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The Perfect Road Trip to See Every U.S. National Park

by US Park Pass | Mar 9, 2020

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Visit America's first national park in Wyoming, Montana and Idaho.

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There’s few things better in life than a road trip. When you make the journey itself part of the destination, whole new worlds open up to be explored and places you never would have thought to travel become your new favorite spots. Whether it’s small town soda fountains that make you feel like you’ve stepped back in time, off-the-beaten path hikes that fill you with a sense of solitude, or new experiences like whitewater rafting, road trips let us slow down and really get a sense of the places we’re passing through. And our favorite itineraries? Those are the ones that connect national parks. We’ve rounded up seven of our favorite routes crossing America’s deserts, mountains and forests, but also its cities, small towns and hidden gems along the way. So turn on your favorite playlist and grab the snacks because it’s time to hit the road. These are seven of the best national park road trips in the country.

Wander the state that has inspired artists, writers and a national anthem on this mesmerizing Colorado road trip.

Katherine Lee Bates wrote the lyrics to America the Beautiful standing atop Pikes Peak in Colorado. “Oh beautiful, for spacious skies, for amber waves of grain. For purple mountain majesties, above the fruited plain.”

The song that has become an American anthem was meant to sum up the country as a whole, but standing atop Pikes Peak, Bates knew what anyone who visits Colorado quickly realizes: here you’ll find some of the best the U.S. has to offer.

Start in Colorado’s capital city of Denver to experience amazing food, craft beer and yoga at one of the country’s favorite music venues. Then, head towards Rocky Mountain National Park to spot elk, stunning peaks and perhaps one of Colorado’s newest residents: grey wolves.

12 Bucket List National Park Road Trips In The US

• National parks are top US travel destinations, with 64 to explore, especially in states like California, Alaska, and Utah.
• A well-planned road trip can help tackle overwhelming numbers of parks, allowing for a perfect adventure experience.
• Each road trip has unique itineraries for different preferences, whether it's coastal beauty, mountain views, or lush forests.

National parks represent some of the most beautiful natural landscapes in the US, preserving deserts, forests, waterways, and even entire underground cave systems. It’s no wonder these unique regions are some of the most visited destinations in the United States, regardless of the time of year. Given the sheer size of many of the best national parks in the US, it’s also no surprise that many travelers opt to visit these gems on a national park road trip.

Before planning a national park road trip worthy of adding to the bucket list, it’s important to have the basic facts. There are 425 areas managed by the National Park Service , including national forests, scenic byways, historic sites, and, of course, national parks. There are 64 national parks to explore around the country, with California, Alaska, and Utah housing the most parks (with nine, eight, and five locations respectively).

With those kinds of numbers to consider, trying to check every park off the bucket list can quickly become overwhelming. Thankfully, a few well-planned US national park road trips , like the ones on this list, may just be the key to a perfect adventure through America’s backcountry.

UPDATE: 2024/03/26 17:07 EST BY ERICA BLAIR

Even More National Park Road Trips That Should Be On Your Bucket List

Looking for more adventures? No problem! We've updated this list of bucket list national park road trip itineraries with even more options. Whether it's a coastal road trip, a route through the mountains, a journey through arid deserts, or an adventure through lush forests, there's a USA national park road trip itinerary for every preference.

Wondering how long these road trips will take? In general, plan to give one or two days per national park on the list, plus two days to factor in the driving itself. For instance, a three-park road trip will likely take five to eight days, depending on how many activities travelers want to do in each location. Of course, road trips are made for spontaneous stops, so it’s always a good idea to leave a little extra room.

7 Arizona National Park Road Trips With Scenic Stops

Grand circle national park road trip, spanning four states and encompassing the grand canyon and the petrified forest.

Utah is home to five unique national parks, each with unique rock formations in the Southwest. Thankfully, Utah's relatively small size makes it possible to visit all five in a single national park road trip and add a few additional parks along the way.

The Mighty 5 is the core of the Grand Circle Road Trip and one of the best national park road trips in the US. Due to its proximity to Las Vegas (which has a major airport), many travelers choose to start at Zion National Park, exploring the many exceptional hiking trails within . From there, the Grand Circle goes to Bryce Canyon National Park , Capitol Reef National Park , Canyonlands National Park , and finally, Arches National Park .

While that may be enough to satisfy most, this national park road trip continues into Colorado, venturing through Grand Junction on the way to Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park and Mesa Verde National Park .

Those not convinced they have seen all that this region has to offer can then head through New Mexico on their way to Petrified Forest National Park in Arizona . The ninth and final national park on this epic road trip? The Grand Canyon itself. From Grand Canyon National Park , travelers can either return to Zion National Park or head toward Las Vegas to catch a flight home.

About the Grand Circle National Park Road Trip

• States Visited: Utah, Colorado, New Mexico, Arizona, Nevada
• National Park Route: Zion National Park, Utah → Bryce Canyon National Park, Utah → Capitol Reef National Park, Utah → Canyonlands National Park, Utah → Arches National Park, Utah → Grand Junction, Colorado → Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park, Colorado → Mesa Verde National Park, Colorado → Gallup, New Mexico → Petrified Forest National Park, Arizona → Grand Canyon National Park, Arizona → Las Vegas, Nevada

5 In 5: Visit Utah's 'Mighty 5' National Parks In Five Days

Washington national park road trip, a celebration of different landscapes and epic views.

If your national park road trip bucket list is full of dense evergreen forests and rocky shorelines, there is no doubt that Washington National Park is it.

Starting and ending in Seattle, road trippers will head first to Olympic National Park, which has a number of things to do and will likely take two or three days to fully explore. From there, check out Mount Rainier National Park and soak up some epic mountain views. On the way to the final national park, travelers can stop in the Christmas City of Leavenworth, one of the best winter destinations on the West Coast .

The last stretch of this drive takes national park road trip travelers to North Cascades National Park , perhaps the most underrated of the national parks in Washington. The drive then loops back to Seattle to head home.

About the Washington National Park Road Trip

• States Visited: Washington
• National Park Route: Seattle → Olympic National Park → Mount Rainier National Park → Leavenworth → Lake Chelan → North Cascades National Park → Seattle

California National Park Road Trip

See the best of the golden state with this park-packed trip.

California has more national parks than any other state in the US, and this national park road trip is a great way to get as much bang for your driving buck as possible. This road trip forms a giant loop through California, starting and ending in Los Angeles.

Your first stop is the Channel Islands National Park, which is absolutely worth visiting . You'll have to take a ferry to get there, so it's technically a bit of a diversion from the road trip, but you'll love this so-called Galapagos of North America.

After the offshore adventure, this road trip follows a more traditional route, heading up the coast to Pinnacles National Park before going far north into Redwood National and State Parks . Moving inward, the scenery takes a shift into Lassen Volcanic National Park , the least visited of California’s national parks (and a great alternative to Yellowstone National Park). Heading back into the forests, Yosemite National Park , Kings Canyon National Park, and Sequoia National Park are all in fairly close proximity.

One of the last of the national parks on this epic loop is Death Valley National Park , home to the hottest temperatures on Earth. From there, Joshua Tree National Park caps out the desert landscapes before road-trippers can either make their way to Las Vegas or return to Los Angeles for the journey home.

About the California National Park Road Trip

• States Visited: California
• National Park Route: Los Angeles → Channel Islands National Park → Pinnacles National Park → Redwood National and State Parks → Lassen Volcanic National Park → Yosemite National Park → Kings Canyon National Park → Sequoia National Park → Death Valley National Park → Los Angeles

The California National Park road trip is hardly a trip to take with tight time constraints, but those with enough time on their hands can take Highway 1, known as the Pacific Coast Highway, on the northbound part of this loop. This will allow travelers to enjoy popular stops like Big Sur, San Francisco, and Monterey along the way.

Blue Ridge Parkway Road Trip

The great smoky mountain national park road trip of your dreams.

The Blue Ridge Parkway is actually a part of the National Park System all on its own, but it also happens to take travelers through several road trip-worthy national parks as well. Winding through the forests of both the Great Smoky Mountain National Park and Shenandoah National Park , the 469-mile Blue Ridge Parkway is a unique driving experience and is easily one of the best road trips in US national parks.

Unlike the majority of national park road trips through the US, the Blue Ridge Parkway is all about the drive. There are numerous incredible stops along the Blue Ridge Parkway , including hiking trails and scenic overlooks to enjoy along the way. That said, the drive itself will allow road trip travelers to see some of the best sights on this national park road trip route.

About the Blue Ridge Parkway Road Trip

• States Visited: North Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia
• National Park Route: Waynesboro, Virginia → Shenandoah National Park → Great Smoky Mountains National Park → Cherokee, North Carolina

7 Florida National Park Road Trips With Scenic Stops

Wyoming national park road trip, tour the state that's home to the united state's first national park.

Wyoming may be easy to write off as a drive-through state, but those looking for one of the best national park road trips in America can’t skip this scenic state. Wyoming is home to the first national park in the US park system , Yellowstone National Park , and this heavy hitter truly lives up to the hype.

However, before entering Yellowstone, the Wyoming National Parks Road Trip starts in Cheyenne, which directs travelers to Grand Teton National Park , Yellowstone's lesser-known cousin. From Grand Teton, Yellowstone is just 130 miles away. Additional stops in Medicine Bow National Forest and Shoshone National Forest add even more scenic stops to this exceptional road trip through Wyoming.

About the Wyoming National Park Road Trip

• States Visited: Wyoming
• National Park Route: Cheyenne → Medicine Bow National Forest → Grand Teton National Park → Shoshone National Forest → Yellowstone National Park

Florida Tip National Park Road Trip

Explore the best tropical parks in the sunshine state.

The southernmost tip of Florida is best known for the Florida Keys, home to iconic all-inclusive resorts and white-sand beaches. This portion of Florida also houses all three of the state’s national parks: Everglades National Park , Biscayne National Park , and Dry Tortugas National Park . Starting in Everglades National Park, travelers will make their way east to Biscayne National Park before following the Overseas Highway down to Dry Tortugas National Park.

The scenic Overseas Highway has a number of incredible stops that make it worthy of its own road trip , but for those specifically looking for a national parks road trip in Florida, venturing all the way past the end of the Keys and onto a ferry is a must. One of several national parks that can only be reached by ferry, Dry Tortugas National Park is an underrated and mostly underwater national park experience.

About the Florida Tip National Park Road Trip

• States Visited: Florida
• National Park Route: Everglades National Park → Biscayne National Park → Overseas Highway → Dry Tortugas National Park

Best Of The Southwest Road Trip

Cruise through the american southwest desert on this memorable trip.

While the Grand Circle Loop explores much of the Southwest's red rock terrain, one other unique national park road trip takes a slightly different approach to this region. Starting in New Mexico, the first major stop on this southwest road trip is White Sands National Park and its miles of gypsum dune fields. From there, things go underground with Carlsbad Caverns National Park before heading into Texas.

Texas has just two national parks, and this road trip passes through both of them. After leaving New Mexico, travelers will first explore Guadalupe Mountains National Park before heading south to Big Bend National Park, a hiking paradise and one of the most remote and underrated national parks in the US , for the final days of this national park road trip.

About the Best of the Southwest National Park Road Trip

• States Visited: New Mexico, Texas
• National Park Route: White Sands National Park, New Mexico → Carlsbad Caverns National Park, New Mexico → Guadalupe Mountains National Park, Texas → Big Bend National Park, Texas

The Great Northern Road Trip

Marvel at the scenic parks that run across the top of the upper united states.

One of the best routes to take on a cross-country road trip through the US , Route 2, also known as the Great Northern Route, is also one of the best national park road trip routes in the US. Starting in Washington across the northernmost states in the US (and a little bit of Canada), Route 2 traverses all the way to Acadia National Park in Maine.

