Are National Parks Too Crowded To Enjoy?

Above, camping at Manzanita Lake Campground in Lassen
 Volcanic National Park in 2017. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Do you think that national parks have become too crowded to enjoy? That is the question of a new poll at RV Travel. 

I have been to many national parks over the years since my teens. Lassen Volcanic National Park was the first one. I went there with my parents in 1968 and we had no problem in getting a campsite. We figured it was due to the park's distance from major California cities. I camped there again in 2017 and had no problem in getting a campsite. It must be the exception.

We even were able to easily get a campsite at the Watchman Campground at Zion National Park in 1969. We just drove there and got the spot. One can't do that anymore. 

Other national parks made reservations necessary. I reserved a spot at Yosemite National Park and at Trailer Village at the South Rim of Grand Canyon National Park. 

As I don't like crowds, I avoid them by going in the off-season or before schools are closed for summer. 

They begin their poll with.

Remember when visiting a national park meant enjoying peaceful trails, breathtaking scenery, and maybe spotting a few animals along the way? These days, depending on where and when you visit, you might spend more time sitting in traffic, circling parking lots, or waiting in line for a shuttle than actually enjoying the great outdoors.

In today’s news, we reported that Great Smoky Mountains National Park is expecting several heavily congested days through the end of the year, even after the busy fall foliage season. And it’s certainly not the only park where crowds can put a damper on an otherwise wonderful visit.

For RVers, the crowds can be especially frustrating. Finding a campsite near a popular park can require reservations months in advance, and navigating narrow, crowded park roads in a large vehicle isn’t exactly relaxing. Even getting a photo of a famous landmark without dozens of strangers in the background can be a challenge!

To read more and participate in the poll, go here.