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I've done a handful of National Park trips in the last year and a half (Yellow Stone, a few in southern Utah). I would say National Park trips are "expensive"
by xahrepap 4y ago
I've done a handful of National Park trips in the last year and a half (Yellow Stone, a few in southern Utah).
I would say National Park trips are "expensive" in ways other than the cash it takes to get in. We tried to plan our trips avoiding the major holidays and spring/fall breaks of the local school districts, etc.
- They're overly crowded. It feels like a theme park. Looking at a waterfall and you're standing shoulder to shoulder with strangers. It's crazy.
- Parking is nearly impossible to find. Some days you have to pay for parking and bus into the park.
- Every campground was full. Hotels and BNBs are not exactly cheap in those areas.
We'd ask workers/etc about the traffic and they'd always say stuff like, "oh yeah, this is nothing. You should've seen it X weeks ago!"
So, sure the National Park itself is peanuts to get admission. But it was disappointing in a lot of ways. For those reasons, I would be more interested in paying more dollars to see State parks, if all the other "costs" were "cheaper" :)
- ROTMetro 4y agoIf you are going 'second tier' with State parks, just go to National Forests. Where I am you can see amazing waterfalls, ride down nature made water slides, gathers crystals, gather sharks teeth, see breathtaking ancient cedar groves, breathtaking lake views, breathtaking alpine lake views, breathtaking mountain views, see wildlife from mountain sheep to moose to if you aren't careful grizzlies (be smart, National Forests has way less safeguards than National Parks)(the only animal my son never saw on his wishlist was a porcupine, the scariest ever seen according to the kids, not a grizzlie or wolf, no, a beaver in the water while they were swimming), mountainbike/hike. All free.
- ghaff 4y agoMost of the National Parks (and National Monuments) are such for good reason but there are definitely alternatives and the most popular parks may have crowds (and restrictions) that make them not worth it at peak times. There are some parks I'd never visit during the summer. Not that all the alternatives are uncrowded. Some Wilderness Areas in particular have almost impossible to come by permits.
- richiebful1 4y agoDaniel Boone National Forest in Kentucky is an unknown treasure outside of the state (unless you're a climber). The Red River Gorge has beautiful vistas, old growth hemlock stands, and really cool rock formations. And speaking of entertainment/travel/lodging inflation, primitive and developed camping are still cheap in the area.