A Guide to Summer Camping in U.S. National Parks

June 29, 2009.

We are not quite half way through summer, and according to a recent article in the NY Times, bookings in our national parks are up — in some cases by as much as 30 percent. Some campgrounds were filled on weekends even before Memorial Day weekend, the traditional kickoff of the camping season.

Is the bad economy is causing an interest in the great outdoors? Whatever the reasons, it is exciting to see so many people experiencing a night under the stars. This does mean, however, that you might need to work a little harder to secure your ideal campsite.

Rest assured, you won’t be bothered by the sound of generators here.

The U.S. has 58 national parks, containing 861 campgrounds ranging from primitive (pit toilets) to modern (hot showers). Bookings at the 141 national park campgrounds in the National Recreation Reservation Service were up 9 percent from January through March 26 over the same period last year.

Many experienced campers booked five and six months ago, when many national park campsites went on sale. Cancellations do occur, and first-come-first-served campgrounds abound. (Be sure to arrive in the morning, when the previous night’s campers are checking out.) In addition to Park Service properties, there are 5,800 campgrounds in national forests, as well as state parks.

You have many options to ensure a spot at an outstanding campground this summer, including booking a trip with a reputable adventure travel company, such as O.A.R.S. O.A.R.S. offers U.S. national park vacations, including whitewater rafting, sea kayaking, hiking and multi-sport activities in 12 different parks in the western U.S. Many options include unique permits, allowing you to experience a national park well off the beaten path in addition to secluded campsites. You may also try your own luck through any number of websites, such as those listed below.

U.S. National Park Service
http://www.nps.gov/findapark

U.S. National Forest Campground Guide
http://forestcamping.com/

Federal Recreation, Camping, and Tour Reservations
http://www.recreation.gov/

Remember, there are two more fee-free weekends this summer (July 18-19 and August 15-16) at many of your favorite western U.S. parks including, but not limited to:
Arches National Park
Bryce Canyon National Park
Canyonlands National Park
Capitol Reef National Park
Grand Canyon National Park
Grand Teton National Park
Dinosaur National Monument
Mesa Verde National Park
Yellowstone National park
Yosemite National Park

For a complete list of fee-free parks, go to http://www.nps.gov/findapark/feefreeparksbystate.htm

Take advantage of your national parks! See you out there…

Tweet This Post