Welcome to the adventure of a lifetime! Planning a trip to a National Park can be overwhelming, but fear not, fellow adventurer! We've got you covered with our ultimate guide to planning your national park getaway.
Note: This post contains affiliate links. When you make a purchase using one of these affiliate links, we get paid a small commission at no extra cost to you.
FIND A PARK
First things first, let's pick a park. Are you looking for awe-inspiring mountains, breathtaking canyons, or pristine forests? Whatever your preference, we've got the perfect park for you. Check out our top picks below and click on the park name to learn more:
Yellowstone National Park: Known for its geysers, hot springs, and wildlife - check out illustrated map to know more.
Yosemite National Park: Famous for its towering granite cliffs and waterfalls - check out illustrated map to know more.
Grand Canyon National Park: A breathtaking marvel of nature with stunning views and hiking trails - check out illustrated map to know more.
Acadia National Park: Located on the coast of Maine, known for its rocky shorelines and fall foliage - check out illustrated map to know more.
Zion National Park: A paradise for hikers with towering sandstone cliffs and winding canyons - check out illustrated map to know more.
PLACE TO STAY
Once you've selected your park, it's time to start planning your trip. We recommend starting with accommodations. You can either find a camping spot at CAMPSPOT or stay in nearby hotels, depending on your preference. Check out our comparison chart below for some of our top picks:
CATEGORY | RESOURCES | DESCRIPTION | RATING |
Campsite Resources | Campspot.com is an online platform that allows you to discover and book campsites across various national parks and outdoor destinations. It provides a user-friendly interface, detailed campground information, availability, and booking options. | **** | |
Campsite Resources | Campgroundviews.com offers virtual tours and video footage of campgrounds, providing a visual perspective of the campsites, amenities, and surrounding landscapes. It helps campers get a better understanding of what to expect before making reservations. | ***** | |
Campsite Resources | Hipcamp.com is a comprehensive camping platform that connects campers with unique camping experiences on private land, including campsites, glamping options, and RV parks. It offers a wide range of camping choices and outdoor activities. | **** | |
Campsite Resources | Harvesthosts.com is a membership-based platform that provides access to unique camping experiences on farms, wineries, and other scenic locations. Members can stay overnight for free in exchange for supporting local businesses. | **** | |
Campsite Resources | TheDyrt.com is a camping app and website that offers a comprehensive database of campgrounds, user reviews, and ratings. It helps campers find and choose the best campsites based on their preferences and provides valuable insights from fellow campers. | ***** | |
Campsite Resources | Campendium.com is a resource for campers, RVers, and van-lifers, providing information, reviews, and photos of campsites across the United States. It offers insights into amenities, cell coverage, and overall campground quality. | **** | |
Campsite Resources | KOA.com is the official website of Kampgrounds of America (KOA), a well-known network of private campgrounds across North America. It offers a range of amenities and services for campers, including RV sites, tent camping, cabins, and more. | **** | |
Campsite Resources | Campnab.com is a campsite monitoring and alert system that notifies users of campsite cancellations and availability. It helps campers secure coveted campsite reservations by providing real-time updates and alerts. | ***** | |
| | | |
Hotel Resources | TripAdvisor affiliate program | TripAdvisor is a popular travel platform that offers user-generated reviews, ratings, and booking options for hotels, resorts, and accommodations worldwide. Its affiliate program provides an opportunity to earn commissions by referring users to TripAdvisor for bookings. | **** |
Hotel Resources | Booking.com affiliate program | Booking.com is a leading online travel agency that offers a vast selection of hotels, vacation rentals, and other accommodations. Its affiliate program allows partners to earn | ***** |
| | | |
RV/Trailers | RVshare | RVshare is an online marketplace that connects RV owners with renters. They offer a wide range of RVs, from pop-up campers to Class A motorhomes, at affordable prices. Renters can browse listings, compare prices and amenities, and book their rental online. RVshare also offers insurance and roadside assistance for renters, as well as 24/7 customer support. | ***** |
| | | |
Other | VRBO | VRBO is a popular online marketplace for short-term vacation rentals. They offer a wide range of accommodations, from private rooms to entire homes, at different price points. Renters can browse listings, compare prices and amenities, and book their rental online. Airbnb also offers insurance and 24/7 customer support for renters. Hosts can earn money by renting out their homes or extra rooms. | **** |
TRANSPORTATION
Next, you'll need a way to get around the park. We recommend renting a car Rental Cars or van through outdoorsy for maximum flexibility. Here's a comparison chart of our top picks:
NATIONAL PARK | RENTAL CAR | RENTAL CAR | RENTAL CAR |
