I have visited dozens of national parks and park lands over the years. While all these sites are amazing, small oversights can easily turn a vacation sour. Avoid the below mistakes on your next visit to have the best experience.
Not Buying a Park Pass
Many parks have entrance fees ranging from $5 to $35. If you plan to visit more than one site in the national park system, I highly recommend buying an annual park pass.
An annual pass costs $80 and lasts for 12 months. I have purchased one for the past 5 years and each one has paid for itself! Plus, passes save time at each fee booth or visitor center.
For an example of how much I saved with my 2023 pass, check out Why You Should Get an Annual National Park Pass.
Not Planning Ahead
Not planning ahead can derail your trip and possibly keep you out of the park entirely. Parks may require advance permits for certain hikes, timed-entry reservations, or reserved campsites. Some campgrounds sell out six months or more in advance.
I have heard multiple people complain about not being able to get in or participate in the main activity they wanted. The park’s website and social media will offer current constraints and closures.
Even if you want to be spontaneous, prepare a basic itinerary to make sure you are covering all the requirements.
I am a planner by nature and even I was caught off guard about peak season parking and shuttle requirements at Zion National Park.
Scheduling Too Little Time
While there is no set amount of time to spend in each park, part of planning ahead is making sure you have enough time to explore everything you want to see. Rarely can you do it all in a few hours.
I was able to explore White Sands National Park in a day while three days in Glacier National Park was not enough.
Being Unprepared
Visitors should come prepared with water, food, and gasoline. Some parks have limited water stations and no restaurants or snacks available. Many parks have no gas within their boundaries and may be located in remote areas. Make sure to fill up when you can.
Clothing appropriate for the location and weather (e.g., raincoats, thermal layers, hats) is a must. I have seen people hiking in wooded areas and on mountains in flip-flops! Bug spray and sunscreen are also part of being prepared.
Sleeping In
Starting early in the morning means you will beat the traffic and crowds. Other benefits include:
- Finding spots in small parking lots
- Taking photographs without people in the shot
- Enjoying the solitude in nature
- Calmer wildlife due to less noise and movement
An early start helped us for Logan Pass in Glacier National Park.
Ideal times are between sunrise and 10:00 a.m. After that, crowds start filling in.
Skipping the Visitor Center
I recommend stopping by the visitor center to start your trip. They offer maps, interpretive exhibits, and boards with recent wildlife sightings.
Park rangers can provide so much information! More than once I have had a visit planned out only to have a ranger tell me that certain areas or trails were closed to the public that day.
Exploring Only Popular Attractions
While popular attractions are definitely must-sees, do not miss out on hidden gems in more remote locations. People tend to not wander far from main roads and parking areas.
In Grand Teton National Park, Jenny Lake is a popular stop. We chose nearby Leigh Lake instead and had it basically to ourselves.
This applies to hikes as well – many people turn back within a mile. For the Alkali Flat Trail in White Sands National Park, the experience is better the farther you get from the trailhead. Once people can spread out, you no longer see them in your eyeline.
Not Treating Wildlife with Proper Care
Do not feed, approach, or provoke wildlife. Potentially dangerous animals include bison, bears, coyotes, cougars, mountain lions, and animals with antlers or horns.
Enjoy wildlife safely from afar. There are so many stories of people being attacked by wildlife, especially bison, because they got too close. Each park has its own rules for safe distances.
Even less dangerous animals should be treated with care. Feeding creatures, like squirrels, changes their natural behavior, and could make them dependent on visitors for food. Bigger animals looking for food could pose a threat and result in them having to be put down.
For more wildlife tips, check out my Ethical Wildlife Encounters.
Wandering Off the Trail
There are three main reasons to stay on designated trails: conservation, safety, and helping other visitors.
Conservation
When people step off trail, they are likely trampling plant life or habitats. Some of this plant life may be endangered or act as a key food source. Trails also help mitigate issues like erosion.
Safety
Going off-trail can cause you to get lost, fall, or hurt yourself. This applies to various landscapes – wooded forests, mountains, rivers, and geothermal features. Plus, if you are not on the path, you will be harder to find and rescue as well.
Helping Others
If too many people step off the trail, it starts to look like a true spur path. This is confusing to other visitors who could follow this “non-trail” and get lost.
Damaging the Landscape
While out in nature, we need to be responsible for how we interact with our environment. A popular framework for minimum impact is Leave No Trace (LNT). “Pack it in, pack it out” is a key LNT principle for garbage and litter.
This also means you should not take any souvenirs like rocks, seashells, or plants. The park is protected land for a reason. One of my favorite eco-friendly quotes is “take only pictures (memories), leave only footprints.”
For more information about Leave No Trace and other guidelines, review How to Hike Responsibly.
Visiting in Peak Season Only
Peak season in each park is usually determined by when the elements in the park are at their finest. It has the best weather, and all trails, campgrounds, roads, and buildings are open.
Shoulder seasons can be great times to visit. During shoulder season, most amenities and sites are still available with fewer crowds. Off-season can also be lovely, depending on the park and weather.
I visited several national parks and national monuments in Arizona and New Mexico in January. Saguaro National Park was still warm and the trails were relatively empty. Then we had two days of snow which made visiting Chaco Culture National Historical Park difficult; however, the snow was beautiful against the painted desert in Petrified Forest National Park.
It can be easy to fall into these mistakes, even for experienced travelers. Hopefully learning about them and hearing how they have affected my trips will make your next national park visit spectacular!