Weekend Getaways
Western U.S. National Parks
explore diverse natural beauty and wildlife
You can explore U.S. National Parks effortlessly by car. Enjoy easy access to the sites and attractions that matter most to you, and travel at your own pace. There are many top-notch National Parks that make for a worthwhile scenic drive and weekend getaway.
Utah is home to a number of incredible National Parks, all located fairly close to each other. You can fly into the St. George Municipal airport from Los Angeles and Salt Lake City. Visit Zion National Park, which has a diverse beauty of red rock, 800 species of plants, deep canyons, emerald pools and Kolob Arch, the world's largest natural arch (over 300 feet). Nearby Bryce Canyon National Park has pine trees, horseshoe-shaped amphitheaters and the colorful, erosion created fins, pinnacles and mazes called "hoodoos", which are especially breathtaking at sunrise and sunset when they cast long shadows. Try to visit the parks in Spring or Fall when temperatures are mild and the parks are not as crowded.
Crater Lake, Oregon was formed by an eruption likely more than 7000 times that of Mt. St. Helens. The resulting caldera filled with snow and rain and formed the deepest (1932 ft.) and one of the clearest lakes in the U.S. This area offers spectacular views, hiking, and camping. Fly to Eugene, Oregon and drive about three hours to Crater Lake along Highway 58.
Yellowstone National Park was the nation's first national park and is considered one of the crown jewels of the system. Yellowstone is famous for Old Faithful, but there are 10,000 hydrothermal features of springs, mud pots, and the Earth's largest geyser area here, including the terraced and otherworldly Mammoth Hot Springs the beautiful Emerald Springs. Yellowstone is also home to the largest remaining herd of bison, and other wildlife such as elk, moose, and bears, with ranger-guided tours available for more in-depth wildlife viewing experiences. The well-designed park road system makes it easy to tour the park in a weekend, see the key attractions and have memorable wildlife sightings. To get there, you can fly to the West Yellowstone Regional Airport (summer only), or fly to nearby airports such as Cody or Jackson Hole, Wyoming and Bozeman, Montana, all under two hours drive away. As an added bonus from Jackson, visit Grand Teton National Park along the way.
Related Links
- ReserveAmerica - find a camp site (including cabins, RV sites, and boat sites) across America
- National Park Service - a key online resource for detailed planning of your National Park visit