All U.S. National Parks Trips
All U.S. National Parks, expedition cruises, self guided adventures and vacation packages. Find the best guided and expert planned vacation and holiday packages. Read more about U.S. National Parks
U.S. National Parks Moderate Tours & Trips
101 U.S. National Parks trips. Tours from 59 tour companies. 22 reviews. 4.8/5 avg rating.
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U.S. National Parks Reviews & Ratings
G
Gail
Jul 2023
Written on
Outdoor Alaska
Seeing the wonderful scenery of Alaska, particularly the Wrangell and St Elias National Park.
T
Trusted Customer
Jul 2023
Written on
Outdoor Alaska
Really liked our guide Ken, He was full of knowledge, friendly and helpful. The highlight of our trip was either seeing three types of whales or walking a glacier. B...
W
Wendy
Aug 2022
Written on
Outdoor Alaska
Too much time spent in the minibus getting from A to B, however, I don't know how you mitigate this as the distances are so large. Very disappointed in the wildlife...
J
Jean
Jul 2022
Written on
Outdoor Alaska
Kennicott and Seward plus Denali, for the variety of experiences.
U.S. National Parks Tour Selection Trips
- Since America’s National Parks are so spread out, it’s best to focus on tours that take in a few parks in one region or perhaps one park in conjunction with a broader regional tour.
- Consider spending an entire week touring one major park, such as Yosemite or Yellowstone.
- A two-week tour might include the Grand Canyon along with Utah’s Arches, Bryce Canyon, and Zion national parks, as well as Yellowstone and Grand Teton.
- Yosemite can easily be combined in a week’s tour with Sequoia and Kings Canyon national parks in north-central California, along with perhaps Lake Tahoe, San Francisco and Monterey.
- Look for tours that spend nights in some of the national parks’ classic lodges, such as Yellowstone’s Old Faithful Inn or Yosemite’s Ahwahnee.
- Camping in many National Parks is also very popular for budget tourists.
- Land tours to Denali National Park, home to North America’s tallest peak, are a frequent extension following Alaska small ship cruises.
- Since U.S. national parks can get very crowded during high season, consider an off-season visit – Yellowstone in winter or Death Valley in summer aren’t for everyone, but spring or fall can be beautiful.
Additional details
How Many National Parks Are There in the U.S.?
- There are 60 National Parks in the United States.
What US state has the most National Parks?
- California, with 9 total, has the most national parks in the United States
- Hawaii comes in at a close second with 8 national parks.
Californias National Parks:
2) Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Park
3) Joshua Tree National Park
4) Lassen Volcanic National Park
5) Channel Islands National Park
6) Point Reyes National Seashore
7) Pinnacles National Park
9) Redwood National Park
Best Time to Travel
U.S. National Parks are top travel destinations and as you can imagine, particularly for young children and adults. This means that summer travel to national parks can be downright crowded. Summer is also a time of abundance in wildlife and of course, good weather.
The Great Smoky Mountains saw over 12 million visitors in 2019. You can also expect especially heavy summer crowds in the Grand Canyon, Rocky Mountain, Zion, Yellowstone, and Yosemite among others.
So when is the best time to visit national parks?
If you’re looking for a quieter experience and an easier hit to the wallet, October through February are the best times to visit U.S. national parks. The exception is in parks where fall foliage is at its prime in September and October.
There are other considerations you might keep in mind as you plan your national park visit. If you enjoy winter wonderlands consider traveling to these areas in December through March although some parks, like Glacier National Park, will have limited to no accessibility.
Glacier’s iconic Going to the Sun Road doesn’t open until mid-June, sometimes later depending on snow. In Hawaii where there are 8 national parks, snow is usually not a problem unless trying to get to the top of Mauna Kea on the Big Island but the low season falls during the spring and fall.
Expect more rain and fog on some islands. And speaking of rain, July is a stunning time to be in the Rocky Mountain high country when blooms are at their peak after the spring rains. You’ll also have a better chance of getting away from crowds with back country hiking.
Physical Level Requirements. Will There be Hiking?
National parks call out for discovery beyond park roads. There’s more to see of course if you’re willing and able to hike but this doesn’t necessarily mean that all trips are geared toward hiking.
For sure, they tend to be given the nature of the destination. There are over 100 U.S. National Parks tours with a few dozen of them falling in the physically “very easy” and “easy” category. And even the strenuous ones don’t always mean strenuous hiking but rather, a packed itinerary. Read the trip descriptions to learn the details.
Packing Suggestions
One of the benefits of booking a guided tour is that the company will provide a packing list which will depend on what type of travel you’ll be doing.
If camping, while much of the gear is provided, you’ll likely be asked to bring some items like water bottles, good hiking shoes and head lamps. If you’ll be headed to Death Valley, sun gear is critical and if you’ll be on a rafting trip in the Grand Canyon, water gear will be an important part of your comfort and safety. In some locations, you’ll need insect repellent. Of course, don’t forget any medications and your camera!
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