How to Plan the Ultimate National Park Road Trip- With Downloadable Planner

The US National Park System was once called “America’s best idea” by Wallace Stegner and I have yet to find any evidence against that. Spanning 85 million acres, National Parks can be found in every corner of America, from Acadia in Maine to Joshua Tree in California and even down to Big Bend in Texas. Unfortunately for most people, the National Parks are located far from their homes, which means the best way to visit is by flying and renting a car, or setting out on a road trip with your own vehicle. This guide is to help you plan, budget, and pack for your epic National Parks Road Trip vacation.

I wrote this guide based on my own experience after visiting over a dozen of America’s most popular parks. After graduating college, with a few weeks off, a couple thousand saved up, a tent, and a 10-year-old Honda Civic, I planned a foolhardy but unforgettable trip to some of America’s most beautiful places. Before setting out I researched as much as possible to plan and struggled to find one cohesive guide on planning, budgeting, and packing for my trip.

Since then I’ve gone on several other National Parks Road trips. From short weekend trips to Olympic National Park to a week spent in the Southwest. I’ve channeled what I’ve learned from those trips into this guide to help you plan! Decide where to go, how to get there, and what to do with the helpful instructions below. This is to help you maximize your time and get the most out of your trip.

Budgeting for your trip? Read my Budget Breakdown From Our 2 Week Road Trip

How Long to Plan for a National Parks Road Trip?

Whether you have 1-2 weeks or several months, how long you have will impact your trip more than anything else. While longer is always better, 2-3 weeks will allow you to make the most of your National Parks road trip.

Of course, that’s not to say you cannot have a great vacation with less time. One week is still plenty of time to see many parks that are close together. Even a weekend can lead to an amazing two days at the Grand Canyon.

Whether you are visiting one park or several, plan on spending at least one day in each park, with 2-3 days planned for larger and more popular parks such as Yellowstone and Glacier. Make sure you leave half a day to a full day of travel between your chosen parks.

Keep in mind, lines and wait time can seriously cut into your time in the Parks. Plan on arriving to most National Parks early in the day (before 8 or 9) to maximize your time in the park.

Read More: 7 Day Utah-Arizona National Parks Road Trip

Choose Which National Parks to Visit

This can be the hardest part of planning. There are so many amazing National Parks it feels impossible to narrow them down! One important factor is what time of year you are traveling. For example, while there are so many things to do in Denali National Park in Alaska you need to make sure you don’t visit in a winter snowstorm!

If there is a specific hike or activity you have your heart set on, make sure it is available the time of year you visit. I had my heart set on hiking Zion’s Narrows, only to be devastated upon arriving in Spring to learn that the river is not passible until later in summer.

When to Visit National Parks

Below is a quick visual guide to check which months are parks’ popular seasons.

National Parks in Spring

Spring is a great time to visit many of the Southwest parks in Utah and Arizona. It is also an ideal time to see waterfalls in parks like Yosemite. Below are a few more parks to visit in Spring:

• Grand Canyon National Park in Arizona
• Zion National Park in Utah
• Arches National Park in Utah

National Parks in Summer

Summer is the most popular time to road trip to National Parks, but it is also the only time to access some of the best hikes in the mountains. Often the snow will not melt until well into July or August. Below are a few parks best visited in summer:

• Mount Rainier National Park in Washington
• North Cascades National Park in Washington
• Grand Teton National Park in Wyoming

National Parks in Fall

In the Fall, visit the Midwest and East Coast parks to witness the beautiful fall foliage! Here are a few parks for a fall trip:

• Acadia National Park in Maine
• Shenandoah National Park in Virginia
• Great Smokey Mountain National Park in Tennessee

National Parks in Winter

Winter is a great time to visit popular parks in the off-season or to spend time in the warmer climate parks. Below are a few warmer weather parks in the desert and South:

• Everglades National Park in Florida
• Joshua Tree National Park in California
• Death Valley National Park in California

Visiting Popular vs Less Crowded Parks

Another factor to consider when choosing your destination is how crowded the parks will be. As you can probably imagine some of the more popular parks include the Grand Canyon, Yosemite, and Yellowstone. Sometimes these parks can get so crowded it can feel more like visiting a Disney park than nature. However, the crowds are for a good reason, as these locations have sites that you cannot see anywhere else in the world.

You can get avoid the crowds by visiting in the off-season, arriving at the park early in the day, or hiking or backpacking several miles from trailheads.

How Far to Drive on a Road Trip

Where you can go also depends on how far you are willing to travel to get there. Be realistic about how much you want to drive in a day. I would recommend 4-6 hours or less of driving each day to ensure you don’t waste most of your vacation on the road.