ACADIA | Enterprise | Hertz | Avis |
AMERICAN SAMOA | National Car Rental | Alamo | Thrifty |
ARCHES | Budget | Dollar | Enterprise |
BADLANDS | Hertz | Avis | Enterprise |
BLACK CANYON | Enterprise | Dollar | Thrifty |
BIG BEND | National Car Rental | Alamo | Thrify |
BISCAYNE | Budget | Hertz | Avis |
BRYCE CANYON | National Car Rental | Alamo | Budget |
CANYONLANDS | Hertz | Avis | Enterprise |
CAPITOL REEF | Budget | Dollar | Enterprise |
CARLSBAD CAVERNS | National Car Rental | Alamo | Thrifty |
CHANNEL ISLANDS | Hertz | Avis | Enterprise |
CONGAREE | Budget | Enterprise | Dollar |
CRATER LAKE | National Car Rental | Alamo | Hertz |
CUYAHOGA VALLEY | Budget | Avis | Enterprise |
DEATH VALLEY | Hertz | Avis | Enterprise |
DENALI | National Car Rental | Alamo | Budget |
DRY TORTUGAS | Dollar | Enterprise | Hertz |
EVERGLADES | Avis | Budget | Hertz |
GATES OF THE ARCTIC | National Car Rental | Alamo | Thrifty |
GLACIER | Budget | Hertz | Enterprise |
GRAND CANYON | National Car Rental | Alamo | Hertz |
GRAND TETON | Avis | Enterprise | Hertz |
GREAT BASIN | Dollar | Budget | Enterprise |
NATIONAL PARK | RENATAL CAR | RENTAL CAR | RENTAL CAR |
GREAT SAND DUNES | Dollar | Budget | Enterprise |
GREAT SMOKY MOUNTAINS | Budget | Hertz | Avis |
GUADALUPE MOUNTAINS | Enterprise | Dollar | Thrifty |
HALEAKALA | Avis | Budget | Enterprise |
HAWAII VOLCANOES | National Car Rental | Alamo | Hertz |
HOT SPRINGS | Budget | Enterprise | Hertz |
INDIANA DUNES | Avis | Hertz | Enterprise |
ISLE ROYALE | National Car Rental | Alamo | Dollar |
JOSHUA TREE | Budget | Hertz | Enterprise |
KATMAI | National Car Rental | Alamo | Thrifty |
KENAI FJORDS | Hertz | Avis | Enterprise |
KINGS CANYON | Budget | Enterprise | Dollar |
KOBUK VALLEY | National Car Rental | Alamo | Thrifty |
LAKE CLARK | Hertz | Avis | Enterprise |
LASSEN VOLCANIC | National Car Rental | Alamo | Hertz |
MAMMOTH CAVE | Budget | Hertz | Enterprise |
MESA VERDE | Avis | Enterprise | Hertz |
MOUNT RAINIER | National Car Rental | Alamo | Thrifty |
NORTH CASCADES | Hertz | Avis | Enterprise |
OLYMPIC | Budget | Enterprise | Hertz |
PETRIFIED FOREST | National Car Rental | Alamo | Hertz |
PINNACLES | Avis | Enterprise | Hertz |
REDWOOD | National Car Rental | Alamo | Budget |
ROCKY MOUNTAIN | Budget | Hertz | Acadia National Park |
NATIONAL PARK | RENTAL CAR | RENTAL CAR | RENTAL CAR |
SAGUARO | Avis | Enterprise | Hertz |
SEQUOIA | National Car Rental | Alamo | Hertz |
SHENANDOAH | Budget | Hertz | Enterprise |
THEODORE ROOSEVELT | National Car Rental | Alamo | Thrifty |
VIRGIN ISLANDS | Hertz | Avis | Enterprise |
VOYAGEURS | Budget | Enterprise | Hertz |
WIND CAVE | National Car Rental | Alamo | Dollar |
YELLOWSTONE | Avis | Enterprise | Hertz |
YOSEMITE | National Car Rental | Alamo | Hertz |
ZION | Budget | Enterprise | Hertz |
If you're seriously looking for something longterm that keeps the adventure's going here our recommendations for vehicles [https://dv8offroad.com/] that can take care of your different travel needs.
Vehicle Type | #1 | #2 | #3 |
Travel Vans | CarMax | Amazon Associates | Dealership Affiliate Programs |
Trucks | CarMax | Amazon Associates | Dealership Affiliate Programs |
Ford Broncos | CarMax | Amazon Associates | Dealership Affiliate Programs |
Jeeps | CarMax | Amazon Associates | Dealership Affiliate Programs |
MAPS
Now that you've got your accommodations and transportation covered, it's time to explore the park. Here's a map of some of the best camping destinations or if you need very detailed waterproof maps of the national parks. Like most of us we can't live without our phones, they too are like a modern day swiss army knife that have all types of apps to tell you where to hike, what to bring, weather, etc. But just incase your phone runs out of service or battery power or you just want to go old school, these maps can be a life saver.
GEAR
And finally, no trip to the national parks is complete without the right gear. Check out our comparison chart below for some of our top picks: REI, others
NATIONAL PARK | GEAR #1 | GEAR #2 | GEAR #3 |
Yellowstone | Fly Fishing Kit | Camera Kit | |
Grand Canyon | Water Bottle | Walking Stick | |
Acadia | Light Weight Tent | ||
| | |
Getting the right gear is a make or break for your adventure in the outdoors. Never want to pack to much but you also don't want to pack to little. It's important to get it just right. Bringing the right gear depends mostly on what kind of adventure you are wanting, is it just hiking for the day or a week's backpacking in the backcountry? You will still want to pack light for a backcountry trip but probably will bring things that aren't necessary for a day hike, because your survival and comfort is not needed for that time frame.
MEMORBILIA
And finally, no trip to the national parks is complete without something to take home and remember the trip by. Check out some of the best memorable things like this National Park kids book to take home here or a national park one of a kind poster to captivate the great outdoors is great too!
Note: This post contains affiliate links. When you make a purchase using one of these affiliate links, we get paid a small commission at no extra cost to you.
All rights reserved © My National Parks Adventure. Republishing this article and/or any of its contents (text, photography, etc.), in whole or in part, is strictly prohibited, by human or A.I.
