Whether you were drawn in by a nature documentary featuring the majestic elk herds of Yellowstone, or by an Instagram story of Zion 's red-rock grandeur, the U.S. national parks captured your attention. And now, you’re ready to visit one in person. In 2017, more than 330 million other travelers had the same idea. While there’s plenty of natural splendor to go around, it’s wise to create a plan of action — especially if you want to visit a popular park at a popular time, like Yosemite in May.
This checklist will guide you through planning a national park vacation, from one year in advance to the day you depart.
12 Months Out: Research and Reserve
- Begin initial research and decide which region of the country you want to visit and when based on what you are most interested in seeing — whether that’s the stars or wildlife.
- Choose a park, or more than one if a few are in the same area.