Plan, Plan, Plan (Did I mention, you need to plan?)
You want to see a National Park? They are gorgeous, stunning, and brilliant examples of God’s masterpiece here on Earth. But, get this. You’re not the only one. EVERYONE wants to see these majestic views, and so in order to make sure you get to where you want to go, when you want to go, and that you have an incredible time on your road trip or family adventure, your trip to a National Park requires …. Planning. (You knew I was going to say that, right?)
Just to let you know, we are here for you! For even more FREE resources, head to the bottom of this post, and sign up to be part of the Van Adieu Crew! You’ll get access to the FREE library full of resources, inspiration and itineraries, as well as get our unique and special tips and hacks in our weekly newsletter!
6 to 12 Months Ahead
Yes, you read that right. 12 MONTHS ahead. Plan Early. SUPER Early. Many things get booked up early, so you need to know where you are going, and when, and for how long. Frankly, I’m a planner, so this isn’t hard for me, but honestly, you probably need to start even earlier than 6 months if you want to ensure that you are able to see everything you want to see. One more thing, vacations are expensive and time-consuming. Take this time now to plan to make sure that you make the most of your precious vacation time for that family adventure!
Ok, one MORE thing. Remember, that everyone else is going to have children out of school during the summer months. So, everyone will be looking to go at the same time that you are looking. Everything fills up quickly – campsites, permits, etc. If there is any way that you can work it to go off-season, that will be your best best, logistically, financially (and probably emotionally as well).
Length of Time
First, you have to decide how long you can go. This will help you determine WHERE you can go. If you only have 4 days of vacation and want to go to Alaska, but live in Miami, this may not be the best vacation for you. Decide exactly how long you have to travel. Interestingly, you CAN visit all 47 National Parks in one road trip if you have the time, and over 14,498 miles of road in about two months, if traveling at a record pace.
FREE NATIONAL PARK LIST!
Dreaming of visiting every National Park? This FREE U.S. National Park list will help you check them off one by one!
You will also get our weekly newsletter, and FULL ACCESS to our resource library called the Van Adieu Vault - full of even more FREE goodies and resources!
Location
Now that you know how long you will be able to travel, you can figure out WHERE you want to go! This is the fun part! National Parks are always the popular options. But our country is filled with gorgeous places that are not National Parks. So many are underrated. State parks, and nature opportunities abound throughout the United States. Part of the adventure is to find them! Don’t forget to think about road closures or weather advisories.
This can also be a daunting task. But if you are interested in National Parks, then there is a fun “finder” that will ask you a series of questions to determine which National Park is right for you! You can also visit the National Park Service and the National Park Foundation for more information to plan the trip that is perfect for you.
Itinerary
Now is the time to determine your itinerary. Consider looking at some of our itineraries for Rocky Mountain National Park in our Resource Library, which you can access as a member of the Adieu Crew, and as a bonus for subscribing to our Adieu Crew Email News! For example, if you would like our 1 day itinerary of Rocky Mountain National Park, we have that ready for you! But as a bonus for subscribing, at the bottom of this post!, you can also find 2 day and 3 day full itineraries of Rocky Mountain National Park near Estes Park, Colorado for FREE. Free, people. Free.
As you plan your itinerary, think about where will you be going, and what will you be doing each day. Make sure to include time for breaks and rest time. Maybe even make a back-up itinerary, in case of inclement weather, or unforseen closures. Think of fun restaurants, coffee shops, or breweries that you might want to visit as well.
Include in your research shuttle times, transportation, and maybe even some National Park presentations by Park Rangers! Outdoor concerts, horseback riding, and other activities can all be planned (and tickets purchased) ahead of time!
Secure Permits
Get your National Park Pass, or any kind of Entrance Passes that you need now. If you are curious about the National Park Pass, we have several ways for you to maximize on that pass!
Reserve campsites/lodging
If you are going to be staying at a resort or hotel, then you will need to reserve those accommodations early. But, if you are CAMPING (either tent camping, or Sprinter Van/RV/Camper camping), you will NEED to reserve these spots super early. They go like hotcakes. I’m not really sure what that means, either. But, let’s just agree to agree that they sell out quickly. Make sure to check out how we tell you all the amazing apps you can use to find campgrounds!
