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Camping in the Western US

21 years ago

Hi. We are planning a family camping trip from Texas through the Western US and would like to utilize the National Park Service. I have visited there website, but was unable to find what I was looking for. Has anyone ever done this? And if so... how do you plan your route? Is there a guide to ALL of the National Parks?

Thanks for the help

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Comments (5)

Campin_Fool
21 years ago
Have a look at this website, it might help. The photo section is real good, being able to see the campground in advance is not a bad idea. http://www.forestcamping.com/
User
21 years ago
Do you have a national parks pass? It's only $50 and will get you into all of the np's for a year. They usually give you a booklet when you buy one and it lists all of the np's and a little bit of info about each. I just bought a new pass last week. They were out of the booklets. If I can find the info they gave me, I'll post on how to request a booklet.

We went to the Davis Mountains in Texas a couple of months ago. We ran into several retired rv'ers that were traveling around to various parks. Some had just left Big Bend, stayed at Ft.Davis and visted the fort and then were driving into New Mexico to visit the Guadalupes (sp?) and Carlsbad Caverns, White Sands, Bandelier and others. These people seemed to plan a 2 or 3 night stay at each campground and then moved on after they had seen the main attractions.

We moved here to NM a couple of years ago and visit enough parks that the pass pays for itself. Of course, we target a lot of other things in the are, not just the NPS.
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mncamper
21 years ago
I was planning a trip thru the southwest, west coast, and pacific northwest last year and found a site that really helped me out. Tons of info & maps. I'll post it below...

Here is a link that might be useful: Nat'l Parks of the American Southwest
rustipup
21 years ago
Here's a tip! If the natl parks like Zion, Bryce, Grand Canyon North Rim are booked and you pull up and still can't get a space, Check out the backcountry of the BLM lands and Kaibab and Dixie Natl forests that are available if you are fully self contained. No services. But, what a great feeling to be out there by yourselves. There are places on the North Rim where you can camp and see millions of stars, hear the coyotes howl, and practically have the quaking aspen forest to yourselves. A little searching will pay off. Good luck!

Remember, shade is everything out west. If there is any way to get a shaded or ask for a shaded or canopied site, you will be way more comfortable in the heat.
Nordic80
20 years ago
the official site for the national parks

Here is a link that might be useful: national park service

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