tourists at Grand Prismatic Spring in Yellowstone National Park

Yellowstone's Grand Prismatic Spring and its alluring colors have mesmerized park visitors for decades.

Photograph by Ian Shive, Tandem Stock

9 Tips to Making the Most of a National Park Trip

The United States' national parks are among the country’s greatest treasures, and this expert advice will help you take full advantage.

ByCaity Garvey
April 18, 2016
9 min read

1. Know when to go.

National Geographic adventurer, photographer, and filmmaker Jimmy Chin has been exploring and photographing national parks for years. Solitude is something he values, especially when trying to get away from the human hustle of the city streets to enjoy nature.

“Go in the shoulder seasons right when kids go back to school or right before they get out,” he says. “When you go right off the main season it tends to be quieter, but still beautiful. September is one of the best months to plan a visit.”

For those with families, such as Ford Cochran, director of programming for National Geographic Expeditions, which includes family trips to the American West, planning a trip for early spring and fall can be challenging.

“If you are a parent like me with kids in grade school you need to plan your trips around when they are free, which will be in the summer during peak tourist season,” he says. “There are crowds at popular spots, but you can go at unusual times. Go early in the morning or late at night with a full moon. Everything is quieter and you can feel almost as if you are alone.”

2. Go with a mission in mind.

When planning a trip to a sprawling national park, especially one as vast as Yellowstone, it can be overwhelming deciding where to start. Instead of fretting over how many historic landmarks you need to fit into your trip itinerary or driving yourself crazy with time allotments and schedules, pick one thing you want to accomplish on your trip.

“If you are going to go to a park and know how much time you have, do a little homework and pick one objective and commit to it,” Chin recommends. “When you show up at a park and don’t have any idea what you want to do, you don’t end up doing much.”

If you want to see Old Faithful, for example, plan a hike that overlooks this landmark. You’ll also successfully avoid the crowds and combine objectives so you can do more with your time.

3. Travel light.

There is nothing worse than packing too much. When you're traveling to a national park, less is more.

Photographer Drew Rush, an expert on our National Geographic Ultimate National Parks Expedition, has been making it his goal to travel lighter. It makes for fewer headaches and makes your travel more flexible.

“Don’t feel you have to pack a lot of clothes, and streamline the equipment you are taking with you,” he says. “Most parks have laundry facilities on site.”

4. Bring the best gear.

It’s not just how much you pack that’s important, but also what you bring with you.

“Pack headlamps,” Rush says. “They are much smaller and lighter than a flashlight and you can wear them around your head or neck to keep your hands free.” Rush also recommends a water bottle, a small pair of binoculars, a backpack that’s comfortable to carry with you on hikes, and batteries.

Louise Johns, a photographer who shot Yellowstone for a May 2016 National Geographic magazine feature, recommends brands such as Marmot, Patagonia, and North Face, and anything sold by good outdoor gear stores, such as REI.

“The individuals working at these stores are experts and should be able to point you in the right direction for gear that matches your trip and budget,” she says.

5. Stay at a national park lodge.

“I love the national park lodges,” Cochran says. “Then you have the early morning and late evening [in the park]. You wake up and step out of your front door and you see the Grand Tetons right in front of you.”

