So you’ve made the decision to visit a national park—or maybe you’re still just thinking about it. Either way, go on and start planning a memorable trip.
You may want to start at the National Park Service’s website. It has a tool to help you find the perfect place. Maybe it’s got lots of amenities to ease you into the rugged life. Or perhaps you’re looking for the best hiking trails, fishing holes or other recreation areas for you and your group. Others might just want the park closest to home.
Now that you’re at the site’s…umm, site, click on the “Plan Your Visit” tab. What just happened?! Your whole world just opened up! There it is—information on lodging, camping, fees, directions, sites, restaurants and just about anything else you’ll need.
As you peruse your park, think about what kind of trip you want to take. If it’s just a day visit, click on the “Things To Do” link.
We’ve got some links to just a handful of outdoor adventures available nationwide:
Horseback riding at Yosemite
Cell phone tours at the Grand Canyon
Fishing in the Great Smoky Mountains
Picnicking in Yellowstone.
Just remember to wear appropriate, comfortable clothes and shoes.
Of course, you get the most out of the parks by staying a night or two. If you’re not quite ready for the tent and sleeping bag, check out the park’s lodging. The Grand Canyon has hotel rooms, some of them are even swanky suites. You can also choose from a hotel or a cabin at Yosemite.
If you’d rather drive your bedroom into camp, that’s fine too. National parks offer RV camping sites. While we had a tough time finding ones that offer hookups, they do have dump sites. Before you go, take a look at the food rules for RVers. Many allow you to keep goodies in the camper, but ask you to seal up windows, doors and tents tight to keep those savory smells away from the wildlife in the area—especially when bears are nearby.
If you’re ready to sleep closer to nature, plan to tent camp. First, get a camping list together and pack up everything you’ll need. Remember to keep the temperature, terrain and weather conditions in mind when you’re gathering your gear. The individual park sites have extensive information on where the sites are located and what amenities they offer.
Next, figure out when you want to camp. Some areas of the parks can start to look like rush hour traffic during some of the most popular times of the year, so ask yourself what kind of experience you want to have. Check out this link to Yosemite’s list of what you can expect during each season and when the busiest times to visit are.
So now that you’ve got the when, where and how figured out; it’s time to reserve your spot. Don’t assume one will be open when you get there. National parks are popular places, especially in the summer. In Yosemite, most reserved sites fill up weeks in advance from April through September. Costs to camp are based on peak season and vary from park to park. You can find some tent camping sites for as low as $6/day, but during the summer it can go higher. RV owners will pay a bit more, $18/night on the lower end. Make your claim now at the reservation site. If you plan to bunk up in a hotel or cabin, you’re going to pay hotel prices.
Don’t forget the cost of admission into the park when you’re figuring your budget. It’s $25/car. If you plan to go several times a year, invest in an annual pass. A national one will cost you $80, but it will get you into any national park.
If the fall and winter creep up on you, think forward to warm thoughts in spring and summer. Spend those cold nights getting lost in all that the NPS sites have to offer. By the time the birds start chirping again, you’ll have the perfect plan for a perfect trip to a national park.
