US National Parks Travel Guide
The Mission of US-Parks.com is to engage with our site visitors and encourage everyone to travel to the US National Parks as well as federal and state parks. While many of us have been to a number of parks or just one, we’d like to see everyone find a love for their federal and local parks. Parks offer an abundance of outdoor adventures and experiences from long or short hikes, wildlife viewing, educational experiences and exploration through photography just to name a few. With hundreds of destinations across the country from Acadia, Everglades, Grand Canyon, Yellowstone, Yosemite to Rocky Mountain and Bryce Canyon National Parks, there is something for everyone. More locally you can find parks by the Bureau of Land Management or even the Forest Service. No matter what you are looking for, these parks offer an excellent outdoor experience. So pack your bags, put on your hiking boots - it’s time to "get outdoors."
National Parks
Yellowstone
Great Smoky Mountains
Grand Canyon
Yosemite
Acadia
Everglades
Arches
Rocky Mountain
Zion
Bryce Canyon
National Monuments
White Sands
Colorado
Devils Tower
Pinnacles
Sunset Crater
Lava Beds
Gila Cliff
Dinosaur
Canyon De Chelly
Bandelier
Nature and Wildlife
Moose: Moose (Alces alces shirasi Nelson), the largest member of the deer family, were reportedly very rare in northwest Wyoming when Yellowstone National Park was established in 1872. Moose breed from early September to November and one to three calves are born in May or June... Moose
We are proud to be partnering with WildObs.com to promote wildlife encounters from the social community. WildObs | Find Your Nature
Hiking Trails
Hiking the trails of any of Americas beautiful National Parks can be an experience for any level of hiker. From easy ambles to long strenuous multi-day hiking trips, each park has something to offer. Don't forget to have water and sun hats. Hiking Trails
News, Updates & RSS
Mark Your Calendars: 2012's fee-free days at more than 100 national park service sites that usually charge entrance fees. Park Service Free Days
Find some quick tips about lodging, camping, park fees, road trip planning, outdoor gear and more. If you are planning a road trip that includes multiple parks, you should consider saving yourself a few entrance fees by purchasing a pass. Find our more of ways you can save for your next trip.
Keep a watch out for early bird specials! Often the parks and towns nearby will offer specials if you visit early in the year. This is great because it is a less populated time of the year and you can save a few extra pennies. Travel Tips
Outdoor Gear Shopping
Shopping for Outdoor Gear couldn't be easier on US-Parks.com. Being comfortable during a visit to US National Parks, Monuments, etc. can often depend on the proper gear and clothing. Search our store for fleece, hiking boots, shirts, pants, backpacks, water bottles and more. No matter what you are looking for, we have a great selection for every outdoor enthusiast. Outdoor Gear Store or find gear by your favorite brands here Brands.Road Trip Planning & Routes
Looking to plan a road trip to the National Parks? Maybe considering a road trip to various parks like National Monuments, BLM's, maybe a park from the Forest Service? Check out our Road Trip Planning to get some ideas to help you put together your own route. So pack your bags, load up the car and start exploring by taking a road trip to one of these amazing destinations! Road Trip Planning
Featured Road Trip
The Grand Circle Road Trip
Mileage: Approximately 1187 miles.
Points of Interest: Zion, Bryce Canyon, Capitol Reef, Arches, Canyonlands, Monument Valley Tribal Park and the Grand Canyon. Learn more about The Grand Circle
Lodging & Camping
Finding a place to stay near parks couldn't be easier. Find lodging or campgrounds located conveniently to your destination so you can plan your stay before you take your next trip. Remember, it is always wise to book in advance, lodging and campgrounds can fill up quickly in or near the parks. Lodging : CampingFeatured Weekend Getaway
Featured Getaway City: Seattle, Washington From Mount Rainier National Park and Olympic National Park to North Cascades and Klondike Gold Rush. See More: Seattle Weekend GetawaysScenic Byways
Over 800 National Scenic Byways and All-American Roads designated by the Department of Transportation throughout the United States are now available on US-Parks.com! Scenic BywaysDid You Know?