The key stops along the Great Northern road trip include four national parks, starting with Olympic National Park in Washington. From there, the route winds through Spokane on its way to Glacier National Park in Montana. As travelers continue east, Theodore Roosevelt National Park , the only national park named after a person, is next. The final national park on the route is also its grand finale, Acadia National Park in Maine.

In addition to these fantastic national parks, road-trippers will also get to explore major cities throughout the northern states. Those who truly follow Route 2 all the way will enter Canada above the Great Lakes and pass through the Canadian cities of Ottawa and Montreal. Those without a passport can opt to go below the Great Lakes through Michigan and Wisconsin before rejoining the route later on.

About the Great Northern Road Trip

• States Visited: Maine, Vermont, New Hampshire, Canada**, Michigan, Wisconsin, Minnesota, North Dakota, Montana, Idaho, Washington
• National Park Route: Olympic National Park, Washington → Glacier National Park, Montana → Theodore Roosevelt National Park, South Dakota → Acadia National Park, Maine

Colorado National Park Road Trip

See wild colorado and the majesty of the rocky mountains on this trip.

Colorado is a haven for outdoor adventurers, with the most beautiful winter town in the US (Aspen, Colorado) and a number of hikes around the state that are breathtaking year-round. Despite the variety of on-foot activities to enjoy, Colorado is also an excellent destination for a national park road trip.

Colorado has four national parks, with some of the most dramatic landscapes in the state. This road trip route starts in Colorado Springs, where visitors can enjoy a number of free activities and scenic views before heading for the national parks themselves. After tackling the Garden of the Gods trails, road trippers can head to the Great Sand Dunes National Park and Preserve .

Next is Mesa Verde National Park, which has its own variety of exceptional hikes , before heading for the Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park . The last national park on the agenda is Rocky Mountain National Park , which will take at least a couple of days to explore to the fullest before heading back home.

About the Colorado National Park Road Trip

• States Visited: Colorado
• National Park Route: Colorado Springs → Great Sand Dunes National Park and Preserve → Mesa Verde National Park → Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park → Rocky Mountain National Park

8 Washington National Park Road Trips With Scenic Stops

Acadia national park loop road, a stunning overview of acadia national park's best sights.

Travelers looking for a mini-road trip that comprehensively covers one of the jewels of Maine, try the Park Loop Road in Acadia National Park for size. Drivers can see some of the most incredible sights in Acadia National Park on this short national park road trip route, including Cadillac Mountain, which towers over the Atlantic Ocean.

Those who want an immersive park experience but don't have the time for a full-on road trip will find this scenic national park drive an excellent option.

About The Acadia National Park Loop

• States Visited: Maine
• National Park Route: Acadia National Park

Denali National Park & Kenai Fjords National Park

Visit the best of america's northernmost state on this trip.

The distance between Kenai Fjords National Park and Denali National Park is roughly 13 hours and will allow travelers to fully experience the best of Alaska. Drivers will get spectacular views of the fjords and icy waters around the state's shorelines, including the chance to climb and trek on glaciers and then travel deep into Denali National Park.

Denali contains several ecosystems and climate zones , and visitors be able to see some of Alaska's most interesting wildlife, including grizzly bears and moose.

About Denali National Park and Kenai Fjords National Park

• States Visited: Alaska
• National Park Route: Kenai Fjords National Park → Denali National Park

The Lower 48

The ultimate national park road trip to see almost every national park in the us on a many-month-long journey.

Can’t decide which national parks to visit? Those with six to eight months to explore (or those enjoying the life of a digital nomad) may not have to choose between them. There is no clean loop or out-and-back way to visit every national park in the lower 48, but there are certainly more direct ways to get between destinations.

A road trip through every national park in the contiguous US is best started in Los Angeles near an airport and pointed directly at a number of California national parks. From there, the best loop snakes and winds before ultimately returning right back to where it began.

Interestingly, there are a number of states that are not visited on the ultimate national park road trip. Many states in the Midwest do not have a national park and are therefore bypassed. With that in mind, here is one potential outline that will lead to all 47 national parks in the lower 48:

About The Lower 48 Ultimate National Park Road Trip

• States Visited: California, Oregon, Washington, Idaho, Montana, Wyoming, Utah, Colorado, South Dakota, North Dakota, Wisconsin, Michigan, Ohio, New York, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Maine, Pennsylvania, Maryland, Virginia, West Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, Florida, Tennessee, Kentucky, Arkansas, Texas, New Mexico, Arizona, Nevada
• National Park Route: Los Angeles, California → Channel Islands National Park, California (ferry required) → Pinnacles National Park, California → Sequoia National Park, California → Kings Canyon National Park, California → Yosemite National Park, California → Lassen National Park, California → Redwood National and State Parks → Crater Lake National Park, Oregon → Olympic National Park, Washington → Mount Rainier National Park, Washington → North Cascades National Park, Washington → Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming → Grand Teton National Park, Wyoming → Great Basin National Park, Nevada → Zion National Park, Utah → Bryce Canyon National Park, Utah → Capitol Reef National Park, Utah → Canyonlands National Park, Utah → Arches National Park, Utah → Mesa Verde National Park, Colorado → Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park, Colorado → Great Sand Dunes National Park, Colorado → Rocky Mountain National Park, Colorado → Wind Cave National Park, South Dakota → Badlands National Park, South Dakota → Theodore Roosevelt National Park, North Dakota → Voyageurs National Park, Minnesota → Isle Royale National Park, Michigan (ferry required) → Cuyahoga Valley National Park, Ohio → Acadia National Park, Maine → Shenandoah National Park, Virginia → New River Gorge National Park and Preserve, West Virginia → Congaree National Park, South Carolina → Biscayne National Park, Florida → Dry Tortugas National Park, Florida (ferry required) → Everglades National Park, Florida → Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Tennessee → Indiana Dunes National Park, Indiana → Gateway Arch National Park, Missouri → Mammoth Caves National Park, Kentucky → Hot Springs National Park, Arkansas → Big Bend National Park, Texas → Guadalupe Mountains National Park, Texas → Carlsbad Caverns National Park, New Mexico → White Sands National Park, New Mexico → Saguaro National Park, Arizona → Petrified Forest National Park, Arizona → Grand Canyon National Park, Arizona → Death Valley National Park, California → Joshua Tree National Park, California → Los Angeles, California

National parks in the U.S.

In-depth guides to some of the most stunning areas in the country—with insider tips from park rangers

The National Park Service manages 63 national parks located across 30 U.S. states and two territories. These areas have been designated to protect some of the country’s most spectacular and historically significant natural resources. 

Are you planning a road trip to a national park? Check out everything you need to know to plan a national park road trip , and view our in-depth national park guides—with insider tips from real park rangers—below. 

Acadia National Park

Crisscrossed by charming carriage roads, Acadia draws millions of visitors each year with its extensive hiking and biking trails, 27-mile scenic drive, rugged beaches, and rich history.

Arches National Park

Arches National Park is one of the most stunning spots in the national park system. Home to more than 2,000 natural arches, one is so famous that it graces nearly every travel brochure and license plate for the state of Utah.

Badlands National Park

Badlands National Park draws more than a million visitors every year to marvel at and learn about the park’s 75 million years of geological history.

Bryce Canyon National Park

The centerpiece of Bryce Canyon National Park is a natural amphitheater filled with enchanting rock spires—some hundreds of feet tall—called hoodoos.

Canyonlands National Park

Carved by the mighty Colorado River, this national park might not be as well-known as the Grand Canyon—but the views are no less stunning.

Crater Lake National Park

Established on May 22, 1902 by President Theodore Roosevelt, Crater Lake National Park came into being before the National Park Service itself.

Denali National Park and Preserve

Located in the heart of Alaska’s Interior region, Denali is a unique national park in that it’s a trail-less wilderness spanning more than 6 million acres where wildlife, beautiful mountain scenery, and adventure await.

Glacier National Park

Glacier National Park is a wonderland of mountain peaks, lakes, waterfalls, and wildlife. While its famed  Going-to-the-Sun Road  offers spectacular scenery, the vistas get better the deeper that you delve into the park.

Grand Canyon National Park

From watching the sunrise color the canyon walls, to hiking a mile down to the Colorado River, a visit to Grand Canyon National Park should be on everyone’s bucket list.

Joshua Tree National Park

Located in Southern California, Joshua Tree National Park protects the Joshua tree’s habitat along with many other plants and animals that call the desert home.

Olympic National Park

Glacier-capped peaks, rugged ocean beaches, lush rain forests, and old-growth temperate forests are among the diverse charms of Olympic National Park, ancestral home of the Quileute people.

Rocky Mountain National Park

See both sides of the Continental Divide by visiting this vast, 415-square-mile high-altitude preserve that’s home to elk, moose, and black bear, plus some of the tallest peaks in North America.

Shenandoah National Park

Long and narrow, the park is defined by a single public road, Skyline Drive, which runs its entire length from north to south, winding past waterfalls, overlooks, and historic sites.

Yellowstone National Park

Created in 1872, Yellowstone National Park is the world’s first and one of its most famous national parks. Visitors come to see attractions like Old Faithful, venture into the park’s canyons, climb mountains, hike, camp, and more.

Yosemite National Park

Since its establishment, millions of visitors have made the trek to Yosemite to witness the grandeur of the granite peaks and walls, enormous flowing waterfalls, lush green meadows, and a variety of wildlife.

Zion National Park

The jewel of Utah’s Mighty Five national parks, Zion is home to some of the most iconic views and trails in the National Park System.

Everything you need to know to plan a national park road trip

Family national park trips.

Resources for planning a national park trip with the whole family.

10 national parks that are fun for the whole family

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Everything you need to know about the National Park Service’s Junior Ranger program

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Insider tips and history.

Learn more about park history, amenities, entrance fees, and seasonality.

These 16 U.S. national parks have no entrance fees

Yellowstone at 150: The park elevates Native American voices in its anniversary celebrations

A city within a park: Arkansas' Hot Springs National Park turns 100

Next time you visit a national park, take time to learn and honor its Indigenous history

Want a unique winter thrill? Try driving an ice road across a frozen lake in Voyageurs National Park

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Everything you need to know about the America the Beautiful Pass

5 of the most wheelchair accessible national parks in the U.S. [Campendium]

Travel guides.

Hidden gems, scenic hikes, and parks you didn’t know existed.

Big Island adventure: Hiking through lava tubes at Hawai’i Volcanoes National Park

How to make the most of a road trip to Indiana Dunes National Park

11 national parks with incredible winter experiences

Ditch your car to experience Isle Royale, the least-visited national park in the contiguous U.S.

An insider’s guide to hidden gems in Great Smoky Mountains National Park

Finding solace in the old-growth forest of Congaree, one of the least-visited national parks in the U.S.

The islands of Channel Islands National Park have maintained their pristine beauty, mostly untouched by tourists

The fragile glacial world of Washington’s North Cascades National Park

Extraordinary Places

Looking for more? Our ever-growing list of Extraordinary Places will help take your road trip planning to the next level. Hand-picked by the Roadtrippers team of experts, we promise each one is worth the detour.

The most popular road trip stops in every state

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8 National Parks Where You Can Have an Unforgettable Summer Vacation

Scenic beauty, history, recreation, learning, and renewal await at over 400 national parks and monuments in the United States. Since the 1872 creation of Yellowstone National Park , the nation's first, the parks have become treasured resources, inspiring generations with their varied and unique natural terrain.

And while certain times of the year are designated for celebrating America's national parks, like National Park Week each April, you can — and should — celebrate and explore the nation's most incredible parks and monuments year round. Find a national park near you or plan a trip to one you've never visited for a camping vacation, road trip, picnic, stargazing evening, or hiking expedition. We hope our suggestions will encourage you to put a national park visit on your travel itinerary this year.

