I found big adventure and warm weather in these national-park units spread across the Southeast and Southwest
Most national parks have an entry fee, but not these. And they’re all awesome places to visit.
Our national parks are called America’s Best Idea for a reason. Here's how to have the most epic adventures in the most beautiful parks in the U.S.
Timed-entry reservations are back. Our national parks columnist reveals how to get into these popular parks.
“The trees aren’t as big as everyone says” and “I've seen better in video games.” Our national-parks columnist rounded up some scathing reviews of America's Best Idea.
“Seen better”: Not every visitor is impressed with one of the world’s seven natural wonders, it turns out
Surrounded by more famous destinations, this area is often overlooked. Yet it is one of the wildest and most beautiful units in the national-park system.
Petting bison, cooking food in geysers. Ride along with our writer on a wild trip to our nation’s most iconic national park at the height of tourist season to see all the bad behavior.
People often ask me which park I liked the most. My answer surprises them.
These cool new lodging options are within striking distance of some of the country’s most popular national parks
Our astrotourism expert shares tips on how to maximize your view of the year’s brightest meteor shower, peaking on August 12
Panoramas, waterfalls, and other natural wonders await you on these quick, rewarding routes chosen by our national-parks expert
Our parks expert has put together long weekend trips for as little as $204, with details on free entrance fees and campsites, and active itineraries that keep costs down
This beautiful 469-mile route connects Great Smoky Mountain and Shenandoah National Parks. Our local writer knows just where to stop for hikes, camping, and the best views.
We love national parks, but they can get packed. These national monuments have the same spectacular landscapes, hikes, and adventures, without the crowds.
From western landscapes to the Blue Ridge Parkway, our national park expert maps out five beautiful road trips—all doable in a week
Our parks expert found the coolest small towns to stay in next door to U.S. national parks. You’re welcome.
According to new NPS data, visitation is up at the country’s most popular national parks. But at these under-the-radar gems, the scenery is equally spectacular and you’ll have plenty of room to explore.
Ditch the crowds as you hike, camp, and revel in the most stunning backcountry landscapes in the U.S. They don't call one circuit Wonderland for nothing.
There was nothing to do, I didn’t see a bear, and that snake harassed me
And take our advice on where to go for the most fun adventures in America's Best Idea, from Yellowstone to Acadia
Time is of the essence if you're looking to score a camping reservation for summer. Here are the most coveted national park campgrounds and how to reserve sites there.
A searching mother, a headless gunslinger, a mysterious light to show you the way: these national parks are home to hair-raising tales
The Interior Department said on Friday that national parks will shutter if Congress doesn’t approve the recent spending bill. Several governors say they will use state funds to keep federal parklands open.
Follow these park-by-park recommendations from our expert who has explored each one to get the most bang for your adventure buck
From a severed hand in Yosemite to missing honeymooners in the Grand Canyon, our national parks are home to some curious and strange tales
Brad Sailer and his epilepsy alert dog completed their quest in July to bring awareness to accessibility in the outdoors.
Reservations are hard to come by but this hundred-year-old lodge is worth the wait. In the meantime, you can hike five miles to see it.
Walk among deep river gorges, glacial mountains, alpine lakes, and vast deserts, all on beautiful under-the-radar public lands
Some of the wildest, best beaches in the country can be found in our national parks system. These are the most spectacular.
While the adventurer was on a record-setting road trip, a message from a fan made him realize the importance of coming out
We’ve done the impossible and made a list of best hikes in our national parks. Now’s a perfect time to start checking them off, from Acadia to Yosemite.
ϳԹs in national parks don’t end at sundown. We’ve found the best ways to explore after dark, from seeing the Northern Lights to Yooperlite hunting.
As you’re visiting national parks this summer, don’t miss out on these spectacular outlooks, mountain summits, and lake vistas. We’ve got the intel on how to reach them all.
Why be stuck behind the masses at popular parks when you can wander some of the nation’s best with barely a soul in sight?
National Park Service officials said they’re still investigating what caused the Hurricane Ridge Day Lodge to burn to the ground just weeks before its planned grand reopening
A recent survey of employee satisfaction returned abysmal scores for the NPS
These state parks offer everything you’re looking for in a national park, only fewer crowds. See our top choices for wildlife, wilderness, solitude, and more.
National parks protect our land and a wide variety of wildlife, many of them dangerous if you don’t know what you’re doing. Here are the animals and reptiles to look out for and the best ways to keep you—and them—safe.
One of the world’s largest Joshua tree forests is now federally protected
Our columnist had little idea of what to expect when she ventured to the far-flung island territory of American Samoa. In the final report of her 63 Parks series, she explains why this may be the nation’s wildest, most protected landscape of them all.
