Smart Travel: Upgrade Your Getaways Episode Summary: How to Visit National Parks for Free, Avoid Crowds, and Save on Lodging Release Date: March 19, 2025

In this episode of Smart Travel: Upgrade Your Getaways, NerdWallet’s travel experts, Sally French and Megan Coyle, delve into maximizing your national park adventures without breaking the bank. They explore strategies to visit national parks for free, navigate peak seasons to avoid crowds, and find budget-friendly lodging options. Here's a comprehensive breakdown of their insightful discussion:

1. National Park Free Admission Days

April 19th Free Entry

• Sally French [00:00]: Highlights that on April 19th, all U.S. national park sites are free to visit.

Annual Free Admission Opportunities

• Megan Coyle [07:03]: Explains that in 2025, there are seven days when national parks offer free admission. These include:
  • January 9th: National Day of Mourning for President Jimmy Carter.
  • January 20th: Martin Luther King Jr. Day.
  • June 19th: Juneteenth.
  • August 4th: Anniversary of the Great American Outdoors Act.
  • September 27th: National Public Lands Day.
  • November 11th: Veterans Day.

Important Considerations:

• Sally French [07:20]: Clarifies that while admission may be free, other fees such as wilderness permits or reservation charges for popular hikes might still apply.

2. Understanding National Park Passes

America the Beautiful Pass

• Sally French [09:53]: Introduces the America the Beautiful annual pass, priced at $80, which covers entrance fees to national parks and other federal outdoor areas like those managed by the U.S. Forest Service.

• Personal Experience:

  • Sally French [10:08]: Shares her experience purchasing the pass in 2020, which proved valuable during the pandemic by encouraging a national parks road trip covering multiple sites like Bryce Canyon, Zion, Grand Canyon, Arches, and Canyonlands.

Regional Park Passes

• Sally French [12:07]: Suggests that for travelers focused on specific areas, regional park passes can be a cost-effective alternative to the national pass.

• Examples:

  • Hawaii Tri Park Pass [12:28]: Costs $55 and includes access to Haleakala National Park, Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, and Pu‘uhonua o Hōnaunau National Historical Park.

Free and Discounted Passes

• Eligibility for Free Passes:

  • Military Personnel and Dependents [13:02 - 13:33]: Current U.S. military members and their dependents, as well as U.S. citizens or permanent residents with disabilities, can obtain free annual passes.

• Special Passes:

  • Fourth Graders [14:13]: Fourth-grade students can receive free passes for educational purposes, encouraging family outings to national parks.

Senior Discounts

• Sally French [14:33]: Mentions that U.S. citizens or permanent residents aged 62 or older can purchase a senior annual pass for $20 or a lifetime pass for $80, offering extended access for frequent visitors.

3. Budget-Friendly Lodging Options

Inside the Park

• Advantages:

  • Sally French [15:44]: Staying inside the park offers proximity to natural attractions, enhancing the visitor experience.

• Challenges:

  • High Demand: Popular lodges like the Ahani Hotel in Yosemite or Old Faithful Inn in Yellowstone often book up months or even a year in advance.

• Tips:

  • Sally French [16:14]: Recommends booking well in advance or being flexible with dates to secure reservations.

Outside the Park Gates

• Cost-Effectiveness:

  • Megan Coyle [16:47]: Staying in gateway towns can be cheaper and more convenient, especially for larger parks requiring extensive driving.

• Examples:

  • Moab, Utah [17:15]: Offers proximity to Arches and Canyonlands National Parks with accommodation options like Hyatt Place Moab, which can be booked using hotel points.

Vacation Rentals and Hotels

• Flexible Options:
  • Sally French [16:35]: Emphasizes the availability of hotels, Airbnbs, and vacation rentals in towns surrounding national parks, catering to different budgets and preferences.

Glamping (Glamorous Camping)

• Rising Trend:

  • Sally French [17:38]: Discusses the increasing popularity of glamping, which combines camping with the comfort of hotel-like amenities.

• Partnered Services:

  • Under Canvas and Auto Camp [17:48 - 20:32]: Highlights partnerships with companies like Under Canvas and Auto Camp, offering unique lodging experiences near parks such as Zion, Grand Canyon, and Yellowstone. These options can often be booked with hotel points, providing a luxurious yet adventurous stay.

4. Navigating Crowds and Planning Your Visit

Peak vs. Off-Peak Seasons

• Visitor Statistics [21:21]:

  • Sally French: Notes that July is the busiest month with over 42 million visits, while January is the least crowded with 13.6 million visits.

• Seasonal Variations:

  • Megan Coyle [22:30]: Advises that some parks have specific seasons, such as Dry Tortugas being popular during spring break and Joshua Tree peaking between February-April and November.

Reservation and Permit Requirements

• Advance Planning [23:03]: Emphasizes the necessity of checking for reservation requirements, especially during peak times, to avoid being turned away at park gates.

• Activity Permits:

  • Sally French [23:30]: Mentions that certain activities, like hiking Angels Landing in Zion, may require special permits.

Avoiding Crowds

• Timing Visits:
  • Megan Coyle [22:04]: Suggests visiting during shoulder seasons or weekdays to experience fewer crowds and more serene natural beauty.

Preparation and Safety

• Self-Reliance Due to Staffing Cuts [24:10]:

  • Sally French: Discusses recent federal job cuts affecting the National Park Service, leading to potential staffing shortages.

• Expert Advice:

  • Former Park Ranger [23:46]: Recommends travelers be self-sufficient, bringing essentials like extra water and food, especially when hiking unfamiliar or strenuous trails.

5. Interactive Trivia and Listener Engagement

National Parks Trivia Segment

• Engagement:

  • Sally French [27:53]: Hosts a trivia game focusing exclusively on true national parks, excluding national monuments.

• Highlights:

  • First National Park: Yellowstone, established in 1872.
  • Most Visited Park in 2023: Great Smoky Mountains with over 13 million visits.
  • Newest National Park: New River Gorge National Park and Preserve in West Virginia, designated in 2020.
  • Smallest National Park: Gateway Arch National Park in St. Louis.

Listener Participation:

• Call to Action:
  • Sally French [32:00]: Encourages listeners to share their trivia scores and national park experiences via email or voice memos, fostering community interaction.

Conclusion

Sally and Megan wrap up the episode by reinforcing the value of strategic planning when visiting national parks. From leveraging free admission days and annual passes to exploring diverse lodging options and timing visits to avoid crowds, travelers are equipped with practical tools to enhance their national park experiences affordably. They also highlight the importance of being prepared and self-reliant, especially in the face of potential staffing challenges within the National Park Service.

Notable Quotes:

• Sally French [00:07]: "You go on this trip intending to hike into nature and escape the modern world, only to get hit with theme park pricing on ice cream."
• Megan Coyle [10:17]: "If you want to get the most value out of your built points, though, I'd recommend you transfer them to high value partners."
• Sally French [15:25]: "The entrance fee is quite affordable, but lodging can be pricey."
• Megan Coyle [26:18]: "Assateague Island National Seashore is awesome. You can camp there. It's very flat. It has beaches, so you can see the wild horses run on the beach."

Listeners are encouraged to utilize the tips and strategies discussed to make their next national park adventure both memorable and budget-friendly.

For more tips and strategies on optimizing your travel budget, tune into future episodes of Smart Travel: Upgrade Your Getaways.