National Parks & Recreation Month

July is the perfect time to get outside and enjoy the outdoors! It also happens to be National Parks and Recreation Month, which has been celebrated since 1985. There are so many ways to celebrate the Parks and Recreation Association in July by visiting nrpa.org/July. An average of over 260 million individuals in the United States visit local parks during the calendar year, and our parks strengthen our communities. Parks are an important way we experience nature, so I encourage you to find ways locally to support your parks. I also thought this month was the perfect time to bring you some travel deals to visit some of our National Parks!

Note:  Make sure to check for trail and road closures before you visit a National Park. And always respect the park and other visitors!

Skyscanner National Park Travel Deals

Many of you know that I love using Skyscanner to search for flight deals. If you are not familiar, Skyscanner is a metasearch engine and flight booking tool. This summer, Skyscanner has rounded up flight deals to some of the top National Park destinations in the country! If you are looking to spend some time surrounded by nature this summer and enjoy the wonders of our National Parks, here are some flight deals you’ll love:

Bryce Canyon National Park:  Utah – McCarran International Airport (MIA)

o   Santa Ana, CA: From $24

o   Salt Lake City, UT: From $30

o   Sacramento, CA: From $32

o   San Diego, CA: From $32

o   Denver, CO: From $37

Highlights of Bryce Canyon:

Bryce Canyon National Park is home to distinctive geological structures called hoodoos in beautiful red rock. You can do the scenic drive that gives you access to 13 viewpoints or try one of the many hiking trails.

Hotel Ideas:

Bryce Canyon Lodge – Other than the campgrounds, Bryce Canyon Lodge is the only lodging option located inside the National Park. You can book a cabin, suite, or motel room. Many of the rooms have private balconies to enjoy the views.

Best Western Plus Bryce Canyon Grand Hotel – The highest-rated hotel in Bryce Canyon offers higher-end accommodations, including an outdoor courtyard and nightly live music.

Grand Canyon National Park:  Arizona – Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport (PHX)

o   Las Vegas, NV: From $33

o   Colorado Springs, CO: From $75

o   San Diego, CA: From $76

o   Dallas, TX: From $97

o   Burbank, CA: From $114

Highlights of the Grand Canyon:

The Grand Canyon National Park is one of the country’s most famous and popular tourist attractions. There are two main points of interest, the North and South Rim. There are a variety of hiking trails as well as scenic overlooks that are mostly accessible by car.

Hotel Ideas:

Maswik Lodge South – The Maswik Lodge South is a new lodging option in the Grand Canyon National Park that is just a 10-minute walk from the South Rim.

The Grand Hotel – The Grand Hotel is located a mile from the south entrance to the park. The decor combines rustic and modern, and you will find luxury amenities in the three-story chalet.

Great Smoky Mountains National Park:  Tennessee, North Carolina – McGee-Tyson Airport (TYS)

o   Minneapolis, MN: From $67

o   Orlando, FL: From $95

o   Punta Gorda, FL: From $95

o   New York, NY: From $104

o   Fort Lauderdale, FL: From $141

Highlights of the Great Smoky Mountains:

On the other side of the country, the Great Smokies are the most visited national park in the United States. It’s known for its location in the Appalachian Mountains, and the Appalachian Trail runs through the park. There are 2 main visitor centers, many historical attractions, as well as hiking and fishing.

Hotel Ideas:

LeConte Lodge – LeConte Lodge is a hike-in lodge, only accessible by foot. It sits on the park’s third highest mountain peak and requires a 5-9 mile hike to arrive. There are lodge rooms, cabins, and multi-bedroom lodges available, as well as a dining hall for meals.

Olympic National Park:  Washington – Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SEA)

o   El Paso, TX: From $150

o   Portland, OR: From $167

o   Las Vegas, NV: From $171

o   Sacramento, CA: From $173

o   Boise, ID: From $174  

Highlights of Olympic National Park:

Located in Washington state, Olympic National Park features part of the Pacific coast, alpine forests, and rainforests. Several roads will take you on scenic drives around the park and a network of remote hiking trails. There are beautiful rivers, waterfalls, beaches, and more.

Hotel Ideas:

Lake Crescent Lodge – This historic lodge, originally built in 1915, is the perfect base camp for recreation in Olympic National Park while enjoying charming accommodations with dining, boat rentals, and lake views.

