, I'd probably be searching for flights right now haha!
Cheap Airport Hubs with Park Recommendations:
Las Vegas: Zion, Bryce Canyon, Death Valley, Mojave, Joshua Tree
Boston: Acadia
Denver: Rocky Mountain, Great Sand Dunes, Black Canyon of the Gunnison, San Juan National Forest
Phoenix: Grand Canyon, Saguaro, Petrified Forest
Salt Lake City: Arches, Canyonlands, Yellowstone, Grand Teton
Seattle: Olympic, Mount Rainier, North Cascades
San Francisco: Yosemite, Redwoods, Pinnacles, Lassen Volcanic
If you're a PE teacher and money is no issue to you (as my husband says), then an affordable airport hub won't be as important to you. What I've learned is that I will make the trip cost-effective the first time, but once I've learned the best parts of a region and want to return and focus my time in only that area, I will invest in an airport that is more convenient. For example, the first time I visited Glacier National Park I flew round trip through Bozeman and made the 6 hour road trip (with cool stops along the way over a week of course). For my second visit I'm flying round trip through Kalispell, a much smaller, more convenient regional airport, at about double the price. But, I'm also giving myself 10 hours in the car back.
Step 4: What unique experiences do you want to have in your park of choice? Wanting to see gushing waterfalls? Don't go to Joshua Tree or Death Valley. Wanting wildflowers? Don't go to Mount Rainier in the fall.
Keep in mind, THE PARK IS THE ATTRACTION.
You can experience the attraction from your car, on foot, in a kayak, on a horse, in a plane, via ferrata, on a boat, snorkeling, with a guide, or without.
Perhaps you don't know what you'll like yet. That's ok. I wasn't kayaking and horseback riding in the beginning. I started out driving through, checking out overlooks, and completing moderate to challenging hikes. We all start somewhere. For a full list of National Parks, click here. If you'd like help creating a national park itinerary, submit a request.
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