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From the superior geysers of Yellowstone to the purple mountains of the Smokies, America’s nationwide parks have lengthy been referred to as nice highway journey locations. However what in case you want 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-Record journey advisor specializing in nationwide parks.
A number of parks have their very own sturdy networks of (typically free) shuttles, whereas others sit enticingly near industrial airports, cruise ports, and prepare stations. So, whereas visiting nationwide parks with out a automotive is probably not widespread, it’s actually 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 individuals used NPS transit programs 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 with out a car.
With Kupper and Augustine’s assist, we’ve narrowed down America’s 63 nationwide parks to this record of 12 which might be the easiest for car-free journey. Even in case you usually love driving, we consider {that a} public transit-powered go to to those 12 parks is value contemplating.
In any case, Augustine asks: “Wouldn’t you quite give attention to the view than Google Maps?”
Glacier Nationwide Park
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“Many early park guests traveled to nationwide parks through passenger trains,” Kupper factors out, “and that custom continues right this moment” — significantly at Glacier Nationwide Park. Amtrak’s Empire Builder route traces the park’s complete 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 essentially the most consideration (it’s related by seasonal shuttle to the well-known Going-to-the-Solar Highway), however we advocate 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 appear 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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In case you love to do your exploring on two wheels quite than 4, Haleakala Nationwide Park could be the place for you. Almost 1,000,000 individuals go to this volcanic Maui icon yearly, and a courageous few thousand of them achieve this by bicycle. In case you’ve obtained the stamina for the ten,000 toes 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 foremost airport, permitting severe 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 industrial airport inside a U.S. nationwide park. With a direct flight to Jackson Gap Airport from any of 11 American cities, you’ll be able to 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 outdoors 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 record Zion as a should for car-free vacationers. Private autos are forbidden on the primary highway right here for many of the yr, making it simpler to get round on the park’s free shuttle than by every other 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 enhancing; town of St. George (the place the closest airport is situated) lately 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 is probably not the standard image of a nationwide park trip. However, if all you need is a bona fide nationwide park you’ll be able to go to with out driving, you’ll be able to’t do a lot 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? Gentle rail can get you from the airport to the Arch in beneath an hour, and standout inns 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 because the island has no airport and just a few roads, the simplest strategy to get right here is by boat. Personal vessels provide essentially the most direct park entry, due to 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 foremost entrance, and from there, hotspots like Honeymoon Seashore are reachable with a little bit of scenic mountain climbing.
Nice Smoky Mountains Nationwide Park
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We now have 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 mountain climbing 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 strategy 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 maybe essentially the most quintessential cease on the nice American highway journey. However due to a wealth of guided excursions like those Augustine’s firm gives, the park is surprisingly accessible to guests with out their very own automotive. On an escorted tour with MT Sobek, “professional mountain climbing guides deal with all of the driving, so you’ll be able to focus completely on the journey,” Augustine says. “This method additionally opens up alternatives to discover lesser-known areas of the park that shuttles don’t attain — hidden gems that provide a extra distinctive expertise.”
Saguaro Nationwide Park
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Whereas the NPS system writ giant has loads of properties situated close to huge cities, most are nationwide monuments or historic websites quite 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 beautiful views of a number of the world’s largest cacti, however bear in mind, it could possibly get scorchingly sizzling right here — so carry loads of water and think about pre-booking your air-conditioned rideshare journey dwelling.
Denali Nationwide Park
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As a state that’s bigger than most international locations, Alaska might 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 affords a soothing and scenic strategy to get to the park — its Denali Star Prepare runs every 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, mountain climbing, 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) affords 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 approach into Yosemite correct, the park’s personal shuttle system can ferry you to numerous must-see spots, together with Decrease Yosemite Falls and El Capitan Meadow.
