Our Favorite US National Parks To Visit This Year
Although the United States might not have a large collection of ancient shrines and grand cathedrals like those in Europe and Asia, the United States does have one thing that might be even more significant: natural splendor.
The USA boasts many diverse landscapes, from snow-capped mountains to colorful coral reefs, and rolling grasslands to monochromatic deserts. Every state has its unique beauty, unlike any other.
When it comes to visiting the United States, the National Park System encompasses 423 National Park sites. They span over 84 million acres, with parks in each state, including those in the territories.
This is massive and why we LOVE creating custom itineraries for our travelers to some of our favorite National Parks.
But, with so many parks to choose from, so many things to do in each, and so many people flocking to them every year, we often get asked how we make our itineraries unique, how we choose which parks to send people to, and how we know what to do in each park when they are often saturated with tourists?
Let’s dive into those questions below!
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Yellowstone National Park
Yellowstone National Park has been a special place for thousands of years. Many tribes and bands used the park as their home, hunting grounds, and transportation routes before and after European American arrival, but it was only in 1872 that the park was officially established as the world’s first National Park.
The park is mostly located in Wyoming, but it is so large it spreads into parts of Montana and Idaho too.
Yellowstone National Park is one of the most famous parks globally, but it is not just because it was the first. This place is known for its incredibly unique geothermal activity, its insane wildlife sighting opportunities, its natural environments, and its vivid landscape formations.
Almost everyone in the world has heard of Yellowstone and has dreamt of visiting it. But don’t worry. Even if millions of people flock to the park each year, there is still space for you. The park is huge, and we know exactly how to plan a trip that doesn’t stick to the crowds.
On a trip to Yellowstone with us, you will see Old Faithful, discovered in 1870 and named for its frequent and somewhat predictable eruptions, which number more than a million since Yellowstone became the world’s first National Park.
You will get to stop by the Mammoth Hot Springs- a must-see feature of Yellowstone National Park because they’re so different from other thermal areas in the area. This is largely because limestone is a relatively soft type of rock, allowing the travertine formations to grow much faster than other sinter formations. It has been described as looking like a cave turned inside out.
You will also hit Canyon Visitor Education Center to get some information and check out some highlights like the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone, Inspiration Point, and artist point.
Not to mention all the wildlife spotting, hiking trails, and stunning landscapes you will get to see along the way.
There’s more than just nature, though. On a trip to Yellowstone, you’ll also be checking out the local shops and museums in nearby towns, participating in a wildlife photography tour with a local naturalist, soaking in local hot springs and spas, or just hanging the day out with the local flora and fauna.
When we book your trip to Yellowstone, we’ll go at your pace and plan what YOU want to do. After completing our trip survey and securing your spot with us, we’ll determine what your day-to-day will look like and make sure your stay is unique!
Zion National Park
Zion National Park is one of those landscapes so dramatically different from what you're used to seeing that you will feel like you’ve entered another world. This quote from National Geographic sums it up perfectly, "Zion National Park could be called a heaven on Earth, a red-rock wonderland created by wind, water, and snow. Mormon pioneers arriving in the area in the 1860s were so overwhelmed by the natural beauty of Zion Canyon and its surroundings that they named it after the Old Testament name for the city of Jerusalem."
The park is situated in Utah, and like many of the other National Parks in the United States, it was home to people for thousands of years before being dubbed a National Park in 1858.
After our CEO and Founder, Shelby, checked out some of the most popular tourist attractions in Zion herself, she realized that overtourism was massive in the area. Not only does overtourism harm the communities that tourists flock to, but it also harms the environment. More traffic means more people, and slowly what was a National Park with raw beauty and wildlife turns into the next commercialized Disneyland. If you google Zion, you'll immediately find that Angels Landing and the Narrows are the two hikes you should do.
We disagree, and that’s why we promise that our itineraries are full of off-the-beaten-path activities, filled with adventurous activities like UTVing and stargazing, and some of the less busy sections of the park that are equally more beautiful than the popular places.
We've created the perfect Zion itinerary. You’ll skip the crowds and focus on the real Zion.
You won’t Angels Landing or The Narrows. Instead, you’ll explore everything else this park has to offer. Instead of immediately getting in line for a shuttle, you’ll rent bikes and cycle the Pa'rus bike trail. You’ll cycle down the entire Scenic Drive for the most beautiful bike ride you’ll ever experience. You’ll see tons of wildlife and zoom down the canyon road between gorgeous red sandstones and right next to the Virgin River. You’ll stargaze in remote locations, getting the best possible view of the sky in Zion. And you’ll stay in a bucket list accommodation- a luxurious glamping yurt with epic views of East Zion.
Just to name a few things!
When we book your trip to Zion, we’ll go at your pace to make sure we know what you’re looking for in a vacation. After completing our trip survey and securing your spot with us, we’ll perfect the itinerary based on your answers to know exactly what kind of trip you are after!
Crater Lake National Park
Crater Lake inspires awe. Native Americans witnessed its formation 7,700 years ago when a violent eruption triggered the collapse of a tall peak. Artists, photographers, and sightseers gaze in wonder at its blue water and stunning setting atop the Cascade Mountain Range.
When you explore Crater Lake National Park, you’ll fall in love with it.
Crowning the Cascade Mountain Range, the park contains vibrant forests, bountiful wildlife, and an awe-inspiring blue lake worthy of its nickname “lake majesty.”
The lake is 1,943 feet deep, making it the deepest lake in America and the ninth deepest in the world. And you get to see it on your Oregon trip with Authenteco Travel!
The lake is famous for its beautiful blue color, and the water comes directly from snow or rain -- there are no inlets from other water sources. This means no sediment or mineral deposits are carried into the lake, helping it maintain its rich color and making it one of the cleanest and clearest lakes in the world.
The great thing about a trip to Crater Lakes? Oregon also has much more to offer, and we’ll get to show you all our favorite spots along the way!
The state has over 5 million acres of trees, stunning coastlines, 361 State Parks, and the picturesque Cascade Mountains. We’ll take you to the misty beaches for epic sunsets, through some of the best trailheads for hikes with unrivaled beauty and views, on a once-in-a-lifetime volcano tour, on a stunning Moonlight & Starlight Canoe Tour, plus so many other places we know you’ll love.
With so much adventure to be had each day, you’ll want the coziest and most comfortable place to rest your head at night, which we how we know you’ll love our library of beachside bed and breakfasts, authentic cabins in the woods, and ultimate luxury retreats- all while staying away from chain accommodation options.
When we book a Crater Lakes National Park trip, you’re getting all of Oregon’s natural splendor, and we’ll make sure it’ll be a trip to remember. After completing our trip survey and securing your spot with us, we’ll perfect the itinerary based on your answers, so we know exactly how adventurous you are!
Final Thoughts on ‘Our Favorite US National Parks to Visit this Year’
With over 423 National Parks in the United States, choosing which one to explore on your next vacation can be hard.
Yellowstone, Zion, and Crater Lakes are some of our favorite National Parks in the United States, and we know all the best places to send you that will take you away from the crowds to see the real park.
Our most popular trips are those that venture through the National Parks- whether that’s on a Parkation hitting several in one go or a unique trip to some of the quirky parks like Crater Lake in Oregon. Social distancing, nature, and unique eco-luxury accommodation are your ticket to a happy and COVID-safe vacation, and we have you covered!
Authenteco Travel trip curators are National Park specialists, and we’re advocating for road trips and keeping travel domestic right now. If this sounds like your dream vacation, join our waitlist now!
Not sure if it’s safe to travel? Check out this post to find out what we recommend about traveling.
