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.
Get the whole family involved in choosing your national park destination, mapping out everything you want to see while you’re there.
If you plan ahead, you can snag a saddled seat atop a mule for a ride of a lifetime along the North or South Rim of the Grand Canyon.
Glacier National Park is another example of a destination where you may want to reserve at least your first night at a campsite, like Fish Creek Campground, which accepts bookings six months in advance. You can always move to a first-come, first-serve park campsite — like Cut Bank Campground (above) in East Glacier — later during your trip. Photo by Jonathan C. Wheeler, Flickr.
Whether you’re planning on just a couple day hikes, or backpacking overnight, a few months before even arriving at your campsite is the best time to break in your boots and ensure your backpack is big enough — but not too big — to comfortably carry and store your essential gear.
In the narrowest part of Zion National Park, the Narrows, you may be able to dip your toes in the water without closed-toe shoes, but for those who wish to hike through the gorge, surrounded by thousand-foot walls, obtain proper footwear prior to your park visit.
Get a taste for your vacation by researching where to find the best local cuisines — like lobster rolls near Acadia National Park or bison burgers near Yellowstone.
Though the GPS navigation on most smartphones can be helpful in providing travelers with a sense of direction, national park travelers should stop at the visitor center for the most up-to-date park information and to pick up a paper map — just in case your phone is ever out of range.
