US and Canada National Parks, How to Visit

As I was about to hit “send” on my second email to Rhonda that same day, an inquisitive feeling I had a few months earlier at the entrance to Banff National Park came back. The rules for visiting national parks in the United States and Canada are somewhat similar. Still, there are some peculiarities that aren’t necessarily overwhelming, but are good to know before your trip begins, especially if you’re planning a long road trip across the national parks of the United States and Canada.

Being predominantly in the national parks of the west coast of both countries, I began to compare the national park systems of the United States and Canada as I followed the car line to the entrance to the Banff area. From differences in admission prices and day pass durations to in-park “purchasing,” the countries have preserved their unique natural resources in similar, but not exactly the same ways.

“Write an article about it”. Yet before I could convince myself, an opposing voice in my head raised dozens of reasons why I shouldn’t. Yes, there were quite clear differences and similarities between the national parks of the United States and Canada. But would anyone be interested in reading about them? Much of this information can be learned through personal experience or by digging (sometimes for hours) on official national park websites as I do before each new trip.

So the trend of comparing US and Canadian national parks died and never resurfaced until about two months ago when I spilled my insider knowledge in my second email to Rhonda.

How to Visit National Parks in the U.S. and Canada

Rhonda contacted me a few weeks ago after reading about our 5 day road trip from Spokane to Glacier National Park. Like us, Rhonda and her husband planned to fly to Spokane, Washington and visit several national parks on the west coast of the United States and Canada. He needed advice. US and Canada National Parks

As I was replying to his email, sharing our condensed itinerary and what we had learned while visiting Glacier, Banff, Jasper and Yoho National Parks, I suddenly realized that most of this information had been processed in my head months earlier while we waited. Time to enter Banff National Park.

So there were people who were looking for more information or related stories about how to visit national parks in the United States and Canada. I hit the send button. Then I grabbed my notebook and jotted down a few points to compare the two national park systems of neighboring countries. US and Canada National Parks

Many people struggle to comply with the different requirements and policies when moving north to national parks in Canada and the United States. Glacier National Park in Montana and the famous trio of Canadian Rockies – Banff, Yoho and Jasper – are often their primary focus. So I have mentioned most of these four national parks in this article. From time to time, I mention some other national parks for a better picture.

Here are some things you should know before visiting national parks in Canada and the United States US and Canada National Parks

NATIONAL PARKS IN THE U.S. AND CANADA: THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE VISITING

1. Admission

Similarities

Many national parks and monuments in the United States and Canada require an entrance pass (daily, monthly or yearly). All visitors must pay an entrance fee at a park entrance booth or online.

National parks use the money to maintain roads and trails within parks, clean up rest areas, and ensure the smooth operation of all facilities, including visitor centers, gift shops, and restrooms.

Admission is required for payment throughout the year except for a few national holidays. These days, national parks in Canada and the United States are free for everyone to visit. And many outdoor lovers do take advantage of the free day. So expect crowds. US and Canada National Parks

Differences

The United States

In the United States, a day pass to a national park is generally valid for seven consecutive days. During this time, you can come and go as you please, considering returning to the same park. You can use the same day pass to visit neighboring national parks, such as California’s Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks, which do not require a separate ticket. US and Canada National Parks

Daily passes cost $20 to $35 per vehicle. Alternatively, you can purchase an annual pass, America the Beautiful. It costs $80 and covers admission to all US National Parks and Monuments for one year from the date of purchase You can purchase annual passes online or in person at an entry station.

Note: Passes purchased online may take 6-8 weeks to arrive. You must have a physical card before entering a national park in the United States. Park pass receipts are not accepted. US and Canada National Parks

Canada

Daily entry to a national park in Canada is only valid until 4 p.m. The next day, regardless of when you buy it. During this short time window you can enter and exit the area as you wish. If you plan to spend more time in the park, consider getting a new ticket the next day or consider purchasing an Annual Pass, Discovery Pass or a single-stay pass.

Like America the Beautiful, the Discovery Pass is valid for one year and opens the door to all of Canada’s national parks and monuments. Family/Group Pass (up to 7 people in one vehicle) is 151.25 CAD. The Discovery Pass for an adult (18-64 years old) is 75.25 CAD. 17-year-olds visit Canada’s national parks for free. US and Canada National Parks

Note: Some Airbnbs may offer complimentary annual passes to their guests as a thank you for the stay. Our most wonderful surprise was a temporary home in Canmore in the Banff area. Glued to the refrigerator with a magnet, an annual pass enticed us back to the mountains the next day before heading to the airport. A nearby instruction note wished us a happy exploration and reminded us to return the pass at the end of our stay for future travelers. US and Canada National Parks

Tip: We never got a chance to use that annual pass. However if you are visiting the Banff area, you may want to ask your host if they also offer a Discovery Pass. They may not. Asking a question costs you nothing. But it can save you some money. US and Canada National Parks

