Essentials for Any & Every National Park Trip
If you’re going to any national park, these are the few things I’d think about before you go—regardless of which park you’re visiting.
🎟️ America the Beautiful Pass
What it is:
An annual pass that costs $80 and gets you into most national parks and federal lands.
When it makes sense:
Most parks charge about $30 per vehicle for 7 days, so:
Visiting 1-2 parks this year → just pay at each park
Visiting 3+ parks → the pass usually pays for itself
How I approach it:
I don’t automatically buy a pass at the start of the year - I wait until I know I’ll get the value out of it. If you do get one, it makes things very easy (just show it at the entrance and keep going).
Where to get one:
It’s easiest to purchase one at the in person, at the entrance station when you’re entering one of the parks. Seniors, military, and folks with permanent disabilities can get discount or free passes (check the NPS website for those details)
You can also purchase one online and have it mailed, or 🆕 purchase a digital pass from recreation.gov
🗺️ Park Maps
These are easy to overlook, but I always grab one.
One thing to know:
Not every park hands them out at the entrance anymore—you may need to ask or stop by a visitor center.
Why they’re worth it:
They are genuinely helpful while you’re in the park (especially with limited service)
They double as a simple, meaningful keepsake
What I do with mine:
I keep all of them in a binder with sleeves (2 maps per page). It’s a clean way to store them, and fun to look back on later.
📖 National Park Passport Book
If you want something to remember your trips by, but don’t want to bring home a lot of extra stuff (hats, shirts, mugs), this is a really good option.
What is is:
A small book where you collect official park “cancellations” or stamps.
Why it works so well:
There something surprisingly satisfying about filling it over time—it taps into that natural “collecting” instinct, but in a way that actually feels meaningful.
How I use mine:
Stamp every park I visit
Add a park sticker to half of the page
Stamp the cancellations on the opposite half
Add multiple stamps for multiple days, and/or visitor centers
Each page ends up feeling like a complete snapshot of that trip.
If you happen to forget your passport book (trust me, I’ve been there myself), many visitor centers sell blank pages, or even blank round stickers you can stamp and just stick in your book
📱NPS App
This is a super helpful app to download and peruse before your trip.
What it’s good for:
Getting a general overview of the park (like how many visitor centers there are, their hours, and if the park charges an entrance fee)
Basic maps and points of interest
Alerts and closures
Insights about if certain areas of the park require a permit
How I use it:
I download the park ahead of time so I can access it offline, and use it alongside a more detailed plan. The app isn’t really designed to be used for live-tracking hiking trails.