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Washinton’s Mount Rainier is on our list of the most affordable national parks
to visit. (Photo: Courtesy Emily Pennington)
Travel National Parks


THE 10 MOST BUDGET-FRIENDLY NATIONAL PARKS

Our parks expert has put together long weekend trips for as little as $204, with
details on free entrance fees and campsites, and active itineraries that keep
costs down

(Photo: Courtesy Emily Pennington)
Emily Pennington

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Published Jun 16, 2024
Emily Pennington
Emily Pennington is a columnist and longtime Outside contributor. For her 63
Parks column, she visited every U.S. national park.



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Our national parks are awe-inspiring and family-friendly destinations. That
said, some are cheaper to get to and stay in or near than others. I know: from
2020 to 2023, I visited all 63 U.S. national parks as a columnist for Outside,
in a van and on a shoestring budget. Then I wrote a book about it, called Feral.

To come up with a list of the most affordable parks, I looked at the primary
costs that go into a national park trip—namely proximity to a major airport,
transportation and accommodation, and the top activities there. The results
reflect the cost of lodging for three nights for an average-priced hotel room or
Airbnb in May; park entrance fees and other ancillary fees included in my
suggested itinerary; and a rental car for four days. I have not factored in
airfare, food, and gas, which will vary pending where you’re based and h how
much you dine out and drive.

These are the 10 most affordable parks to visit based on my research.


1. GREAT BASIN NATIONAL PARK, NEVADA

The rare bristlecone pines of Great Basin live for thousands of years and are
some of the oldest trees in the world. There are three bristlecone groves in the
park. The easiest is accessed via the approximately three-mile (round-trip)
Bristlecone Trail from Wheeler Campground. (The Gaia GPS map of this route can
be found below.) (Photo: Posnov/Getty)


APPROXIMATE TOTAL COST: FROM $204

 * Average car rental for four days: $166
 * Average campground site / hotel for three nights: $30 / $363
 * Park entrance fee: Free
 * Lehman Caves tour: $8

SIMILAR READS

25 Easy, Scenic National-Park Hikes Under 5 Miles
The Ultimate Guide to Driving the Blue Ridge Parkway
Put These Beautiful National Monuments on Your Must-See List
The 5 Best National Park Road Trips in the U.S.
The 9 Best Gateway Towns to U.S. National Parks

How I’d do it: The nearest airport—Cedar City, Utah—is 142 miles away, so gas
will likely be your main expense when visiting Great Basin. If you’re camping,
try to snag a coveted free site at Sacramento Pass Campground; otherwise, post
up in Ely, 55 miles west, which has more hotel and food options than tiny Baker,
just outside the park gates.

Spend your first day admiring the 3,000-year-old trees on the Bristlecone Trail
and picnicking near the Wheeler Peak Campground, which is offering first-come,
first-served sites for the rest of 2024 ($20).



On day two, reserve tickets for a tour of the Lehman Caves (from $8 per adult
and $4 per child) and learn about the region’s rich Native history at the Baker
Archaeological Site (free).

Make day three all about big-mile hikes, either summiting 13,063-foot Wheeler
Peak (the second-highest in Nevada) or traversing fragrant sagebrush slopes on a
ten-mile round-trip up to shimmering Baker Lake. Fuel your post-hike hunger at
Sugar, Salt and Malt in Baker.

Best Time to Visit: June through September


2. DEATH VALLEY NATIONAL PARK, CALIFORNIA AND NEVADA




APPROXIMATE TOTAL COST: FROM $235

 * Average car rental for four days: $157
 * Average campground site / hotel for three nights: $48 / $297
 * Park entrance fee: $30

How I’d do it: Most commercial flights in this region go to Las Vegas. From
there it’s a 125-mile drive north to the Wild West town of Beatty, which is
funky and close to noteworthy ghost towns, like Rhyolite. Camping is available
inside the park and options range from free primitive sites to the full-service
Furnace Creek (from $30).

Your first day in the park, check out the narrow, multicolored Mosaic Canyon on
foot. During the cooler early-evening hours, take in the sunset hues while
hiking or boogie-boarding at Mesquite Flat Sand Dunes (don’t forget your
snowboard or boogie board, which Reddit readers have reported using on these
slopes).

The next day, wake while it’s still dark so you can snap some sunrise pics at
Zabriskie Point, then move on to marvel at the bizarre geological formations
along Badwater Road, stopping at Devil’s Golf Course, Artists Palette, Golden
Canyon, and Badwater Basin (the lowest point in North America) along the way.

