I've traveled solo to all 63 US national parks. Here are my 10 best tips for first-time visitors.

Thanks for signing up!

Access your favourite topics successful a personalized provender while you're connected nan go.

Don’t beryllium acrophobic to spell alone.

When I entered my 30s, I wanted to sojourn nan Grand Canyon but had nary 1 to spell with. Instead of waiting for company, I went for it alone. 

That was conscionable 8 years ago, and now I've visited hundreds of NPS sites and all 50 states connected my own. None of that would person happened if I hadn't taken that first measurement solo. 

Arrive early (or late) for smaller crowds.

Visitation astatine immoderate of nan astir iconic nationalist parks has exploded, starring to frustrating crowds and congestion. 

To mitigate this, I ever urge entering a parkland early successful nan morning. If you're not an early riser, later successful nan afternoon, erstwhile different visitors leave, is besides a bully clip to explore.

Invest successful an America nan Beautiful Pass.

For conscionable $80, an America nan Beautiful Pass gains you (and those successful your vehicle) introduction into each of nan 63 awesome nationalist parks.

It besides covers nan introduction fees astatine lands managed by nan US Fish and Wildlife Service, US Forest Service, Bureau of Land Management, Bureau of Reclamation, and US Army Corps of Engineers. 

With immoderate parks charging entranceway fees of $35 alone, conscionable a fewer visits per twelvemonth will recoup your investment.

Ask a parkland ranger for tips — and past inquire a section what they'd do connected their time off.

Park rangers are an unthinkable assets for readying your day. 

After I talk pinch them, I emotion to spell into a gift shop aliases adjacent edifice and ask a local what they do successful nan parkland connected their time off. Often, their recommendations are little crowded and much peaceful.

Keep your itinerary fluid.

I've visited Glacier National Park 4 abstracted times, but owed to wildlife and upwind closures, I was only capable to complete a hike I've had connected my database during my past visit. 

Although nationalist parks tin look for illustration a earthy Disneyland, it's important to retrieve that you can't power nature. Have immoderate hikes and stops successful mind, but besides person backup plans successful place.

Respect and sphere nan land.

It should spell unsaid, but erstwhile visiting immoderate park, you must ever respect nan land. Be considerate of others, of wildlife, and of nan onshore itself. 

Becoming acquainted pinch nan 7 Leave No Trace Principles is simply a awesome measurement to minimize nan effect connected early generations.

Don't beryllium awkward pinch photos — your travel is simply a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.

When I started traveling solo to nan parks, I was embarrassed to return photos of myself. 

I didn't want to look narcissistic, beryllium seen mounting up my tripod, aliases tie attraction to nan truth I was unsocial by asking others to threat a image for me. I now regret not taking much photos and would emotion to beryllium capable to bespeak connected those typical memories.

Research and unafraid reservations and permits up of time.

Like it aliases not, galore of nan astir celebrated parks person implemented immoderate shape of preservation aliases timed-entry strategy successful nan past fewer years. 

Although it's basal to combat nan overuse and degradation of pristine landscapes, immoderate of nan systems tin beryllium confusing. That's why it's captious to investigation nan preservation process up of clip and travel it closely. 

Visitors can, and will, beryllium turned distant astatine entranceway stations without a reservation.

Don't put excessively overmuch unit connected yourself to cheque each nan boxes — conscionable bask nan beauty.

Traveling tin go stressful quickly, moreover erstwhile surrounded by nature's beauty. In my experience, trying to fresh excessively overmuch into 1 travel aliases acquisition is simply a look for disaster.

Instead, my extremity is to conscionable bask nan beauty. And if I do that, it's each been worthwhile.

This communicative was primitively published connected September 24, 2023, and astir precocious updated connected October 30, 2024.