National Parks Tour

[MADAirs]

Planning a tour of west, northwest and Midwest coast National Parks. Starting in Florida and returning through Mammoth Caves NP. I’m sure it’s been done many times, but does anyone want to share itinerary, memories or suggestions?

[Roundabouts]

That will take a lot of planning. It took us 5 years and 11 different trips to visit almost all the National Parks. We go out for 6-8 weeks at a times.

1. February 2019 Big Bend National Park
2. February 2020 Padre Island NP, Gulf Island National Seashore, Florida
3. Sept. 2020 Yellowstone, Grand Teton, Dinosaur NM, Colorado NM, Black Canyon of the Gunnison, Great Sand Dunes.
4. February 2021 2nd trip to Big Bend, plus Texas state parts, stranded in Texas freeze.
5. September 2021 - Grand Teton, Craters of the Moon, Glacier, North Cascades, Mt. Rainier, Olympic (oceanfront campsite at Kalaloch). Then Oregon coast, Crator Lake, Great Basin.
6. March/April 2022 - Southern Utah
7. September 2022 - Voyageurs, Apostle Islands, Pictured Rocks, Bear Dunes
8. February 2023 White Sands, Death Valley, Joshua Tree, Chiricahua, Saquaro, Organ Pipe Cactus NM, Guadaloupe NP
9. Sept. 2023 visited CO, WY & MT again
10. Febrary 2024 - Everglades
11. September 2024 Lassen Volcanic, Redwoods, Big Sur Coast, Pinnacles, Sequoia, Kings Canyon, Yosemite, plus stops on 395, Grand Canyon North Rim.

We've previously visited Teddy Roosevelt NP, Custer State Park, Acadia, Great Smoky Mtns. Mammoth Cave. Plus we have volunteered for 10 years at Shenandoah National Park.

When we visit a park we like to have several days to a week to explore and hike, lots of times once there we find something we didn't know about that we prefer to do. Also there are so many state parks and museums to visit. This fall we spent a month in California and kept getting recommendations on things to do that we just didn't have time for. We also took 2 weeks to drive there and then return home. Our AS has been well loved and probably had about 65,000 miles on it.

[rodsterinfl]

I am doing my first trip after a long travel hiatus- covering the southwest from FL to CA and then CO to west of Mississippi River- 2 months. It took me a month just to book the National Parks. I got every one but Arches that I was trying for. I have been to some already. After this trip though I will have visited all the parks west of the Miss, and south of San Fran/Rocky Mth NP with the exception of Channel Islands and Pinnacles- the Southwest.

I have been setting up base itineraries- best times to go, how many parks/days needed, etc. I split the country into quadrants. The central and Alaska as their own regions. The Southwest is the most plentiful park-wise imo. I will not be camping Alaska but I have a different idea for that using a railway during an upcoming summer. I have been to most of the southeastern parks so my least visited region will be a different summer of the northwest. For me it will be six trips potentially. I like to boondock and stay in state and National parks. My average spot stay is 3-5 nights at most and big travel days to 400 miles limit. Some times I slow the pace but that is my average. I do not go to all national monuments.

So far my faves have been Yosemite, Rocky Mountain and Smoky Mountain.

[waninae39]

make sure you purchase a 1 year or ( if over 65 ) a lifetime NP pass

it is worth the small cost

do so soon, before US government decides to get rid of the pass ( or maybe the whole department)

[JeffKim]

Originally Posted by waninae39

make sure you purchase a 1 year or ( if over 65 ) a lifetime NP pass

it is worth the small cost

do so soon, before US government decides to get rid of the pass ( or maybe the whole department)

Yes, maybe one of the biggest bargains I've ever gotten. Paid for itself over and over.

I was on Recreation.gov today and was wondering how long I should count on it being there. I think it's contracted out but who knows. Maybe someday soon I'll have to deal with some lumber or mining company to get a campsite in the old NP.

[Roundabouts]

Originally Posted by JeffKim

Yes, maybe one of the biggest bargains I've ever gotten. Paid for itself over and over.

I was on Recreation.gov today and was wondering how long I should count on it being there. I think it's contracted out but who knows. Maybe someday soon I'll have to deal with some lumber or mining company to get a campsite in the old NP.

I think your confusing the U.S. Forest Service under the Dept. of Agriculture with the National Park System under the Interior Dept. National Parks are there to preserve and protect.

Recreation.gov is the current reservation site. Previously that was contracted to Reserve America. Many parks have contracts with concessionaires to run their campgrounds. Some of those use recreation.gov, others use their own web site.

Also, you can purchase your Lifetime Senior Pass at age 62.