If you’re a peak bagger, you could spend your third day summiting 11,049-foot
Telescope Peak, but for anyone less ambitious, I’d recommend a stroll around
both Rhyolite Ghost Town and the free Goldwell Open Air Museum next door.
Reminisce that night over a pint and a pizza at Beatty’s Sourdough Saloon.

Best Time to Visit: November through April


3. GREAT SAND DUNES NATIONAL PARK AND PRESERVE, COLORADO

The park, which turns 20 in September, is home to a 755-foot-high dune and is
said to be one of America’s quietest national parks. (Photo: Courtesy Emily
Pennington)


APPROXIMATE TOTAL COST: FROM $244

 * Average car rental for four days: $139
 * Average campground site / hotel for three nights: $60 / $492
 * Park entrance fee: $25
 * Board rental: $20 per day

How I’d do it: A visit to Great Sand Dunes is really a visit to the Sangre de
Cristo Mountains, the southernmost Rockies. You could fly into Denver and drive
the 250 miles south, but flights into Alamosa, just 30 miles from the park, are
relatively affordable.

Book a hotel or an Airbnb in quaint Crestone (or book a campsite inside the
park), rent a sand board at Oasis Store (four miles from the park entrance),
then drive into the park and spend your first day amid the massive dune
field—the tallest in North America—making a point to top out on the High Dune on
First Ridge and surf down the steep slopes. Afterwards, cool off in Medano Creek
if the water is flowing steadily.

Day two, explore the woodlands and admire the incredible views of the imposing
peaks along the 7.5-mile Mosca Pass Trail.

For your final full day, I’d opt for a visit to Valley View Hot Springs or a
challenging hike to Willow Lake.

Best Time to Visit: May through October


4. CUYAHOGA VALLEY NATIONAL PARK, OHIO

Early fall, when the leaves are starting to change color, is a beautiful time to
visit Cuyahoga. (Photo: Courtesy Emily Pennington)


APPROXIMATE TOTAL COST: FROM $246

 * Average car rental for four days: $147
 * Average campground site / hotel for three nights: $66 / $360
 * Park entrance fee: Free
 * Bike rental: From $15
 * Railroad tour: From $18

How I’d do it: Look for an affordable vacation rental in Akron, which is 38
miles south of Cleveland and slightly closer to this 33,000-acre park’s top
sites. Or check out Stow Silver Springs Campground ($22 for anyone not from the
town of Stow), 15 minutes from the park.

Spend your first day trekking from the 19th-century Stanford House to the
roaring Brandywine Falls, a 4.8-mile meander (see the Gaia GPS map of this route
below). Before the sun sets, make your way to viewpoints along the Ledges Trail.



Learn more about the Cuyahoga’s history of locks and canals on day two by
renting a bicycle from Eddy’s Bike Shop and spinning your wheels along a stretch
of the riverside Towpath Trail.

Take a chill pill on your last day and ride the Cuyahoga Valley Scenic Railroad
from Akron to Peninsula, with the option of an elegant multi-course meal aboard
a vintage car. Visiting in October? Good choice; that’s when a Technicolor
display of epic fall foliage is everywhere you look.

Best Time to Visit: April through June and September through October


5. CARLSBAD CAVERNS + GUADALUPE MOUNTAINS NATIONAL PARKS, NEW MEXICO AND TEXAS

Guadalupe National Park is nothing if not dramatic. When storms roll in over
8,085-foot El Capitan, it creates a real mood. The desert expanse is home to
animals like javelina, bobcats, and vultures, and its three ecosystems support
more than 1,000 types of hardy plants, including  a rare violet found only in
the park. (Photo: Holger Leue/Getty)


APPROXIMATE TOTAL COST: FROM $255

 * Average car rental for four days: $150
 * Average campground site / hotel for three nights: $60 / $441
 * Park entrance fees: $15 and $10, respectively
 * Lower Cave tour: $20

How I’d do it: Hit two national parks in one trip, flying into El Paso, Texas,
and then basing yourself in the affordable hamlet of Carlsbad, New Mexico. Both
Carlsbad Caverns and Guadalupe Mountains are economical parks and amazing in
their own way, and the latter is home to an excellent developed campground.

Book a timed-entry reservation and spend your first day strolling Carlsbad,
heading into its depths via its natural entrance (as opposed to an elevator down
from the visitor center). If you’re visiting late May through October, stay
after hours and take advantage of the free Bat Flight Program, led by a park
ranger; this blew my mind as a nine-year-old.

