USA’s National Parks: How To Get There And What To Do
Want to have a memorable experience in the USA’s unforgettable national parks? This blog will act as a guide for you, helping you to reach different national parks of the USA and the activities you can do there. The USA’s beautiful national parks can be visual treats for the eyes of UK people who love to be close to nature. The exclusive diversity of these national parks attracts travelers from the UK while providing opportunities for adventurous hiking, wildlife viewing, and other exciting activities.
From the stunning beauty of the Grand Canyon to the exploration of Yellowstone National Park, the USA has some really good national parks that grab the attention of tourists from around the world. Here are the things travelers can do in the USA’s national parks:
- Hiking along the terrain
- Wildlife watching and stargazing
- Water-based activities like rafting or kayaking.
Is it Mandatory for UK Citizens to visit the USA?
In easier words, no, they do not need a tourist visa for USA tours, but they need an ESTA (Electronic System for Travel Authorisation) to enter the USA.
No Requirement for a Tourist Visa for UK Travelers
The UK is a part of the USA’s Visa Waiver Program (VWP). Hence, visas for the USA for UK Citizens are not needed, in most cases. However, the ESTA is required to enter the US through valid entry ports.
Things Needed to Apply for an ESTA For The USA
As soon as the UK visitors confirm the date of arrival, it is recommended to initiate the application process for ESTA. The entire application process is online. Here, we list things that you need to apply for ESTA.
- Firstly, a visitor’s UK passport or e-passport must be uploaded to the ESTA website.
- It is a must to have an email ID for the applicants.
- You can pay the ESTA fee through a credit or debit card.
Processing Time and ESTA Validity
ESTA allows a UK tourist to travel in the USA up to 90 days without requiring any tourist visa for the USA. This travel document generally gets approved within 72 hours after application.
Many people from the UK visit USA national parks. Thanks to the visa-free travel policy for up to 90 days for UK tourists, it has been easier for them to travel to the USA. Let’s look at how to reach these national parks from the UK.
How To Get There: Travel Logistics
Visiting the USA by flight from the UK is considered the most rapid and effective option. Most famous national parks in the country are located near several major US airports. Therefore, UK travelers can take direct flights from the UK to get to these airports. UK travelers can get flights from London Gatwick or Edinburgh Airport.
By Air
Here is a comprehensive tabular presentation of the airports located nearby of the most important USA national parks.
| National Parks | Nearest Airports | Time to reach the parks from the Airport |
| Yellowstone National Park | Jackson Hole, WY | 1 Hour |
| Grand Canyon | Flagstaff, AZ | 1.5 Hours |
| Yosemite | Fresno, CA | 2 Hours |
Table 1: List of National Parks and their distance from the airports
By Car
Traveling by car, you will enjoy the best view on the road trip. If you follow the road of Western National Parks, you will be able to visit Yellowstone or the Grand Canyon very easily because these routes are sections of pleasing byways.
Visitors can rent a van to complete a tour through the USA national parks. Check for the local companies that rent vans or RVs (Recreational Vehicles).
Shuttle Buses
In the national parks, the National Park Service, a government-run agency, provides national park shuttle bus services for the people. For example, the National Park Service offered shuttle bus services at no cost in the Grand Canyon National Park.
Best National Parks by Region
There are officially 63 USA national parks, which are major tourist attractions. Here is a list of some of the parks alongside their unique features.
| Regions | Top National Parks | Unique Feature of the National Park |
| NorthWest Regions | Mt. Rainer, Olympic, and North Cascades. |
Vast natural beauty. Rugged coastlines Old forests in the North Cascades |
| Northern California National Parks | Redwoods and Yosemite National Parks. | Meadows
Waterfalls and glacial carvings |
| Midwest | Badlands, Isle Royale | Fossils
Prairie ecosystems |
| East Coast | Acadia, Great Smoky Mountains | Fall foliage
Excellent biodiversity |
| Wyoming and Montana | Glacier, Yellowstone, and Grand Teton | Colorful pools
Wildlife watching Glacial lakes |
| Alaska region | Glacier Bay, Denali, and Wrangell-St. Elias | Mountainous terrain
Vast size |
Table 2: Famous National Parks in the USA by Area
What To Do in National Parks?
Now, since you know which parks you can visit or how to get around the national parks, let’s understand the activities you can do in the USA’s national parks. You can experience hiking, rock climbing, and rafting in many of these parks.
Hiking Trails: Beginner To Expert
Many people like hiking in the national parks. To understand the nature of the hiking trails, it is recommended to read blogs or visit the national park’s website. Moreover, travelers are encouraged to apply for the hiking permits in advance because of the high demand for the hikes during the hiking season.
Some best hiking trails in the national parks include: Half Dome in Yosemite National Park and Highline Trail in Glacier National Park.
Wildlife Watching
Travelers love to watch wildlife while taking a stroll around the national parks. Yellowstone National Park is considered one of the prime spots for watching wildlife, as the park has 67 different mammal species. You can view bighorn sheep, buffalo, mule deer, elk, and grizzly bears. Moreover, you can also see mountain lions and other little mammals like pikas and yellow-bellied marmots in Colorado’s Rocky Mountain National Park.
Stargazing: Dark-Sky Parks and Night Photography
Are you an astrophile? If so, then stargazing is the best thing to do in the national parks. Stargazing while camping in the Grand Canyon will be an unforgettable experience for every UK traveler visiting national parks. If you want to photograph the dark sky within the park, this is the perfect scope for you, as you can snap the best pictures of the night sky sanctuary of the Grand Canyon National Park.
Adventure Activities: Rafting, Rock Climbing, And Kayaking
Most of the best national parks in the USA offer different adventure activities like rock climbing, whitewater rafting, and kayaking.
In Grand Canyon National Park, you can consider rafting in the famous Colorado. Moreover, Yosemite and Zion National Parks are preferred by travelers because of the opportunity for rock climbing. Yellowstone is good for kayaking.
Tips For First-Time Visitors
If you are visiting the USA national parks for the first time, here are some tips that you can consider using:
Weather Preparation
While visiting the USA national park, you have to be prepared for the harsh weather conditions even when there is no forecast. Many national parks are high altitude, where you can expect a drastic drop in temperature.
No Waste Travel
Travelers are encouraged not to litter around the places.
Apps To Use
The National Park Service and AllTrail mobile apps are best for first-time visitors to the American national parks. These apps have guides, navigation tools, and accommodation locations, which will help them to travel safely without any hassle.
To Summarize
Visiting America’s national parks is a dream for nature lovers. If you plan effectively within the right time, the tour can be easily conducted. This will be an unforgettable experience for the travellers who will cherish this memory of travelling America’s great national parks forever.
Experience A Trip to Remember at National Parks!
Want to explore the USA more? You can plan your dream trip to the American national parks to enjoy a quality travel experience!