National Parks

[HavingABlast]

Welcome to the forum DFloyd1122. It is easy to become addicted to it...in a good way.

Yes, it is a big jump from $10 to $80, but still a terrific bargain that will quickly pay for itself as you visit national parks, national monuments, actionable forest, and COE campsites.

We purchased a National Park Passport book and stamp it at the many NPS facilities that we've visited. We too are trying to go to and enjoy as many as we can. They are all interesting and uniquely beautiful in their own way.

Along the way don't forget to check out state and county parks too. The provincial parks in Canada are wonderful as well.

Lots of happy memories, yet to be made, are in your future.


Travel safely

[DFloyd1122]

I like the ideal of the book. We are in Lake Mead National Park now. We actually are parked in a RV park outside of the park. I can't get too far from here until I officially retire in November. I am constantly looking at the map to plot my escape. Will definitely follow the sun.
Just wondering what everyone's favorite park is. Some plus and minus's.
My plus for Lake Mead is the water. We do keep out boat at a marina at Katherine's Landing. The minus is the RV park has little to offer and if you don't have a boat it is not that accessible. The lake is beautiful with lots of private beaches and coves.

[DFloyd1122]

Just wondering what everyone's favorite park is. Some plus and minus's.
My plus for Lake Mead is the water. We do keep out boat at a marina at Katherine's Landing. The minus is the RV park has little to offer and if you don't have a boat it is not that accessible. The lake is beautiful with lots of private beaches and coves.

[HavingABlast]

Since you already camp, you know that the "when" (what time of the year) is almost as important as the "where". Some parks are great for a single visit, and at others you just can't possibly fully experience no matter how many times you visit.

Even when our kids were young we took them out of school for vacations (we tent and rustic cabin camped mostly, with an occasional trailer rental ) to the parks during the shoulder seasons. The parks were less crowded, the animals were less stressed and more plentiful, and the vacations were much more enjoyable. Now that we are retired, we can travel any time, but still prefer the parks in the shoulder seasons (just as they open for the season, or just before they close).

Our most visited and enjoyed park is Yellowstone. We still haven't seen it all, and still continue to go there. It is so vast, with so many elevation changes with many micro climates. Just amazing.

We've enjoyed fall colors in Acadia NP. Awe inspiring peaks at a Glacier and at Grand Teton NP's. The raw power of Niagara Falls, and the Canadian Rockies (Banff, Lake Louise, Jasper). Pre dawn sunrises and post evening sunsets at Bryce, Badlands, Grand Canyon, and Mesa Verde are magnificent.

In March we climbed up a mountain of snow (nearly covered the top of the three story visitor station) to see the beauty of the snow rimmed shoreline of Crater Lake. We continued on our trip to hike in and around the Olympic National forest and surrounding peninsular area. In June we were in the peaceful solitude of Saguaro National Park (Tucson, AZ).

When you ask about people's favorites, be prepared for a long list of wildly diverse parks. There is a wonderful park just about everywhere you decide to go. Lists sometimes imply schedules. You really miss so much when traveling on a schedule. My advice is to let each day reveal itself and allow it to evolve onto the next.

[DFloyd1122]

Originally Posted by HavingABlast

Since you already camp, you know that the "when" (what time of the year) is almost as important as the "where". Some parks are great for a single visit, and at others you just can't possibly fully experience no matter how many times you visit.

Even when our kids were young we took them out of school for vacations (we tent and rustic cabin camped mostly, with an occasional trailer rental ) to the parks during the shoulder seasons. The parks were less crowded, the animals were less stressed and more plentiful, and the vacations were much more enjoyable. Now that we are retired, we can travel any time, but still prefer the parks in the shoulder seasons (just as they open for the season, or just before they close).

Our most visited and enjoyed park is Yellowstone. We still haven't seen it all, and still continue to go there. It is so vast, with so many elevation changes with many micro climates. Just amazing.

