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From the superior geysers of Yellowstone to the purple mountains of the Smokies, America’s nationwide parks have lengthy been generally known as nice street journey locations. However what if you happen to favor to journey with out getting behind the wheel?
“You don’t want a automotive to have a implausible and fulfilling expertise,” says Mike Augustine, a customized journey advisor at MT Sobek and a Journey + Leisure A-Checklist 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 business airports, cruise ports, and prepare stations. So, whereas visiting nationwide parks and not using a automotive might not be widespread, it’s definitely 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 techniques in 2023, she provides, and that doesn’t even account for the various extra who use different prepare, aircraft, or bus networks to achieve their desired locations.
Add on the numerous tour corporations providing chauffeured journey for people and teams, and there’s no denying that nationwide parks are nice locations to be a customer and not using a car.
With Kupper and Augustine’s assist, we’ve narrowed down America’s 63 nationwide parks to this record of 12 which can be the easiest for car-free journey. Even if you happen to usually love driving, we imagine {that a} public transit-powered go to to those 12 parks is value contemplating.
In spite of everything, Augustine asks: “Wouldn’t you fairly concentrate on 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 now” — notably at Glacier Nationwide Park. Amtrak’s Empire Builder route traces the park’s whole 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 suggest 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 seashore 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 nicely. Irrespective 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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If you happen to love to do your exploring on two wheels fairly than 4, Haleakala Nationwide Park stands out as the place for you. Practically one million individuals go to this volcanic Maui icon yearly, and a courageous few thousand of them accomplish that by bicycle. If you happen to’ve obtained the stamina for the ten,000 ft of elevation acquire required, start within the city of Pa’ia for a 36-mile experience to Haleakala’s summit. Pa’ia (named T+L’s Finest Seashore City in America in 2024) sits only a stone’s throw from Maui’s primary 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 business 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 positioned outdoors Grand Teton correct, however it’s nonetheless simple to discover the park whereas staying there — many tour corporations function domestically, and the park’s southern entrance lies simply six miles from downtown, making it reachable by bicycle for formidable 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 street right here for a lot of the 12 months, making it simpler to get round on the park’s free shuttle than by some other means. Plus, “The shuttle stops at iconic places 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; the town of St. George (the place the closest airport is positioned) just 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 might not be the everyday 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 simple to achieve. How simple? Gentle rail can get you from the airport to the Arch in below an hour, and standout motels just like the 21c Museum Resort 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 attraction, how does crusing in sound? Virgin Islands Nationwide Park is positioned on St. John, and because the island has no airport and just a few roads, the best solution to get right here is by boat. Non-public vessels supply 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 primary 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 blissful 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 solution 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 probably essentially the most quintessential cease on the good American street 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, “skilled mountain climbing guides deal with all of the driving, so you’ll be able to focus solely on the journey,” Augustine says. “This strategy additionally opens up alternatives to discover lesser-known areas of the park that shuttles don’t attain — hidden gems that supply a extra distinctive expertise.”
Saguaro Nationwide Park
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Whereas the NPS system writ giant has loads of properties positioned close to huge cities, most are nationwide monuments or historic websites fairly than nationwide parks correct. In Tucson, although, city residing sits side-by-side with the pure wonders of Saguaro Nationwide Park. The park’s two segments lie simply east and simply west of the town, and every one has a customer middle and trailheads reachable by 30-minute Uber from downtown. Mountaineering in both section can get you gorgeous views of among the world’s largest cacti, however bear in mind, it might get scorchingly scorching right here — so convey loads of water and take into account pre-booking your air-conditioned rideshare journey house.
Denali Nationwide Park
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As a state that’s bigger than most international locations, Alaska could not appear to be a simple place to get round. At Denali Nationwide Park, although, officers have labored to make sure that guests don’t must log hours of driving. The Alaska Railroad presents a calming and scenic solution to get to the park — its Denali Star Practice runs day by 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) presents 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 method 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.
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