How to Plan Affordable Family Vacations in US National Parks

Choosing what to do for your family vacation is a difficult decision to make. There are always all these looming questions in your mind. Where do we go? Is it safe? Are there fun things to do? Is it cheap or even free? How far is it? Do we have a place to stay?

Are there good restaurants or nice food places there? These and so many others. I am going to walk you through how to plan affordable family vacations in US National Parks.

 

11 Affordable Ways to Experience America’s National Parks

Step 1: Relax

Relax a little. It is hard enough working nonstop all year long. You deserve a vacation and it should be something that gives you joy and peace when you plan it and not anxiety.

Obviously, it is hard planning a vacation, especially with other people, because you have to cater to everyone’s wants and needs.

But you need to remember to breathe and come to terms with the fact that not everything will be perfect so you will deal with some problems as they come. You cannot foresee everything so relax a little.

Step 2: Find out how far the park is from your home/ current location.

Now that we have taken deep breaths, step 2 comes into play. This for me is way up there on the list because the amount of money you spend on gas for a short drive can drastically change to an exorbitant amount spent on plane tickets depending on how far it actually is.

The plan is to keep it affordable so you have to look out for all the parks closest to you from all directions. It is important for convenience too. When we have all our options, then we go onto the next step.

Step 3: Is the park family friendly?

This is very important for people travelling with little children. You need to be guaranteed of the safety of your children regardless of the fun. It is important that you know how safe the park you choose to go to is for example large water bodies with no rails that an overly enthusiastic child can fall in is not safe. Safety always comes first.

Step 4: What activities to do there?

If you have ever travelled with family, you know how important it is to have a variety of activities that will intrigue and occupy each member of the family.

Some you can do together but it is important to acknowledge every one’s individual interests. It is very vital if travelling with small children.

Some might like hiking on the trails in parks, others not so much. You want to ensure that everyone has a fun time and does not feel left out. So, when deciding which one to go to, you have to look out for the activities available.

Step 5: How much do the activities cost/ How much does it cost to enter the park?

Well usually, parks do not charge a huge amount of money for entrance into the park. It is around 10–20 dollars.

However, you have to make proper research and find out if all you have to pay is entrance fee and you have access to everything else or you pay for entrance and also individually for all the different activities within the park.

This makes all the difference because imagine you plan for the entrance fee and end up not enjoying yourself to the fullest because of the extra fee for each activity. Here, you can do one of two things: You can choose to go to a park with a small entrance fee or free entirely but with a charge for each activity or you can settle for parks that charge a somewhat high price at the entrance but everything else is accessible within the park. It is either or.

Step 6: Which Park has more activities for less money?

We always have to remember that what we are looking for is an affordable family vacation. So, you should definitely find out which park has more activities for less money. That way, you get to have a whole lot of fun for less money.

Step 7: Are there food places in or near the park and are they affordable?

Food should definitely be a priority. If you are planning on camping in a park or going for just that day, it is vital that you have access to good food unless of course you had time to prep, make and pack homemade meals for your trip.

Even so, you never know what might happen. You might end up needing a restaurant one way or the other.

So, you should always research about the available restaurants or food places in the park and how much they are.

It is also important to check for allergy friendly meals if any member of your family is allergic to something and also the availability of vegetarian, vegan and gluten free options if that is your preferred choice or for anyone else in the family.

Step 8: Find out about the toilets.

This should be a non-negotiable. You never know when you need to go number 2. It is therefore important that you find out about the availability of toilet facilities and whether they have water and also how clean they are.

You cannot and should not compromise your health because of a nice park. This should be a priority for everyone; small children, teenagers and adults.

Step 9: Are there affordable hotels or motels near the park?

This is such an important thing to look at because accommodation facilities are usually exploitative and expensive.

You need to know exactly what you are getting yourself into when booking one so as not to go over your budget. However, finding a great place to stay even if it is a bit expensive is a non-negotiable factor in my books because safety and health should always be a priority.

Step 10: When is the best time to visit?

Some national parks are cheaper during certain times of the year and you should take advantage of that. In some areas, the months of May to August are the cheapest months and October to January are the most expensive because it is time for the holidays then.

In other areas, the months of December to February are the cheapest and the months of July to October are the most expensive.

So, since the goal is to have an affordable family vacation, it is vital that you plan according to when in the year it is cheaper.

Step 11: Compromise.

This is probably unsolicited advice but you are less likely to find a park that has every single quality that you need.

You might find good food but poor toilet facilities, cheap entrance but nothing to do (limited activities), close to home but expensive.

The point I am trying to make is that it is nearly impossible to get everything in the exact way that you want it.

There are obviously so many other things to consider but I believe these are the most important ones. You can add the ones that are specific to your wants and needs so that you can have the best ever affordable family vacation.

The National Parks I recommend Depending on Where You Are.

There are 50 states in the US and Washington D.C and every single one has nice national parks that you can go to — to have the best time as a family at a reasonable price.

I will mention one or two of the best parks in some states in the US so that you know how high you should set your standards.

1. Texas

I do not know why I started with Texas but this state has some of the most interesting national parks to go to for lovers of strenuous outdoor activities.

