Taking a national parks RV trip with the whole family.
Today, there are few places better than our national parks to appreciate the beauty and history of the United States. If you haven’t visited a National Parks Service (NPS) site yet, here are 5 reasons to put a visit on the top of your list.
Diverse Landscapes to Explore
From urban, historic sites to vast stretches of wilderness, our nation’s parks offer diverse landscapes. For purple mountain majesties, visit the Grand Tetons in Wyoming or Rocky Mountain NP in Colorado. Shining seas can be found from Maine’s Acadia NP to San Francisco’s Golden Gate National Recreational Area (home to the iconic Golden Gate Bridge). The true heart of our nation’s history can be better understood when standing in Gettysburg’s vast battlefield or by solemnly reflecting on the memorials of Washington D.C.’s National Mall.
Yosemite National Park.
Convenient Locations
There are over 400 NPS units found in America, and they can be found in every single state and most territories. Not all sites are technically called national parks; some are national monuments, historic sites, battlefields, seashores, etc. Check out this NPS map to find one near you, or make plans to devise the ultimate national parks road trip.
Budget-Friendly Entertainment
Compared to many vacations, a national parks vacation is much cheaper. Some parks charge a small entry fee per carload, while others are completely free. Invest in an America the Beautiful Pass (currently $80) if you’ll be visiting several parks within a year. Consider this: The entrance cost to all NPS sites for a whole year costs less than a single day at a major theme park.
Special groups can find special savings. Free passes are available for current military members, and senior citizens can get a great deal on lifetime passes. If you have a 4th grader, you can get a free family pass through the Every Kid in a Park program.
Want to hike to a cascading waterfall, toss a line in a rippling creek or go underground to spelunk in a cave? You can do these things and more in the national parks, which provide picturesque backdrops for your outdoor adventures. Paddle the jewel-tone waters of Glacier NP. Go sandboarding in Great Sand Dunes NP or White Sands National Monument. Head to Yosemite NP or Devils Tower National Monument for epic rock climbing. Try your hand at something new, and you won’t be disappointed.
Create Memories During National Parks RV Trips
When looking back on favorite childhood memories, people who have visited national parks will often recount these adventures. That’s because U.S. parks create unforgettable memories. Who could forget the time they spotted a black bear in the Great Smokies or peered up the massive trees in Redwood National Park? Where else can you see something like the endless red landscape of the Grand Canyon or the dazzling geysers and hot springs of Yellowstone? These snapshots stay with us for a lifetime.
Since its origins in 1816, the NPS has grown to preserve over 84 million acres of U.S. public land. These lands are your lands, so get out and explore them.