National Park Travel Tips

Tips that you should keep in mind when traveling to National and State Parks. Most are common sense rules of behavior. The parks are wild spaces and you need to be careful. Most Visitors are very polite and conscientious and advocates for preserving these special places. Every park listed has a video that provides a preview of what there is to see in the park. Maps that both show you how to get to the park and a overview map where to view the most exciting aspects of each park.

Travel by car. If you choose your route carefully, there can be many activities along the way which will make the trip even more exciting. You do not have to wait on someone else's schedule and 4 can travel as cheaply as one. If you are renting a car, do it away from an airport where they tack on additional fees.

If you must take an Airplane only use major cities. Short haul air flights are very expensive. A half's day drive can save you hundreds.

Take a lunch. It often takes and hour and a lot cash for a restaurant lunch. You can experience more while eating in the park's picnic areas and in much less time. Just pick up a few things at a store while traveling.

Keep snacks and water with you. A stop in the gift shop will cost more than you think. Nothing worse than a hungry family besides you can choose nutritious snacks.

Stay in hotels, bed and breakfast that offer a free breakfast. A computer is handy for making decisions where to eat so look for a hotel with free internet. Select hotels where there are a variety of restaurants to eat because they compete for your business.

Staying in a Park is often must more expensive than staying just outside the park. The further you stay from tourist areas the less expensive hotel will be. The best alternatives may be at surprising locations.
If you are into camping, you can stay in the midst of the park and save a bundle. Important, don't store your food in your tent or cabin. The bears and other wildlife can smell and you don't want their noses in your tent.
Major parks have cafeterias that are a bargain compared with other restaurants. The concessionaires are smart marketers so you may have to look for the cafeterias.
Purchase a park pass. It is often much less to purchase an all park pass for a week or year than to pay for each visit. Everyone in your car is covered by your pass. (Seniors have a special program) There are days where all park fees are waved: National Park Week: April 21-29, Get Outdoors Day: June 9, National Public Lands Day: September 29, Veterans Day weekend: November 10-12
Relay on the rangers. "We are going to be here for 2 days, what should we see first?" Many visitor centers have films that show the park at its best. Partake evening ranger programs that are entertaining and informative. Your pass covers all of this.
Make sure that you keep your camera and video with you. You never know when an animal will appear and a scene will come into view. But don't try the pet the wildlife they are WILD and a bite will cause you more than dollars.

When hiking in bear country keep making noise and consider wearing bells so you do not surprise a bear.

Feeding of wildlife is restricted for the safety of both the animals and people.

Hike with others. When you are by yourself, there may no way to recover from a difficult situation.

If you there is any possibility of low light carry a flashlight with new batteries.

The restriction on pets differ from park to park however there are a number of common rules:

Dogs may not be outside without human supervision. Don't tie your dog to a tree!