Three hundred and seventy-nine areas currently managed by the National Park Service are scattered throughout the United States. Only about 15 percent of these areas are officially designated national parks. Other areas are designated as national monuments, national seashores, national historic sites, national lakeshores, national battlefields, national historical parks, etc. Each area offers something special and worthwhile.
In general, national parks such as Yellowstone National Park, Yosemite National Park, Rocky Mountain National Park, Glacier National Park, Sequoia National Park, Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Everglades National Park, and Olympic National Park are large diverse parks that offer a variety of natural features and activities. Each of these areas is a destination park where you could easily spend a week or more. National Park Service areas designated as other than national parks tend to be somewhat more limited in both size and offerings. Still, don't overlook these other areas since they each have their own special features and are generally less crowded than the better known national parks. We consider Fort Laramie National Historic Site in southeast Wyoming one of our favorite stops when we travel to the West from our home in South Georgia. Likewise, if you are driving west to Yellowstone National Park, be certain to take time to stop at Devils Tower National Monument in northeast Wyoming. Mount Rushmore National Memorial, Badlands National Park, Jewel Cave National Monument, and Wind Cave National Park are nearby in western South Dakota. Each of these is worth a visit. Big Bend National Park is certainly in an out-of-the-way location, but the isolation is one the attributes that makes a trip to this park worth the effort.
Many areas managed by the National Park Service have historical themes. For example, the homes of former presidents Hoover, Lincoln, Kennedy, Taft, Truman, Van Buren, F. Roosevelt, T. Roosevelt, Eisenhower, Johnson, and Carter are all part of the national park system. Likewise, many battlefields of the Revolutionary War and the Civil War are preserved and managed by the National Park Service. In the Plains and western United States, travelers should visit some of the historic forts that have been preserved. These include Fort Davis, Fort Laramie, Fort Scott, Fort Larned, and Bent's Old Fort. The National Park Service manages all of these areas. In general, the big and well-known natural areas are in the western United States, while the smaller, historical areas are in the eastern United States.
Most national park areas charge an entrance fee. Some parks charge by the vehicle while other charge by the person. If you plan to visit several park areas during the year consider buying a Golden Eagle Passport that permits a year of unlimited visits to all the parks. The year begins on the day you purchase the pass. Special passes are available to seniors and the disabled. Inquire about any of these passes at a park entrance station or visitor center. The Golden Eagle Passport is available to anyone and can be purchased by mail but a Golden Age Passport for seniors or Golden Access Passport for the disabled must be purchased in person.
National parks sometimes offer lodging facilities, camping facilities, or both. Yellowstone National Park, a large and heavily visited national park has 9 lodges and numerous campgrounds. Likewise, Yosemite National Park offers 7 lodging facilities and many campgrounds. Everglades National Park in Florida has one lodging facility that includes both motel type units and cabins. It also has two main campgrounds. Devils Tower National Monument provides no overnight accommodations but has one of our very favorite campgrounds. Other areas managed by the National Park Service offer neither camping or lodging. Andersonville National Historic Site, the site of a famous Civil War prison and P.O.W. museum, is a wonderful yet somber place to visit if you are driving through Georgia. However, neither lodging or camping is available at the site, although both can be found a short distance outside the park. Likewise, Jimmy Carter National Historic Site in nearby Plains, Georgia, does not offer lodging or camping.
You will generally receive a brochure at the park entrance station where fees are collected. The person at the entrance station will also be able to provide information on scheduled activities and campground availability. Your first order of business is to locate the visitor center where you can obtain information on guided walks, trails, museums, and activities. Ask at the entrance station about the location of the nearest visitor center. Most visitor centers offer exhibits and audio-visual presentations that provide an overview of the park's history. These are nearly always worthwhile so take advantage of them. If time permits, take one or more of any ranger-guided walks that are offered.
We have found Southern Utah to be a particularly nice region to visit because so many beautiful national park areas are in close proximity. Arches National Park, Canyonlands National Park, Capitol Reef National Park, Zion National Park, Bryce Canyon National Park, and Natural Bridges National Monument are located in one of the most gorgeous areas of the United States. Nearby are Colorado National Monument near Grand Junction, Colorado, and the North Rim of the Grand Canyon in northern Arizona. Even if you have visited the South Rim of the Grand Canyon, try the entirely different experience of the North Rim area. Fall and spring are probably the best seasons to visit southern Utah that often experiences relatively high temperatures in the summer.
Over a period of 25 summers we have traveled around the United States in a series of four VW campers. To date we have visited nearly all of the areas managed by the National Park Service, most of them many times. We have driven up and down the West Coast, up and down the East Coast, and back and forth across the United States. We have hiked the Freedom Trail in Boston National Historical Park, walked the beach at Cumberland Island National Seashore, and celebrated a Fourth of July at Death Valley National Park in 125-degree heat. In the summer of 1996 we drove 11,000 miles through 26 states and visited 26 different areas managed by the National Park Service. In the summer of 1999 we took a similar trip. We hope that our experiences and advice will benefit you in your own travels.
Links to specialized information about America's national park areas.