Olympic National Park and Forest, Washington

Irjaliina Paavonpera/Travel + Leisure

Designated as a World Heritage Site, this Pacific Northwest park encompasses several major ecosystems: subalpine, coastal, temperate rainforest, and lowland forest. Climbers, hikers, backpackers, and campers love its terrain and diversity. There's fishing, boating, wildlife viewing, and night sky stargazing.

If camping isn't your style, consider lodging within the park at the Sol Duc Hot Springs Resort , offering cabins, a restaurant, and hot springs pools, or the historic Lake Crescent Lodge , with guest rooms set among giant fir and hemlock trees on the shores of Lake Crescent. Log Cabin Resort , open from May 21-Sept. 30, 2021, offers a variety of accommodations as well as RV and tent camping sites.

Mesa Verde National Park, Colorado

This park , located in southwest Colorado, protects nearly 5,000 archeological sites, including 600 cliff dwellings, some of the best preserved in the United States. Dating back about 1,400 years, the Ancestral Pueblo people, sometimes referred to as "Anasazi," built elaborate stone dwellings high on canyon walls. They lived there for about 700 years, evolving from nomads to farmers. Self-guided and ranger-led tours let visitors explore these ancient sites. Evening events include campfire talks, stargazing, and twilight tours for another way to relate to these archaeological treasures.

The Far View Lodge , located inside the park, offers 150 rooms with traditional Western decor, balconies, and spectacular views. Dine at the casual Spruce Tree Terrace Cafe or the Far View Terrace Patio near the Lodge, serving slow-smoked BBQ chicken, ribs, and brisket. The award-winning Mesa Verde Metate Room at the Far View Lodge explores Indigenous ingredients and sustainable cuisine in contemporary Southwestern style.

Denali National Park and Preserve, Alaska

Taylor McIntyre/Travel + Leisure

This national park encompasses 6 million acres of Alaska's interior wilderness including North America's tallest peak, Denali, formerly known as Mount McKinley. Home to grizzly bears, wolves, moose, caribou, and Dall sheep, the park's terrain covers tundra, spruce forest, and glaciers. The park's one road is 92 miles long and made mostly of sand and gravel. Mountain climbing, skiing, dog sledding, hiking, and bus tours are favorite activities in Denali.

Campgrounds are available within the park, but most lodging is outside the park's boundaries. Denali Park Village , open May 27-Sept. 18, 2021, is located seven miles south of the national park, along the Nenana River.

Yosemite National Park, California

Known for its waterfalls, ancient giant sequoias, and granite cliffs of El Capitan and Half Dome, Yosemite covers nearly 1,200 square miles of valleys, meadows, and wilderness areas in the Sierra Nevada Mountains. Hiking, backpacking, camping, fishing, birdwatching, horseback riding, boating, and rock climbing are favorite activities in addition to simply enjoying the beauty of the park. Yosemite's many waterfalls attract hikers and photographers, especially in spring and early summer when they are at their fullest.

Bus tours to various points in the park from Yosemite Valley are available year round. Lodging ranges from tent camps to the luxurious Ahwahnee Hotel , a National Historic Landmark. Referred to as the Majestic Yosemite Hotel in recent years, the property was built in the 1920's and recently remodeled.

Everglades National Park, Florida

This 1.5-million-acre wetlands preserve on the southern tip of Florida is made up of coastal mangroves, sawgrass marshes, and pine flatwoods. The park is home to hundreds of animal species, including the endangered leatherback turtle, Florida panther, manatee, and American crocodile.

Guests can take ranger-led tours including the Everglades Exploration at the Shark Valley Visitor Center, the Python Talk at the Flamingo Visitor Center, the Anhinga Amble, and the Everglades Adventure Car Caravan. On the Shark Valley Tram Tour, there's a chance to see alligators, wading birds, and other wildlife in their natural habitat. Narrated by a park ranger or naturalist, there is an extra cost for this tour — and reservations are recommended.

Mammoth Cave National Park, Kentucky

Located in the hilly countryside of south-central Kentucky and part of the Green River Valley, this park has over 400 miles of explored caves and the longest cave in the United States. Hiking, camping, canoeing, fishing, horseback riding, and kayaking are popular activities in addition to exploring the caves. A variety of cave tours ranging from easy to extremely strenuous are available, allowing visitors to observe the gypsum formations, ancient cave writing, and natural history of the caves. Reservations can be made through the park's website.

The rustic and comfortable Lodge at Mammoth Cave offers cottages, cabins, and rooms in the main lodge set in the shade of big oak trees. Conveniently located near the park's entrance and visitor center, the Lodge provides breakfast, lunch, and dinner at the Green River Grill and casual dining at Spelunker's Cafe and Ice Cream Parlor.

Three developed campgrounds and more than a dozen primitive sites in the back country and along the Green and Nolin Rivers provide a variety of camping experiences. Picnic sites are available at several locations in the park.

Acadia National Park, Maine

Located near the town of Bar Harbor, Acadia covers 47,000 acres of Atlantic coast recreation area marked by woodland, rocky beaches, and granite peaks, including Cadillac Mountain, the highest point on the East Coast of the United States.

Hiking trails of various lengths and difficulty levels are available throughout the park, giving visitors glimpses of wildlife that include moose, bears, whales, and seabirds. Birdwatching is popular, with walks designed to observe peregrine falcons, ducks, and other coastal birds. In addition, ranger-guided bicycle tours and boat cruises are offered at additional cost. Be sure to check the park's website for schedules and reservations.

The park has two campgrounds on Mount Desert Island, one on the Schoodic Peninsula, and five lean-to shelters on Isle au Haut. While there is no lodging within the park, there are many accommodations in nearby towns. Picnic areas with fireplaces are available throughout the park.

Jordan Pond House Restaurant , originally built in the 1890s, is known for its traditional afternoon tea with popovers and other light delicacies. Lunch and dinner menus include Maine lobster dishes such as lobster rolls, lobster stew, and boiled lobster. Local blueberries are featured in their desserts. For the 2021 season, the restaurant will not be taking reservations, and will instead have table service available on a first-come, first-served basis.

Glacier National Park, Montana

The park is a 1,583-square-mile wilderness area in Montana's Rocky Mountains, with glacier-carved peaks and valleys running to the Canadian border. The park has over 700 miles of hiking trails and diverse wildlife ranging from mountain goats to grizzly bears.

A variety of ranger-led programs include easy walks, all-day hikes, evening talks, photo walks, and boat tours. Programs start in mid-June, and schedules are made available about two weeks before the start of each month. Check the park's website for details and reservations.

Lodging in the park ranges from cozy cabins to historic grand rooms. Swiss chalet-style Lake McDonald Lodge is located ten miles inside the park's west entrance. Built in 1913, this historic lodge on Lake McDonald's eastern shore offers a main building, a row of cabins, Snyder Hall, and Cobb House. The Lodge will be open from May 15 until September 22, 2021.

Just outside the park, Cedar Creek Lodge Hotel and Conference Center is a year-round destination with amenities that include an indoor pool, hot tub, fitness center, and complimentary served breakfast.

The park offers over a thousand campsites at thirteen different campgrounds, and several can be reserved through the park's website.

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20 tips for making your next trip to a U.S. national park even more amazing

With sweeping vistas, stunning wildlife, and rugged landscapes, America's national parks are truly a collection of national wonders. Whether you're visiting your first or are a regular at the country's national parks, planning ahead is the best way to ensure your trip goes off without a hitch.

Flip through the slideshow for 20 ways to ensure that your trip to a U.S. national park is great, from planning your route in advance to making sure you bring the right supplies and why it's really important to pay attention to those safety rules. 

Make sure you're traveling at the right time of the year

Whether you're looking for great fall foliage or a warm trip in the summer, choosing the right time of year at your park is essential. Going too early (or late) can mean road and trail closures, so make sure to do your research in advance. 

Find out if the park you want to visit requires reservations

During peak seasons, many parks require timed-entry reservations that can be made in advance on each park's website. You may not need to make that reservation in advance, but checking before your trip is a good way to avoid disappointment at the gates. 

...especially if you want to go camping

Because many parks have limited camping space, reservations fill up quickly, especially on major holidays like Labor Day. It's best to start checking at least a few months in advance for camping sites, and though a last-minute spot might open up, don't count on getting lucky at many of the busiest parks. 

Research the best hikes

National parks offer some of the country's best hiking opportunities, and websites like AllTrails can help you find hikes that suit your abilities and sightseeing wishes. By planning your hikes in advance, you'll be able to strategize and maximize your time in the park. 

...and don't forget about the scenic drives

If hiking's not your thing, don't let that keep you from checking out the country's incredible national parks. Almost all the parks offer scenic drives, many of which will get you up close and personal with nature without requiring a long trek. 

Consider traveling during "shoulder season" to beat the crowds

During the busy season, crowded parking lots and so many tourists can put a damper on your enjoyment of the outdoors. Consider planning your trip during "shoulder season" or just before or after the busiest times for the park you'd like to visit. A quick Google search will reveal when the park is busiest and also let you know about any weather conditions that may result in closures or other limitations on your visit to the park. 

Prepare yourself for the elements

Hiking even short trails at national parks requires the right equipment, and weather conditions can change rapidly depending on the climate. Make sure you've got good shoes, essentials like a rain jacket and sunscreen, and a first-aid kit in the event of any mishaps. 

Bring plenty of snacks and water

Most national parks don't boast a ton of services like restaurants, which means that you'll need to bring your own snacks. Water is especially important, especially if you plan to hike — plan on bringing about 1 gallon per person even if you're just going on short walks, and more if you have more strenuous activities in mind. 

...and don't forget to pack out all your trash

"Leave no trace" is an essential principle of being outdoors responsibly, and that means getting rid of all your trash — all of it. Pack a trash bag in the car, and toss your waste in only approved containers. Don't toss out food scraps, either. They may be a detriment to the animals who live in the park. 

Don't touch the animals, seriously

Even though they're cute or really majestic, never touch an animal at a national park, no matter how small or docile it seems. Wild animals are wild, and contact with humans can endanger their lives — and the lives of the human. This year alone, there have been multiple incidents at national parks in the U.S. involving humans being injured by animals. 

...and take good care of the land you're visiting

National parks are protected sites, and the rules exist for a reason. Stay only on marked trails, don't take rocks or other souvenirs from the ground, and never carve into any trees or rock formations. 

Consider buying an annual park pass to save money

If you're planning to visit multiple national parks this year, consider investing in an annual park pass. Costing around $80 per year, these passes provide access to all parks managed by the National Park Service, along with parks managed by other agencies, and are a real bargain considering that many can cost upwards of $20 per visit. 

Check to see if you qualify for any national park discounts

Veterans, senior citizens, people with disabilities, and some students are eligible for discounted national park passes, some of which are good for a lifetime. Check out the National Park Service's website for details on these discounts. 

Don't forget to fill up your gas tank before beginning the drive

As with snacks, gas stations aren't always abundant near national parks, and you're probably going to do a ton of driving. Fill up the tank before you head out, and make sure to keep an eye on the gas gauge throughout your trip. 

Know your limits in the outdoors

The beautiful scenery of many national parks can also mean some pretty rugged, unforgiving terrain. If you're not an experienced hiker, make sure to stick to shorter, safer treks, and don't forget to bring plenty of water. 

...and follow all the safety guidelines

In national parks, the rules are there to both preserve the gorgeous landscapes, and also keep you alive. In addition to avoiding fines and other penalties, closely following all posted safety guidelines will also prevent you from ending up in a seriously dangerous situation. 

Don't plan on having great cell phone service

Thanks to the remote nature of most national parks, cell phone service can be sketchy, especially at high altitudes or in really rural areas. Make sure to download offline maps from your favorite navigation app, or make use of the paper maps provided at most ranger stations. 

