5 Reasons Why National Park Vacations are Perfect for Solo Travelers

Dante's View in Death Valley National Park
Barefoot in the Middle of Badwater Basin, Death Valley National Park, Calif.
Barefoot in the Middle of Badwater Basin, Death Valley National Park, Calif.

National Parks are just for families, couples, small groups of friends and bus loads of curious strangers, right? Nope. These American treasures are ideal for independent travelers, too. Here are five reasons why visiting a national park is perfect for solo travelers.

Dante's View in Death Valley National Park
Dante’s View in Death Valley National Park

Value – Bang for Your Buck
Did you know of the 409 national park units only 124 charge an admission fee (as of this blog post)? How can you get better than free? Of those parks charging a fee, the amount varies. For instance, a 7-day entrance permit for Everglades National Park is $25 per vehicle while it’s $35 for Yellowstone National Park. Considering other entertainment options out there, $35 is a great value.

If planning on visiting multiple parks in a year, consider the America the Beautiful Annual Pass which is $80. It allows admission into more than 2,000 federal recreational sites including national parks. Other passes are available such as if you’re 62-years-old or older, pony up $80 for a Senior Pass which is valid for a lifetime! Visit the National Park Service website for information on additional passes.

Better yet, throughout the year the National Park Services has fee-free days meaning park admission is waived at all national parks! Plan your visit around one of these days.

Danger! Danger! Never get as close to an alligator as these bicyclists. Shark Valley, Everglades National Park, Feb. 27, 2012
Danger! Danger! Never get as close to an alligator as these bicyclists. Shark Valley, Everglades National Park, Feb. 27, 2012

National Park Service Ranger Programs – Good for the Budget and Brushing Up on Social Skills
Traveling alone doesn’t mean you’re an anti-social hermit. Most national parks offer free programs ranging from educational walks to campfire talks making it easy for brushing up those social skills while saving on your budget. As my friend Myscha T. pointed out, these free programs help reduce overall costs because “when traveling alone there isn’t the ability to share room and rental car costs, for example.”

Joining a ranger on a guided hike is also a perfect way to get off the beaten path with a small group in case you’re nervous wandering into the backcountry alone especially in bear country.

National Park Service Ranger on Cumberland Island National Seashore, Georgia
National Park Service Ranger on Cumberland Island National Seashore, Georgia

Safety – You May Be Hustled by a Golden-Mantled Ground Squirrel
Crime knows no address and the national parks are not immune from crime but compared to other vacation options, it’s relatively low. You have a better chance of being hustled by a golden-mantled ground squirrel (begging for your chips but resist the temptation and DO NOT feed him no matter how cute he is) than being pickpocketed or hustled by someone after your money.

My friend, blogger and author Cheryl MacDonald of What Boundaries reminded me ” You can be solo, yet not alone. That might be important if you are doing some great hiking or exploring areas where typically you should not go alone.” She specifically referenced hiking the Narrows in Zion National Park and seeing several solo hikers. She said, “there were enough people around in the event something unexpected happens.”

I realize it makes us uncomfortable but let’s talk about crime…

According to a May 9, 2013 article in The Tampa Bay Times PolitiFact, there were 369 and 323 violent crime incidents in the national parks for 2010 and 2011, respectively. That’s less than one violent crime per National Park Service unit. Of course, this doesn’t mean you need to throw caution to the wind. Exercise common sense during all your solo travels.

It's a Bear! Photo is Out of Focus but It's a Bear! Cades Cove Loop Road, Great Smoky Mountains National Park
It’s a Bear! Photo is Out of Focus but It’s a Bear! Cades Cove Loop Road, Great Smoky Mountains National Park

New Scene, New People
My friend Janet C. told me she “just spent 7 days touring Glacier and Banff national parks on my own. I love meeting people I likely would not meet if I was not on my own.” She’s so right. If you’re traveling with someone else or with a small group, you’ll probably stay in your comfort zone and stick to what’s familiar to you including your friends. Traveling alone pushes your personal boundaries and allows you to jump into new experiences including meeting new people whether it’s out on the hiking trail, participating in an activity such as a guided motorcoach tour or relaxing in a park’s restaurant.

Rocky Mountain National Park is Full of Beautiful Scenery
Rocky Mountain National Park is Full of Beautiful Scenery

Time to Reflect
Even if you’re in a relationship, have a family or tend to travel with friends, you can still jet off to your favorite national park for a vacation alone. National parks offer fewer distractions and connectivity to Mother Earth. I’ve found when visiting national parks I have time to reflect, soul-search and rejuvenate my spirit. Living in a world with 24/7 connectivity, it’s important to unplug once in awhile and focus on what’s important.

What do you enjoy about visiting national parks as a solo traveler?

Thank you to my friends, Annette H., Cheryl MacDonald, Eileen L., Jackie A., Janet C., Karen B. and Myscha T. for sharing what they enjoy about visiting national parks alone.

Grizzly Bear Chilling in Denali National Park, Aug. 2011
Grizzly Bear Chilling in Denali National Park, Aug. 2011

Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links to support my traveling habit, this blog and my special needs dog, Radcliff.

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Jenn

Jennifer A. Huber is an award-winning travel and outdoor blogger and writer in Southwest Florida. Originally from Buffalo, N.Y., a hiking trail led her to a career path in the tourism industry for more than 30 years. She spent a decade with a park management company in Yellowstone, Death Valley, and Everglades National Parks. She founded the travel blog, SoloTravelGirl.com with the goal of inspiring others to travel alone, not lonely. The unexpected death of her former husband in 2008 reminded her how short life is. His passing was a catalyst for sharing her experiences with the goal of inspiring and empowering others to travel solo. Jennifer holds a Travel Marketing Professional certification from the Southeast Tourism Society, is a certified food judge, member of the NASA Social community, and alum of the FBI Citizens Academy. When not traveling, she is either in the kitchen, practicing her photography skills, or road tripping with her dog, Radcliff.

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