A visit to the national park is one of the best ways to enjoy your holiday experience. You will enjoy some beautiful views and also interact with some wild animals in certain parks. Yellowstone Bear World is a drive-thru wildlife park in Rexburg, ID, where you get to see wildlife roaming free while driving your car.
There are many parks you can visit for such an experience. You should always be prepared for queues and price hikes when visiting some national parks. However, there are ways you can avoid such. Here are tips for visiting national parks.
Do Not Stay in the Park Overnight
Overnight stay within the national park is not a cheap pleasure. You should find a short-term rental apartment or hotel room in a town near the park’s borders. The price for such options is usually one-third of the cost of living in the park. In addition, outside the park, tourists have more options and food options.
Don’t Rely on a Gas Station in the Park
Certain national parks, such as Death Valley National Park, which are the size of Connecticut, sometimes take several hours to get around. It is best to have a full gas tank before entering the park because local gas stations are likely to be “insanely expensive.”
Don’t Miss the Chance to Talk to the Park Rangers
The first thing you need to do is go to the visitor center and talk to the caretaker. The tracks are often closed for maintenance. The caretaker will tell you which routes may be closed on that day. It is better to take time for this conversation and get free advice from a specialist than to spend hours driving just to see for yourself.
The Main Entrance to the Park Is Not Always the Best
To avoid long lines, you should explore all possible entrances to the park. GPS systems are usually directed to the main entrance, which can be the most crowded. For example, most people enter Rocky Mountain National Park in Colorado through the town of Estes Park, but through the entrance at the southern end of the park, which is less congested.
Don’t Rely on Mobile Internet for Navigation
In most cases, in national parks, mobile communications are either very weak or absent altogether. You can download Google Maps offline before entering the park and immediately identify your destination so you can navigate the area even if the connection is lost. It would also not hurt to purchase a park card at the entrance if the phone suddenly runs out of power.
Don’t Limit Yourself to a Few National Parks
Some of the most beautiful places in the national park system are located paradoxically outside the national parks you have visited. You should take your time to understand some of the best locations in the park you are visiting or have visited. This is something that can be researched before your trip. Online sources and a brief from the park managers will help you understand more.