Great Sand Dunes National Park and Preserve features North America's tallest sand dunes? At over 750 feet high these dunes lie against the rugged Sangre de Cristo Mountains. The wind-shaped dunes glow beneath the rugged backdrop of the mountains... Great Sand Dunes National Park and Preserve
Blogs & Articles
Hiking Boots Guide and Hiking Shoes Guide: It wasn't all
that long ago when finding a comfortable pair of hiking boots wasn't a painful experience of
breaking in boots while on the trail. ... Compare
BootsRespecting Wildlife: Traveling to National Parks is fun and exciting for kids of all ages, including us “big” kids. Sometimes we get so wrapped up in the beauty and the nature... Respecting Wildlife
Rocky Mountain National Park
Established on January 26, 1915, Rocky Mountain National Park is a living showcase of
the grandeur of the Rocky Mountains. With elevations ranging from 8,000 feet in the wet,
grassy valleys to 14,259 feet at the weather-ravaged top of Longs Peak, a visitor to the park
has opportunities for countless breathtaking experiences and adventures...
Rocky Mountain National Park
Glacier National Park
Glacier preserves over 1,000,000 acres of forests, alpine meadows, and lakes. Its
diverse habitats are home to over 70 species of mammals and over 260 species of birds. The
spectacular glaciated landscape is a hikers paradise containing 700 miles of maintained trails
that lead deep into one of the largest intact ecosystems in the lower 48 states... Glacier
National Park
Joshua Tree National Park
Joshua Tree National Park is made up of two deserts, two large ecosystems primarily
determined by elevation. This desert is immense and infinitely variable and yet also
delicately fragile. The land here may seem to appear defeated and dead, but within its parched
environment are intricate living systems, each fragment performing a slightly different
function...
Joshua Tree National Park
Mesa Verde National Park
Mesa Verde, Spanish for "green table", offers an unparalleled opportunity to see and
experience a unique cultural and physical landscape. The culture represented at Mesa Verde
reflects more than 700 years of history. From approximately A.D. 600 through A.D. 1300 people
lived and flourished in communities throughout the area, eventually building elaborate stone
villages in the sheltered alcoves of the canyon walls... Mesa
Verde National Park
Each one of us can do our part when visiting parks with simple steps: protect our wildlife by not feeding them, clean up after ourselves and stay on designated trails to protect the plant-life and environment and spread the word about the importance of our national treasures. Donate to Leave No Trace
If you would like to learn more about how wildlife needs your help, or wish to donateto a cause to protecting wildlife, visit The National Wildlife Federation.
White Sands National Monument
At the northern end of the Chihuahuan Desert lies a mountain ringed valley called the Tularosa Basin. Rising from the heart of this basin is one of the world's great natural wonders - the glistening white sands of New Mexico. Here, great wave-like dunes of gypsum sand have engulfed 275 square miles of desert and have created the world's largest gypsum dune field. The brilliant white dunes are ever changing: growing, cresting, then slumping, but always advancing... White Sands
Devils Tower National Monument
The nearly vertical monolith known as Devils Tower rises 1,267 feet above the meandering Belle Fourche River. Once hidden below the earth's surface, erosion has stripped away the softer rock layers revealing Devils Tower. The rolling hills of this 1,347 acre park are covered with pine forests, deciduous woodlands, and prairie grasslands. Deer, prairie dogs, and other wildlife are abundant... Devils Tower National Monument
National Parks & Monuments History
On March 1, 1872, President Grant signed the bill into law, establishing the Yellowstone region as a public park and setting a major conservation precedent.
The Nation had its first national park; an area of exceptional beauty was set aside for the enjoyment of generations to come, and a tradition of preserving similar areas was established. President Theodore Roosevelt proclaimed Devils Tower the first national monument in 1906.
There are over 390 spectacular US National Parks, Monuments and other units to be explored across America so isn’t it time to pack your bags and go on an adventure? Use our Park Locator or our National Monuments Guide and National Parks Guide to find your park.
National Park System Quick Facts
- The first National Park established, Yellowstone in 1872
- Largest NP, Wrangell-St. Elias NP and Preserve, Alaska
- Smallest Site, The Thaddeus Kosciuszko N. Memorial
- Number of acres of NPS stewardship land, 79 Million
- Percent of the U.S. in the National Park System, 3.6
- Number of acres managed by the NPS, 84.6Million
- Largest NP in contiguous 48, Death Valley, 3.3M Acres
- 58 National Parks, 74 National Monuments
- Number of National Park System Units, 391
- 3,565 Miles of US National Scenic Trails
- 4 National Parkways managed by the NPS
- 12,250 Miles of Unpaved Trails
Protect Your Parks
If you are interested in making a donation towards protecting America’s National Parks, you should consider the National Parks Foundation or the National Parks Conservation Association. These two amazing charities work diligently to protect these spectacular landscapes that we all love.
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