view from Canyon Junction Bridge at Zion National Park
the Great Fountain Geyser in Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming
Bass Harbor Lighthouse in Acadia National Park
Yosemite Falls at night in Yosemite National Park
hikers on Giant Tree Trail in Sequoia National Park
Wizard Island in Crater lake National Park, Oregon
The trail in Grand Canyon National Park
Sunset in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park
the Mesquite Sand Dunes in Death Valley
sunrise in the middle of the redwood forest in Redwood National Park, California
sea stacks on the Olympic Coast in Olympic National Park, Washington
Snake River and Teton Range in Grand Teton National Park, Wyoming
an airboat in the Everglades National Park in Florida
Boquillas Canyon in Big Bend National Park
Joshua Tree National Park
the amphitheater at Bryce Canyon National Park, Utah
Picture Lake and Mount Shuksan in North Cascades National Park, Washington
Delicate Arch in Arches National Park
sand dunes in Great Sand Dunes National Park, Colorado
Dry Tortugas National Park in Florida
a ranger holding lanterns in a cave in Mammoth Cave National Park, Kentucky
Blue Mesa at Petrified Forest National Park
couple sitting on dock watching the sunset in Biscayne National Park, Florida
Mount Rainier in Mount Rainer National Park, Washington
The shore at Virgin Islands National Park
Dark Hollow Falls at Shenandoah National Park in Virginia
Rock Formations at the Carlsbad Caverns National Park
The Everett Covered Bridge in Cuyahoga Valley National Park, Ohio
Sunset in the Guadalupe Mountains National Park
The submerged boardwalk in Congaree National Park, South Carolina
the Gilbert Ray Campground in Saguaro National Park, Arizona
Paradise Valley in Kings Canyon National Park
Wheeler Peak in Great Basin National Park
coastline on Lake Superior in Isle Royale National Park, Michigan
humpback whale breaching the water in Glacier Bay National Park, Alaska
iceberg in Bear Glacier lagoon in Kenai Fjords National Park, Alaska
sunset in Voyageurs National Park, Minnesota
Rainbow over a pond in Denali National Park
bears in Katmai National Park, Alaska
Baker Icefield in Wrangell-St. Elias National Park, Alaska
The footbridge in Hot Springs National Park
Mesa Arch at sunrise in Canyonlands National Park, Utah
a person hiking on a sand dune in Kobuk Valley National Park, Alaska
Sprague Lake in Rocky Mountain National Park, Colorado
a river in Gates of the Arctic National Park, Alaska
a floodplain in Lake Clark National Park, Alaska
sunset in Badlands National Park, South Dakota
St. Mary Lake in Glacier National Park, Montana
Jewel Cave in Wind Cave National Park, South Dakota
Painted Canyon in Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park
a rainbow arcing over steam from the lava of Kilauea in Hawaii
Cliff Palace dwelling in Mesa Verde National Park, Colorado
Cannonball Concretions in Theodore Roosevelt National Park, North Dakota
people watching a sunset in Haleakala National Park, Hawaii
a rock formation in the Cathedral Valley District of Capitol Reef National Park, Utah
a beach in National Park of American Samoa
Santa Cruz Island in Channel Islands National Park
mountains in Lassen Volcanic National Park
the Bear Gulch area in Pinnacles National Park, California
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Zion National ParkOne of the most photographed views in Zion National Park, and perhaps all of the parks, is the view of the Watchman from the Canyon Junction Bridge. Although it has been shot endless times, and you are sure to be shoulder to shoulder with other photographers during sunset, it is still something everyone must do when visiting the park. My favorite spot is right at the center of the bridge where the river leads the eye to the Watchman in the background.
Photograph by Jonathan Irish

The National Park Service offers lodging information for each park on those park's guide pages. Book early to stay at a park lodge; many fill up quickly. If you’re trying for a lodge that’s already full, check back every day for cancellations.

6. Check in with park rangers when you first arrive.

You may plan your trip perfectly and know exactly where you are going, but it is still wise to check in at the visitor center when you first arrive. Park rangers will have the insider info you need to make sure your trip goes down without a hitch.

“They will tell you which roads are closed or which areas of the park are under construction,” Cochran says. “They can also help you figure out what hidden trails to try, or the best place to watch the sunset.”

“Consider getting an annual park pass when you first arrive,” Chin adds. “It gives you access to all national parks for a full year from the date of purchase, and a side benefit is that money goes directly to funding the National Park Service, which is a great thing!”

7. Go camping.

Johns, Chin, Cochran, and Rush unanimously agree that the ultimate thing you should do when visiting any national park is to camp under the stars—even if it is just for a night.

“The benefits outweigh the discomforts,” Chin says. “You engage differently with people when you are camping as you are forced to unplug and to be present. You connect with nature and other people and that’s really special.”

Johns recommends packing these items:

  • A tent
  • A sleeping bag and sleeping pad
  • A stove (such as the MSR PocketRocket Backpacking Stove)
  • Lighters
  • Flashlights (or headlamps)
  • If you are in bear country, a bear bag
  • If you are camping in backcountry, a water filter

If you want to camp at your park of choice–whether in the backcountry or at a designated campground–you need to call in advance. If you're hunkering down at a campground, reserve your spot in advance, as space is limited. If you plan on camping in the backcountry, call to check with the park about extra equipment you should bring (such as a bear bag) and what else is required. You'll almost always be required to get a camping permit, which is a relatively easy, on-site process.

8. Download the best apps for your trip.

Social media is a spectacular way to share your adventure, and there will be plenty of Instagram-worthy moments on your trip. Here are some other apps recommended by our experts:

Wi-Fi can be spotty in some locations, so it’s always wise to bring old-fashioned maps and guidebooks on your trip. Consider National Geographic’s own Guide to National Parks of the United States.

9. Leave the park better than you found it.

As Cochran says: “I’ve been traveling the world with National Geographic for 25 years, and there is no place I love more than America’s national parks. They offer everything for everyone: Huge mountains, coral reefs, wetlands, seashores, glaciers. There is so much to see and do.”

General rule of the land: Leave the park better than you found it. If you see trash, throw it out, and don’t disturb animals or habitats. Remember: These parks need to be protected.

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