Looking for an awesome summer job? Go to work in a national park. We’ve rounded up some of the best opportunities and smartest advice on how to land a position.
Emily Pennington wanted to see it all. But life on the road was fiercer than she ever imagined.
The National Park Service plans to clear the McPherson Square homeless encampment on February 15, amid D.C.’s hypothermia season
The family of Esther Nakajjigo accused the National Park Service of negligence for not properly securing the metal gate that killed her
In her adventure memoir "Feral," Emily Pennington sets out in a van to visit all 63 of America's national parks. She faces a painful romantic breakup, a pandemic, wildfires, and a hurricane. And that's just for starters.
While California’s storms were devastating in many parts of the state, they blew epic snow and adventure opportunities into the park. Waterfall viewings are off the charts, there are fewer crowds, and conditions are primo for backcountry exploring.
Eager to visit one of America’s national parks this year? Start planning now. Here’s all the information you need to book hard-to-get reservations.
Our Maui-based writer offers intel on how best to explore the popular park, famous for volcano and crater hikes, sunrise views, tough road rides to the central summit, and supreme stargazing
Buy your own slice of paradise at these surprisingly affordable locations—and drool over the listings far out of reach
As the sun transitions to “solar maximum” in the next three years, it is prime time to spot the aurora borealis—even in the lower 48 states. Here’s where, when, and how to catch the show in our national parks.
California’s Twenty Nine Palms Band of Mission Indians will sign a co-stewardship agreement to help operate the park
Here’s what you need to know before traveling to Hawaii’s Big Island if you’re planning on visiting the park and viewing the spectacle
The iconic California park has done away with its three-year-old timed-entry system
As frequent national-park visitors know, the Park Service offers coveted passport stamps, maps, and badges. Here’s how to get them.
Get a front-row seat to epic views and adventure by staying at a national-park lodge. From Yosemite’s Ahwahnee Hotel to Shenandoah’s Big Meadows Lodge, these are our favorites.
According to a new Unesco report, glaciers in Yosemite National Park and other World Heritage sites are very likely to melt away by 2050
Sparkling alpine lakes, the highest point in the continental U.S., and 800-plus miles of breathtaking hiking trails: Sequoia and Kings Canyon in the Sierra Nevada are far more than home to the biggest trees on the planet.
Shenandoah National Park has unveiled Shencamp, a text message-based update to help campers locate vacant campsites
From Acadia in Maine to the Everglades in Florida, this road trip hits seven national parks, covers 1,800 miles, and guides you away from the crowds
Visitors are waiting up to five hours to enter the famed Utah parkland, which did away with a timed-entry system earlier this month
With increasing decriminalization efforts underway, here’s what it would take to legalize weed on public lands
From temperate rainforests to miles of coastline; from waterfalls and lakes to hiking, backpacking, and camping; from boating to skiing to glacier travel and mountaineering—Olympic has astonishing variety.
When visiting West Virginia’s New River Gorge, you’ve got to go with the flow—and in the fall, during Gauley Season, that means Class V rapids
The landscape is home to prairie dogs, coyotes, badgers, bighorn sheep, and more
We asked the experts—and this is the one trail you can't miss in each of the 61 U.S. national parks
This year’s fire season is coming to a close, and thanks to mitigation techniques and some luck, it wasn’t as catastrophic as many predicted. But that doesn’t mean we’re in the clear.
On these expert-led trips, you’ll spot the National Park System’s wildest residents, from mysterious wolves to fat bears. Pro tip: the bioluminescent fireflies are pretty cool, too.
One enticement of visiting Hawaii Volcanoes, on the Big Island, is witnessing the eruption of young Kilauea—the world’s most active volcano—and basking in the glow of its lava-filled caldera
From lush jungles with waterfalls and ocean shores to otherworldly volcanic peaks and craters, the range of ecosystems you can visit in a day at this Maui park is astounding
Despite being one of the most popular destinations in the U.S., the Smokies make it easy to plan a last-minute trip and avoid crowds year-round. Here’s our definitive guide on what to know before you go, how to make the most of all the park has to offer, and can’t-miss experiences in every season.
Some of the top gear makers sell national parks apparel and products. Here’s what’s on our list.
With the summer high season wrapping up, a variety of national parks are doing away with timed-entry and reservation rules for the next few months
Why endure the traffic headed inland to major mountain getaways when you can hop a breezy ferry to the Channel Islands, passing dolphins en route, and spend time kayaking into sea caves, hiking quiet hills, and birding, with nary an auto in sight?