:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/TAL-yosemite-national-park-PARKSWNOCAR0125-b3e0f51b9b374325a6001c634180993b.jpg?w=1500&resize=1500,1000&ssl=1 "12 U.S. Nationwide Parks You Can Go to And not using a Automobile")
From the superior geysers of Yellowstone to the purple mountains of the Smokies, America’s nationwide parks have lengthy been referred to as nice street journey locations. However what when you desire to journey with out getting behind the wheel?
“You don’t want a automotive to have a improbable and fulfilling expertise,” says Mike Augustine, a customized journey marketing consultant at MT Sobek and a Journey + Leisure A-Checklist journey advisor specializing in nationwide parks.
A number of parks have their very own strong networks of (typically free) shuttles, whereas others sit enticingly near business airports, cruise ports, and prepare stations. So, whereas visiting nationwide parks and not using a automotive might not be widespread, it’s definitely doable — and the Nationwide Park Service factors out that it has historic precedent, too.
“For over 150 years, from horse-drawn stagecoaches to electrical shuttle buses, public modes of transportation have helped guests expertise the wonders of nationwide parks,” says Kathy Kupper, a public affairs specialist with the NPS. Greater than 30 million folks used NPS transit techniques in 2023, she provides, and that doesn’t even account for the numerous extra who use different prepare, airplane, or bus networks to succeed in their desired locations.
Add on the numerous tour firms providing chauffeured journey for people and teams, and there’s no denying that nationwide parks are nice locations to be a customer and not using a car.
With Kupper and Augustine’s assist, we’ve narrowed down America’s 63 nationwide parks to this checklist of 12 which can be the perfect for car-free journey. Even when you usually love driving, we consider {that a} public transit-powered go to to those 12 parks is price contemplating.
In spite of everything, Augustine asks: “Wouldn’t you reasonably give attention to the view than Google Maps?”
Glacier Nationwide Park
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“Many early park guests traveled to nationwide parks by way of passenger trains,” Kupper factors out, “and that custom continues immediately” — notably at Glacier Nationwide Park. Amtrak’s Empire Builder route traces the park’s total southern edge and, relying on the season, makes as much as three stops in or close to the park. The cease in West Glacier will get probably the most consideration (it’s related by seasonal shuttle to the well-known Going-to-the-Solar Street), however we suggest disembarking at East Glacier Park. The station on this walkable, well-connected gateway city lies proper on the entrance garden of Glacier Park Lodge, a lodge purpose-built in 1913 to welcome guests arriving by prepare.
Acadia Nationwide Park
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With a rugged island location nearer to Canada than to Boston, Maine’s Acadia Nationwide Park could seem too distant for car-free guests. The park’s neighbor, although, is Bar Harbor, a seaside city so beloved by the jet set that it has its personal transport infrastructure. A teensy airport connects the city by flight, whereas, by sea, the city serves as a cruise port of name as effectively. Regardless of the way you arrive, getting between Bar Harbor and Acadia is blissfully easy: Take the Island Explorer, a free bus with stops on the airport, downtown, and at trailheads and landmarks all through the park.
Haleakala Nationwide Park
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If you happen to love to do your exploring on two wheels reasonably than 4, Haleakala Nationwide Park will be the place for you. Almost 1,000,000 folks go to this volcanic Maui icon yearly, and a courageous few thousand of them accomplish that by bicycle. If you happen to’ve acquired the stamina for the ten,000 ft of elevation achieve required, start within the city of Pa’ia for a 36-mile trip to Haleakala’s summit. Pa’ia (named T+L’s Greatest Seashore City in America in 2024) sits only a stone’s throw from Maui’s most important airport, permitting critical riders to finish this nationwide park journey with out ever stopping on the rental automotive counter.
Grand Teton Nationwide Park
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Grand Teton Nationwide Park boasts a uniquely interesting amenity for car-free vacationers: the one business airport inside a U.S. nationwide park. With a direct flight to Jackson Gap Airport from any of 11 American cities, you may land proper in the midst of the Tetons with out doing something harder than boarding an airplane. A lot of the city of Jackson is situated exterior Grand Teton correct, but it surely’s nonetheless straightforward to discover the park whereas staying there — many tour firms function regionally, and the park’s southern entrance lies simply six miles from downtown, making it reachable by bicycle for bold guests.
