The National Park Service in America started in 1916 by President Woodrow Wilson. National Parks go back even further than that when Pres. Ulysses S. Grant made Yellowstone the first National Park in 1872. Today the National Park Service is entrusted with the care of 84 million acres and not all of it is forests. They protect shorelines, battlegrounds, historical areas and even the White House! However, National Parks are still some of the best places to set up your popup camper or cheap camping tents and really enjoy the outdoors.
One way to enjoy the parks, and save some money, is to pick up the America the Beautiful National Parks and Federal Recreational Lands Pass. Purchasing this pass allows you and your car (up to 3 passengers), access to all of the parks for 1 year from the date you purchased it. That is a lot of places you can see for a low price! It has varying costs depending on a variety of factors like if you are a senior citizen or a volunteer at national parks. They usually can be purchased at the parks, but just in case you might want to give the park a call before you visit if you are unsure whether or not you will be able to purchase a pass there.
Camping is one of the great activities to do in these parks and many have campgrounds that are on a first come, first serve basis. Some allow you to make reservations in advance but many don’t. During the summer months and holidays these campgrounds can fill up quickly, especially in the most visited ones like The Smoky Mountains, Yosemite or Yellowstone. One of the greatest things about the National Parks is that there is never one too far from home. With the exception of Delaware all 49 states have an area under the jurisdiction of the National Park Service so you don’t have to travel very far to take advantage of these outdoor areas and enjoy some peaceful time camping with friends and family.
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