2-3 Months Ahead
Plan Logistics
Are your friends traveling with you? Additional family? Have some conversations about where you are going, what your days will look like, how long you will be hiking/biking/canoeing, etc. and what the food situation is.
If you are traveling with just your family, make sure that your furry friends are taken care of, and reservations are made if necessary. Also, consider having someone house sit for you while you are gone.
Now is also the time to recheck all the reservations you made. It might seem like overkill, but it’s better to know now that the place you were going to have a horseback riding tour has gone out of business, instead of the day you show up on your family adventure!
Prepping Gear
Depending on where you are going, and when, and who is going with you, you will need to pack certain gear. Take time before to find, purchase, and pack the gear you need. Consider our 17 things you need to pack, but didn’t think of, as well as our list of essentials for a day hike. You can even check out our guide to gifts for hikers and adventurers to give you ideas regarding items that you may need (or want!) to make your vacation even better!
Gear is really important, and give yourself the time to think, research, and plan for the things that you will most need and want during your vacation. Frankly, I even make lists for food and clothing. (But like I said, I’m a planner, people.)
1 Month Ahead
Your vacation is almost here! Hopefully, you already have all of your reservations, your tickets, and gear planned out! A last minute checklist is so important to make sure that nothing gets left behind. Here are a few extra hacks and tips for your road trip and family vacation!
- Confirm all reservations, tickets, and any events you may be attending (Best suggestion: Print copies of everything and have it with you.)
- Confirm the route you are going. (Best suggestion: Purchase an atlas, as in, an actual real map – on honest to goodness old fashioned paper.)
- Check all gear. (Best suggestion: Discuss this gear with everyone. Is there something that someone would like to have? For example, is someone interested in doing geocaching on the trip? Maybe a waterproof notebook and waterproof pen would be fun for them!)
- Make sure to look at our Road Trip Checklist!
- Make a shopping list, and purchase all possible groceries ahead of time. (Best suggestion: Figure out not only each meal, but also prepare snacks in individually wrapped packages to make the trip more fun and super easy!) Or try to find the best Farmer’s Market where you are going – its easy!
- Consider what you will be doing during the road trip. We have some great road trip activities for kids, and also some fantastic productive and unique activities for adults!
FREE NATIONAL PARK LIST!
Dreaming of visiting every National Park? This FREE U.S. National Park list will help you check them off one by one!
You will also get our weekly newsletter, and FULL ACCESS to our resource library called the Van Adieu Vault - full of even more FREE goodies and resources!
Procrastinated Planning?
Just in case you’ve procrastinated, try to find a reputable tour company, which may have access to rooms.
“If you don’t feel comfortable hiking or camping, there are tour operators you can use,” says Salwa Jabado, senior editor, Countryside and Adventure Travel, at Fodor’s Travel, pointing to Backroads and REI Adventures, which will “set you up with camping gear and the whole nine yards,” she adds. REI Adventures, which offers three- to 12-day trips with expert-led tours everywhere from the Grand Canyon to Death Valley National Park, has varied activity options to cater to diverse age groups and preferred activities, from climbing to backpacking.
There are several companies that will handle all of the planning for your family adventure for you, including activities and meals! REI has family adventures packages that are designed for kids and adults. Letting someone else take care of all the details, allows you to ensure that everything is taken care of, and you can just relax and enjoy!
So, tell us about your family adventure! Where did you go and what did you do? Did you find any of these tips helpful? Would you add anything to your planning list? We would love to know, so please leave a comment below!
Thanks for the tips. I agree with you the importance of planning ahead. I’ve gone backpacking in a couple different parks. Many years ago I had to mail in my application for backpacking permits and then they mailed the permit to me. Took several months but an easy process. The last time I just had to visit a ranger station to apply and receive the permit. So every park is a little different. What has been your experience on that? Thanks!
The National Park pass is for all the parks, but I think you are right that in order to backpack in back country you have to obtain a special permit. I’m sure it’s the same way now that every park has a bit of a different process given that they are all so unique in terms of terrain, number of visitors etc! Thank you for taking the time to reply!! I hope you always get the pass you need!
Nice post!
Thank you! I’m so glad you liked it!
Thank you so much!