To make the most of your visit, talk to a park ranger

Park rangers are truly experts of the parks that they work in, and even a quick chat with a ranger can be seriously enlightening. If you've got time, consider a ranger-led hike or nature talk. 

Make a stop at the visitor's center

Before (or after) checking out the scenery, be sure to stop into the visitor's center at the national park you're visiting. Often, you'll find interesting exhibits and artifacts that will help you learn more about the land you're visiting. 

Don't sleep on the lodging options at many national parks

If you really want to immerse yourself in a national park, consider staying on property. Many parks offer hotels and other lodging, and of course, camping is always an option. 

Amy McCarthy is a Texas-based journalist. Follow her on twitter at @aemccarthy . 

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How to Plan an Amazing 3 Day Olympic National Park Itinerary

Olympic National Park is one of three incredible national parks in Washington State , and is by far the most diverse and interesting of the three. The park boasts rocky alpine zones, perpetually moist rainforests, rugged coastal beaches, and more. 

There are only a few places in the world where you can spend the first half of your day in an alpine paradise, surrounded by rocky peaks and sweeping views, and end your day on a beach, with your feet in the Pacific Ocean. 

Olympic National Park is one of them.

That biodiversity is what makes Olympic National Park special, and is why it deserves a visit, whether it’s as a weekend getaway from Seattle or as part of a broader Washington road trip .

Having grown up in the Seattle area, it might surprise you to learn that the first time I, Matt, visited Olympic National Park was in 2020, in my 30’s.

Olympic is a gigantic park – the 13th biggest national park in the US – that deserves multiple trips to truly take in all that it has to offer.

Because of its size, you’ll want to be strategic about how you organize your trip to avoid multiple 2+ hour drives to get between areas.

Which is exactly why we’ve written this guide – to help you plan an amazing trip. 

We’ve been to the park multiple times for 5+ days each over the past several years, and we’re here to help you plan an amazing trip to the Olympic Peninsula.

In this guide, you’ll discover everything you need to know to plan the perfect Olympic National Park Itinerary – the best things to do, where to stay, how to organize your time – to help you plan an unforgettable adventure. 

We’ve written this guide for 3 days, but we have plenty of suggestions on how to modify it if you have more or less time. 

Planning a trip to Olympic National Park? Don’t miss our in-depth guide to the best things to do in Olympic National Park , the best hikes in Olympic National Park , and our guide to choosing where to stay in Olympic National Park .

Disclaimer: Some of the links in this post, like hotel links, are affiliate links, meaning at no additional cost to you, we make a little bit of money if you click through and book. That being said, we would never recommend something to you that we don’t stand behind 100%.

How Many Days Do You Need in Olympic National Park?

First of all, we want to stress that Olympic National Park is massive. For that reason, we’d recommend no less than two nights in the park .

3 days in the park is even better, because it will give you some time to explore the northwest corner of the park – namely Ozette Lake, Cape Flattery, and Shi-Shi Beach. 

Here’s an idea of what you can cover in 2 or 3 days.

• With 2 Days : Spend one day on the Hurricane Ridge / Lake Crescent area, and one day on the Pacific Coast and the Hoh Rainforest. 
• With 3 Days : Add the northwest corner of the park (Shi-Shi and Cape Flattery) in between the coast and Lake Crescent, and add more Pacific beaches to the itinerary. 

Here are some other things to add, and approximately how much time to add. 

• If you want to add on the Kalaloch beaches and Lake Quinault , add a half day. You can do this as your last day, and make this itinerary a loop by returning to the I-5 corridor along the southern border of the park through Aberdeen (where Nirvana is from!). 
• If you want to camp overnight on the beach , add one extra day. 
• If you want to do a longer, full day hike , add one half day for each one. 
• If you want to do one of the many amazing overnight backpacking trips in the park , add 2-3 days. 

The main guide below is written to help you explore the best of Olympic National Park in 3 days. Below the main itinerary, we have ideas on how to spend more and less time in the park. 

Seasonal Closures : Depending on what time of the year it is that you’re going to visit this beautiful park, there may be some seasonal and temporary closures. You can check road closures and the status of different areas of the park here . 

Can You Do a Day Trip to Olympic National Park from Seattle?

We don’t think a day trip makes sense here. Even if you JUST focus on Hurricane Ridge, the closest area to Seattle, it’s still a three hour drive AT A MINIMUM that includes a ferry crossing. That’s three hours, one way.  

If you just do that, you’ll be missing out on the biological diversity that really makes the park a special place. If you want to get all the way out to the coast, it’s closer to four hours one way. 

If you’re looking for a day trip, check out our guide to the best day trips from Seattle , which has a bunch of great options (including some good alternatives to Olympic National Park). 

Do You Need a Car to Explore Olympic National Park?

You’ll need to make sure you have a car . If you’re coming from nearby – somewhere in Oregon or Washington – drive yourself. If not, rent a car when you arrive in Seattle.

There’s really no way to explore the Olympic Peninsula without one. We wouldn’t recommend options like the bus. The park is just too big, and there’s very little public transportation coverage out there.

If you’re coming from out of state, rent a car at SeaTac airport when you arrive. 

Want to experience Olympic National Park in a campervan?

We own a campervan from Peace Vans in Seattle (their “modern” model, built on a Mercedes Metris) and highly recommend them.

The Metris is a smaller footprint than the big Sprinter and Dodge Ram Promaster, which is why we like it. There’s still plenty of space, and the pop-top makes it even more spacious.

You can rent a van from Peace Vans on Outdoorsy , which would be a great way to experience Olympic National Park (trust us, we’ve done it!).

They have an office in Seattle, and from there it’s an easy drive out to Olympic National Park (or you can hop on the Bainbridge Ferry).

Where to Stay in Olympic National Park

It bears repeating here: this park is massive. For example, it takes a full two hours to get from Port Angeles to the Hoh Rainforest.

Which means that using one home base to explore the whole park isn’t really all that practical, because it would require a couple of 2+ hour drives.

Usually, we’re 100% on board with picking one base and exploring from there, but doing that would add a ton of extra driving.

For that reason, we would highly recommend using multiple home bases for your itinerary. 

With three full days in the park, we’d spend your first night near Port Angeles , which is the gateway to Hurricane Ridge, Lake Crescent, and the Sol Duc Valley, and your next two nights near Forks , where you’ll be closer to the Hoh Rainforest and Pacific Beaches. 

Note : if you want to camp, make sure to read the section on camping below!

Here are some places to stay in each of those locations. 

We have an entire guide on where to stay in Olympic National Park with more detail on this, if you’re interested in getting deeper on each area.

Staying Near Port Angeles

If you’re not camping, you have a couple of routes you could go here. 

If you want to stay in Port Angeles itself, which is the biggest city near the park, and the town on the northeastern side with the most amenities (like grocery stores and gas station), stay at the Olympic Lodge . It’s clean, comfortable, and it’s the best hotel in town.

On our last trip, we camped in the back of the Emerald Valley Inn , a motel just outside of town, which was a lovely home base for exploring the eastern end of the park. 

If you want a more rustic experience , stay in a vacation rental outside of town towards Lake Crescent. The best location would probably be a cabin around Lake Sutherland , which is conveniently located between Hurricane Ridge and Lake Crescent

Check out this one bedroom lakefront cabin , or this spacious three bedroom home ).

In the area around Lake Sutherland, which puts you between Port Angeles and its amenities and Lake Crescent and the wilderness, there are also come good options. It’s hard to say no to this cozy cabin on the Strait of Juan de Fuca , or this beautiful custom studio .

Or, if you’re looking for a once-in-a-lifetime experience, stay at this incredible beachfront treehouse , which is on our bucket list!

Camping Options : If you’re camping, Heart O’ Hills Campground (first come, first served) is the best option, and Sol Duc Campground is the runner up (reserve in advance). We stayed at Sol Duc on our first trip to the park, and it was lovely. 

Staying Near Forks

We have three solid options in and around Forks for you to choose from. Yes, that Forks. The one with the vampires. 

If you want to stay in the town of Forks itself , stay at either the Forks Motel or the Pacific Inn Motel , which are literally across the street from each other in the middle of town.

If you’re looking for a more rustic experience outside of town , stay at either the Hoh Valley Cabins , which are gorgeous and are along the road that takes you out to the Hoh Rainforest, or the Misty Valley Inn , a cute B&B just north of Forks. 

If you’re camping, stay at Mora Campground (reserve in advance), which might be the nicest national park campground we’ve ever stayed at. We’ve stayed twice! It’s five minutes from Rialto Beach. 

Camping in Olympic National Park

There are an abundance of campsites in the park. Only five require reservations ahead of time ( Kalaloch , Fairholme , Sol Duc , Hoh Rainforest , and Mora ), while the rest are first-come, first-served. 

If you’re planning on visiting during the summer months, I highly recommend making reservations several months in advance for the campsites that require reservations.

They are usually booked months in advance, especially for summer weekends. 

For campsites that are first-come, first-served (I’m going to start using FCFS as an acronym below), the earlier you get there, the wider selection of campsites you will have . If you show up at 4:00 pm on a Friday or Saturday in August, I wouldn’t expect to easily find a site. 

The best campsite for the Hurricane Ridge area is Heart o’ Hills Campground (FCFS), though you could also camp at Fairholme Campground on Lake Crescent (reservations). 

For the Hoh Rainforest and Pacific Beaches , we’ve camped at Mora and found it to be a great base for exploring the area (plus, the campground is really nice).

We’ve stayed there twice, and it’s the best campground location for exploring the entire stretch of Pacific coastline. Reserve as far in advance as you can. 

If you want to be closer to the Hoh Rainforest, look at Hoh Campground . I don’t think it’s worth camping out there unless you’re planning on tackling a backpacking trip up the Hoh River.

Instead, I’d camp at Mora and make the hour-long journey to the rainforest as a morning trip on your way down the coast. 

For Lake Quinault and the Quinault Rainforest , camp at either Falls Creek or Willaby Campground .

Both are technically outside the park in Olympic National Forest, and accept reservations in advance. 

For more on camping in the park, including current campground status, head over to the NPS website . 

A Perfect 3 Day Olympic National Park Itinerary

And now, with all the important logistics out of the way, onwards to the main event! We’re going to give you a detailed 3 day itinerary that you can essentially copy and paste to plan your own trip.  

Please note that we’re assuming you have THREE FULL DAYS in the park . Which means you’re arriving the night before night 1, and leaving the morning after night 3.

If you have a little less time (e.g. you’re coming from Seattle on the first morning, or you need to head back to Seattle on the last evening), you’ll have to make some slight changes, but it’s totally doable. 

If you only have one or two days in the park, we have suggestions on how to spend that amount of time below the main itinerary. Then, use the more detailed sections in the main itinerary to plan your trip!

Finally, if you have more time in the park, you’re in for a treat! We have suggestions on what to do with more time, including some longer hikes, multi-day backpacking trips, camping on the beach, and more. 

Here’s a quick summary of the itinerary below: 

• Day 1 : Hurricane Ridge, Lake Crescent, and Sol Duc Falls
• Day 2 : Shi-Shi Beach, Cape Flattery, and the La Push Beaches
• Day 3 : The Hoh Rainforest and Our Favorite Beaches 

Here’s a map of where your trip will take you!

Day 1: Hurricane Ridge and Lake Crescent

On your first day in the park, explore the northeastern corner, which is where you’ll find gems like Hurricane Ridge (the most accessible high-elevation area), Lake Crescent, and the Sol Duc Valley.  

Hurricane Ridge

Start your day out nice and early with a drive up to Hurricane Ridge, which is the highest point in the park that is accessible by car. 

We say early because this section of the park gets extremely busy, especially between 10:00 am and 5:00 pm.

You could be here waiting for 30-60 minutes for a parking spot if you get here during peak time on a summer weekend.  

