I've visited 35 US national parks with my family. Here are my 9 best tips for first-time visitors.

Amanda AdlerJan 27, 2024, 19:22 IST

I love visiting national parks with my family. Amanda Adler

Traveling to national parks with my son and dog is a passion of mine, and we've visited 35 so far.
I tell new visitors to expect crowds of people but limited resources such as food, water, and gas.

So far, we've made it to 35 parks with my 10-year-old son, who's been hiking since he was a toddler. We often have our dog with us as well.

Even though I've visited many parks, I'm always learning something new about these remarkable natural wonderlands.

But despite the unique differences that set each destination apart, there are a few things every traveler should know before visiting a national park.

Research is the key to success.

Research park hours, seasonality, trail maps, and entrance fees before visiting a national parkAmanda Adler

Expect plenty of other tourists in your photos of Utah's popular Arches National ParkAmanda Adler

We stopped by the visitor center at Wind Cave National Park in South DakotaAmanda Adler

Junior Ranger badges are fun to collect.Amanda Adler

Leashed dogs are welcome at South Carolina's Congaree National Park.Amanda Adler

Our hiking shoes helped on muddy trail at New River Gorge National Park in West Virginia.Amanda Adler

This gas can is a souvenir from my visit to Texas.Amanda Adler

We look at trail details before embarking on a hike. Amanda Adler

We stopped to rest at Shenandoah National Park in Virginia.Amanda Adler