There are half a dozen National Park Service sites within a half day’s drive from San Diego. Three of those are actual national parks. Joshua Tree, Channel Islands and Death Valley are all easily accessible on a road trip from San Diego, while there’s also an archipelago, national monument and desert preserve to be explored.
When many parts of America are still dusted with snow and suffer from below-freezing temperatures, others begin waking up after a long winter’s rest. Spring brings with it pleasant temperatures, roaring waterfalls and unique wildlife sightings, often including baby animals frolicking in spectacular landscapes.
To really experience the beauty and depth of iconic Arches National Park, there’s no better way than hiking. The Arches trails I’ve selected in this blog post take you to, through and around several of the 2,000+ natural rock arches in the park, the greatest concentration of those rock formations on Earth.
The five national parks that offer the best brown or grizzly bear viewing opportunities are either in the northern Rocky Mountains or southern Alaska, places featuring rugged mountain ranges, wide river valleys and expansive meadows, pristine woodlands and lakes.
Have you always wanted to ascend an epic mountain pass? Or encircle a volcano rim? Maybe ride through a desert or along a historic trail? Perhaps even share the road with iconic wildlife? Luckily, you can find all that asphaltic amusement in the following best national parks for road cycling.
There are a number of Haleakala National Park trails in the park’s two tourist areas, from the desert-like Crater to the verdant Kipahulu rain forest, allowing you to explore each of them as you please. Feel like a challenging full-day hike? Or rather an easy coastal stroll? The hiking trails in Haleakala National Park are varied as its landscapes!
All of these romantic lodges are open in winter and located in or near a beautiful national park, making them the perfect base for a Valentine’s Day getaway. Whether you’re looking for winter sports or a warm winter destination—maybe even a tropical getaway—you’ll find it at these amazing national park lodges.
Many scenic highways and byways crisscross the American West, linking some of the world’s greatest national parks. A classic example of a road trip state is Utah, home to five spectacular national parks. Lined up across the southern part of the state, this quintet of Utah national parks is known as the “Mighty 5.”
San Francisco is one of the greatest cities for a national parks road trip. The Bay Area itself is home to several beautiful and fascinating National Park Service sites, while half a dozen epic national parks are dotted across northern California, within maximum half a day’s drive from San Francisco.
America’s national mammal, bison were once abundant, then almost extinct, and now protected in various parks and preserves. This includes several national parks, most notably Yellowstone, Grand Teton, Theodore Roosevelt, Badlands and Wind Cave National Parks.
In its heyday, Historic Route 66 was the most popular road to the west, both for traveling families and migrants, and it still is to some extent. “America’s Main Street”, as it’s often called, still brings road trippers to many of the best national parks in the Midwest, Southwest and California.
Although it’s one of the smallest U.S. national parks, you’ll find lots of things to do in Pinnacles National Park. It’s both a worthwhile weekend trip destination from California’s largest cities and the perfect stopping point on longer road trips, a quiet park that offers beautiful scenery and fun outdoor activities.
From easy hikes along the Bryce Canyon rim to strenuous adventures in the heart of Bryce Amphitheater, there are a handful of hiking trails in Bryce Canyon National Park that can be combined to create fun, longer loops.
Washington, the Evergreen State, is a destination that offers endless adventures. Encompassing the rugged Pacific coast, unspoiled temperate rain forests, numerous glaciers, and the waterfalls and volcanoes of the Cascade Range, the three national parks in Washington State are world-class outdoor playgrounds.