Our national parks are more popular than ever but with almost 400 to choose from how do you decide what park is best for your trip? Easy! It’s Travel Tuesdays so just let Travel Therapy help you find your way!
TOP NATIONAL PARKS!
First of all when it comes to visiting one of our national park the best place to stay is t he National Park Service website at www.nps.gov.
On this website you’ll find everything you need from the history of the National Park Service ( it was created in 1916) to how many visitors visit each year ( about 275 million). You’ll also find links to all the different parks across the United States.
Word of warning, you can spend hours going through all these websites because it truly is interesting and inspiring to realize there is so much beauty right here in the United States.
Here’s a look at some of the best national parks for the ultimate and affordable Travel Therapy!
Yellowstone
Listing Yellowstone National Park pretty much seems like a no brainer but even if you’ve visited this park before there is so much to see and do you probably need to go back! Yellowstone is America’s 1st national park, so that’s pretty cool. It covers areas of Wyoming, Montana and Idaho. Some of the key things to do include hiking, biking, boating, fishing and wildlife photography.
Fee: $25 per vehicle
7 day pass
Camping: there are 12 campgrounds with more than 1, 400 sites and prices range around $12-18 dollars a night. Most of the camp sites are first come first serve but there are several places where you can reserve ahead.
Hotels: There are cabins and hotels in the park and prices are changing all the time so be sure to check the website!
Link: http://www.nps.gov/yell
The Badlands, South Dakota
Bet a lot of people have never heard of this one! I lived in South Dakota for three years when I was working as a television anchor for the NBC affiliate in Rapid City. I have to say there are some very beautiful places throughout South Dakota and The Badlands are a park worth visiting and very affordable. The park is open year round and covers 381 scenic square miles. It’s known as having one of the richest fossil beds in the world dating back millions of years. Kids love it and there are some great child friendly hiking trails like Fossil Exhibit Trial and Cliff Shelf Nature Trail.
Fee $15 per vehicle
7 day pass
Camping: There is a free campground and another campground that’s just $10 a night!
Insider tip: The weather can change fast to dress in layers!
Link: http://www.nps.gov/badl
Mount Rainier National Park, WA
I grew up in Washington State and I wish I would have spent more time at Mount Rainier. This is one of the most impressive national parks in the United States but because it’s tucked away in the Northwest it doesn’t get as many visitor as some of the other heavy hitters and honestly that’s just fine with me! What a lot of people don’t know is that Mount Rainier is one of the snowiest places on earth with one area, called Paradise getting about 57 feet of snow every year! This majestic peak is known as a hiker’s heaven. The goal, get to the top but the Park Service tells me of the 9,000 or so people who try less than half actually make it all the way. No matter what time of year you visit Mount Rainier is stunning to bring your camera and dress ready for anything.
Fee: $15 vehicle
7 day pass
Camping: $12-15 dollars a night.
Hotels: There are two hotels in the park that start at around $100 a night so reserve ahead!
Link: http://www.nps.gov/archive/mora/home.htm
Denali National Park, Alaska
Years ago an old boyfriend was moving to Alaska and talking about visiting Denali and I was so jealous! But I was a good girlfriend and bought him a camera lens because I knew you couldn’t visit this stunner without taking some amazing photos. While Denali is open all year most people visit between May and September but keep in mind it has snowed in July. Yikes!
Famous for its breathtaking landscape and wildlife you can’t help but be inspired visiting this park. From hiking, dog sledding, cross country skiing and snowmobiling there’s something for everyone.
Fee: $20 a vehicle
7 day pass
Camping: There are 6 campgrounds in Denali ranging around $16-22 a night.
Hotels: You have lots of options inside the park that range between $60 and $620 dollars. Check the website for good deals and specials.
Link: http://www.nps.gov/dena
Grand Canyon
We couldn’t wrap up this Travel Therapy list without talking about the Granddaddy of all National Parks, the Grand Canyon. I can wrap up in this top national park in two words “Awe Inspiring”.
What I love about the Grand Canyon is that you can visit over and over and always see and experience new things. Even the way the light is a certain time of year can change the atmosphere and feel of the landscape. The Grand Canyon gets five million visitors every year so if you want to avoid the crowds it’s best to try and plan your trip in the off season. Early spring or fall or even in the winter. Highlights include mule trips, river rafting, hiking to the bottom of the canyon and photography. The South Rim is the most popular, it’s on the Arizona side and the North Rim you can access from Utah.
Fee: $25 vehicle
7 day pass
Camping: $15-18 dollars a night but book in advance where you can.
Hotels: There are many inside the park ranging from $52- $322 dollars a night but prices are changing all the time so check the website for the latest deals.
Link: http://www.nps.gov/grca/index.htm
The bottom line is, when it comes to visiting one of our national parks it’s all about what you’re looking to do. Whether you’re searching for a Travel Therapy escape for the entire family or you’re looking for a quiet place to get away with a loved one or just want to go on a solo journey to reconnect with yourself, there’s a park for you!
I would love to hear your experience with a national park and what your favorite is and why!
For more on the best national parks and inspiring and unique places to vacation you can pick up a copy of my new book Travel Therapy: Where Do You Need to Go? at local bookstores.
For a special link to get 50% off the Travel Therapy book on amazon.com just click HERE.