Zion Nationwide Park
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Augustine and Kupper each checklist Zion as a should for car-free vacationers. Private autos are forbidden on the primary street right here for many of the 12 months, making it simpler to get round on the park’s free shuttle than by another means. Plus, “The shuttle stops at iconic areas like The Narrows, Angels Touchdown, and different trailheads,” Augustine notes. Getting to the park with out driving has historically been a problem, however issues are bettering; town of St. George (the place the closest airport is situated) not too long ago introduced a new bus route to the gateway city of Springdale, and Kupper says discussions are ongoing about much more direct bus choices.
Gateway Arch Nationwide Park
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Okay, so a landmark in a Midwest city core might not be the standard image of a nationwide park trip. However, if all you need is a bona fide nationwide park you may go to with out driving, you may’t do significantly better than Gateway Arch. This 91-acre park lies proper in the midst of downtown St. Louis, so it’s straightforward to succeed in. How straightforward? Mild rail can get you from the airport to the Arch in underneath an hour, and standout resorts just like the 21c Museum Lodge St. Louis and the native 4 Seasons lie inside strolling distance.
Virgin Islands Nationwide Park
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If driving to your trip spot doesn’t enchantment, how does crusing in sound? Virgin Islands Nationwide Park is situated on St. John, and for the reason that island has no airport and only some roads, the best solution to get right here is by boat. Non-public vessels provide probably the most direct park entry, because of a number of mooring spots for in a single day boaters, however guests arriving by cruise or ferry are in luck, too. The port in Cruz Bay lies simply 10 minutes on foot from the park’s most important entrance, and from there, hotspots like Honeymoon Seashore are reachable with a little bit of scenic mountaineering.
Nice Smoky Mountains Nationwide Park
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We have now two phrases for you: Blackberry Farm. This beloved Tennessee property lies simply 12 miles from Nice Smoky Mountains Nationwide Park, and its concierges are completely happy to rearrange guided mountaineering excursions. This journey doesn’t come low cost (particularly since floor switch from Knoxville’s airport to the resort requires some spending), however it’s an appealingly luxurious solution to see America’s most-visited nationwide park.
Yellowstone Nationwide Park
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With 2.2 million acres unfold throughout three states, Yellowstone Nationwide Park is probably probably the most quintessential cease on the nice American street journey. However because of a wealth of guided excursions like those Augustine’s firm offers, the park is surprisingly accessible to guests with out their very own automotive. On an escorted tour with MT Sobek, “skilled mountaineering guides deal with all of the driving, so you may focus solely on the journey,” Augustine says. “This strategy additionally opens up alternatives to discover lesser-known areas of the park that shuttles don’t attain — hidden gems that supply a extra distinctive expertise.”
Saguaro Nationwide Park
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Whereas the NPS system writ massive has loads of properties situated close to massive cities, most are nationwide monuments or historic websites reasonably than nationwide parks correct. In Tucson, although, city dwelling sits side-by-side with the pure wonders of Saguaro Nationwide Park. The park’s two segments lie simply east and simply west of town, and every one has a customer middle and trailheads reachable by 30-minute Uber from downtown. Mountaineering in both section can get you gorgeous views of a number of the world’s largest cacti, however bear in mind, it will possibly get scorchingly scorching right here — so convey loads of water and contemplate pre-booking your air-conditioned rideshare journey residence.
Denali Nationwide Park
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As a state that’s bigger than most nations, Alaska could not appear to be a straightforward place to get round. At Denali Nationwide Park, although, officers have labored to make sure that guests don’t need to log hours of driving. The Alaska Railroad gives a calming and scenic solution to get to the park — its Denali Star Prepare runs each day in the summertime from Anchorage and Fairbanks — and, when you’re there, a community of shuttles and buses can get you into the park’s inside for wildlife viewing, mountaineering, and extra.
Yosemite Nationwide Park
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Yosemite Nationwide Park has a number of choices to get guests out of their automobiles and onto mass transit. The Yosemite Space Regional Transportation System (YARTS) gives buses connecting the park to close by cities and transit facilities, together with the airports and Amtrak stations in Fresno and Merced. When you’ve bused your means into Yosemite correct, the park’s personal shuttle system can ferry you to varied must-see spots, together with Decrease Yosemite Falls and El Capitan Meadow.
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