I’ve gone on two extended National Parks Road Trips. The first trip involved several days of 8-12 hours of driving between parks and the second trip only had 1-3 hours between parks. While both trips were amazing, the second was far less stressful and allowed for more time enjoying the parks.

Plan Your National Parks Road Trip Itinerary

Once you’ve decided on one or several National Parks to visit, it’s time to start planning your itinerary!

Some great itineraries with minimal distance between them are Pacific Northwest National Parks and Southwest National Parks, as they are all close together. Some such as Arches and Canyonland National Parks have only minutes between them. Below are two amazing itineraries that allow you to visit multiple parks with only a few hours of driving in between.

Reserve Your Accommodations

As soon as you’ve made your itinerary, book your reservations! Most park accommodations require reservations up to 6 months in advance. Almost all reservations inside National Parks can be made on Recreation.gov.

Lodges in National Parks

If you have the budget, you will not regret staying at lodges or cabins inside the National Parks. Many of these lodges are over a hundred years old and have the perfect mix of rustic aesthetic and modern comfort. These stays also have amazing views, and you will spend less time traveling into and out of the park.

Other Places to Stay Near National Parks

If you can’t get a booking inside the park, there are several other places to look for accommodations nearby. If you travel in a group and split the costs this can be a great way to save money.

Below are just some of the resources to help you plan a cabin, hotel, or rental stay.

• Airbnb
• Vrbo
• Booking
• Expedia

Read More: Cabin Essentials Checklist

Camping in National Parks

If you are traveling on a dime (or just prefer roughing it) most parks have campsites within the park. Like the lodges, most campgrounds require reservations that open 6 months in advance. During peak vacation times these sites can sell out within minutes so be prepared to book your site the moment reservations open.

Some parks also have first-come, first-serve campsites, although those will also fill up quickly during popular times. In the off-season you will have more luck getting a campsite without reservations.

Camping Near the Parks

If you don’t score a spot inside the park, most National Parks will have private campgrounds and nearby state park camping.

Below are some of the best resources to find nearby camping:

• Recreation
• KOA
• Hipcamp

Free Camping Near National Parks

If you can boondock without electricity, water, or facilities, you can also camp for free on nearby public land. This is also known as overlanding and is popular if you have a campervan, a way to get power, and a method to go to the bathroom (or you’re okay going outside).

This is my preferred way to camp because you don’t have to constrain your trip to reservations, allowing for more flexibility. That being said it is not for everyone and you have to respect the land! These areas are often less regulated so be sure to properly dispose of waste, respect other campers, and follow Leave No Trace!

Where to find free camping:

• Campendium
• Bureau of Land Management
• iOverlander

National Park Van Road Trip

A great option to conveniently visit several National Parks in one road trip is to rent a van! This is an especially good if you are visiting in the off season or when conditions are more rough. We visited Death Valley and Joshua Tree in a van in February, and it was great for the windy and cold nights in the desert.

We rented through Cabana Vans and I cannot recommend them enough. They rent out of Seattle, Los Angeles, San Francisco, and Austin. There are also plenty of other van companies in different areas.

Read More: Joshua Tree and Death Valley Van Road Trip Itinerary

What Are You Going To Do?

You made it! You are in the park, now you have to decide what you can even do there. Most likely it includes some hiking or even backpacking. Many parks have a multitude of scenic viewpoints as well as guided tours, kayaking rentals, and bike paths.

Every park has an abundance and variety of things to offer in terms of trails and activities. Below are some resources and guides on how to make the most of your time in some of the popular National Parks!

Hiking in National Parks

Hiking is by far the most popular thing to do in the National Parks. You can find trails to hike by reading blogs, visiting the parks’ websites, and using apps such as AllTrails.

Choose one long hike or several short hikes to do in one day to make sure you don’t tire yourself out. Always read trail reviews to have a good idea of current trail conditions. You can also call ahead or ask a park ranger upon arrival.

Before beginning a big hike know your limits and prepare properly. Every year thousands of rescues are required due to inexperienced hikers. It is also important to follow proper hiking etiquette and Leave No Trace!

Tips for Hiking in National Parks

• Bring enough water.
• Download or bring a print map.
• Wear or bring layers.

Applying for National Parks Permits

Just remember some of the most popular backpacking and hiking trails require permits to be requested far in advance! This is to prevent damage to the trail and to ensure that the trail is as safe as possible. These trails are extremally popular and permits are in high demand for hikes such as Half Dome in Yosemite and Angels’ Landing in Zion.