2. Timed Entry Tickets in National Parks in the U.S. and Canada

The United States

Due to the continued increase in visitors and the inability to safely accommodate all visitors, some national parks in the United States require a timed entry reservation, vehicle reservation, or hiking permit in addition to an entry pass. Entry reservations must be purchased online before entering the park. US and Canada National Parks

Need to know: When you plan a popular road trip through the national parks on the West Coast of the United States and Canada, remember that Glacier National Park requires a special entrance ticket (reserving a vehicle) during the busy, summer season. Moreover, separate car reservations are required for different areas of the park. US and Canada National Parks

Canada

National parks in Canada do not require an entry ticket. You can visit any park US and Canada National Parks at any time with just one entry pass. Yet there are some areas or activities within the park that require conservation. These include shuttle buses to lakes inaccessible by private vehicles, guided hikes, boating and fishing.

You can make any reservation online or over phone. The reservation fee is non-refundable.

Tip: When visiting the Banff area during the summer season, you may want to book a bus ride in advance to Lake Louise and Moraine Lake (Banff National Park) and Lake O’Hara (Yoho National Park). Unless you don’t mind hiking all the way to the lake and back to the parking lot where you left your car.

USA DV Lottery Online Application Form – DV Visa Lottery 2024 How To Apply

3. One National Park or Monument per Entrance Pass 

The United States

A single day admission usually covers access to one national park or monument. If you start your epic road trip through the national parks of the US and Canada at Grand Teton National Park US and Canada National Parks (Wyoming) and then north to Yellowstone National Park and Glacier National Park before crossing the border and heading to Waterton Lake, Banff, Yoho and Jasper National. go to Park, Banff, Yoho and Jasper You need a separate entrance pass for each of these parks (unless you buy an annual pass).

Canada

The Canadian favorite trio can be accessed with a single (valid until 4pm the following day) entry pass. US and Canada National Parks

At the same time, access to the Caves and Basins National Historic Site, located on the outskirts of the town of Banff within Banff National Park, US and Canada National Parks, is not covered by daily admission. A separate ticket is required. Entry to the site that gave birth to Canada’s first national park, however, is included in the Discovery Pass.

4. The Best Time to Visit National Parks in the U.S. and Canada

The United States

National parks generally have two easily identifiable seasons – summer and winter – and two shoulder seasons. Most national parks US and Canada National Parks in the United States are busy during the summer months. Other visitor arrivals, such as Death Valley National Park, one of the warmest areas in the United States, increase in winter and early spring.

Parking within the national park becomes a problem during high season. Throughout the year, all parking lots in US national parks US and Canada National Parks operate on a first-come, first-served basis Summer is no exception. Yet often the size of a regular parking lot is not able to accommodate all seasonal travelers.

For example, in Glacier National Park it is not uncommon for park rangers to close parking lots once they are full. All other visitors must find an off-side road parking spot, take a park shuttle, or try their luck in the evening or early morning before the area gets crowded again. The busiest sections here are Avalanche Gorge Trailhead, Logan Pass, and Many Glacier. (With the introduction of car reservations, parking conditions at many glaciers, however, should not look as bad as in previous years.)

Tip: It is highly recommended to arrive at the most popular areas of US National Parks outside of the “rush” hours: early morning or late afternoon. Virtually all tour buses and most private vehicles have not yet arrived or have left by this time.

Canada

Canada’s national parks experience similar busyness during the summer months. The usually limited number of parking spots now feels especially acute.

Like the US National Park Service, Parks Canada resumed its seasonal, in-park shuttle operation that transports visitors to areas accessible by its favorite and/or personal vehicles.

Parking conditions are rarely a problem during slow or shoulder seasons. On the other hand, some mountainous areas of national parks in both the United States and Canada US and Canada National Parks become inaccessible during this time due to frequent snowfall.

5. Shuttles and Paid Parking in the National Parks in the U.S. and Canada

The United States

When the U.S. While the national park shuttle system is in operation, some scenic drives within the park, such as the Grand Canyon of Zion National Park, are only accessible by shuttle. No private vehicles are allowed here. Park shuttles are free (unless it says otherwise) and usually run between mid or late spring and early or mid fall. US and Canada National Parks

Canada

Canada’s national parks go one step further. To protect their natural resources and eliminate a large congregation of people from certain areas, they permanently cut off access by private vehicles to some of their most cherished places.

In Banff and Yoho National Parks, Moraine Lake and Lake O’Hara are such crown jewels. Park shuttles take visitors to the shores of the area’s brightest lake from early June through mid-October Advance reservations and tickets are required for Parks Canada shuttles.

Additionally, to better cope with the influx of summer visitors, Parks Canada has introduced paid parking at the Lake Louise lakeshore (a parking lot closest to the lake) during the shuttle season. US and Canada National Parks