If hiking is your thing, Texas is the place to be. One of the best parks in Texas is Big Bend National Park which has the Santa Elena canyon that is mesmerizing and gorgeous.

It also has the Chisos Mountains and hot springs with so many hike trails and camping grounds too. It is the ultimate outdoor experience.

Some other parks you can go to are the Guadalupe Mountains National Park, which has the Salt Basin dunes and the Guadalupe Peak; the San Antonio Missions National Historical Park, which has the San Antonio River walk, Espada Aqueduct and Casin Lake, and so many other parks. Here, it is best to go from the months of May to August for the cheapest rates.

2. Maine

Since we have been down south, the North East also deserves recognition. There are so many beautiful national parks here but I will only mention a few.

Acadia National Park is a gorgeous coast preserve with the Cadillac Mountain and other granite peaks, Jordan Pond and other breathtaking sights.

There is also the Katahdin Woods and National Waters Monument, which has the Katahdin Lake and Deasey Mountain.

For Maine, the months of April, December, January and February are the cheapest and the from July to October is the most expensive season. It is a contrast with Texas where it is the other way around.

3. California

We have been to the south and the North East. It is high time we consider the West coast as well and California is the ultimate west coast state.

As always, there are so many options but I will mention a few great ones. A favorite is Sequoia National Park that has the spectacular ancient Sequoia trees.

They are huge and equally as breathtaking. It is also a good place to hike and has a number of trails. Yosemite National Park is also a good one with its unique geology, great camping ground and hiking trails. You can also go to Pinnacles National Park, Joshua Tree National Park and others.

4. Pennsylvania

This state is also located in the North East region of the United States. Like Maine, Pennsylvania also has amazing national parks to visit at any time of the year.

You can definitely have a fun family vacation at affordable rates here too. Some parks I would recommend are Valley Forge National Historical Park and Gettysburg National Military Park. Valley Forge National Historical Park has Washington’s monuments.

It is a great place to go to for a nice informative history lesson which can be great for children in their formative years. Gettysburg on the other hand has battlefield and war artifacts.

These are interesting places to go to between the months of November and February when they are at the it lowest rates.

5. Wyoming

The state of Wyoming is located in the Mountain West region of Western United States. This state is just filled with some of the most interesting things to see in the national parks. Their parks are stunning.

The best one is Yellowstone National Park which has the Yellowstone Caldera, the Yellowstone Lake and the Grand Prismatic spring. It is colorful and fun.

It is cheapest to go in the months of March, April, November and December. You can also go to the Grand Teton National Park which has activities like hiking and climbing. You can stay at the Jackson Hole Mountain resort for many more fun activities.

6. Florida

We all know Florida is most known for its stunning beaches and clear waters. But there is so much more to be offered by this South Eastern US state.

It has a huge number of National Parks that one can go to throughout the year. There is the Biscayne National Park which has coral reefs and islands, Dry Tortugas National Park known for its marine life.

Both these parks are mostly accessible by boat which is fascinating by itself. Of course, there are others but let us start with those two.

7. Oklahoma

In the South-central region, we have the beautiful state of Oklahoma. It has some really nice parks that would be worth it even if you have taken a long trip.

There is the Chickasaw National Recreation Area which is great for kids and is free. It has animals, waterfalls and is very good with hygiene.

The people of Oklahoma should really treasure this beauty. There is the Salt Plains National Park whose name is a giveaway for what you will find there: salt plains.

It is an informative and educative fun experience to have and so many other great parks to try out.

8. Mississippi

Mississippi also has some great National parks like the Davis Bayou Are Gulf Islands National Seashore that has the Davis Bayou campground, Fort Massachusetts and many other interesting things to see.

It is also by the sea shore so you can step out on the beach too and have a much more interesting vacation. You can also go to the Vicksburg National Military Park which has a civil war battleground and ship museum.

9. Utah

Utah is also located in a mountainous region and it does not fall short of beauty. It has some of the most spectacular sights that you can catch from their national parks.

You can go to Zion National Park for its breathtaking red Zion Canyon and Virgin River or to the Arches National Park for its Delicate Arch and Balanced Rock Stone formations or even the Bryce Canyon National Park for its hoodoo rock formations and so many others.

They all have nice hiking trails to add a little edge to the vacation.

10. South Dakota

This state has diverse options and you can go where you consider the most interesting. There is the Badlands national Park which has Badlands and interesting rock formations, Wind Cave National Park which has a peculiar cave (Wind Cave) and wildlife rich prairie.

There are great affordable places to stay in too near the parks.

11. South Carolina

This beautiful state has some amazing parks to visit as well like the Kings Mountain National Military Park which is situated at a revolutionary war battlefield.

You get to stand and walk in places that are filled with a rich history. There is also the Congaree National Park in which amazing biodiversity exists and it would be worth catching a glimpse of it here, take a walk in the forest and enjoy the rawness of nature.

I have not mentioned all the fifty states and the national parks in them but I hope you get the idea of what to look out for when choosing the best National Park for your family vacation.

You have to always look out for the best option available and learn how to compromise on some things because it is incredibly hard to get every single thing that you want.

Health and safety are non-negotiable of course but everything else can be reconsidered. I hope my tips help and you get yourself the most enjoyable but still affordable family vacation possible.