Best Times to Visit our Top Ten National Parks

Best Times to Visit our Top Ten National Parks? Isn’t anytime a good time to visit? Well, yes and no. To make the most of your visit, there are some times that are better than others for visiting our parks. Here is a list you can print out of our most popular national parks and when you should go:

Acadia National Park (MAINE)=late June-mid-August for mild temps and October for fall colors (Must See: Cadillac Mountain at sunrise or sunset, Mount Desert Island and Wild Gardens of Acadia)
Glacier National Park (MONTANA)=summer (only) for scenic hikes & drives and Sept/Oct for fall colors (Must See: Alpine Glaciers, wildlife including Bighorn sheep and marmots, waterfalls, Going to the Sun Road, hiking The Loop, and Wild Goose Island)
Great Smoky Mountains National Park (TENNESSEE & NORTH CAROLINA)=spring for wildflowers & dogwood trees and Sept/Oct for fall colors (Must See: Clingman’s Dome, Cades Cove, and Appalachian Trail)
Grand Canyon National Park (ARIZONA)=April/May for mild temps and Oct/Nov for hiking if you want to avoid the crowds and still enjoy nice weather (Must See: Grand Canyon Village, North Rim, South Rim, rafting, and Antelope Canyon)
Grand Teton National Park (WYOMING)=mid-May – late-Sept for weather and activities. By October, the weather usually turns cold and by November all the restaurants, lodges, campgrounds, and part of Teton Park Road are closed. June, September and early October are the least crowded times to visit. (Must See: Hidden Falls, Jenny Lake, wildlife (including black bears, grizzly bears, moose, and elk), Scenic Loop Drive, Teton Village Gondola Ride and Blue Heron Lounge in the Jackson Lake Lodge–plus there are tons of hiking trails for beginners to advanced hikers).
Joshua Tree National Park (CALIFORNIA)=March-May for mild temps and wildflowers & blooming cactus and Oct/Nov for mild temps and less crowded (Must See: bird-watching including turkey vultures and great-horned owls, wildflowers and cactus gardens, rock climbing and rock art)
Rocky Mountain National Park (COLORADO)=Sept/Oct for wildlife watching (Must See: Trail Ridge Road is the highest road in the entire U.S. National Park system with incredible landscapes and lookouts and lots of wildlife, mountaineering, and hiking)
Yellowstone National Park (IDAHO, MONTANA, WYOMING)=May for wildlife watching and wildflowers and Oct for fall colors (Must See: Old Faithful, Hayden Valley for wildlife, Mammoth Hot Springs, Mystic Falls Trail and Yellowstone Lake)
Yosemite National Park (CALIFORNIA)=May for Yosemite Falls and bird-watching (Must See: Yosemite Valley, Yosemite Falls, Yosemite Museum and Indian Village, and Mariposa Grove (Giant Sequoiah Trees)
Zion National Park (UTAH)=Oct/Nov for fall colors and crowds (Must See: Zion is the best place for adventure travelers and outdoor enthusiasts with its many hiking trails, horseback riding, river rafting, canyoneering, rock climbing, and wildlife watching)

Note: Many of these parks are very crowded during the summer so reservations are required and many also offer winter activities, such as backpacking and skiing but some park roads are closed due to winter weather. Be sure to make reservations and do your research before visiting to find out about entrance fees, reservations, permits, pets, lodging and dining options, etc.

The Great Smoky Mountains National Park is the visited park in America, averaging around 10 million visitors. In 2023, it welcomed nearly 14 million visitors! Click here to learn more about TERRANCE TALKS TRAVEL: The Quirky Tourist Guide to The Great Smoky Mountains National Park!

For information on other national parks or for more travel information for these parks, check out this great FREE resource!

You can also check out the National Park Service site for lots of helpful planning information!

Click here for information about park passes and reservations!

Fast Facts:

The U.S. has 63 national parks.
Thirty states have national parks.
National parks can only be designated by an act of congress.
The first national park in America was Yellowstone, established 1872.
California has the most national parks with a total of nine.
The Great Smoky Mountains National Park holds the record for the most visitors annually since 1944!
Fourteen national parks are designated UNESCO World Heritage Sites and 21 national parks are named UNESCO Biosphere Reserves.

Click here to subscribe to this blog!