Being outdoors is a great way to social distance, which means it may be time to consider heading to a U.S. National Park in place of Disney World this year. With the pandemic, we’re forced to be creative. With that in mind, here are the 10 best national parks to visit right now – in this special COVID edition.
We’ve passed over indoor heritage sites, or areas where people cluster in one spot for viewing. Instead, consider spreading out in open spaces, explore somewhere new, see something interesting, and remember to social distance if you’re on a trail and see others. Give each other plenty of space.
Check for updates and alerts from the National Park Service on closures and safety precautions here.
While we’ve all heard of the biggest parks like Yosemite and Yellowstone, or places like the Grand Canyon or the Everglades, there are a lot of other great parks worth mentioning. With that in mind, here are 10 of the best national parks in the United States that offer amazing scenic views, trails, roadways, or other amazing experiences.
Listed Alphabetically by State
Millions of acres, room to spread out, one simple road. While some of the park’s hours have been altered, the ability to roam is perfect for COVID inspired travel. Denali, previously called Mt. McKinley, is a beautiful location to explore wilderness at its best. Bring your camera for breathtaking pictures.
Millions of acres, room to spread out, one simple road. While some of the park’s hours have been altered, the ability to roam is perfect for COVID inspired travel. Denali, previously called Mt. McKinley, is a beautiful location to explore wilderness at its best. Bring your camera for breathtaking pictures.
Be greeted with marine estuaries, multiple plants and vegetation, and a mix of wildlife. This preserve offers thousands and thousands of acres and a great opportunity for filming video or snapping gorgeous pictures. Just remember to respect wildlife and keep your distance, along with social distancing from other two-legged visitors!
Hiking trails and scenic roads offer you space to get around. Acadia National Park is known its lush, natural beauty. While the campgrounds are closed due to COVID, you can still explore the park and all its glory otherwise.
There’s plenty of room to spread out with over 700 miles of trails! This is one park that you’ll want to investigate before visiting, because changeable weather conditions determine what trails and roads are accessible. You can’t go wrong with a visit to this majestic masterpiece of nature.
While the museum and some of the indoor facilities are closed due to COVID, you’ll still be able to enjoy things like the many trails offered to the public. You’ll find petroglyphs, carvings, and rich history dating back thousands and thousands of years.
There’s nothing like the lull of ocean waves to soothe frazzled nerves. Take a break and enjoy the beauty of this national shoreline for something different. Enjoy exploring the vast abundance of dunes, maritime forests, wildlife and more. Outdoor space is open, while indoor facilities are temporarily closed.
Just outside of Townsend and Gatlinburg, TN is the entrance to the Great Smoky Mountains which offers an amazing roadway of viewing pleasures. Open space awaits you with trails and plenty to see. You’ll love that they offer details on kid-friendly hikes here for your convenience, making it perfect for a family outing.
This picture-perfect park is postcard pristine. The opportunity to see amazing wildlife and fascinating geology is a dream come true. Bring your camera and plenty of time. Thankfully, this massive park has plenty of space to spread out whether you’re hiking, biking, or prefer to go for a drive.