This year the National Park Service is celebrating a huge milestone. We love the exploring the outdoors, especially in the national parks, so we’re sharing tips for camping in any of the National Parks.
Camping in National Parks can be an awesome experience. The National Parks are an awesome way to see different places, experience wildlife and nature, and of course they offer amazing camping locations!
When you think of national parks, what comes to mind? Do you think of Yosemite, Yellowstone, Joshua Tree, Denali, etc? Those are four of the most well-known national parks.
Yosemite National Park
The National Park Service maintains 392 national parks. So you can find parks all over the country. There may be one closer that you thought. Regardless of the locale, camping in national parks can be a great family experience! In honor of the National Park Trust’s 6th anniversary of Kids to Parks Day (May 21st), we are bringing you tips for camping the National Parks because the best kind of adventure is a family adventure.
Kids to Parks Day is a nationwide effort that invites you to join the nationwide day of play by discovering and exploring your local, state, and national parks and public lands. Join us and pledge to get outdoors May 21st to explore a park near you. Learn more about the event and register for Kids to Parks day at kidstoparks.org where you will be entered to win great prizes.
Camping in National Parks
Before you head out, there are a few different things you should try and remember when camping at national parks. We have a few tips for camping at national parks to make your next camping trip one that you and your family will be talking about for years to come!
Safety First
This should be an obvious one: Safety. Safety should be your number one concern when camping at national parks and it is the best tip we can provide.
Joshua Tree National Park
Here are a few key things to remember to stay safe:
- Never leave children unattended
- Be prepared for changing weather and emergencies
- Make sure you are familiar with the wildlife and predators of whatever area you are in
- Listen to any warnings from the rangers
- Be cautious and respectful of the park and its inhabitants
- Never approach any wild animal
In some national parks the threat of large predators like bears and mountain lions will be very real.
According to the Grizzly and Wolf Discovery Center, bears and other predators are attracted to the following items:
- Human and Pet Food
- Insect Repellants, lotions, toothpaste
- Trash
- Cooking pots and utensils
- Fuel for stoves and lanterns
- Unopened beverage cans
Therefor, you need to be prepared to properly store food, water, supplies, and waste, so as not to attract animals close to your campsite. You can store these items in bear resistant food storage containers, your vehicle, or suspended 10-15 feet off the ground (like up a tree).
It is also important to know what you should do in the event of an attack. A little bit of research before hand and a conversation with the ranger upon arrival can do a lot of good.
Now that we’ve talked about safety, let’s get planning and get a camping spot.
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