Even from the visitor center, the views are spectacular. But the main attraction here, at least to us, is the hiking. 

Plan on arriving before 9:00 am, at the latest.

That way, you’ll have no trouble finding parking, and you’ll be able to do the hike up to Hurricane Hill with just a few people around. We arrived here at 7:00 am, and were the only people on the trail up to Hurricane Hill. It was magical. 

The must-do hike here is the short, paved climb up to Hurricane Hill .

From there, you’ll have incredible views of the Strait of Juan de Fuca and British Columbia to the north (you can see Vancouver’s skyline and the city of Victoria), Mount Baker to the east, and the Olympics to the south, with towering Mount Olympus. 

If you’re also looking for a longer hike to do, here are two good options. 

• Lake Angeles Trail : The hike to Lake Angeles takes you from just outside of Heart-o-Hills Campground up through the dense forest, and finally to a stunning alpine lake. It’s a tough hike, gaining almost 2,500 feet of elevation over 7.4 miles. You could also hike here from Hurricane Ridge, which is a much more scenic route where you hike along Klahanie Ridge with amazing views, but it’s a MUCH longer and harder hike (12+ miles, 4,500 feet of elevation).
• Klahhane Ridge : If the views I just mentioned sound like something you’re interested in, but you’re not up for the hike all the way to Lake Angeles, do the 5 mile hike along Klahhane Ridge instead. You’ll gain 1,700 feet along the way, mostly at the beginning in a series of switchbacks through the forest, but once you get up onto the ridge you’ll have sweeping views, including views of Mt. Angeles. 

Marymere Falls

Your second stop of the day will be the parking lot at Lake Crescent, which is where you’ll park to access the next two stops on this list. This is also where you’ll find the historic Storm King Ranger Station. 

The first of those two stops is the relatively short and easy hike to Marymere Falls.

It’s a nice stroll through the forest, which is ferny and wet, and leads you to a 90 foot waterfall with multiple viewpoints accessible by climbing relatively steep wooden stairs. 

All-in, it’s a 1.8 mile hike round trip, with 500 feet of elevation gain. The end of the hike that takes you to the two viewpoints is the only piece of the hike that has any significant elevation changes. 

Mount Storm King (OPTIONAL)

If you’re up for a longer, more difficult hike at sunset, the hike up to Mount Storm King is a good option.

We did it on our last trip out to the Olympic Peninsula, and it’s basically straight up and straight down. The reward is a nice view out over Lake Crescent from the rocky outcropping at the top. 

To be honest, though, the hike itself really isn’t that cool. Or scenic. Or particularly fun.

The views at the top are nice, but the journey to get there is decidedly “meh.”

We discovered it because every PNW influencer has done an amazing photoshoot at the top, and the hike fell short of expectations if we’re being honest.

We’d opt for one of the two longer hikes near Hurricane Ridge before this one (and it’s not close). 

It’s a relatively short and steep climb, and to get to the summit you’ll have to climb some cables and do some scrambling that might be a little much for people afraid of heights. 

I suggest only doing this one if the weather is good because it can get pretty ugly up there when it’s not. This hike is 4 miles roundtrip with an elevation gain of 2,065 feet, and leaves from the same trailhead as Marymere Falls. 

Lake Crescent Lodge

After your hike (or, hikes, depending on what you decided to do), head to the incredible Lake Crescent Lodge for an afternoon refreshment.

There’s a short hike through the woods from the parking lot where you parked, so you can walk and not have to deal with moving the car and finding a new parking spot. 

The historic lodge was built way back in 1915, and is one of the oldest national park lodges in the country.

This is an excellent place to stay to explore the region, but it’s almost always fully booked (once you’re there, you’ll probably understand why). 

At the Lake Crescent Lodge, which is predictably perched on the shores of Lake Crescent, you’ll find a bar and a restaurant, perfect for refueling after a busy morning.

You can take your drinks or food out to the patio, or find one of the adirondack chairs on the beach for the best views. Keep in mind that you’re going to pay a premium for the location here. 

They also have boat, canoe, and paddleboard rentals, if you’re looking to get out on the water. 

It’s worth lingering a bit and enjoying the lake – you’ve earned it after an action-packed morning and afternoon!

Sol Duc Falls

Sol Duc Falls is a gorgeous waterfall that we stopped by on our way up to backpack the High Divide Trail.

It’s a little bit of a detour, about a half hour up Sol Duc Road, but we think it’s worth it to see what might be the best waterfall in the park. 

The hike through the forest will be 1.6 mi (2.6 km) and have an elevation gain of just 200 feet (61 m), so just about everyone can do it. 

From the viewpoint on the wooden bridge, you get a nice view of the waterfall and the river flowing into it. 

Day 2: Shi-Shi Beach and the La Push Beaches

For your second morning, head out to the northwest corner of Washington State, where you’ll find some of the least visited parts of the park. End your day with the drive into Forks, and some short beach hikes to the beaches near La Push. 

The first part of your day today will be spent on the land of the Makah tribe – you can learn about the Makah here , and it’s worth taking some time to acknowledge that you are on their land while you’re enjoying this amazing part of the world. 

On the way back to the rest of the park, it’s worth stopping in Neah Bay at the Makah Cultural and Research Center to check out the museum, where you can take some time to learn more about the history of the tribe and the history and tradition of the land you’re exploring.

Important note : You need a recreation permit from the Makah tribe to park at most of the attractions in the northwest corner of the state. You can get one at a bunch of different locations in the area, and it will cost you $20. It’s good for the calendar year. Display it on your dashboard while you’re in this area. 

Cape Flattery

Start your day with the drive up to Cape Flattery, which is the northwestern corner of the continental, mainland United States (technically the San Juan Islands are further north).

There’s a 1.5 mile hike (roundtrip) out to a viewpoint, where you’ll have a nice view of the place where the Strait of Juan de Fuca meets the Pacific Ocean. There’s a lighthouse just offshore. 

It’s an easy hike along a boardwalk for most of the way, and you’ll find yourself in a towering forest of sitka spruce trees, which is peak coastal Pacific Northwest for us. 

Because it’s a short hike, it’s going to be a busy one. But not early in the morning! That’s why we have this first on the itinerary. 

Shi-Shi Beach and the Point of Arches

The seemingly long hike out to Shi-Shi beach might scare you off, but you should know that it’s a relatively easy two mile walk out to the beach itself.

The longer part of the hike is the flat stroll along the beach out to the south end of the beach, which is where you’ll find Point of Arches.

Point of Arches is a collection of sea stacks – probably the best in the park – that take a little extra effort to get to, but are well worth the journey. It’s a full 8.5 miles (ish) to get out there. Make sure to bring plenty of water, snacks, and rain gear. 

Point of Arches is best at low tide, when the tide pools are visible. Check tides here . 

You can camp overnight on Shi-Shi beach, which is one of the coolest things to do in the park. You’ll need both a Makah permit and a park wilderness permit, along with a bear canister to store your food. More information here . 

The La Push Beaches: First, Second, and Third Beaches

Give yourself the rest of the day to enjoy all of the beaches near La Push! These are going to be easy-going and mellow hikes. Actually, they’re more like strolls and long walks on the beach, which I have been known to love. 

Before you Google it, yes, the names are actually First, Second, and Third Beach. Second is the best of the bunch, but they’re all worthwhile.

• First Beach : The small coastal village of La Push is your entryway to First Beach. Stroll along a mile-long sandy beach that has views onto sea stack islets and large waves. There is plenty of driftwood to look through and potentially find a souvenir. 
• Second Beach : This beach is an unsung jewel of wild beaches. There’s two miles of a sprawling sandy beach here, as well as a lagoon, sea stack islets, tide pools, driftwood, and tons of sea life. There aren’t that many people here, which makes it a very peaceful place. It’s a short hike from the parking lot – nothing too crazy at all for families with kids. 
• Third Beach: Third Beach is significantly less visited because of the 2.8 mile hike (round trip) that you’ll need to do to access the beach. The trail takes you through towering trees until it reaches a creek that flows into the Pacific Ocean. The sunsets at this, and the other beaches, are postcard-perfect!

Day 3: The Hoh Rainforest and Ruby + Rialto Beaches

Experiencing the rainforests and beaches on the west side of the park is the best thing to do in Olympic National Park, which means this third day is going to be a highlight of your trip. 

The vibrant collection of mosses covering ancient old-growth trees amid an enchanting backdrop of natural beauty is something that captivated us from the moment we first stepped foot in the rainforest. 

Combined with the fact that, just an hour away, you’ll find towering sea stacks rising out of the ocean waves, this is the day that you’ll realize just how crazy the geography on the Olympic Peninsula is. It’s honestly a little unbelievable.

On your last day in the park, explore the Pacific Coast, doing the lush Hoh Rainforest first thing in the morning to beat the crowds (and have some semblance of solitude), and then do the top two beaches on the coast in the afternoon. 

Make sure to pack a picnic lunch (or just some snacks) to enjoy on the beach!

The Hoh Rainforest

Head STRAIGHT to the magical Hoh Rainforest. I suggest you get there as early as humanly possible .

That way, you will get to experience the sublime ambiance of the rays of sunlight streaming in through the dense forest canopy. You may even get to spot some Roosevelt Elk! 

The parking situation at the Hoh Rainforest is extremely limited, which means they’ve started limiting capacity at the entrance station during peak times with a one car in, one car out policy.

Between 10:00 am and 5:00 pm, there will be a line on a summer weekend. We know, because we accidentally got a late start last time and got caught in an hour wait to park.

Do yourself a favor and get there by 9:00 am at the latest, both for the best experience in the rainforest, and so that you don’t have to wait for parking.  

Did you know? Olympic National Park was put on the path to becoming a National Park in part to protect the calving grounds of these elk at the base of Mt. Olympus?

Teddy Roosevelt made it a National Monument in 1909, and it became a National Park in 1938 thanks to FDR. 

Also, the early morning is the best time to visit because there won’t be that many people around, making it more of a solitary experience with the rainforest.

The ambiance is much more pleasant without hundreds of people talking and kids screaming. Believe us. 

Once midday rolls around, there’s tons of people, given how accessible it is to explore. Keep that in mind, so you get to enjoy it to its fullest.

There are a couple of short hikes to do here, and a longer option that is customizable to what you’re up for. 

• Hall of Mosses : The Hall of Mosses is a short 0.8 mi (1.3 km) loop through lush rainforests where you will see moss-covered trees, banana slugs, elk, and more. There’s also plenty of signage with helpful information about everything you’ll be seeing.
• Spruce Nature Trail : The Spruce Nature Trail is a 1.2 mi (1.9 km) roundtrip stroll through the Hoh Rain Forest that takes you through ancient groves and relaxing areas of this exceptional rainforest.
• The Hoh River Trail : If these Hoh Rain Forest hikes are too short for your liking, you can also hike part of the Hoh River Trail . This is a 37-mile (59.5 km) backpacking trail that takes you all the way out to the base of Mount Olympus, so if you’re following this itinerary you’ll just want to hike a few miles along the river before heading back to make it to the beaches. We’ve done the hike out to Mineral Creek Falls , and it’s a lovely hike that’s basically flat the entire way. 

Ruby Beach is a little bit of a detour from the Hoh Rainforest, but we think it’s worth it. From the turnoff to the Hoh Rainforest, you’ll take a left and head south on 101 for 15 minutes to reach the parking lot. 

Ruby Beach is probably our second favorite of the Pacific Coast beaches (after Rialto, which you’ll hit later in the evening). The driftwood on the beach and the sea stacks just off the coast are gorgeous, and impress us every time we’re here. 

If you’re up for another beach walk, do at least a part of the 6 mile (9.7 km) round trip hike that looks out onto sea stacks and Abbey Island. 

If you happen to be here at low tide, you may even see some starfish and other sea life while you’re at it.

