Senior Travel Tips: Our National Parks
One of the best parts about being retired is the ability to travel where you want when you want. Since our national parks cover more than 84.6 million acres (or 3.4%) of the United States, they make excellent travel destinations for seniors.
National park trips for seniors are a budget-friendly way to travel. Most national parks are also easily accessible and can be visited year-round. Plus, they offer activities and hiking for all ability levels, so everyone in your group should find something they love to do.
Of course, national parks are more than just pretty places. Research shows that being outdoors has significant health benefits, including increased cognition and decreased stress levels.
With 433 national park sites spanning all 50 states, Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands, American Samoa, and Guam, there’s a good chance you won’t have to travel far to find an amazing destination full of exciting adventures and beautiful scenery.
Before you pack for your trip, here are some tips to help you explore some of the most popular travel destinations for seniors.
National Park Discounts for Seniors
For U.S. citizens or permanent residents over the age of 62, check out the America the Beautiful Annual Pass. Offered by the U.S. Department of the Interior, this pass gives you access to more than 2,000 park sites for $20 (plus an additional $10 handling fee).
If you plan on visiting and traveling to national parks often, you can also apply for the Senior Lifetime Pass. This pass costs $80 (with a $10 handling fee) and is valid for your entire lifetime.
Both passes provide entry to all national parks for the pass owner and up to three additional passengers in the same vehicle. Pass holders must show their ID with their active pass when entering a national park.
If you’re a U.S. veteran, Gold Star family member, or a U.S. citizen with permanent disabilities, your lifetime national park pass is free! Current military members and their dependents over the age of 16 can apply for an annual pass for only $10.
Easily Accessible Parks
The National Park Service (NPS) is committed to ensuring that people with disabilities have an equal opportunity to benefit from its facilities, programs, services, and activities—both indoors and outdoors. To improve accessibility, the parks have added accommodations such as wheelchair access and water fountains.
If you have mobility issues, the NPS offers mobility devices for rent. These devices are allowed anywhere accessible by foot and their use is encouraged so everyone can enjoy our beautiful parks.
Accommodations are also available for the deaf and hard of hearing. Availability varies depending on the park, but some include special tours, real-time captioning, and American Sign Language interpreters.
The NPS has also made support available for those with low vision or blindness. These additional services include tactile displays, audio descriptions, and alternative formats of printed materials.
Planning Your Trip
From tropical beaches to snowy getaways, the United States is truly a wonder to behold. With national parks spread throughout the country and in many territories, there is a park for everyone.
According to The Wilderness Society, some of the prettiest national parks to visit in the winter are Arches National Park, Bryce Canyon National Park in Utah, and Mount Rainier National Park in Washington.
Looking for a relaxing, tropical escape? Check out Haleakalā National Park in Hawaii, the Virgin Islands Coral Reef National Monument in the U.S. Virgin Islands, or the National Park of American Samoa.
When planning a national park trip, you also need to consider where you will rest your head at the end of the day. If you enjoy camping, there are over 130 park units from which to choose. If you’d prefer to sleep in your RV, you can do that too! You can also book a hotel near a park entrance or consider traveling with senior travel groups who arrange the booking and logistics.
As you start to work out your travel plans, consider some of the equipment you might need to make your planning easier. A computer with a strong internet connection can help you plan your itinerary. A caption phone can make it easier for you to make calls to book hotels and other travel necessities. If you don’t already have one, click here to find out how ClearCaptions work and check your eligibility to see if you can secure one at no cost to you.
Best National Parks for Seniors
With so many incredible parks across the U.S., it’s hard to pick our favorites. However, there are a few that stand out as some of the best national parks for seniors:
Yellowstone National Park
Yellowstone National Park is located in three different states: Wyoming, Montana, and Idaho. Take in the beauty of Yellowstone across 3,500 square miles of wilderness (about half the area of New Jersey) featuring canyons, rivers, forests, hot springs, and the infamous geyser Old Faithful.
The area is home to bears, wolves, bison, elk, and antelopes, so remember to pack your camera to admire the park’s wildlife from a safe distance. This stunning park is also very accessible, with many of the trails featuring flat boardwalks and less than one mile to reach many of its attractions, including Old Faithful.
Yosemite National Park
Located in California’s Sierra Nevada mountains, Yosemite National Park is known for its spectacular sequoia trees, waterfalls, and granite cliffs. Shops, restaurants, museums, galleries, and several lodging options help make this one of the nation’s most popular parks.
Sign language interpreting and assistive listening devices are free throughout the park, as are captioned movies and Braille brochures. The accessibility guide also includes a map of accessible parking, trails, picnic areas, restrooms, campgrounds, lodging, and food.
Grand Canyon National Park
The Grand Canyon in Arizona offers millions of years of geological history. From red rocks to viewpoints overlooking the Colorado River, this is one sunrise and sunset you don’t want to miss.
According to Aging in Place, this is the second-most accessible national park, making it a favorite senior travel destination. The entire South Rim can be accessed via a paved walkway or driven by car.
Acadia National Park
Located in Maine, Acadia National Park is marked by beautiful woodland, rocky beaches, and glacial mountains. With 47,000 acres of Atlantic Coast recreation, this landscape is home to moose, bears, whales, and seabirds.
Most of the rugged coastal beauty can be viewed by car or while riding the wheelchair-accessible shuttle. The nearby rustic town of Bar Harbor is also a popular spot for tourists to dine and shop. Don’t forget to try a lobster roll—a local delicacy!
Everglades National Park
Florida is home to the Everglades National Park, which boasts 1.5 million acres of wetlands and hundreds of animal species. The beautiful marshes, mangroves, and flatwoods in this national preserve are home to American alligators and crocodiles, Florida panthers, and West Indian manatees.
Stop by the visitor centers to watch films about this UNESCO World Heritage site, which have real-time captioning. Many trails and boat tours are also available for visitors with limited mobility.
Great Smoky Mountains National Park
Another of the most visited parks is the Great Smoky Mountains National Park in Tennessee. It offers gorgeous scenery and historical attractions, including log cabins, cemeteries, and churches.
Road maps are also available for self-guided auto tours, and most of this park can be enjoyed from the comfort of your own car.
National Bus Tours for Seniors
If you don’t want to do the driving yourself, you can also look into professional national park tours for seniors. Some travel companies offer group bus tours of the most popular park destinations, including Grand Canyon National Park, Yellowstone National Park, Yosemite National Park, Zion National Park, and more.
Group tours like these can be a fun way to travel and make new friends. They’re also carefree ways to experience all of America’s beautiful parks!
Whether you decide to camp, RV, hike, drive, or travel with a group, experiencing our incredible national parks should be at the top of every senior travel list. So, grab your National Park Pass and start planning your next trip!
