We love outdoor vacations in America’s national and state parks. Don’t misunderstand, we want ‘real’ beds, showers, good food and neither of us are triathlon material. We do enjoy, solitary hikes, vistas, wildlife encounters (at a distance) and great photo opportunities.
We both have a need deep in our souls to get outdoors. If we don’t get out every day, we get out at least every week. State and National Parks provide affordable access, great trail systems and a sense of security in remote regions. Whether we are planning a daytrip or a longer vacation, State and National Parks are always on our list. In addition to natural wonders, many State and National Parks have significant historical sites as well as educational tours and classes for all ages.
Affordability
Outdoor vacations in America’s national and state Parks are affordable. We live in Texas and an unlimited admission pass to Texas State parks is $70 per year for one adult and their guests. There are additional programs in Texas for senior passes, youth passes, disabled passes, etc. A list of all state parks by state is available on Wikipedia.
National parks have better facilities than state parks and are distinguished by more unique natural or historical wonders. They are a great value due to location, location, location. Here is a list of all national parks and their associated fees.
Additionally, national parks have yearly passes and senior lifetime passes. The passes apply to the pass holder and up to three additional guests.
Access
State and national Parks are accessible from well maintained roads and are well signed off major highways and interstates. National parks and the majority of state parks have facilities for the mobility impaired. Usually, there is at least one wheelchair accessible paved trail in each park.
Facilities
Most state and national parks have excellent visitor centers, parking, maps and sanitary facilities. Many parks have on-site lodging and restaurants.
Lodging can range from primitive cabins and shelters with communal facilities to luxury resort accommodations. Prices reflect the historical uniqueness or resort facilities. Location and accessibility are also factors in lodging prices. Reservations for premium “view” rooms at popular destinations require reservations a year or more in advance and cost as much as privately run resorts. The concession for food and lodging is park by park. Xanterra is the big player in the national park concessionaire arena.
National Parks accept reservations 13 months in advance. Yellowstone National Park summer reservations open May 1 for the following year (May 1, 2020, you can book for May 1, 2021, through October 2021). Last minute cancellations do happen and you can be put on a waiting list for the day you enter the park.
First thing, when we plan a trip, we tie up national park reservations. Usually, we don’t get the exact rooms that we desire. It pays to check online multiple times to gain access to preferred rooms that were previously reserved and cancelled by others. We have never found savings on rooms at national or state park lodges. We have been successful in trading-up to better views or locations within the park.
Things to Do
Outdoor activities are the primary draw for most national and state parks. Historical parks appeal to history buffs. All national and state parks have walking trails. Almost all, have hiking trails graded by difficulty. Maps are provided at entrance booths or in visitor centers. Unless stated on the map, distances are measured one way.
Wildlife viewing, fishing, rafting and other water activities vary from facility to facility. Equipment rentals are common as are day trips that specialize in wildlife viewing and photography.
Historical venues will have excellent orientation films as well as guided tours.
Timing your visit
We prefer to visit the parks during the shoulder seasons (usually spring and fall). The parks are less crowded and it is very possible to enjoy solitude as well as opportunities to see wildlife that aren’t viewable at the height of visitor season.
Weather can be tricky. One time we visited Mount Rainier in late June and the snow was three feet deep. That definitely put a cramp in our hiking plans.
We have also visited the North Rim of the Grand Canyon in July and suffered a heat wave. The North Rim of the Grand Canyon is usually cool and requires a medium weight jacket in the mornings and evenings—not that year! We almost got heat exhaustion during our hike.
Tips and Tricks
We try to go prepared for rain, unusually cold and unusually hot weather. This means that we will always take one outfit and/or coat that is unused, but it beats being miserable.
Most parks have stores that sell t-shirts, sweatshirts and caps. However, most don’t stock jeans, sweats or shorts. Being prepared is important!
We always stop at a store outside the park to purchase picnic supplies. If we are going to have a microwave in our room, we buy Frito pie ingredients. It is very helpful to have some food basics on hand as some park facilities are very limited and it isn’t much fun to have to drive 40 or 50 miles round trip just to find lunch or dinner.
We usually pack an electric water pot to heat water for hot tea, or for oatmeal. Instant oatmeal cups are great for an impromptu breakfast.
Sunscreen and a packable hat are a must any time of year. Hats can bring down your body temperature by 10 degrees and can turn a hot hike into a comfortable one. Sunscreen isn’t always available for purchase in the smaller or more remote parks.
Let’s get out there and plan some outdoor vacations in America’s national and state parks!
Wow! So pretty. I loved the mountains they were beautiful!