Rialto Beach and Hole-in-the-Wall at Sunset

The evening is the perfect time to catch that glorious Pacific Ocean sunset that you have to see in person to truly believe.

The sunset at Rialto Beach is one of the top memories of our two year US road trip. The picturesque sea stacks emerging from the ocean add to the breathtaking backdrop of the daily sunset. Plus, we saw multiple bald eagles hanging out in the trees. 

You should know going in that it’s coastal, so there’s a pretty high chance that you won’t be able to see a sunset at all because of the fog or clouds that enshroud this part of the world for most of the year. 

However, if it’s a clear day, you’re in for a treat.

If you want to have the best chance of seeing a sunset here, you should come during the summer months. However, it will stay chilly year-round, so bring something warm to wear.

You definitely shouldn’t miss the stroll down Rialto Beach to an incredibly gorgeous spot called the Hole-in-the-Wall . Which is pretty much exactly what it sounds like, only prettier.

To get there, you’ll walk for about an hour down the beach, passing by a couple of incredible sea stacks that tower above you. Eventually, you’ll reach a point where a natural arch has formed in the wall thanks to countless years of erosion. 

There are some pretty cool tidepools on either side of Hole in the wall to explore – remember not to touch or disturb the sea life!

Top Travel Tip : Make sure to check the tides – you need to do this walk at low tide, otherwise you’ll either not be able to get there, or you’ll get stuck out there and have to do some rock climbing to get back. We used this site to check tides. 

What to Do with More Time in Olympic National Park

Here are some excellent additions to this itinerary if you’re lucky enough to have more than 3 days in Olympic National Park. 

With a full extra day, you can easily add Lake Quinault and Kalaloch (it’s also possible to make this itinerary a big loop and do those two on the way home to Seattle / Portland, looping around the south end of the park to get back to I-5). 

Lake Quinault & the Quinault Rainforest

On the southern Pacific Coast, you’ll find another lake and another fern-laden rainforest waiting for you. 

Just like with the Hoh Rain Forest, the Quinault Rainforest gets packed. I’d actually recommend heading here later in the day when the crowds start to thin.

The Quinault Rainforest Nature Loop is a quick 0.5 mi (0.8 km) trail that takes you through an incredibly mossy forest with a dizzying array of fungi and animals.

Lake Quinault is a massive glacier-fed lake that is surrounded by mossy old-growth rainforest. It is around this lake that you will find some of the most massive Sitka Spruce trees in the entire world! It’s no wonder it’s called the Valley of the Giants.

There is a 31-mile (49.9 km) loop road that circles the entire lake that is a great place to do some wildlife spotting. Head out around sunset and you might see some elk, black-tail deer, cougars, bald eagles, bobcats, and black bears. 

Kalaloch Beach

Just south of Ruby Beach is Kalaloch Lodge and the many sandy beaches surrounding it. There’s a nice campground here, and it’s also where you’ll find the Tree of Life, a tree whose roots have been exposed after years and years of erosion. 

There are four wide beaches to explore here. You can find more information on the area here . 

You can stay at the Kalaloch Lodge in one of their lodge rooms (hotel-style), or one of the oceanfront cabins.

For the price, the facilities are a little rundown (as they tend to be in national park lodges, which are almost always at full capacity), but the location and ambiance can’t be beat. Book well in advance – it’s completely full during the summer. 

Like we mentioned, you can combine this area with Lake Quinault for a fourth day on this itinerary. Plus, if you do that, you can follow 101 south to loop back to Seattle or Portland. 

Backpacking in Olympic National Park

Over the past two summers, we’ve had the privilege of tackling two amazing backpacking trails in Olympic National Park, and loved them both. 

Keep in mind that you’ll need a bear canister for any overnight camping – including on the beach – in Olympic National Park.

We have this one , and highly recommend it. Other friends have one of the clear, screw top ones, and prefer using ours. 

If you’re planning to do any overnight backpacking, make sure to stop at the ranger station in Port Angeles to get your backcountry permits, bear canisters (for rent if you need them), and information about the park.

If you’re 16 years old or older, it will cost you $8 per night. Any overnight stay in the wilderness will carry this fee, so make sure you get your wilderness permit ahead of time. You can also print them at home ahead of time. 

More information on backpacking in the park here . 

The High Divide / Seven Lakes Basin

The first we did was the High Divide / Seven Lakes Basin , which is about as spectacular a backpacking trip as we’ve ever done.

You’ll start from the Sol Duc Falls parking lot, and make a big 19 mile loop that takes you up to the High Divide, a rocky ridge with spectacular views of the Olympics and the Seven Lakes Basin below. 

Along the way, you’ll pass several spectacular alpine lakes, including our favorites Heart Lake and Lunch Lake.

You’ll need to snag permits as early as possible – they routinely sell out, especially in recent years. You can check availability on recreation.gov .

Do it in three days / two nights, spending one night up on the High Divide (at Lunch Lake!), and one night at Deer Lake or Sol Duc Park (depending on which direction you want to hike). 

We liked doing it clockwise, which is a more gradual climb up and an easier climb down, but you could easily do it in the other direction. 

The Enchanted Valley

The second backpacking trip we did was the Enchanted Valley , which we tackled midweek a couple of summers ago.

This one is less about the spectacular mountain views, and more about hiking into a beautiful, secluded valley only accessible to people willing to hike the 13 miles in. 

We did three days / two nights here, but would recommend an extra night if you can swing it because hiking the entire 13 miles in one go was a little much. Better to spend a night on the trail there and back to break up the long days. 

Definitely make sure to spend a night in the valley itself, which is where you’ll find the picturesque chalet that’s in all the pictures (it’s not actually being used at the moment).

We loved this hike, though the valley isn’t so secluded these days (there are routinely 100 people camping in the valley on summer weekends). 

What to Do with Less Time in Olympic National Park

If you have one or two days in the park, you’ll need to be a little more strategic with your time. Here’s how we’d spend either one or two days in the park. 

Olympic National Park in 2 Days

If you have two days in Olympic National Park, we’d devote one day to each area (the two areas being Hurricane Ridge/Lake Crescent and Pacific Beaches/Hoh Rainforest). 

Spend your first morning at Lake Crescent , doing the hike to Marymere Falls and adding the climb up to Mount Storm King if you’re feeling adventurous before heading to the Lake Crescent Lodge afterwards. 

Then, take a slight detour out to Sol Doc Falls , and head up to Hurricane Ridge for the afternoon and sunset. Hike Hurricane Hill around sunset for an unforgettable experience. 

On your second day, head out towards Forks and make a beeline straight for the Hoh Rainforest . Try to arrive as early as you can to avoid the crowds and the lineup at the gate. Hike the Hall of Mosses and part of the Hoh River Trail to see the dense, wet rainforest in all its glory. 

From there head down to Ruby Beach for a picnic lunch and to admire the sea stacks just offshore. End with a walk on Rialto Beach out to Hole in the Wall for an unforgettable sunset. 

Olympic National Park in One Day

Like we mentioned above, Olympic National Park really isn’t a great day trip destination (if you’re looking for a day trip, make sure to read our guide to the best day trips from Seattle!). 

However, if you have only one day and one night in the park, we’d focus on the northeastern corner around Hurricane Ridge, Lake Crescent, and the Sol Duc Valley. Which means you can follow day 1 of this itinerary as written!

Planning to visit Olympic National Park? We’ve got more detailed travel guides to help you explore Olympic National Park and make the most of your time in the northwest corner of Washington State.

• The Best Things to Do in Olympic National Park
• Where to Stay in Olympic National Park (For First Timers)
• The Best Hikes in Olympic National Park
• How to Get to Olympic National Park: Closest Airports + Ferries
• The Best Time to Visit Olympic National Park: All 4 Seasons (COMING SOON)

Matt is the founder and main writer behind Wheatless Wanderlust, which he started back in 2018 as a way to share his gluten free travel guides with his fellow Celiac travelers.

Since then, Matt and his wife Alysha have visited 18 national parks, spent three months in Europe and six weeks in Colombia, and have explored every corner of the Pacific Northwest, which is where Matt grew up.

He writes super detailed guides to the places they visit, bringing together personal experience and historical context to help YOU plan an amazing trip.

25 Comments

Thank you for writing this! Wife wanted to do a trip to Yellowstone last year but didn’t end up working out because of other plans. Now we’re planning one to Olympic National Park for early-mid June this year in a rental RV (I hope there are still enough campgrounds!) for 7 days. I am thinking that I will roughly follow the itinerary outlined in your blog here – just take it slower and spend roughly two days in each place. Please let me know if this sounds like a good idea.

Based on your recommendations and our interest, I will definitely want to go to Hoh Rainforest, Sol Duc Hot Springs, Hurricane Hill, Rialto Beach, Ruby Beach and Lake Quinault (hoping to catch some fish and do some boating/kayaking too). Wish us luck! Thanks again!

We recently returned from four days in the park that we visited in late September. We enjoyed the hiking despite being unable to get to hurricane ridge but I’d say the following: 1. Less ranger support than I’m used to. Many locations were unmanned so getting their perspective which I always liked was difficult. 2. Forks is really hit or miss for food or lodging and is expensive. 3. The Makah cultural center in Neah Bay was an unexpected treat. The staff and quality of the exhibits was well worth the hour diversion. The impact on the indigenous people who lived in the area before European settlement is something to understand. 4. We had Beach whiteout three of four days. The hikes were great but I’m told that it’s not uncommon to get a thick marine layer that can make seeing the coastline an iffy proposition.

This was so helpful! I appreciate your post so much! I felt overwhelmed when I begun planning this trip, but this laid it all out for me!

Thanks for the kind words! Glad you found it helpful – that’s what we’re trying to do.

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7 State Parks Better Than Acadia National Park

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• Acadia National Park offers stunning views and outdoor activities but may not suit everyone.
• Amelia Island State Park offers a coastal sanctuary with beaches and diverse ecosystems.
• Big Bend Ranch State Park in Texas offers seclusion and rugged beauty for wilderness lovers.

Acadia National Park is a pristine gem found on the coast of Maine. Its beautiful lakes, dramatic cliffs, and lush forests attract thousands of visitors every year. There are plenty of outdoor activities here, and guests are also treated to breathtaking scenery.

Cadillac Mountain, which sits in this park, is the highest point on the East Coast, and it offers phenomenal views of the sunrise . Besides that, travelers can also check out other attractions like hiking trails such as Beehive Trail, wildlife, and Park Loop Road. And while Acadia deserves the hype, it might not suit everyone.

Travelers who wish to avoid crowds or are looking for a different experience can try vacationing in other parks. The good news is that America has many parks just as good as Acadia. Here are seven state parks that rival Acadia National Park.

7 Hidden Gem Small Towns Near Acadia National Park

Visiting Acadia? Explore the hidden gems around the park and experience the local culture and the rich history of these small towns nearby!

7 Amelia Island State Park, Florida

Enjoy a flat and coastal terrain and beach-related pursuits in a secluded environment.

Travelers to Jacksonville shouldn’t leave without visiting this park as it’s located just 30 minutes away. The park is found on Amelia Island’s southern tip and is a coastal sanctuary. There are roughly 200 acres of preserved wilderness on the park grounds. Besides beautiful beaches, visitors can spend time exploring the park’s ecosystem, like forests, sea and salt marshes, and coastal dunes, as well as the flora and fauna.

Check out the many bird species since the park offers bird-watching opportunities. Guests can also spend time fishing and observing wildlife in a laid-back atmosphere.

6 Big Bend Ranch State Park, Texas

Suitable for travelers who crave seclusion and want to escape civilization.

Big Bend Ranch State Park sits along the Rio Grande in West Texas. It’s the biggest state park in Texas and holds an International Day Sky Park designation. Visiting here allows one to enjoy the beauty of the famous Chihuahuan Desert .

