Awestruck. Moved. Humbled. Rejuvenated. If you ever spent time visiting a national park in the United States, you likely experienced a range of emotions as you spent time reflecting on the natural splendor before you.
Whether you are a nature enthusiast seeking a serene escape from your busy life, an adventurer seeking the thrill of river rafting or rock climbing, or you want to show your kids how beautiful the U.S. is, visiting a national park is a great way to create lifetime memories.
A Deep Appreciation for Nature
It all started with Yellowstone. On March 1, 1872, Congress established Yellowstone National Park in the Territories of Montana and Wyoming “as a public park or pleasuring-ground for the benefit and enjoyment of the people” and placed it “under exclusive control of the Secretary of the Interior.” The founding of Yellowstone National Park began a worldwide national park movement.
Then, on August 25, 1916, President Woodrow Wilson signed the act creating the National Park Service, a new federal bureau in the Department of the Interior responsible for protecting the 35 national parks and monuments then managed by the department and those yet to be established.
Today, the National Park System of the United States comprises more than 400 areas covering more than 84 million acres in 50 states, the District of Columbia, American Samoa, Guam, Puerto Rico, Saipan, and the Virgin Islands.
There are 63 national parks scattered across the country, ready for you to explore!
Travel in Style and Comfort in a Luxury Motorcoach Rental
One way to experience the beauty of a national park is to travel there in a luxury motorcoach rental. Our LiTRV team can help you charter a Class A motorcoach, plan your itinerary and arrange for a private driver so you and your family and friends can relax during the journey.
Unlike standard RVs, a Class A motorcoach is the most extravagant RV on the market, ranging from 39 to 45 feet long. Much like a luxury hotel suite, they feature all the comforts of home including the convenience of an expansive kitchen, comfortable beds, multiple bathrooms, washer and dryer and even a dishwasher.
When you rent a luxury motorcoach from LiTRV, you can have peace of mind knowing that you’re working with a full-service firm. Our professional drivers have decades of experience driving RVs and other large vehicles throughout the country. They are used to driving long hours, navigating twists and turns on mountain roads, and adjusting to diverse weather conditions. When there’s an overnight stop, we arrange for our driver to stay nearby so you can enjoy your privacy.
Reservations Book Up Quickly
It’s no secret that our national park system is a true treasure. In 2023, the National Park Service reported 325.5 million recreation visits throughout the year. Because of their popularity, some parks have timed-entry programs, limiting access to popular trails and roadways. Others cap maximum visitors per day.
We recommend planning your national park adventure at least 6 months in advance. This way, our LiTRV team can assist you with reservations within the park as well at nearby luxury RV resorts.
Our LiTRV team can also provide options for navigating hard-to-reach destinations within each park. Most parks have free shuttles to ferry people to key destinations within the park. We can also hook up your car or bicycles to the motorcoach, or provide you with a rental car so you can explore back roads on your own. In addition, our LiTRV team can make reservations for exciting excursions, such as helicopter rides, hot air balloon trips, river rafting, kayaking, and nearby ziplining adventures.
Here are three national parks worth visiting this summer:
Yellowstone National Park (Wyoming, Montana, Idaho)
America’s first national park – Yellowstone – is located within 2.2 million acres throughout Wyoming, Montana and Idaho. With dramatic views and abundant wildlife, the park also features stunning geothermal areas that contain about half the world’s active geysers. Nearly all the park’s most famous natural wonders are close to the path of the Grand Loop, the 140-mile, figure-eight-shaped main drag. This road consists of the north loop, featuring Mammoth Hot Springs and Tower Falls, and the south loop, featuring Old Faithful, Yellowstone Lake, Grand Prismatic, Hayden Valley and Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone.
There’s plenty of outdoor fun throughout the park, including hiking trails, horseback riding, fishing, guided tours, and other activities. Lamar Valley, known as the “Serengeti of North America,” is a great area for spotting bison, elk, bears and other wildlife. Explore Yellowstone Lake in a guided boat tour or rent a motorboat or a rowboat for your own adventure. Tour the Old Faithful Inn, one of the few remaining log hotels in the United States, and then find a spot near the famous geyser, just outside of the inn. Old Faithful erupts every 35 to 120 minutes for 1 1/2 to 5 minutes. Its maximum height ranges from 90 to 184 feet.
