US National Parks
The US national parks section -- what each park offers, which suits which activity, and annual visitor figures for planning around the crowds.
There are sixty-three national parks in the United States, and they have almost nothing in common beyond the designation. Some are wilderness reached by boat or plane; some have a road through the middle and a queue at the entrance. Choosing well matters more than most trip decisions.
How this section is organised
A page for each park, gathering the articles written about it.
Activity pages comparing parks for one thing you want to do — hiking, kayaking, backpacking, birdwatching. If you know what you want to do and not where, start here.
Annual visitor statistics for each park, charted and tabulated from National Park Service figures. These are the most useful planning pages on the site if you want to avoid crowds.
Choosing a park
Start with the season, not the park. Many are effectively single-season destinations — snowbound in winter, dangerously hot in summer, or with the road that makes them accessible closed half the year.
Be realistic about distance. The parks are large and spread out. Two parks in a week is comfortable; five is a driving holiday with brief stops.
Check whether you need a reservation. A growing number now require timed entry or a vehicle permit in peak season, and they sell out well ahead.
Avoiding the crowds
Three things work, and they work everywhere.
Go early. Most visitors arrive between ten and four. A park at seven in the morning is a different place.
Walk. Crowding is concentrated within a short distance of car parks. A mile of trail thins the numbers dramatically.
Go in shoulder season. September and October are, for a lot of parks, the best weeks of the year — stable weather, autumn colour, and a fraction of the July numbers.
The practical basics
Water, more than you think. Sun protection. Layers, because most parks are at altitude and the temperature swing between dawn and afternoon is large.
And check the park’s own website the week you go. Road closures, fire restrictions and trail closures change constantly, and it is the only source that is current.
Which national parks draw the most visitors, why the ranking is misleading, and how to use it when planning.
Which Utah national parks work best with children, and how to plan days that suit short legs and short attention spans.
The best canoeing is in a national park because the scenery is beautiful and the water is clean.
Where pets are welcome in national parks, the rules that catch owners out, and how to plan a trip with a dog.
The best kayaking is in a national park because you can paddle through calm waters and take in the scenery.
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