Permits are also not limited just to trails. Some popular National Parks have started applying permits and reservations to other areas of the parks as well. For example, Glacier requires permits for its famous Going-to-the-Sun Road and Arches National Park has a timed entry system enter the park.

Some permits go online at a set time and you must work fast to claim one. Others you enter your name in for a lottery system and are notified if you win. Make sure you understand the requirements and timing to apply for your desired permit.

Downloadable National Parks Planner

Download a National Parks Planner

Send me the planner

We respect your privacy. Unsubscribe at anytime.

Built with ConvertKit

If you’re like me and things just don’t feel organized until physically written down, download and print out this National Parks Planner. Print one out for each park you plan on visiting. Including- accommodations, check in/check out time, permit information, rentals and tours, the top hikes you want to visit, and a itinerary overview for each day in the National Park

Below is an example of one filled out for a summer road trip to Yosemite. This planner is perfect if you plan on hitting several National Parks on a 2 to 3 week road trip!

Plan For Everything To Go Wrong!

Be flexible! On my first road trip, we encountered two snowstorms (in May!), a flat tire, hail storms, and views blanketed by nothing but fog. 

Despite it all, those are some of my favorite memories from the trip! The snow forced me to learn how to use tire chains, the rain led to some of the most beautiful waterfalls I’ve ever seen, and the flat tire forced a detour to a small bakery with the best pastry I’ve ever had.

Hope for the best, but prepare for the worst and go with the flow! Nature is unpredictable and doesn’t care about your plans, so make the best of it.

Top 5 Tips for Visiting National Parks

• Know the wildlife in the area! If you are in grizzly country, know if you should have bear spray and how to react if you encounter a bear. Always respect the wildlife and follow National Park Guidelines on giving animals their distance.
• Stay on the trail and behind protective barriers. Every year people die from leaning too far over a cliff or trying to get that Instagram shot. It’s not worth your life!
• Respect local fauna. Don’t pick or trample the wildflowers. Leave nature as you found it. Take only pictures, leave only footprints.
• Check if you need tire chains. Over Labor Day in Yosemite, a road into the park closed due to over 40 cars sliding off the road in the snow. This was one of the less obvious tips I hadn’t heard before, so if you will be in mountains make sure to check if there is snow possible at that time of year.
• Check the park’s website. Most parks’ websites will have up-to-date information on what is open, potential hazards, and many even have webcams allowing you to see the weather in real-time.

Ultimate National Parks Packing List

Below is a list of some of the most important items to take with you if you plan on camping in National Parks. Most of these links are through REI which is the best place to buy outdoors gear.

Disclosure: Some of the links below are affiliate links. This means that, at zero cost to you, I will earn an affiliate commission if you click through the link and finalize a purchase.

Camping Gear

If you plan on camping, make sure bring all the right camping gear! Test out any new camping gear at home before starting your road trip. The last thing you want is to not have gear work while in the National Park.

Note: The list below is geared toward tent and car camping. If you are staying in cabins check out my cabin packing list

• Tent– A tent is one of the most crucial parts of camping on a budget- 2 Person Inexpensive Tent
• Ground Tarp– A ground tarp protects your tent and keeps moisture from getting in- All Purpose Tarp
• Sleeping Bags– Kelty makes a great budget but warm sleeping bag for Women and Men.
• Sleeping Pad– If you plan on sleeping on the ground you will want a sleeping pad to be a barrier between yourself and the ground- Self Inflating Sleeping Pad
• Car Air Mattress– If you don’t want to sleep on the ground, or it will be cold or windy on your trip, a car camping is a great alternative.
• Cooler– A cooler will both keep your lunch cold and can be used to chill your road trip snacks and drinks- Soft Sided Cooler
• Camping Chairs– Camping chairs are great especially if you plan on boondocking or camping at free sites that may not have picnic tables.- Inexpensive Camp Chair
• Coffee– Coffee is always a necessity when camping either from a Pour Over packet or a Portable Press.
• Hammock– A hammock while camping is great for relaxing, but make sure you use the right straps to not damage any trees.- Buy a 2 Person Hammock
• Flashlight or Headlamp– If you are hiking at sunset or sunrise bring a headlamp or flashlight to help you find your way back in the dark, A head lamp is also needed if camping at a campground- Headlamp
• Plastic Bags– Always bring lots of plastic bags to help keep your gear free of water and pack out all of your trash
• Fire Starter– You can either bring a fancy fire starter or plenty of matches and a lighter.
• Pillow– While you can bring a pillow from home, it will take up a lot of room if you are road tripping. Consider instead a compressible camp pillow
• Reusable Camp Dishes– Instead of using paper plates, consider reusable bowls to save money and space, as well as reduce trash- Camp Plate and Bowl Set
• Utensils– You really only need a spork for utensils while camping- Spork
• Camp Stove– Plan on cooking with a stove at your campsite. Many National Parks do not allow fires in the summer. Make sure to also bring plenty of fuel- Affordable Camp Stove
• Pot– For your stove you will also need a pot- Camp Pot
• Mugs– Bring a mug for morning coffee!- My Favorite Camping Mug
• Towel– We learned the hard way to always bring a towel camping- Multi Towel
• Rope– Rope is handy for hanging up clothes and towels to dry
• Knife– Always camp with a multiuse knife
• Tape– Duct tape can help in a pinch for broken gear
• Bucket– A bucket or sink is good to bring to help wash dishes- Collapsible Sink

