National Park Trip Planning: Permits, Gear, and Campsite Guide
Everything you need to plan a national park trip covering park reservations, camping permits, vehicle preparation, hiking gear, wildlife safety, and seasonal tips for America's most popular parks.
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Reservations and Permits
Reserve campsites 6 months in advance for popular parks
Yosemite, Yellowstone, Grand Canyon, Zion, and Rocky Mountain campsites book out within minutes of opening. Recreation.gov releases reservations exactly 6 months before the stay date at 7 AM Pacific. Create an account, save payment info, and have specific dates and sites ready. Waitlists and cancellation alerts help catch openings.
Apply for wilderness or backcountry permits early
Half Dome cables in Yosemite, The Wave in Arizona, and many backcountry routes require permits with limited daily quotas. Application windows open months ahead. Half Dome preseason lottery opens in March for summer permits. The Wave lottery accepts applications 4 months in advance. Research your specific park's permit system.
Buy an America the Beautiful annual pass before your trip
The 80 USD annual pass covers entrance fees at all 400+ national park sites, national forests, and federal recreation areas. It pays for itself after 2-3 park visits. The pass covers the vehicle and all passengers. Purchase online at recreation.gov or at any park entrance station.
Check for timed entry reservations at popular parks
Glacier, Rocky Mountain, Acadia, Arches, and Haleakala require timed entry tickets during peak season. These are separate from entrance fees and campsite reservations. Entry tickets release 30-60 days in advance and sell out quickly. Arriving before 6 AM often bypasses timed entry requirements.
Vehicle and Driving Preparation
Check your vehicle's tires, fluids, and spare before mountain driving
Mountain passes in parks like Rocky Mountain, Glacier, and Grand Teton exceed 3,500 meters with steep grades. Check tire pressure, tread depth, brake fluid, coolant, and oil before departure. A spare tire with a working jack is essential. Cell service is absent on most park roads.
Download offline maps for all parks on your route
Cell service is unavailable in most national parks. Download offline maps of each park and surrounding areas before entering. Google Maps and AllTrails allow offline map downloads. National park service apps include trail maps that work offline. Do not rely on data coverage for navigation.
Fill your gas tank before entering park boundaries
Gas stations inside national parks are rare, expensive, and sometimes closed seasonally. Fill up at the last town before entry. Parks like Death Valley, Yellowstone, and Big Bend have drives of 100+ miles between fuel. Carry a 5-gallon backup fuel container for remote parks.
Pack a roadside emergency kit for remote park roads
Include jumper cables, a flashlight, basic tools, tire patch kit, first aid supplies, and emergency blankets. Tow trucks take hours to reach remote park locations and cost 200-500 USD. A flat tire on the Going-to-the-Sun Road in Glacier or the Tioga Road in Yosemite requires self-sufficiency.
Hiking and Outdoor Gear
Pack hiking boots suited to your trail difficulty
Day hikes on maintained trails work with sturdy trail shoes. Multi-day backcountry routes and rocky terrain require boots with ankle support. Waterproof boots handle stream crossings and morning dew. Break in new footwear 3-4 weeks before the trip. Blisters ruin national park vacations.
Bring a minimum of 3 liters of water per person per day hike
Dehydration is the leading cause of search and rescue operations in national parks. Desert parks like Grand Canyon, Death Valley, and Joshua Tree require 4+ liters per day. Hydration packs are more convenient than bottles on the trail. Water sources are marked on trail maps.
Pack the 10 essentials for every hike
The 10 essentials are: navigation, sun protection, insulation, illumination, first aid, fire starter, repair tools, nutrition, hydration, and emergency shelter. Even on short day hikes, weather changes and wrong turns can extend your time on the trail. A 20-liter daypack holds all essentials comfortably.
Bring trekking poles for elevation gain and rocky terrain
Collapsible trekking poles reduce knee impact by 25-30% on descents and improve stability on rocky trails. Angel's Landing in Zion, the Bright Angel Trail in Grand Canyon, and the Highline Trail in Glacier all benefit from pole support. Pack them in checked luggage for flights.
