Did you know that some 275 million people visit the various National Parks in this country each year? The majority of these visitors arrive in summer, and the parks are often very overcrowded. This is why, if you want to experience solitude, and have the opportunity to really get to know the natural beauty of the various parks, you should consider booking your national park tours outside of the summer season. Let’s take a look at some hints and tips on how to find that solitude that is so good for the soul.Avoid the crowds on national park tours by selecting carefully the time of the year you go for a visit.Learn all about this.

Tips for Booking National Park Tours

Photo by: stevetulk

1. Avoid the summer and choose to book an out of season visit.

The quietest time of all for the various parks is the week before Memorial Day, with the week following Labor Day coming in second. If those times are not an option for you, try to avoid the weekend and go midweek instead.

2. Visit a less popular park.

Everybody wants to go to the top 10 parks, including Yellowstone. However, there are many equally beautiful, but far less crowded, places that you could opt for instead. Kings Canyon, for instance, is less crowded than Yosemite Valley. Great Basin and Lave Beds are less crowded than Carlsbad Caverns. If you insist on visiting one of the top 10, try to find a less crowded part inside these parks. For instance, the Grand Canyon’s north ridge is much less visited than the south ridge.

3. Plan your trip in advance so that you know where to stay.

There are hotels, lodges, camping grounds and more. Most of these places have websites, so you can take a look at what to expect. There are also some camping passes that give you entry to a range of national parks if you purchase a yearly pass. Doing so could help you save a whole lot of money overall, particularly if you are traveling with a family. Plus, knowing where you are going to stay means you also know what you need to bring with you.

4. Go slow and against the flow.

Do you really have to be like everybody else and visit a park between 10am and 4pm? How about watching the sunrise over Yellowstone or the sunset over the Grand Canyon instead? Why not enjoy night time campfire talks instead of trudging behind queues of people during the day? Lots of outdoor activities are completely free and can be engaged in at any time, so why limit yourself and make yourself uncomfortable by doing what everybody else does?

5. Remember the little things.

Last but not least, remember the little things: have a full tank of gas, don’t forget the mosquito repellent, bring a clean change of clothes and shoes.

The national parks in our country are like nothing you have ever seen before, no matter which one you go to or at which time. The most important thing is that you enjoy yourself while you are there.

I also recommend checking out the complete guide to Yellowstone Park from Live Once Live Wild to get the most out of your trip to this incredible natural wonder.

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