How to Plan a Road Trip to the Western National Parks
The best way to plan for your trip to the western United States is first to get a "Passport," available at any national park. Choose the parks that have the amenities that most interest you. In this region, one can experience the diversity of the cultures that inhabited this area. Most places require a weeklong stay to get the full benefit of the park, though many people try to cram it into a weekend. In cramming, you miss out on what makes each park unique. National parks include not only the parks themselves but monuments, recreational areas and historic sites.
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Things You'll Need
- "Passport To Your National Parks"
- Maps and directions to each park
- Vehicle
- Tickets
Instructions
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Where to go
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Choose which Western Parks, you want to see. Fifty-five parks exist in the western region, which includes California, Arizona, Hawaii, Guam and two parks in Nevada. Excellent choices include Redwood National Park to see redwood trees. For mountains and waterfalls, Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks are not as crammed with people as Yosemite. Petrified Forest has the oldest-known dinosaur fossils. In Joshua Tree National Park, three desert national symbols grow: the saguro, the organ pipe cactus and, of course the Joshua tree. San Francisco Maritime National Historical Park includes Golden Gate National Recreation Area and Fort Point National Historic Site.
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Obtain maps so you can safely and easily get there. You can use MapQuest or GoogleMaps online or you can obtain directions from a local travel agent or AAA office.
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Decide whether you want to camp or stay in accommodations in the parks. If you choose to use the park accommodations, make reservations at least a year in advance, because most of them fill up quickly.
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Fill your gas tank and obtain your tickets. Enjoy your trip.
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Tips & Warnings
If you want to see beauty and get a taste of what a specific area is like without the crowds, research the specific area of choice for similar features. For example, both Yosemite (which has the crowds) and Sequoia (less visited) have waterfalls, sequoia trees, high mountains and similar terrain. Hawaii's crowded beaches compare to California's less crowded Pacific coast. Summer is a great time to visit with children because there are ranger programs and activities that teach educational concepts related to each individual park.
In this region, rattlesnakes and scorpions are a concern. Stay on the trails at all times. Bears also may visit your campsite, so keep food and other things with strong aromas locked away in bear-proof bins. The National Park Service doesn't allow dogs or pets on trails. But if you have pets and wish to visit, you can still visit national forests situated adjacent to most national parks. These do allow pets on the trails in most instances. Because of the parks' remoteness, most cellphones don't work, so be prepared to have another form of communication. Most parks are at least one hour from a major city. Campgrounds fill up quickly on the weekend, so it is advisable to visit and stay during the week.