We've enjoyed fall colors in Acadia NP. Awe inspiring peaks at a Glacier and at Grand Teton NP's. The raw power of Niagara Falls, and the Canadian Rockies (Banff, Lake Louise, Jasper). Pre dawn sunrises and post evening sunsets at Bryce, Badlands, Grand Canyon, and Mesa Verde are magnificent.

In March we climbed up a mountain of snow (nearly covered the top of the three story visitor station) to see the beauty of the snow rimmed shoreline of Crater Lake. We continued on our trip to hike in and around the Olympic National forest and surrounding peninsular area. In June we were in the peaceful solitude of Saguaro National Park (Tucson, AZ).

When you ask about people's favorites, be prepared for a long list of wildly diverse parks. There is a wonderful park just about everywhere you decide to go. Lists sometimes imply schedules. You really miss so much when traveling on a schedule. My advice is to let each day reveal itself and allow it to evolve onto the next.

Thanks. Very good advice. Can't wait.

[aguablanco]

The pass will get you 50% off camping unless the campground is concessionaire run and then there is no discount.
RichH

[twogypsies]

Originally Posted by aguablanco

The pass will get you 50% off camping unless the campground is concessionaire run and then there is no discount.
RichH

We have stayed at concessionaire-run campgrounds and did get the 50% discount - not all of them but some will give it.

Also, the 50% off is for a basic non-electric site. If you have an electric site it's 50% off the basic rate plus the electric surcharge. It's still a great deal.

[DFloyd1122]

Originally Posted by twogypsies

We have stayed at concessionaire-run campgrounds and did get the 50% discount - not all of them but some will give it.

Also, the 50% off is for a basic non-electric site. If you have an electric site it's 50% off the basic rate plus the electric surcharge. It's still a great deal.

When you say concessionaire, what exactly does that mean? (Sorry new to this)

[Scottybdivin]

It means the park has allowed a concessionaire to manage the parks facilities. The Grand Canyon for instance, all the lodges, motels, restaurants, mule rides, etc. are managed by a concessionaire (Xanterra and Delaware North).

[Superslif]

The pass will get you 50% off camping unless the campground is concessionaire run and then there is no discount.

On "concessionaire run" parks what you get is 50% off the base rate. So if the dry (non-electric) sites ( this is the BASE site) are $20 and the electric ones are $40, you get 50% off the base $20 non electric site, then you add the $20 for the up graded electric one. So you would pay $10 for a dry site or $30 for a
electric site.

While on our Alaska trip last summer with our access card the BLM or Forest Service campgrounds were $6-$8 a night.

We'll be doing a total of 4 national parks this summer (Tetons, Yellowstone, Mammoth Caves and Shenandoah) So far 36 nights we'll use either national park or forest service campgrounds. It sure helps the budget saving some money on camping fees.

[DFloyd1122]

Thank you both. Very helpful information

[Superslif]

Even when it jumps to $80 I would be all over it if your a RVer. A 7 day pass for just Yellowstone was $30 for 7 days. The Tetons was a separate $30 for 7 days. They did have a special 7 day YS & Teton for $50.

So our 22 day Teton / Yellowstone trip would have cost $90 or $120 because we were in the Tetons for 9 and YS for 14. But with my son's access pass it was $0.

Something to look forward to when you retire.

[Dr. Den]

Would like to visit Guadalupe National Park, but it appears there are no decent RV Parks in the area. Anyone else made that trip?

[DFloyd1122]

Originally Posted by Superslif

Even when it jumps to $80 I would be all over it if your a RVer. A 7 day pass for just Yellowstone was $30 for 7 days. The Tetons was a separate $30 for 7 days. They did have a special 7 day YS & Teton for $50.

So our 22 day Teton / Yellowstone trip would have cost $90 or $120 because we were in the Tetons for 9 and YS for 14. But with my son's access pass it was $0.

Something to look forward to when you retire.

Oh I definitely agree. Just surprised it jumped that much at a time