Log Cabin Resort – Another waterfront lodging option, the Log Cabin Resort offers cabins, a-frame chalets, and lodge rooms, as well as full hook-up RV sites and tent camping.

Sol Duc Hot Springs Resort – Rustic cabins and access to the mineral hot springs pool at Sol Duc are available from March-October.

Rocky Mountain National Park: Colorado – Denver International Airport (DEN)

o   Memphis, TN: From $46

o   Las Vegas, NV: From $48

o   San Francisco, CA: From $51

o   Salt Lake City, UT: From $56

o   Burbank, CA: From $58

Highlights of Rocky Mountain National Park:

Rocky Mountain National Park is located just 55 miles from Denver and features mountains, alpine lakes, densely wooded forests, and plentiful wildlife.

Hotel Ideas:

Della Terra Mountain Chateau – A romantic luxury stay at Della Terra is now on my bucket list! There are suites with fireplaces, soaking tubs, and water features, as well as cozy mountain cabins at Della Terra.

Yellowstone National Park:  Wyoming, Montana, Idaho – Yellowstone Regional Airport (COD), Jackson Hole Airport (JAC)

·       Low Prices (COD) 

o   Los Angeles, CA: From $208

o   Burbank, CA: From $226

o   Ontario, CA: From $281

o   Santa Ana, CA: From $332

o   Albuquerque, NM: From $190

·       Low Prices (JAC)

o   Las Vegas, NV: From $122

o   Los Angeles, CA: From $186

o   Reno, NV: From $221

o   Ontario, CA: From $244

o   New York, NY: From $279

Highlights of Yellowstone:

I could go on and on about the wonders of Yellowstone! It is home to some of the most breathtaking lakes, canyons, rivers, and mountains in the US.

Hotel Ideas:

Lake Yellowstone Hotel – The historic Lake Yellowstone Hotel is filled with colonial charm and offers guest rooms, suites, and frontier cabins.

Park Hotel Yellowstone – A 1902 Old West hotel with great views of the park.

Yosemite National Park:  California – Fresno-Yosemite International Airport), Mammoth Yosemite Airport (MMH)

·       Low Prices (FAT)

o   Boise, ID: From $60

o   San Francisco, CA: From $63

o   San Diego, CA: From $69

o   Oakland, CA: From $117

o   Houston, TX: From $129

·       Low Prices (MMH) 

o   Hawthorne, CA: From $207

o   San Diego, CA: From $176

Highlights of Yosemite:

Yosemite National Park is known for its waterfalls, sequoia trees, granite cliffs, meadows, and glaciers. You can drive through the park, camp, hike, and enjoy winter activities like skiing and snowshoeing.

Hotel Ideas:

The Ahwahnee – The location and views from The Ahwahnee are what make this historic hotel truly special. The hotel itself was built to match its surroundings, Yosemite Falls, Half Dome, and Glacier Point.

Tuolumne Meadows Lodge – For a more rustic stay, Tuolumne Meadows Lodge makes a great basecamp for adventuring in Yosemite. There are canvas tents here with lanterns and wood-burning stoves to give you the full rustic experience.

Zion National Park: Utah – Harry Reid International Airport (LAS), ST. GEORGE REGIONAL AIRPORT (SGU)

·       Low Prices (LAS) 

o   San Francisco, CA: From $17

o   Santa Ana, CA: From $17

o   Phoenix, AZ: From $18 

o   Houston, TX: $79

o   Atlanta, GA: From $111

o   Syracuse, NY: From $375

o   Philadelphia, PA: From $382

·       Low Prices (SGU) 

o   Provo, UT: From $345

o   Abilene, TX: From $333

o   Albuquerque, NM: From $118

o   Alexandria, LA: From $353

o   Appleton, WI: From $568

o   Arcata, CA: From $347

Highlights of Zion National Park

Zion National Park is filled with mountains, canyons, buttes, mesas, and arches that are signature to the Southwest. Hiking the Narrows is a highlight of this National Park, but you can also book things like guided horseback rides and nature walks.

Hotel Ideas:Open Sky Zion – Enjoy ultra-luxury camps with incredible views and lots to do at Open Sky Zion.