It’s National Park Week which means that entry to all 397 national parks, monuments, and historic sites across the United States (and Puerto Rico) is totally free. This annual event is put on by the National Park Foundation, the official charity of the National Parks (see the story we did about park funding for National Geographic Traveler to learn more about why our national parks need an official charity).
The locations included in the United States National Park System represent some of the most spectacular and largest (87 million acres) tracts of protected land on the planet. The first two years of our Trans-Americas Journey were spent in the United States where we visited 123 National Parks, National Monuments, and National Historic Sites. The photo montage, below, includes shots taken as we entered 68 of them.
US National Park signs.
Here’s more about travel to US National Parks & Monuments
Here’s more about travel to the USA
You guys done good! That’s an impressive list. Our national parks are an incredible resource and treasure. They protect vulnerable and unique natural places. They do a great job of educating visitors about local flora, fauna, geology. They increasingly try to limit environmental impact (Zion NP doesn’t even sell plastic bottled water. You have to fill your own.) And they’re very affordable.
Thanks for the plug for our national parks. We’re so lucky to have them.
We loved the fact that Zion had fountains all over the place to fill your bottle.
Very cool! You guys have been to a ton of national parks and monuments! I haven’t been to nearly as many, but the ones I HAVE visited have blown me away. I feel like many Americans have no idea how many amazing places we have right in our own backyards!
So true, the parks are one of the greatest gifts we have.
That photo montage is MORE than cool!
National Parks are probably the best treasures we have.
It is almost like you guys have been to every single US park out there. That is a wealth of camper knowledge and advice.
Not quite every park, but more than most. Probably over 200 including the ones we’ve been to on the Journey and prior to the Journey.
Wow! That’s a cool collection!
Wonderful – I would love to go to the Grand Canyon and Yosemite National Parks!
This is awesome! I want to go a big USA road trip when I eventually move back to Canada and this is certainly inspirational… I will have to go through your archives when I get to the planning stages
Great collage! Love the National Parks!
Well done guys! But seriously, there are places called Badlands, Deadwood and Death Valley in the US? definitely want to visit those places ;)
Hey Jarmo,
Yeah, crazy names right? And don’t forget about Devil’s Tower. At least we can’t lay claim to “Head Smashed In Buffalo Jump” which is the name of an actual park in Canada.
Very nice! I think Denali will be my next one.
Very impressive! That’s a lot of national parks! I’ve only been to a handful, definitely need to explore some more.