16 National Parks to Visit This Summer!
With summer coming, many families plan a summer road trip. Before you hit the road, be sure to secure car insurance. In honor of their 100th anniversary, the U.S. National Parks Service recently launched the “Find Your Park” campaign to help travelers plan their visits to more than 400 parks. Take a peek, check out lodging, and plan your trip online. To celebrate their centennial this August, the National Parks Service invites all travelers to attend any of their parks FREE OF CHARGE on the following dates this summer and fall:
- Aug. 25-28: National Park Service Birthday
- Sept. 24: National Public Lands Day
- Nov. 11: Veterans Day
If you’re traveling with kids, most parks offer a “Junior Ranger” program. Add these national parks in the west to your “bucket list:”
Hawaii
The 15th national park to be established in the U.S., Hawaii Volcanoes National Park is a must-see destination when visiting the islands. The park offers a new Centennial Hike series, After Dark programs, and more. This is a great time to learn about geology and explore how the many eruptions have changed Volcanoes National Park over the past 100 years. If you’re athletic, you might consider taking part in the Ragnar Relay, an overnight race that’s catching on all over the country.
Washington
Olympic National Park, three hours north of Seattle in Washington State, is lush and dramatic in all seasons. Olympic’s 1 million acres offer three different ecosystems:
- Glacier-capped mountains
- Rugged Pacific coastline
- Old-growth temperate rain forests
Montana
Glacier National Park is one of the most beautiful of all our national parks. Covering 1,583 square miles in the northwest corner of Montana, Glacier was named for the million-year old glaciers that formed there. Traveling north of the US-Canadian border, Glacier National Park adjoins Canada’s Waterton-Glacier International Peace Park.
Oregon
One of the oldest in the park system, Crater Lake National Park is deeply colorful and dramatic. Crater Lake is not only a popular tourist destination, but is also considered sacred by some of Oregon’s native peoples. Hike along the edge of this ancient caldera and take in spectacular views of the lake’s eye-catching blue waters.
Utah
Utah offers the “Mighty 5®” parks, which draw several million visitors from around the world each year to enjoy unforgettable scenery. These five spectacular parks stretch across the southern half of the state and can be experienced individually, or as part of one epic road trip:
- Bryce National Park
- Zion National Park
- Capitol Reef National Park
- Canyonlands National Park
- Arches National Park
California
The gem of the Sierra Nevada Mountains, Yosemite National Park covers 1,190 square miles in central California. Established in 1890, sights like Half Dome, Bridalveil Fall, El Capitan, Glacier Point, giant sequoias, and Tuolumne Meadows make this park one of the most breathtaking natural places in the Golden state. Yosemite’s waterfalls take on a different character each season.
The classic “jumping cholla” cactus and Joshua trees are just two of the iconic plant species indigenous to Joshua Tree National Park. Joshua Tree is a manageable drive from Los Angeles, making it a popular destination for visitors to Southern California.
Sequoia National Park is home to the immense, ancient trees that give the park its name. Encounters with Giant Sequoias—the largest and oldest living things on earth—can be moving.
Lassen Volcanic National Park
The least visited national park in the U.S., this park in far northern California includes over 150 miles of trails. Volcanically active for about three million years, Lassen features all 4 types of volcanoes: Cinder cone, shield, composite, and plug dome. Lassen Peak last erupted 100 years ago, but steam vents, boiling springs, and bubbling mud pots remain active.
Nevada offers three national parks in its vast, arid landscape:
- Death Valley
- Great Basin
- Lake Mead
Looking for cheap car insurance before you head out on your road trip? Cost-U-Less can help you find out how much you could be saving on car insurance. Just stop by one of our many area locations, give us a call, or visit us online for a free car insurance quote, consult with the experts, and choose a policy that fits your lifestyle.