The park occupies around 311,000 acres, offering enough space to explore. It’s characterized by rugged terrain featuring deep canyons, winding rivers, and towering mountains. Visitors can spend time watching an array of wildlife like javelinas, lions, and bird species. The park also offers hiking, stargazing, backpacking, horseriding, and mountain biking opportunities.

5 Ecola State Park, Oregon

Offers a secluded coastal experience for photography enthusiasts.

Ecola State Park isn't as large as other parks on the list as it only occupies 1,023 acres. But even though it’s small in size, it has big offerings. The park encompasses a large part of Tillamook Head, a towering cliff line that goes around 1,000 feet above the Pacific Ocean on the northern side of Oregon.

There are only 9 miles of coast and rainforest protected by the atmosphere. However, this small space means travelers can easily explore the area in a few days. There are two main beaches here, each offering several hiking trails, including a section of the famous Oregon Coastal Trail. Beyond hiking, visitors can surf close to the forest, watch birds, or stroll on the beautiful sand.

These 7 Underrated Oregon State Parks Offer The Best Pacific Views

Discover beautiful Oregon state parks that offer Pacific Ocean vistas, sandy beaches, wildlife galore, spruce forests, and incredible hiking trails.

4 Custer State Park, South Darkota

Enjoy scenic drives with phenomenal views of the black hills.

Located near the scenic and historic city of Custer , Custer State Park is nestled within the Black Hills and is the oldest park in the state, dating back to 1912. Many resident animals are here, making it perfect for wildlife lovers. Travelers can spot bison roaming its 71,000 acres, pronghorn antelope, burros, elk, and mountain goats.

What attracts travelers is the Buffalo Round up on the last Friday in September. This event features horseback riders and park crews who collect and corral bison herds. Besides that, the park has various scenic drives and hiking and biking trails. Guests can also try ice fishing and snowmobiling in the winter.

3 Baxter State Park, Maine

Enjoy challenging hikes without the crowds.

The famous Baxter State Park is located in north-central Maine. Its rugged beauty, challenging hiking trails, and the iconic Mount Katahdin draw visitors to this park yearly. Enjoy a challenging climb filled with breathtaking views to the summit of Mount Katahdin. Or spend time exploring the various hiking trails, which include casual walks and demanding backcountry treks. At night, choose between backcountry and campground options.

Guests can also check out wildlife like black bears, moose, etc., and since the park is known for its remote nature, expect plenty of opportunities for solitude and adventure. Its landscapes are the most similar to Acadia on this list and come without the national park allure.

2 Chugach State Park, Alaska

Offers a wild and remote experience for wildlife enthusiasts and photographers.

Chugach State Park is renowned for its wildlife and topography, including lakes, glaciers, and vegetation. It also offers an extensive network of hiking trails that range from easy walks to strenuous workouts. The park lights up in August and September when the blueberry crop blooms.

The Chugach Range offers beautiful backdrops and challenging hikes. Guests can also spend time enjoying the lush forests filled with wildlife or exploring the coastline, which offers kayaking, whale watching, and fishing opportunities. Also, check out the impressive glaciers that carve through the area and create breathtaking scenery.

7 Best State Parks In Alaska

These top Alaska state parks will take your breath away, easily rivaling many of the most beautiful national parks in America.

1 Dead Horse Point State Park, Utah

Checkout panoramic vistas that are hard to match.

Dead Horse Point State Park is a beautiful park offering a desert landscape, and worth a visit despite the name . It has a dramatic overlook of the Colorado River, making it a photographer’s paradise.

There are many stunning vistas, including towering cliffs and deep canyons. Plus, the incredible viewpoint from which the park is named provides a beautiful, awe-inspiring perspective. Spend time hiking the various trails of different fitness levels, viewing wildlife like coyotes, lizards, and stargazing.

There's a provincial park that's Ontario's version of the Grand Canyon

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If you're an outdoor enthusiast looking for a must-visit destination in Ontario, Ouimet Canyon Provincial Park should be at the top of your list. 

Often compared to the Grand Canyon—albeit on a much smaller scale—Ouimet Canyon is an unforgettable experience with its panoramic views , unique ecosystem, and breathtaking natural beauty.

Located just an hour northeast of Thunder Bay , Ouimet Canyon is one of Northern Ontario's many hidden gems . The canyon is a 150-meter-wide gorge with sheer cliffs that plunge 100 meters straight down to the canyon floor. 

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Caroline El Khoury (@caroline.elkhoury)

This dramatic landscape is best experienced from the two lookout platforms connected by a trail and boardwalk, offering exceptional, unobstructed views of the canyon.

The canyon's cool, shaded depths create a microclimate that allows Arctic-alpine plants, usually found 1,000 kilometres north, to thrive at the bottom, one of many reasons Ouimet Canyon is so special.

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Pritha Lahiri (@prithalahiri)

The park is perfect for a day trip  (just not from Toronto), with a relatively easy loop trail that takes about 30 minutes to complete, according to AllTrails . The hike is accessible to most fitness levels, and the reward is absolutely worth it. 

For those who love road trips , the drive to Ouimet Canyon from Toronto is a solid 14-hour trek. But, if long drives aren't your thing, you can always fly into Thunder Bay and rent a car to make the relatively short hour-long drive to the park.

If you're planning to make the journey, you should know that while Ouimet Canyon is a day-use-only park, there are plenty of nearby options for extended stays. Just down the road, you can camp at Latibule Resort and Campground , offering a great base for exploring the area. 

And while you're in the neighbourhood, don't miss Eagle Canyon Adventures , home to Canada's longest suspension bridge—a thrilling experience that's the number one tourist attraction along the Lake Superior Circle Tour .

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Kaejon Misuraca | Travel Creator (@withkaejon)

Seeing as you'll be nearby, Sleeping Giant Provincial Park , another place that should be on every outdoor lover's bucket list, is located just 30 minutes from Ouimet Canyon. 

This 244 square kilometre park is a hiker's paradise, boasting over 100 kilometres of walking paths and some of the most iconic views you'll find in any Ontario Provincial Park.

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Matt & Leah (@scottcampadventures)

So, if you're into chasing panoramic vistas, Ouimet Canyon is a slice of natural beauty that every outdoor lover should have on their Ontario bucket list.

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Cresskill-Closter Demarest Your Local News for Cresskill, Closter, and Demarest

Cresskill Family Critical In South Carolina Road Trip Crash

Several members of a Bergen County family were in critical condition following a crash on a summer vacation.

Vivek Talwar his wife, Kiran Bhat Talwar, and their four children were seriously injured in a crash during a road trip through South Carolina, loved ones and firefighters said.

A GoFundMe launched for Vivek Talwar, his wife, Kiran Bhat Talwar, and their four children, of Cresskill, says they were on a road trip when they were involved in a crash on Friday morning, Aug. 23, outside Charleston, SC.

Vivek, Kiran, and one child remain hospitalized with life-threatening injuries, while three of their children were released from the hospital but required assistive devices to move, reads the campaign launched by Tuisha Desai.

A post from Colleton County Fire-Rescue says only that a family from New Jersey was injured in the crash, but does not identify them by name. None of the six family members were wearing seatbelts. A spokesperson from the CCFR declined to identify the victims when Daily Voice inquired.

According to CCFR, the family's southbound Toyota Sienna minivan left Interstate 95 and drove behind a guard rail before plummeting over an embankment. The minivan crashed head-on to Bells Highway below the interstate before overturning. 

A female child and an adult male suffered critical, life-threatening injuries and an adult female suffered serious injuries, the department said. The three other male children received multiple non-life threatening injuries. 

"The discharged children are currently in a ground floor AirBnB that can accommodate 4 and are being cared for by their elderly grandparents that flew in to help," the GoFundMe campaign says. "They have no help down in Charleston as they were driving through and may have to stay in the area for weeks or find a way to get 3 medically transported back to NJ. 

"Most of the items they were traveling with were destroyed in the crash and the family has no transportation to even get between hospitals, grocery and the Airbnb aside from rideshare. 

"They will need a lot of help over the coming weeks to get back on their feet while they are in Charleston and then get back to NJ. Despite it all, Kiran and here family are remaining strong."

Click here to donate to the Talwar family and here for more from CCFR.

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Hiker Is Found Dead in Grand Canyon National Park

The 60-year-old from North Carolina was on a multiday backpacking trip. His death was the sixth reported inside the Arizona park this month.

By Emily Schmall

The body of a hiker was found on a remote trail in Grand Canyon National Park in Arizona in what was the sixth death reported in the sprawling park this month, the authorities said.

The hiker, a 60-year-old man from North Carolina, was located by search-and-rescue personnel in a helicopter on Wednesday along a route connecting Lower Tapeats Camp and Deer Creek Camp, the National Park Service said on Thursday.

The unidentified hiker was on a multiday backpacking trip, officials said.

The Grand Canyon Regional Communications Center, which is the dispatcher for emergency operations in the area, learned of the missing hiker on Tuesday afternoon. It “received a report of a solo backpacker who had failed to check in with a family member while attempting the Thunder River Trail-Deer Creek loop,” the Park Service said.

The approximately 25-mile looping hike off the Grand Canyon’s North Rim, along a trail that the Grand Canyon Conservancy said was carved out by gold miners in the late 1800s , features “booming streams of crystalline water” but also a southern exposure that made the area “infamously hot,” according to a Park Service trail guide .

The Park Service said it was investigating the death in coordination with the Coconino County medical examiner.

A park spokeswoman did not immediately respond on Saturday to a request for additional information.

The 1.2-million-acre park’s sweeping vistas, sloping, rust-colored canyons and bursts of green along the Colorado River draw millions of visitors each year.

Signs throughout the park warn of the risk of dehydration, often including short narratives about hikers unprepared for the rigors of the climate, who died traversing the steep-walled canyons.

The death was the sixth fatality reported in Grand Canyon since July 31, according to previous park news releases. Others include an unidentified 80-year-old man who died after his boat flipped over in a river ; Chenoa Rickerson , a 33-year-old woman whose body was found after a flash flood; and Leticia A. Castillo , 20, whose body was found 150 feet below an overlook.

There have been at least 14 deaths in Grand Canyon so far this year, including six fatalities reported over two separate weeklong periods this summer.

Last year, there were 10 deaths in Grand Canyon and approximately 4.7 million people visited the park, according to the Park Service.

Emily Schmall covers breaking news and feature stories and is based in Chicago. More about Emily Schmall

LA family goes back to Universal Studios, using voucher from 3 decades ago

In the winter of 1990, the Kramer family from Los Gatos decided to drive down to Southern California for the spring break and take their 7-year-old son and 3-year-old daughter to Universal Studios.

But Mother Nature had different plans. It was pouring in LA then, forcing the park to temporarily close some of the most popular attractions. And when the kids started throwing a tantrum amid the cold and wet weather, Carolyn Kramer, the matriarch, decided to do something.

“We couldn’t even get out of the rain,” Carolyn recalled. “I just went up to customer service, and I said, ‘We’ve been planning this trip for a really long time, and we are so disappointed in Universal closing the shows.’”

To make up for lost time, a representative from the park gave the Kramer family a certificate for two adults and two children.

“They said it would last the rest of our lives.”

And it did — at least more than three decades.

Fast-forward to 2024, the then-7-year-old boy, Daniel, has grown up to be married with two children of his own. As his daughter, Isabella, turned 2 years old, the Kramer family started planning another trip to Universal. Then Carolyn thought of the vintage voucher.

“I just happened to keep it in my papers all those years because I was determined, if I ever went again, I was going to see if I could use it.”

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After spending about an hour with Universal representatives on the phone, the park officials told the Kramer family that they would honor the nearly 34-year-old certificate.

“I was like, ‘There’s no way they’re going to accept it,” said Daniel. “It was like this small, handwritten piece of paper!”

