NATIONAL PARKS

National Park Travel

From famous parks and scenic drives to unforgettable landscapes, this is your starting point for planning a national parks trip worth remembering. For a complete list of all national parks by state plus a free printable checklist, visit my Complete List of National Parks article.

Before You Go basics

park fees & passes

Most national parks charge an entrance fee. The America the Beautiful Pass provides access to all U.S. national parks and federal recreation areas for one year and is a great value if visiting multiple parks.

transportation

A car is usually necessary to reach and explore most national parks. Some parks offer seasonal shuttle systems to reduce traffic and congestion

connectivity

Cell service and Wi-Fi can be limited or unavailable in many parks. Download maps and information before arriving.

leave no trace

Help protect these special places by following Leave No Trace principles: pack out what you bring in, stay on marked trails, respect wildlife, and leave natural areas as you found them for future visitors.

Leave it as it is. The ages have been at work on it and man can only mar it.

Theodore roosevelt

National Park Guides

Rocky beach and blue water and waves at Acadia National Park

Acadia

The red rocks of Arches National Park

Arches

Badlands

Big Bend

Bryce Canyon, National Park

Bryce Canyon

Canyonlands

Capital Reef

Carlsbad caverns

congaree

Mesquite Flats Sand Dunes

Death Valley

Gateway Arch from East St Louis

Gateway arch

Glacier

Green trees and the canyon at the north rim of the Grand Canyon

Grand Canyon

Grand Teton

the mountains of Great Basin

Great Basin

a view of Great Smoky Mountains National Park

smoky mountains

a campsite in Guadalupe National Park

guadelupe mountains

Hot Springs National Park Visitor Center

hot springs

Joshua tree and boulders in Joshua Tree National Park

joshua tree

petrified forest

kings canyon

Bear Lake loop in Rocky Mountain National Park

rocky mountain

saguaro

sequoia

shenandoah

theordore roosevelt

white sands

The colors of Grand Prismatic Springs in Yellowstone National Park

yellowstone

yosemite

the view of the road and mountains in Zion National Park

zion