Wake up early the next day, drive to Guadalupe Mountains National Park, and
summit the “Top of Texas” on an 4.1-mile ascent of Guadalupe Peak for
jaw-dropping views of the vast Chihuahuan Desert.

Take it easy on day three and return to Carlsbad Caverns for the three-hour,
ranger-guided Lower Cave tour ($20 per adult and $10 per child).

Best Time to Visit: March to June, September to November


6. MOUNT RAINIER NATIONAL PARK, WASHINGTON

Summer is the season to hike in this national park, when all 260 miles of trails
are open, including Sunrise Trail, seen here. (Photo: Janice Chen/Getty)


APPROXIMATE TOTAL COST: FROM $262

 * Average car rental for four days: $172
 * Average campground site / hotel for three nights: $60 / $465
 * Park entrance fee: $30

How I’d do it: Fly into Seattle-Tacoma International Airport and then plan to
stay in Tacoma, an hour north of the park. Though it’s not as woodsy as
Rainier’s gateway town of Ashford, Tacoma has loads of affordable motels and
vacation rentals for park-goers who’d rather not pitch a tent in the wet
Washington weather.

If you’ve secured a timed-entry permit, spend your first day exploring the
iconic Paradise area of the park, hiking to the perfect photo op at Myrtle Falls
or breaking a sweat on the 5.5-mile Skyline Trail Loop. Pop in and marvel at the
fabulous architecture of the historic Paradise Inn, while you’re at it.

On day two, circumnavigate the glacier-capped peak by car, stopping at Martha
Falls, Reflection Lake, and the adorable town of Enumclaw, making a pit stop at
Pie Goddess along the way.

On your last full day, get off the beaten path and brave the bumpy road up to
sapphire Mowich Lake. Picnic in a designated area near the lake, take a dip in
the alpine tarn, or challenge yourself on the 7.5-mile hike (one-way) to the
Tolmie Peak Lookout.

Best Time to Visit: June through September


7. THEODORE ROOSEVELT NATIONAL PARK, NORTH DAKOTA

The sight of an American bison herd was once common in North America—millions
were thought to have roamed the Great Plains. Today only half a million live on
the continent, including some 500 protected within the park. (Photo: John
Coletti/Getty)


APPROXIMATE TOTAL COST: FROM $276

 * Average car rental for four days: $151
 * Average campground site / hotel for three nights: $42 / $282
 * Park entrance fee: $30
 * Trail ride: From $53

How I’d do it: Though it’s out of the way from a major airport—the nearest is in
Bismarck, 135 miles east—Theodore Roosevelt is fantastic for hiking and wildlife
viewing. Plus, it boasts an uber-affordable in-park campground ($14).

Savor the prairie- and badlands-filled drive to the park’s South Unit on your
first day, then spend the remaining hours scouting for wild horses, herds of
bison, and playful prairie dogs on the area’s 48-mile scenic drive. Stop at the
Maltese Cross Cabin, a former home of Theodore Roosevelt himself, before taking
in the sunset from the one-mile Painted Canyon Nature Trail.

If you’re not camping at the park, spend the night in Watford City, which is
cheaper and only slightly farther away than the gateway town of Medora.

On day two, splurge on a morning trail ride through the colorful badlands, and
check out the longer Painted Canyon Trail in the afternoon.

Reserve day three for the park’s North Unit, home to a 14-mile scenic drive
where you might spy bison, coyotes, and longhorn cattle. But you don’t want to
be driving around all day. I suggest a trail run along the easy, four-mile
Caprock Coulee Loop, which overlooks the Little Missouri River.

Best Time to Visit: May through September


8. BLACK CANYON OF THE GUNNISON NATIONAL PARK, COLORADO

It’s quite the view from the Painted Wall Overlook down to the Gunnison River,
running through the canyon 2,250 feet below. (Photo: Courtesy Emily Pennington)


APPROXIMATE TOTAL COST: FROM $279

 * Average car rental for four days: $189
 * Average campground site / hotel for three nights: $60 / $396
 * Park entrance fee: $30

How I’d do it: Fly into Montrose Airport (with daily service from four major
U.S. airports) and pick up your rental car; from there it’s a mere 15 miles to
the park’s south entrance. You’ll be basing out of Montrose, which has
affordable hotels and Airbnbs, but for even more of a savings, nab a site at the
park’s South Rim Campground ($20 per night).

On your first day in the park, stop at Tomichi Point for jaw-dropping views of
the canyon’s dark gneiss before hitting up the South Rim Visitor Center, which
has plenty of parking and is the starting point for the Oak Flat Trail and the
connecting Gunnison Route, together offering an easy few miles of wandering
below the canyon’s steep rim. Motor along exploring the south rim’s seven-mile
scenic drive, pausing at the Painted Wall Overlook and, if you’re up for it,
another hike, this time out to Warner Point.

