Fun Facts (from nps.gov)
Yellowstone (Wyoming, Montana, Idaho) was the first National Park established in 1872 by President Ulysses S. Grant.
The National Park Service was created by an act signed by President Woodrow Wilson on August 25, 1916.
There are currently 419 areas in the National Park System in the United States that include every state, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, Guam, American Samoa, and the Virgin Islands.
The National Park system includes parks, monuments, battlefields, military parks, historical parks, historic sites, lakeshores, seashores, recreation areas, scenic rivers and trails, and the White House.
While the National Park System consists of over 419 areas, only 62 of them have the “National Park” designation in their names.
The largest park is in Alaska, the Wrangell-St. Elias National Park and Preserve is 13.2 million acres.
In 2015, 13.6 million international travelers visited national parks and monuments—representing 35.4 percent of all international visitors to the U.S.
People travel from all over the world to witness the National Parks that the U.S. has to offer, but there are plenty of Americans who have not experienced a single one of these beautiful landmarks. Whether we are unaware of what's available or just don't think about it as a vacation hotspot, this needs to change! From the rolling hardened lava in Hawaii Volcano National Park to the bright and colorful hot springs of Yellowstone, let's talk about why you need to go plan a beautiful National Park trip as soon as possible!
Misconceptions
One of the biggest misconceptions out there is that you have to "rough it" to visit a National Park - this couldn't be further from the truth. True, you may see some beautiful locations and terrain if you hike through a park, but the majority of the National Parks have sights and overlooks right along the road. Let's take Yellowstone for example - you can visit 19 of the 25 main 'attractions' including the Grand Prismatic Spring, Mammoth Hot Springs, and Old Faithful (pictured below) by driving, parking, and taking a short walk along a sidewalk or boarded walkway. Don't get me wrong, I definitely recommend doing some camping, hiking, fishing, etc. but if that's not in the cards, don't let it hold you back from an experience of a lifetime admiring the park.
But which park?
Such a great question - with this many parks, monuments, and recreational areas it may be hard to pin-down the one that you may want to visit. If you're having trouble deciding on which park, I would recommend checking out "Find Your Park". This website by the National Park Service will help you filter through all of the parks by state and activity type to help you along your way. Every park in the database will show you what activities are available at the location, what state it's in, and it'll redirect you to the National Parks website for additional details for that specific location. If this doesn't help, there is a "get inspired" tab on the top with videos and stories that will surely get you going!
Preparation
Whether you drive through the sights or you spend a whole week camping and hiking, there are a few things that you must know before going to any of the National Parks:
Visit the National Parks website before you visit to view the map, amenities, and possible road closures. This would be a fantastic place to start and creating a game-plan of the things you must see and do during your visit.
There are entrance fees! Well of course there are, how else would they take care of these magnificent places? Depending on the park, fees will range from $20-$35 per vehicle per day. If you plan on going to any of the parks multiple times or going to other parks in a single year, I'd highly recommend checking out the "America the Beautiful" Annual Pass for $80. This annual pass gives you an entire year into the 2,000 federal recreation sites (includes national parks) for everyone in your vehicle (up to 4 people). If you are active military or have a 4th grader (I know, random), you can even get an annual pass for free. More about annual passes here.
When you get to the park, make sure to check-in with the visitor center. They will always have insights, insider tips, maps, and park souvenirs.
Bring the right gear. I know this should go without saying, but if you do plan on doing outdoor activities, be mindful of the weather and area to properly prepare for your trip. In addition to just looking at how the weather is going to be, the National Parks website will give you some pointers for your trip as well.
Where to stay
Camping in your tent or camper and disconnecting from technology is always a fun way to get the full experience of the park. Camping will also be your most cost-effective option as site reservations are generally only around $15-$30 per night depending on the park and site amenities. You can find all of the available campsites and reserve them here. If camping isn't your thing, I'd recommend looking into hotels and AirBnBs in nearby towns.
Know when to go
Depending on the season, parks can get crowded fast! For context, over 318 million people visited a national park or monument in 2018.
Summers are definitely the busiest time to visit a national park, but holidays such as Memorial Day, Labor Day, 4th of July, and Spring Break are also high up the list. If you can avoid these times, I'd recommend it.
Visit the park during the week as traffic is considerably higher on the weekends.
If you must visit during a peak time, just be prepared for a little more of a crowd on your visit - or you can visit some areas in the park that are less traveled. Most visitors will stay in their cars and just visit the top 5-10 popular spots in the park, but you can avoid these crowds by doing some hiking or finding the less popular spots to visit.
Know the best season for the park. Locations like Big Bend, Joshua Tree, and Death Valley are rough in the summer because of the heat and you may want to avoid them during this time. Also keep in mind that they are less busy in the summer and may make for a less tourist-filled experience if you can brave the heat.
Share your experience
Let others know about your experience at the parks. Like I mentioned before, many people have not visited a single National Park and sometimes they just need that nudge from a friend to tell them how great it was. Let them know your favorite part, show them pictures, and inspire others to go. You can also share your adventures on social media by using the hashtags #FindYourPark and #EncuentraTuParque.
The Wrap-up
Regardless of where you go, there is a simple rule that you MUST follow, "Be safe, and leave it better than you left it". Don't damage or deface the parks and don't litter! If you happen to come across a piece of trash on the ground, just pick it up and throw it away. We are all very lucky to have so many beautiful places to visit in the U.S. and it's important that they're still around for future generations.
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