Luckily, the Kramer family’s trip to the park in 2024 was more pleasant with plenty of sunshine and not a single drop of rain.

Mama Kramer said she thought it was “impressive” that Universal Studios allowed them to use the decades-old voucher so she can spend more time with her young grandchildren.

“I don’t mind holding a kid or waiting,” Carolyn said. “When I get to go to the park, being with the kids and watching them enjoy, it’s the best.”

Helen Jeong is a reporter for NBC Los Angeles.

Missing Grand Canyon hiker found dead, marking…

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Missing grand canyon hiker found dead, marking park’s 6th fatality in a month.

The National Park Service reported the hiker was found deceased Wednesday near a route connecting Lower Tapeats Camp and Deer Creek Camp, approximately 29 miles northwest of Grand Canyon Village on the South Rim.

The discovery came after the Grand Canyon Regional Communications Center received an alert about an overdue backpacker the day before.

Park authorities reported the man’s family notified officials around 4 p.m. Tuesday that he hadn’t checked in, prompting an aerial search of the area.

A team in a helicopter located the hiker around 9:45 a.m. Wednesday.

The backpacker was attempting the challenging Thunder River Trail-Deer Creek loop, a multi-day trek known for its rugged terrain and extreme temperature variations.

NPS didn’t say if there were any obvious indications of how the man may have died. It wasn’t clear where exactly on the route the man was located and whether it was part of the trail’s steep and rugged terrain.

Authorities haven’t released any additional information about the man, his family or any potential factors that could have played a part in his death.

This incident marks the 14th death in Grand Canyon National Park this year, and the 6th known death in less than 30 days, according to the Associated Press.

Park officials said the average number of deaths per year typically ranges from 10 to 15.

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News Release

Fatality on the colorado river at fossil rapid.

NPS Photo/M. Graden

Contact: Joelle Baird , 928-606-3154

On Sunday, August 25, at approximately 3:40 p.m., Grand Canyon National Park was alerted to an emergency via a satellite phone call from a commercial river trip near Fossil Rapid (river mile 126) on the Colorado River.

The Grand Canyon Regional Communications Center received a report that CPR was in progress on an 80-year-old male who had entered the river after his boat flipped at Fossil Rapid. Despite the efforts of the group and park rangers flown in by helicopter, all resuscitation attempts were unsuccessful.

The National Park Service and Coconino County Medical Examiner are investigating the incident. No further information is available at this time.

Last updated: August 27, 2024

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Visit these 7 Minor League stadiums -- and the neighboring national park!

Dan Cichalski

For those who are looking for one last great summer road trip, there are innumerable options for destinations, attractions and diversions to make memories and fill a camera roll before the leaves start falling -- or to plan on visiting next year.

For many travelers, the end point of the GPS directions will be a national park. The U.S. National Park Service manages more than 400 individual units, with 63 of those designated as national parks. ( There are also battlefields, historic sites, lakeshores, monuments, parkways, preserves, seashores and more.) So why not combine two of Ken Burns’ loves and add a Minor League ballgame to the itinerary while celebrating America’s Best Idea ?

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To help with your planning, we’ve identified seven Minor League teams that play within about an hour’s drive (pending traffic) of one of America’s 63 national parks. If your journey takes you across more of our highways and backroads, you can easily fit in more of both. Let the pairings on this list, presented by Wyndham, inspire you.

2 states, 2 ballparks and our most popular national park

Tennessee Smokies 3540 Line Drive Kodak, Tennessee 37764 (865) 286-2300 Smokies Stadium Ballpark Guide »

Let’s begin with a ballpark two-fer. Take your pick between the Cubs’ Double-A affiliate in Tennessee or the Astros’ High-A farm club in North Carolina, and on the way from one to the other, take the scenic route through Great Smoky Mountains National Park.

The Smokies became a Cubs affiliate in 2007, and in ’15 they reintroduced a black bear in their logo -- both a nod to the parent club and to the ursine inhabitants of the Smokies. Black bears are so prevalent in the national park that the NPS reports an average of nearly one negative human-bear encounter per day.

Asheville Tourists 30 Buchanan Pl. Asheville, NC 28801 (828) 258-0528 McCormick Field Ballpark Guide »

On the eastern side of those Smoky Mountains are the Asheville Tourists, a moniker that applies to more than 12 million people each year (not counting the two-dozen-plus ballplayers who suit up for the team during the season).

Unlike the Cubs affiliate some 97 miles to the west, this team does have a bear mascot -- Ted E. Tourist, a brown bear who apparently let one of his ursine cousins crash in the dugout back in 2022.

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Asheville Tourists (@ashevilletourists)

Great Smoky Mountains National Park: The most-visited site in the National Parks System (more than 13 million visitors in 2023) features four visitors centers. The Tennessee Smokies are closest to the Sugarlands Visitor Center (27 miles), while the Asheville Tourists are nearest to Oconaluftee Visitor Center (67 miles).

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The national park covers more than half a million acres in North Carolina and Tennessee and features 800 miles of hiking trails that take you to majestic waterfalls, expansive vistas and wide-open meadows. Just remember to save the selfies for Ted E. Tourist and not any bears you spot in the park.

Don’t miss: At an elevation of 6,643 feet, Clingmans Dome is the highest peak in Great Smoky Mountains National Park, the highest point in Tennessee and the highest point on the 2,192 miles of the Appalachian Trail that winds from Georgia to Maine. A one-mile roundtrip paved trail -- at a steep 12-percent grade -- leads from the parking lot to an observation tower that offers 360-degree views of the mountains.

Rev up for a subterranean adventure

Bowling Green Hot Rods 300 E. 8th Ave. Bowling Green, KY 42101 270-901-2121 Bowling Green Ballpark Guide »

The Hot Rods rolled off the assembly line as a Rays affiliate in 2009 and currently play in the High-A South Atlantic League. Their name is a nod to the automotive and racing industries in the region, which includes the National Corvette Museum, where a sinkhole in 2014 swallowed eight cars. The team memorialized that catastrophe (car-tastrophe?) in 2019 by becoming the Bowling Green Sinkholes.

Mammoth Cave National Park: The longest known cave system in the world features more than 400 miles of known passageways and has been designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site and an International Biosphere Reserve. The visitor center -- along with an adjacent lodge and nearby campground -- is 32 miles northeast of the Hot Rods’ ballpark. Park activities include more than just cave tours beneath the earth -- canoeing, kayaking, fishing, hiking and horseback riding are other popular activities. And as a designated International Dark Sky Park, the adventures continue after sunset.

Don’t miss: A cave tour, of course. The park advises reservations because tours can sell out weeks in advance.

The Nativity Scene inside The Great Onyx Cave. pic.twitter.com/zFQgE8T5s2 — Mammoth Cave NP (@MammothCaveNP) May 14, 2024

Connected by a canal

Akron RubberDucks 300 S. Main Street Akron, OH 44308 (330) 253-5151 Canal Park Ballpark Guide »

The Akron RubberDucks, the Guardians’ Double-A affiliate, play downtown in Canal Park, named for the vestige of the Ohio and Erie Canal that flows behind left field. The canal once linked the Ohio River, which forms the state’s southern border, to Lake Erie at Cleveland. Today, the 110-mile Ohio and Erie Towpath Trail follows the route of the canal south from Cleveland through Cuyahoga Valley National Park and Akron to the town of New Philadelphia. Both Lock 3 Park and the Richard Howe House along the trail are close to the ballpark.

Cuyahoga Valley National Park: Nestled between Cleveland and Akron, this park encompasses the winding Cuyahoga River and some 20 miles of the Towpath Trail, a popular route for hikers and cyclists. The National Audubon Society has designated Cuyahoga Valley an Important Bird Area, drawing birdwatchers to its trails and viewpoints in search of more than 200 types of birds that pass through the park.

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Cuyahoga Valley Scenic Railroad (@cuyahogavalleyscenicrailroad)

Don’t miss: The Cuyahoga Valley Scenic Railroad offers excursions through the park and into Akron. It’s possible to hike, bike or kayak one way and flag down the train to return to your starting point. The southernmost station, Akron Northside, is about a mile from the ballpark. Or for those who prefer a self-propelled adventure, depart from the Botzum trailhead near the southernmost point of Cuyahoga Valley National Park and follow the Towpath Trail eight miles to the Richard Howe House outside the ballpark.

More young Cubs, but no bears

South Bend Cubs 501 W. South St. South Bend, IN 46601 574-235-9988 Four Winds Field Ballpark Guide »

Built in 1988, the South Bend Cubs’ ballpark has been called “the grandfather of the modern ballpark” because the wide, open concourse and suites have been emulated in many a Minor League venue since. Don’t forget to check out the team store in the century-old synagogue in right field.

Indiana Dunes National Park: About 45 miles west of South Bend, this newer national park (upgraded in 2019 from a national lakeshore) stretches for 20 miles along the southern shore of Lake Michigan. It’s a popular spot for swimming in the summer, along with other national park activities (hiking, camping) and water-based pursuits (fishing and kayaking).

Don’t miss: The park’s Century of Progress District consists of five homes that were built for and on display at the 1933 World’s Fair in Chicago (the district’s name comes from that fair’s theme). Built as examples of modern design and new technologies in architecture – for 1933, remember – the homes were transported from Chicago to the lakefront on barges and trucks. They’re not open to the public, but they’re all easily visible from W. Lake Front Dr.

Soak it all in, traveler

Arkansas Travelers 400 West Broadway Street North Little Rock, AR 72114 (501) 664-1555 Dickey-Stephens Park Ballpark Guide »

We are all Tourists; we are all Travelers. The term “Arkansas Traveler” has a long history in the state, longer than the team that has used that name since 1963 -- the third-longest moniker still in use in Minor League Baseball (after the Buffalo Bisons and Indianapolis Indians). The ballpark sits right on the Arkansas River, with views of downtown Little Rock beyond the right-field fence.

Hot Springs National Park: About 55 miles southwest of the capital, this park is nestled in a resort town in the Ouachita Mountains. At just 5,550 acres, it was the smallest national park in the system until 2018, when St. Louis’ Gateway Arch -- at just 91 acres -- was redesignated from a national memorial to a national park. Hot Springs features nine historic bathhouses in addition to thermal springs, shaded hikes and gurgling creeks.

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Hot Springs National Park (@hotspringsnps)

Don’t miss: Bathhouse Row included eight buildings constructed between 1892 and 1923, and it was these hot springs that drew teams to the area for Spring Training in the 20th century. Though not affiliated with the NPS, the Hot Springs Baseball Trail offers a self-guided tour via an app that includes Bathhouse Row.

Be dwarfed by giants

Visalia Rawhide 300 N. Giddings St. Visalia, CA, 93291 (559) 732-4433 Valley Strong Ballpark Guide »

Visalia’s Valley Strong Ballpark is as intimate as it gets, nestled into the neighborhood and sporting the smallest seating capacity in affiliated baseball, making for an old-fashioned gameday experience. Catch a game with a small-town feel, and then …

Sequoia National Park: Get a new perspective standing beneath the world’s largest trees. Sequoia’s Foothills Visitor Center is 37 miles from Visalia, and the park features a diverse landscape that includes forested groves, vast mountain vistas and rushing rivers. And if you have the time, this park is actually a two-fer because Kings Canyon National Park abuts it to the north, and the NPS website bundles them together .

View this post on Instagram A post shared by American Forests (@americanforests)

Don’t miss: General Sherman , the world’s largest tree, is an 18-mile drive into the park from the Foothills Visitor Center, though it’ll likely take at least an hour on the park’s winding scenic road -- especially with stops at vistas and attractions on the way. Be sure to check the park website for current conditions (wildfires can close portions of the park or certain roads) and consider the shuttle to cut down on traffic in the park (and give yourself a break behind the wheel).