Clothing & Hiking Gear

If you are unfamiliar to hiking, do some research to make sure you pack proper clothing. Exactly what you need will vary slightly depending on which National Parks you plan on visiting and the time of year, but the list below is a good starting point.

• Trekking Poles– Many National Parks have hikes that are made easier with hiking poles such as Angel’s Landing and Upper Yosemite Falls Trail.- Trekking Poles
• Hiking Boots– Don’t forget hiking boots if you are planning on hiking a lot. Good traction and ankle support will save your feet on long hikes. These are the Danner Hiking Boots are my favorite’s I have used in many National Parks. Merrell also makes more inexpensive hiking boots [Men’s Version]
• Windbreaker/ Rain Jacket– Always keep a rain jacket in your pack, as weather can change in an instant, especially in mountain conditions. This is my favorite rain jacket, and a more inexpensive one.
• Heavy Jacket– A puffy coat is necessary no matter the time of year in some National Parks, such as Glacier, North Cascades, and Rainier which are further North- My absolute favorite puffy coat
• Thick Socks–  If you do wear boots, make sure to bring good socks to not get blisters. Absolutely do not wear hiking boots without proper socks- The best hiking socks
• Moisture Wicking Shirts- Any shirt will do, but the best hiking shirts are made of natural or synthetic moisture-wicking material that is breathable and dries quickly. I own a lot of these shirts love them for hiking.
• Hiking Pants or Leggings– I personally tend to wear hiking leggings more than shorts or pants. If you prefer pants, these are a great option.
• Backpack– A good daypack can make your hike so much more enjoyable. Properly distributing weight can ease your trip and allow you to bring all the essentials above!- Women’s Day Pack
• Bear Spray– This is not needed in every park, but if you are hiking in grizzly country bring or rent bear spray!
• First Aid Kit– A first aid kit is a must in any hiking daypack no matter the trail length!- Day Hike First Aid Kit
• Sandals– After a day of hiking you will want to take off your hiking boots. Teva’s are my favorite sandal, but even a cheap pair of flip flops will do for some sandals to wear around camp.
• Water Bottle– You will need either a water reservoir or a water bottle whenever hiking in the National Parks
• Sunscreen– Make sure to bring sunscreen for sunny days!- SPF 50 Sunscreen
• But Spray– Definitely bring bug spray if you will be hiking in Spring or Summer- Picaridin Bug Repellent
• Winter Hat– Always bring a warm hat for camping at night- Beanie
• Baseball Hat– I also prefer to bring a baseball hat for hiking during the day.
• Gloves- Gloves can help get to get going on cold mornings

Road Trip Gear

There are a few things you will want to have in your car in case of emergency!

• Battery Pack– A spare battery power station is great for charging you equipment if you
• Paper Map– Many areas of the Western US do not have cell service for hours. Print out your route or bring an Atlas as a back up.
• Print Outs of Reservations– It is always a good idea to bring a print out of your reservations in case there is any confusion. Again, you may not have cell service in the park.
• Spare Tire– A road trip essential!
• Tire Chains– Check if where you are visiting requires tire chains. Many National Parks such as Yosemite require chains in the winter months, and we needed ours even in May!
• Camera– If you are getting started with photography, the Sony a6400 is a great beginner mirrorless camera. -Travel Camera

Read More: Beginner Hiking Photography Gear

Toiletries

• Toiletry Bag- Roll Up Toiletry Bag
• Toothbrush and Toothpaste
• Paper Towels
• Wipes
• Hand Sanitizer
• Shower Toiletries
• Toilet Paper (even if the campground has toilets it never hurts to have)

You May Also Like

• Budget for the Ultimate National Parks Road Trip (<$2000)
• Yosemite in 2 Days
• One Day in Bryce National Park
• Joshua Tree & Death Valley Van Road Trip

SAVE IT FOR LATER