The US National parks seem to be at the top of travelers’ lists this summer. Yellowstone and Grand Teton both had a record number of visitors in May and June.
According to the US National Parks Service (NPS), several parks including Glacier National Park, Muir Woods & Yosemite have begun using timed-entry reservation systems this summer in hopes of curbing the influx of visitors.
Overcrowding at US national parks is compounded by limited staffing and current COVID-19 guidelines, which require reduced occupancy at shared facilities. The long wait times and filled parking lots have led to generally unpleasant experiences for visitors.
What can you do to ensure your visit goes smoothly? Consider taking a national park tour. Tour operators have secured lodging ahead of time and have reserved times to enter the park. Choose from national parks family tours, national park rail tours, and river rafting trips.
Related posts: Breathtaking National Parks Around the World and Things to do in Zion National Park.
If you are only interested in a day trip, here are some tips:
- Make reservations in advance if possible.
- Consider arriving early (like 6 or 7 am) so you can avoid the crowds & the heat.
- If your schedule is flexible go Monday through Thursdays versus Friday through Sunday which is the busiest days.
- A helpful resource is the National Parks “Plan Your Vacation Like A Park Ranger” program. Consider arriving early so you can avoid the crowds. If your schedule is flexible go on a weekday versus the weekend.
- Consider visiting more popular parks in the off-season, when parks are less busy.
- Visit less frequented parks like Cedar Breaks (Utah,) Capitol Reef (Utah,) Black Canyon of the Gunnison (Colorado,) Pinnacles (California,) Great Basin (Nevada) and North Cascades (Washington).
- Download the new NPS app where you can explore more than 400 national parks with interactive maps, tours and more.
Whichever U.S. National Park you visit, please reduce your carbon footprint. Reduce waste by bringing your own water bottle, reusable cutlery and napkins. There are water bottle refills in stations throughout most parks. Dispose of waste in appropriate bins and recycle whenever possible. Leave nature as you found it – please don’t remove rocks, or leave things behind. Respect wildlife & observe from a distance. Please don’t feed animals. We all have a responsibility to reduce our impact on the places we love.
