National Parks Are Crowded This Summer, But You Can Still Enjoy A Visit

Americans are eager to travel this summer, and it seems as though every one of them is heading for a U.S. national park. Not quite, but popular parks are attracting all-time-high numbers of visitors, continuing a trend begun last year during the pandemic.

During the recent Memorial Day weekend, Zion National Park reported five-hour waits to access popular trails, and visitors waited two hours in line to ride the park shuttlebus. Arika Bauer, local owner of Zion Adventure Photog, says of the crowds, “It is a madhouse here … busier than ever!” Bryce Canyon temporarily closed to vehicle traffic over the same holiday weekend, also with two-hour waits to ride shuttles (but it did at least have a live band for people in line). Even remote Big Bend National Park in Texas is seeing crowds, with visits nearly 50 percent above average so far this year.

Scott Gediman, Yosemite’s public affairs officer, told AARP: “We’re definitely seeing pent-up demand here.” Smoky Mountains National Park set an all-time record in April 2021, with nearly 1.2 million visitors. Dana Soehn, the park’s public affairs officer, says spring numbers have been “far more than normal” — April usually averages about 800,000 visits — “and more characteristic of summer visitation.”

To manage this crush, many parks across the country are instituting entry limits. Some, including Yosemite and Rocky Mountains are requiring reservations just to enter this summer. Glacier National Park’s passes for driving the famed Going to the Sun Road sold out in minutes for the entire month of June. Yosemite’s day-visit permits are currently unavailable until August, and many of its campgrounds are booked through summer (though additional opportunities for both are being added).

Despite this surge in demand, travelers can still find ways to enjoy the nature, the beauty and, yes, even the solitude of national parks this summer. Read on for some keys to making your 2021 experience a good one.

Research your destination thoroughly

The first essential for planning a national park visit this summer is to check early and often about park access, regulations and services. Due to COVID-19 health measures and the anticipated surge in visitors, certain park areas and services, like shuttles, may be limited, reservations only, or closed altogether.

"I've been visiting and covering parks for 25 years, and planning for this summer is definitely going to be a challenge,” says Candy Harrington, author of National Park Lodges for Wheelers and Slow Walkers. “The parks all have their own rules, and it's been a zoo trying to keep track of them all.”

Fortunately, the parks update their regulations online frequently, so information is available. But “just be sure to check again a few days before arrival to make sure there are no procedural changes,” Harrington cautions. The parks-affiliated website Recreation.gov is another good resource to research the latest park requirements and to make reservations.

Using the reservation systems for access, lodging, camping and wilderness permits is a must this summer. Yosemite's Gediman warns that “even if you have a senior pass, you'll be denied entry here without a reservation.” Parks such as Acadia (Maine), Zion (Utah) and Haleakala (Hawaii) will require advance reservations for certain areas and times, even while general park access is open. The good news is that with the reservations systems, crowding will be reduced.

Be flexible

Flexibility is important for making the most out of a park visit. Heading a little off the beaten track or trying out a different style of lodging will not only make your trip more enjoyable, it also may be the only possible way to do it.

With park accommodations tight, it's worth looking into the many campgrounds, hotels and private lodging options located just outside many park boundaries. This may also be the year to explore one of America's less-visited national parks, such as Isle Royale in Michigan and Congaree in South Carolina. Matt Berna, Intrepid Travel's North America managing director, recommends Kenai Fjords National Park, one of eight in Alaska.

Check out the rest of the article from AARP here.