With ample notice, our LiTRV team can also explore availability at nearby luxury RV resorts, such as Yellowstone’s Edge RV Park in Livingston, Montana. The pet-friendly resort features stunning river views, a general store, indoor and outdoor recreation, laundry facilities, and private fishing access.
Zion National Park (Utah)
Tucked into the southwest corner of Utah, Zion National Park is one of the state’s “Mighty Five” national parks and the most popular park, with more than 4 million visitors in 2023. The other four national parks in Utah include Arches, Bryce Canyon, Canyonlands, and Capitol Reef.
The breathtaking park revolves around Zion Canyon—15 miles long and 2,000 to 3,000 feet deep. The park covers 229 square miles of red rock formations, including mountains, towering cliffs, and natural arches. Some of the rock formations are over 200 million years old. The park has also been home to the Ancestral Puebloan, Fremont and Southern Paiute people.
The National Park Service began operating shuttles in 2000 to reduce traffic and parking problems, protect vegetation, and restore tranquility to Zion Canyon. The Zion Canyon Shuttle connects the Zion Canyon Visitor Center to stops on the Zion Canyon Scenic Drive. Shuttles leave every few minutes and go either north or south. You can exit the shuttle at any open stop.
Spend the day hiking The Narrows, a watery trail through spectacular steep canyon walls. Bring a walking stick as much of the hike is through ankle- to waist-high water. Or plan ahead to hike Angels Landing, a strenuous hike with exposed edges and sheer drop-offs of as much as 1,000 feet on each side. The hike is so popular that you’ll need a permit, which is issued in advance via a lottery system. For a more moderate, but equally breathtaking trail, spend some time on the one-mile roundtrip Canyon Overlook Trail, which features stunning views down into Zion Canyon.
Our LiTRV team can explore availability at nearby luxury RV resorts, such as Zion River Resort RV Park & Campground in Virgin, Utah. With spectacular views, the resort features spacious RV sites with paved patios, a heated swimming pool and spa, a social hall, game room and activity area, a business center with a computer and printer, a gazebo-style community kitchen, charcoal grills, a general store and ice cream parlor and free high-speed internet. There is also a shuttle from the resort to Zion National Park.
Acadia National Park (Maine)
The Crown Jewel of the North Atlantic Coast, Acadia National Park features rugged coastal beauty, forested landscapes, and quaint New England charm. At 4 million visits a year, it’s one of the top 10 most-visited national parks in the United States.
Located 160 miles from Portland, Maine, and about 50 miles from Bangor, Acadia National Park is spread out through 47,000 acres on Maine’s Mount Desert Island. Its landscape is marked by woodland, rocky beaches and glacier-scoured granite peaks such as Cadillac Mountain, the highest point on the United States’ East Coast. The quaint, bayside town of Bar Harbor is the gateway to the park.
In addition to diverse wildlife, such as moose, bears, whales and seabirds, the park has many scenic areas, such as Cadillac Mountain, where you can watch the sunrise from the highest peak on the U.S. East Coast. If weather permits, spend the day boating, canoeing and fishing in Great Long Pond. A trip to the park would not be complete without driving Park Loop Road, a 27-mile scenic route with access to iconic sights such as Thunder Hole and Sand Beach. In addition to plenty of hiking trails, the park includes 45 miles of carriage roads for those who want to explore the park on bicycle. Bike rentals are also available in Bar Harbor.
There are several luxury RV resorts nearby, such as the Timberland Acres RV Park in Trenton Maine. Located 14 miles from Bar Harbor and the entrance to Acadia National Park, the pet-friendly resort features private RV sites with picnic tables and fire rings, a playground, dog park, a basketball court, corn hole, golf cart rentals, an arcade, heated swimming pool, and planned activities throughout the season.
Summer may seem far off, but now is the optimal time to start planning your national park adventure in a luxury motorcoach rental. If you can be flexible with your travel dates, you may experience less crowds after Labor Day. Our LiTRV team is ready to help you explore your options. Give us a call at 847-833-6768, email us info@litrv.com or click on the “Get a Quote” button at the bottom of our home page.
Recent Comments