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Tips for Visiting National Parks this Summer

Jul. 16 2020 Lifestyle, Travel Tips By Hannah L.

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Getting outside, hitting the trails, breathing in the fresh air, and connecting with nature are all great ways to clear your head and keep you healthy. Taking an RV vacation to a national park is one your whole family can enjoy together, making memories to last a lifetime. Time spent indoors can be challenging so we’ve put together some tips for you to stay safe while venturing out to national and state parks this summer!

Safety Tips

Let’s talk about safety. When you're heading out to the parks with your family remember to keep 6 feet apart from other hikers and groups. Cover your coughs and sneezes and bring hand sanitizer for when you don’t have access to soap and water.  Please keep in mind the following changes to most national and state parks this summer:

  • Parks that are open have limited self-services
  • Most visitor centers are closed as well as other facilities like restrooms
  • Most contact facilities like kayak or boat rentals as well as park programs are closed

Reservations are required before hand, sometimes weeks in advance for all national parks. You can make reservations by looking up the specific park you want to visit and search by dates and the number of people camping/hiking in your group. Some of the different terms you might see on NPS websites:

  • Hiking indicates if park trails/grounds are open for day-use but can also include other recreational activities such as fishing and hunting depending on the park.
  • Limited is used by some states that have a limited number of parks open and have closed major parks or limit access to locals only (closing or limiting parking spaces).
  • Closed refers to the entire park system being closed and off-limits.

Where to Stay 

Since most national and state parks have limited access that is open for day use, we have recommendations for other places to stay.

  • KOA campgrounds – The KOA website has a list of their campgrounds that are within 50 miles of National Parks and you can search by State. https://koa.com/blog/koa-campgrounds-near-national-parks/
  • Boondockers Welcome - Free overnight RV parking on private property. Make new friends and sleep soundly. Locals invite travelers to spend the night, share their stories, and save their money for the real adventure. You can sign up to become a guest or a host. You can even view host locations before signing up and earn credits for hosting and leave reviews for hosts in lieu of money to show your appreciation.

How many National Parks are there? 

The United States has a total of 419 NPS sites (according to RVshare) Only 61 carry the national park title, but the others are a combination of historical sites, monuments, preserves, and more. And since 419 is a big number - there's so much exploring to do!

How Many National Parks are in Texas?

Texas has 14 national parks. This is a great reason to visit the Lone Star State!

Trying to decide which parks to visit during your time in Texas? Try out Big Bend National Park and Guadalupe Mountains National Park.

Some Tips to Make to Make the Most of your Trip:

  • Bring the proper gear – opt for a backpack instead of suitcase. Stay hydrated and bring plenty of water with you!
  • Make use of all the great camping apps! You’ll be surprised how helpful they are when your visiting national parks. A few you should download and try on your next trip:
  • Weather Channel. What you do while on your trip will be determined largely by the weather.
  • KOA Camping App. Use this app to navigate to your campground.
  • Gaia GPS. This app will be your go-to for finding the best places to hike. It has a database of tons of hiking trails and will give you a map of how to get there.
  • Get a park pass - If you’re planning to go to more than one national park this year, then it is worth it for you to investigate purchasing an annual park pass. With this pass you’ll gain access to the over 2,000 federal recreation sites, as well as free entrance to all national parks and national wildlife refuges.

A national park annual pass will set you back just $80 and can be purchased either at select federal recreation sites, online, or via phone. This pass isn’t just for one person — it covers free admission for the driver and all the other people in your car. Get your family, grab a pass and head to the parks!

We hope you enjoyed these tips for visiting national and state parks this summer! Join us on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and Pinterest for more education and inspiration!

Additional Resources:

An update from the National Park Service concerning staying safe in parks- https://www.nps.gov/aboutus/news/public-health-update.htm

We put together a blog post with the best road trip apps here.