On your second day, head to the less touristed north rim and enjoy equally less
crowded viewpoints (the aptly named Exclamation Point is a must). Stretch your
legs on a 7.2-mile trek up Green Mountain before exiting the park, making a
beeline for Colorado Boy Pizzeria in Montrose and rewarding yourself with a
slice and a cold one.

Maximize your trip by tacking on a detour to Mesa Verde National Park (142 miles
from Montrose) on your final day, or go fishing for trout in the Gunnison River.

Best Time to Visit: May through October


9. CRATER LAKE NATIONAL PARK, OREGON

Crater Lake on a bluebird day. (Photo: Courtesy Emily Pennington)


APPROXIMATE TOTAL COST: FROM $290

 * Average car rental for four days: $169
 * Average campground site / hotel for three nights: $63 / $435
 * Park entrance fee in summer: $30
 * Boat ride: $28

How I’d do it: Major airlines service Medford, 63 miles southwest of the
national park, and accommodations in southern Oregon are relatively cheap, so I
suggest basing yourself in Medford itself or in Klamath Falls, 45 miles
southeast of the park. Itching to camp? Book early and grab a site in the park
at Mazama Campground ($21).

Go big on your first day and hike to the Watchman Peak fire lookout (see Gaia
GPS map below) for second-to-none views of Crater Lake’s otherworldly deep blue.
I also like the hike down to the lake’s chilly fresh water via the steep
Cleetwood Cove Trail.



If you’re not interested in backpacking a segment of the Pacific Crest Trail—33
miles of it run through the park—utilize day two to explore Wizard Island, near
the lake’s western edge (boat shuttles cost $28 per adult and $18 per child).
The thrill of standing atop the lake’s only major island will wow you.

On day three, soak it all in on a scenic drive around the entirety of Crater
Lake—a 33-mile route—stopping for snapshots at the park’s 30 scenic overlooks.

Best Time to Visit: July through September


10. SAGUARO NATIONAL PARK, ARIZONA

A saguaro forest doesn’t offer much shade, but trail-running through this
national park is a unique, quiet desert experience. Keep an eye out for
rattlesnakes, and be cautious when running in washes during monsoon season.
(Photo: Courtesy Zoe Gates)


APPROXIMATE TOTAL COST: FROM $338

 * Average car rental for four days: $184
 * Average campground site / hotel for three nights: $75 / $339
 * Park entrance fee: $25
 * Museum fee: $30
 * Colossal Cave tour: $24

How I’d do it: Saguaro straddles Tucson, an affordable and road-trip-friendly
destination for desert lovers. Its eastern Rincon Mountain District is a mere
25-minute drive from the local airport, so drop your bags at your Tucson motel
or a campsite in nearby Catalina State Park (from $25), and then spend your
first few hours craning your neck up at century-old cacti along Cactus Forest
Drive. Next, get your heart rate going on the Tanque Verde Ridge Trail, either
just a portion of it or the full eight miles one-way.

On day two, learn about the area’s flora and fauna at the Arizona-Sonora Desert
Museum before setting out for the Scenic Bajada Loop Drive in the park’s western
Tucson Mountain District.

On day three, summit 4,688-foot Wasson Peak, and picnic at Mam-A-Gah, or branch
out for a little something different: a tour of the nearby Colossal Cave
Mountain Park.

Best Time to Visit: October through April


HONORABLE MENTIONS

There were a handful of affordable national parks that scored just shy of making
my list. But if you’re hungry for more budget-friendly park ideas, I recommend
checking out Redwood National Park, in California; Congaree, in South Carolina;
White Sands, in New Mexico; North Cascades, in Washington; and Gateway Arch, in
Missouri.

The author at Death Valley’s Zabriski Point (Photo: Courtesy Emily Pennington)

Emily Pennington is a regular contributor to Outside and continues to travel far
and wide. This year she’s returning to Great Sand Dunes and looks forward to
exploring every corner of her new home state, Colorado.

Filed to:
 * Arizona
 * California
 * Colorado
 * Death Valley
 * Mount Rainier National Park
 * Nevada
 * New Mexico
 * North Dakota
 * Ohio
 * Oregon
 * Texas

Lead Photo: Courtesy Emily Pennington

When you buy something using the retail links in our stories, we may earn a
small commission. We do not accept money for editorial gear reviews. Read more
about our policy.


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