Wildlife Safety
Pack bear spray and learn how to use it before hiking
Bear spray is the most effective deterrent against aggressive bears, more effective than firearms. Required in grizzly country: Yellowstone, Glacier, Grand Teton, and Denali. Carry it in a hip holster, not buried in your pack. Practice drawing and deploying the safety clip. Bear spray costs 35-55 USD at park gateway towns.
Bring a bear canister or bear hang rope for backcountry camping
Most national park backcountry requires bear-proof food storage. Bear canisters are mandatory in Yosemite, Sequoia, and parts of Yellowstone. Where canisters are not required, a rope-and-carabiner system for hanging food 10 feet high and 4 feet from the tree trunk is the alternative. Bears that access human food are often euthanized.
Bring binoculars for safe wildlife viewing at distance
National park regulations require staying 25 yards from most wildlife and 100 yards from bears and wolves. Binoculars make distant sightings rewarding rather than frustrating. 8x42 or 10x42 compact binoculars fit in any daypack. Yellowstone's Lamar Valley and Denali's bus routes offer the best wildlife viewing.
Camping Gear and Supplies
Pack a tent rated for your expected weather conditions
A 3-season tent handles spring through fall camping in most parks. High-altitude and exposed sites in parks like Rocky Mountain and Grand Teton need wind-rated stakes and guylines. Practice tent setup at home. Arriving at a campsite after dark with an unfamiliar tent is stressful.
Bring a camp stove and fuel for all planned meals
Campfire cooking is romantic but unreliable. Fire bans are common during dry summer months in western parks. A portable 2-burner propane stove ensures hot meals regardless of fire restrictions. Bring enough fuel canisters for all planned meals plus 1-2 extra.
Pack a sleeping bag rated 5-10 degrees below expected lows
Mountain park temperatures drop dramatically after sunset. Yosemite Valley reaches 5 degrees Celsius on summer nights. Grand Canyon's North Rim drops near freezing. A sleeping bag rated below your expected low ensures warmth. A sleeping pad with an R-value of 3+ insulates from cold ground.
Bring headlamps, a lantern, and extra batteries
National park campgrounds have minimal lighting. Headlamps free your hands for cooking, tent setup, and bathroom trips. A lantern lights the common area. LEDs last longer than incandescent bulbs. Pack extra batteries or rechargeable units. Quiet hours are typically 10 PM to 6 AM.
Frequently Asked Questions
When should I reserve campsites for popular national parks?
Six months before your planned dates at 7 AM Pacific on recreation.gov for most parks. Yosemite, Yellowstone, Grand Canyon, and Zion book out within minutes. Create an account and save payment info before the reservation window opens. Cancellation alerts through third-party apps can catch last-minute openings. First-come, first-served sites require arriving before 10 AM, especially on Thursday and Friday for weekend stays.
What are the most crowded national parks and how do I avoid crowds?
Great Smoky Mountains, Zion, Yellowstone, Grand Canyon, and Rocky Mountain are the most visited. Visit in shoulder seasons of April-May or September-October for fewer crowds. Arrive before 8 AM at popular trailheads. Wednesday and Thursday are the least crowded days. Hike trails longer than 5 miles to leave most visitors behind. Lesser-known parks like Capitol Reef, North Cascades, and Isle Royale offer equal beauty with a fraction of the visitors.
Is the America the Beautiful pass worth it?
At 80 USD, the pass pays for itself after visiting 2-3 parks that charge 30-35 USD entrance fees. The pass covers the vehicle and all passengers at national parks, national forests, BLM lands, and wildlife refuges. It is valid for 12 months from the purchase date. If you visit even 2 national parks in a year, the pass saves money. Military members and seniors get discounted or free passes.
What should I do if I encounter a bear on a trail?
Stay calm. Do not run. Make yourself appear large by raising your arms. Speak firmly in a low voice. Back away slowly while facing the bear. If a black bear approaches, be loud and aggressive. If a grizzly charges, stand your ground as most charges are bluffs, then use bear spray at 20-30 feet. If a grizzly makes contact, play dead face down with hands behind your neck. If a black bear makes contact, fight back.