The national parks are the crown jewels of the American landscape, vast and protected expanses of some of the most spectacular natural scenery on earth. For any backpacker, a journey through the United States is incomplete without experiencing the granite cliffs, towering forests, and otherworldly desert landscapes that these parks have to offer. While they can seem remote and inaccessible, the national parks are, in fact, one of the most budget-friendly and rewarding destinations for a traveler. They offer an affordable alternative to the high costs of the country’s major cities, providing a chance to connect with the raw, untamed beauty of the continent.
The Golden Ticket: The National Parks Pass
Most of the major, iconic national parks charge an entrance fee per vehicle, which can quickly add up if you plan to visit several. The single most valuable purchase a backpacker can make before embarking on a park-focused journey is the annual interagency pass. This pass, valid for a full year, grants access to every national park and thousands of other federal recreation sites across the country. For a single, one-time fee, the pass covers the entrance fee for a driver and all passengers in a personal vehicle. For a backpacker traveling on foot or by bicycle, it covers the individual. If you plan to visit more than two or three major parks within a year, the pass will almost certainly save you a significant amount of money. It is the golden ticket to America’s greatest treasures.
Accommodation: Sleeping Under the Stars
The most immersive and affordable way to experience the parks is by camping. While many parks have grand, historic lodges, these are extremely expensive and book up a year or more in advance. The backpacker’s home is the campground. Most national parks have several developed campgrounds, which offer designated sites with a picnic table, a fire pit, and access to basic amenities like running water and restrooms. These sites are incredibly popular and, in the most famous parks, must be booked online the day they become available, often six months in advance.
For the more adventurous, backcountry camping offers a chance to truly escape into the wilderness. This involves hiking into remote areas of the park and camping in designated wilderness sites or zones. This experience requires a wilderness permit, which must be obtained from the park’s ranger station. It also requires a higher level of self-sufficiency, as you must carry all your own gear and adhere to strict “Leave No Trace” principles to protect the fragile environment. A third, excellent budget option is to camp just outside the park boundaries on surrounding public lands, where dispersed camping is often free.
The Transportation Challenge: Shuttles are Your Best Friend
The single biggest challenge for a backpacker in the national parks is transportation. The parks are vast and are almost all designed to be navigated by car. Getting to the parks without a vehicle can be difficult, with limited private shuttle options from nearby “gateway” towns. This is a common reason why many backpackers try to find travel partners in hostels to share the cost of a rental car.
However, once you are inside many of the most popular and crowded parks, a car can become more of a hindrance than a help due to traffic and limited parking. To combat this, many parks operate excellent, and often free, park shuttle systems. These shuttles run on a continuous loop, connecting the main visitor center with the most popular trailheads, scenic overlooks, and campgrounds. For a backpacker, these shuttles are an absolute lifeline. You can park your car at the visitor center (or arrive via a shuttle from a gateway town) and use the internal bus system to get to all the key points of interest. It is a stress-free, efficient, and environmentally friendly way to explore, allowing you to focus on the scenery instead of the traffic.
The official annual pass is called the “America the Beautiful” Pass, which is managed by the National Park Service (NPS) and other federal agencies. Famous examples of parks with excellent shuttle systems include Zion National Park, Yosemite National Park, and the Grand Canyon National Park.
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