Plan Your Dream Trip to US National Parks Without Limits
Planning an expansive and detailed trip to a selection of US National Parks is no mean feat. Given that the parks are spread out across many areas of the US, there’s a lot of traveling involved to get quickly and safely from place to place to really begin enjoying the National Parks experience.
That time costs money or eats away at the vacation days you have available for the trip. So, how do you plan an extensive National Parks trip without wasting too much time in between park experiences? We’ve got you covered.
First, Choose the Right Parks
There are a total of 63 National Parks spread out across the US. Visiting each of these parks in turn is the kind of undertaking that would eat up an entire year if you spent five days on each park and the travel it would take to get to and fro. We’ve compiled a list of the most beautiful National Parks and what they’re known for. They are also listed in the most practical visiting order. Travelers can start at whichever end of the list they prefer.
- Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming
Hot springs, geysers, mud pots.
- Grand Teton National Park, Wyoming
Majestic mountains.
- Bryce Canyon National Park, Utah
Towering clay and rock formations.
- Zion National Park, Utah
Deep green canyons and aggressive rock faces.
- Grand Canyon National Park, Arizona
Deeply carved, multifaceted landscapes.
- Sequoia National Park, California
Gigantic, dramatic sequoia forests.
- Yosemite National Park, California
Monolithic rock formations and deep, dark forests.
- Redwood National Park, California
Deep blue oceans and endless, deep green forests.
Second, Choose the Right Transport
As evidenced by the map above, the route is a long one. It could certainly be a beautiful road trip if time were not a factor, but for everyone with a full-time job, time is always a factor. The most practical way to get from place to place quickly and safely is to charter a private jet.
The travel portion of any vacation – we’re not talking about traveling around your destination, but rather the travel you can’t avoid in getting from destination to destination – can be trying and stressful if planned well, but downright unpleasant when things go wrong. Bags and equipment getting mishandled or lost by commercial airlines, overbooking, the hours and hours in the air surrounded by a cabin of strangers who may or may not be considerate enough to let you have the best experience possible, and maybe even get in a little shuteye before touchdown.
Chartering a jet gives you the freedom to schedule flights at your own convenience rather than having to adhere to a commercial airline’s timetable. It gives you access to complete comfort, privacy, peace, and safety while you’re in the air, as the cabin is yours and yours alone. You can rest, nibble on delicious meals, and plan your next excursions without a neighbor hogging the armrest or someone’s child kicking your seat.
Another benefit of private jet travel is that jets can land at smaller or private airports or strips (with prior arrangement by the jet rental company) that will get you closer to the next park on your list, saving you more travel time that can be better used enjoying the natural beauty of the parks themselves.
Third, Choose the Right Accommodation
Choosing your National Parks trip accommodation with care will further enhance the entire experience. Now, there are different kinds of accommodation for different kinds of people.
Do you prefer a more rustic setting or something truly plush and luxurious? Will you be bringing a collection of hiking/biking/snowshoeing/skiing gear (whichever is relevant to your preferred activities) with you, or would you prefer to rent it at each location to minimize baggage? Do you want to see other sites around the parks or just the parks themselves?
Asking yourself these questions will help you determine where to stay. We’ve listed one more rustic and one more opulent accommodation choice for each park on the list to help you decide.
- Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming
Sage Lodge or Rusty Parrot Lodge and Spa
- Grand Teton National Park, Wyoming
Teton Mountain Lodge and Spa or Moose Creek Ranch
- Bryce Canyon National Park, Utah
Yonder Escalante or The Lookout
- Zion National Park, Utah
Ulum Moab or the Inn at Entrada
- Grand Canyon National Park, Arizona
The Grand Hotel or Bright Angel Lodge and Cabins
- Sequoia National Park, California
The Villas at Pelican Hills or Sequoia National Park Cottages
- Yosemite National Park, California
Château du Sureau or Yosemite Bug Rustic Mountain Resort
- Redwood National Park, California
Benbow Historic Inn or Elk Meadow Cabins
Lastly, Choose the Right Time
The right time to travel largely depends on what it is that the traveler wants to get out of the trip. Do you like the fresh fields of springtime, or maybe the long and hot days of summer are more up your alley? Are you a leaf peeper or does softly falling snow just melt your heart? Since most US National Parks stay open year-round, you can take your pick of the seasons, but definitely check with the parks in question as some less passable areas may be closed during heavy winter storms. Do remember that travel in spring may turn into travel in summer if the journey is long enough, and the same can be said for the fall-to-winter transition.
Where Will You Start?
The only things left now are to decide where and when you’ll start. Your National Parks vacation can be whatever you’d like it to be if you just make the right choices at the right time. It’s all up to you!
