Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Yes. It is WAY too expensive to travel to many US national parks. Traveling in the US overall is extraordinarily expensive. For many parks, lodging and food are limited. Businesses know that and therefore gauge the CRAP out of people traveling to national parks. It's absurd having to pay $300+ per night for what is tantamount to 1 star lodging around many national parks. Then you have to pay $30 per plate of food at any restaurants in the area that serve garbage quality cuisine. I can't stand traveling in the USA anymore. Such a goddamn ripoff.

Or you can camp, buy groceries to make sandwiches, etc. There are certainly cheaper ways to do it.

Ahhhh yes, nothing is better than camping outside when it is 93 degrees outside at night in July with all of the mosquitoes. Or camping outside and getting caught in a torrential thunderstorm and having your entire area become a mud pit. Such a wonderful vacation.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Yes. It is WAY too expensive to travel to many US national parks. Traveling in the US overall is extraordinarily expensive. For many parks, lodging and food are limited. Businesses know that and therefore gauge the CRAP out of people traveling to national parks. It's absurd having to pay $300+ per night for what is tantamount to 1 star lodging around many national parks. Then you have to pay $30 per plate of food at any restaurants in the area that serve garbage quality cuisine. I can't stand traveling in the USA anymore. Such a goddamn ripoff.

Or you can camp, buy groceries to make sandwiches, etc. There are certainly cheaper ways to do it.

Camping still requires you to go out and spend $$$$ buying all of the stupid equipment. Many people don't own homes and Iive in apartments and have no where to store all of that junk. You can go out and rent it but it still costs $$$$. It also sucks balls to poop in a bag and shower is absolutely filthy facilities that are barely cleaned.

Face it, traveling in the US blows. I'd rather spend an extra $700 and fly into Japan than say Seattle to visit Olympic National Park, and then enjoy way, way wayyyy better food lodging and just as gorgeous outdoor scenery over in Japan given that the yen is now 160:1. Much better than getting your behind reamed in the US for outrageous park fees, lodging, and food prices in the US. Traveling in the US sucks because it is so insanely expensive.

Anonymous wrote:Yes. It is WAY too expensive to travel to many US national parks. Traveling in the US overall is extraordinarily expensive. For many parks, lodging and food are limited. Businesses know that and therefore gauge the CRAP out of people traveling to national parks. It's absurd having to pay $300+ per night for what is tantamount to 1 star lodging around many national parks. Then you have to pay $30 per plate of food at any restaurants in the area that serve garbage quality cuisine. I can't stand traveling in the USA anymore. Such a goddamn ripoff.

Or you can camp, buy groceries to make sandwiches, etc. There are certainly cheaper ways to do it.

Yes. It is WAY too expensive to travel to many US national parks. Traveling in the US overall is extraordinarily expensive. For many parks, lodging and food are limited. Businesses know that and therefore gauge the CRAP out of people traveling to national parks. It's absurd having to pay $300+ per night for what is tantamount to 1 star lodging around many national parks. Then you have to pay $30 per plate of food at any restaurants in the area that serve garbage quality cuisine. I can't stand traveling in the USA anymore. Such a goddamn ripoff.

We pull our elementary age children out of school for up to 4 days every year for a less crowded and more affordable NP experience. Still have to book far out, but we love NPs. One of the kids is starting middle school so this is going to be harder going forward.

Meant 13 months. Not much better!

The key is to book 14 months in advance when the lodges in the park open reservations. And if you can’t, check the reservation availability frequently - the rooms are refundable so there’s a decent chance of getting a room if you check often. Most of the lodging is not crazy expensive, but the rooms are not fancy at all. You’re paying for the experience, the views, and the convenience.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I mean, you can definitely save money and go camping. But you rather sh*t all over camping, so the alternative is paying the hotel prices.

Dont complain about being bougie and then complain about being too cheap

I love this.

Who said anyone was shtting on camping? Some people like it, some people don't. Hotels in and around np's are horribly overpriced, it's a fact. We wanted to stay at the Springhill Suites (a SPRINGHILL SUITES, not a JW) in Jackson, WY last year and it was $800 a night. Give me a gd break.

OP says "and camping sucks" so yes, that is shitting on camping.

Camping is like cooking from scratch or gardening. You have to enjoy the entire process and not just the end result or it is not worth it.

I don't disagree! But if you say "cooking sucks" but "I can't afford to eat out" then what are you left with? OP doesn't enjoy camping - fine. OP doesn't want to pay for a pricey hotel - fine. So what's left? She wants the hotel prices reduced, which will just mean they're booked out even further, and she still won't be able to go.

At some point you need to put up or shut up.

There's also a lot of international tourism to Yellowstone and Arches. So, that drives the price up too.

I have gone to National Parks when I've been in the area for family reunions. I haven't yet flown across the country just to go to a National Park, but I plan to for Glacier.

I just checked Yellowstone for next May out of curiosity and there’s lots of availability. Canyon Lodge for an average 299 per night, for instance. Those are nice hotel rooms walking distance to one of the most beautiful places in the country. I found availability next month at Shenandoah for $237/night.

I agree that there are definite challenges with visiting national parks but the people complaining about the lodging are off the mark I think.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I mean, you can definitely save money and go camping. But you rather sh*t all over camping, so the alternative is paying the hotel prices.

Dont complain about being bougie and then complain about being too cheap

I love this.

Who said anyone was shtting on camping? Some people like it, some people don't. Hotels in and around np's are horribly overpriced, it's a fact. We wanted to stay at the Springhill Suites (a SPRINGHILL SUITES, not a JW) in Jackson, WY last year and it was $800 a night. Give me a gd break.

It's called capitalism.

Jackson is not your typical place near a NP. It’s not Luray, for instance. It’s a famous playground for the rich.

If I’m not sure on my vacation dates, I just book a couple different options when the room open, then cancel them out. I think it’s like a $15 fee to cancel. And most of the big parks have lots of different price points.

I think NP popularity will continue to rise just like Disney's will, despite the ever growing cost.

I hope it will inspire people to seek out hidden gems or get creative.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I mean, you can definitely save money and go camping. But you rather sh*t all over camping, so the alternative is paying the hotel prices.

Dont complain about being bougie and then complain about being too cheap

I love this.

Who said anyone was shtting on camping? Some people like it, some people don't. Hotels in and around np's are horribly overpriced, it's a fact. We wanted to stay at the Springhill Suites (a SPRINGHILL SUITES, not a JW) in Jackson, WY last year and it was $800 a night. Give me a gd break.

OP says "and camping sucks" so yes, that is shitting on camping.

Camping is like cooking from scratch or gardening. You have to enjoy the entire process and not just the end result or it is not worth it.

You don’t want to camp, but to answer another PP— you can certainly fly with camping gear. We’ve done it several times & are doing it again this summer. Checked baggage fees pale in comparison to in or near park lodging. All 5 nights of camping will cost around $170 total.

As others have said, you need to find out the first day that lodging/camping/park entry reservations can be made for your intended travel dates, and set an alarm. You need to know exactly what you plan to book in advance and be fast. If you plan ahead, you’ll be in a much better position to find what you are looking for. Then once within the parks, get up early to do the most popular sites ahead of the crowds.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Maybe identify some state and regional parks not yet discovered by the instagram folks.

I love how everyone blames "instagram" for this issue. I take it you've NEVER searched online for things to do / places to go? Because if you have -- if you've EVER found out about somewhere you'd like to go via the internet, youre just as 'bad' as these 'instagram' folks.

I'm old. I traveled around northern India for 2 months and used 3x24 shot camera films. That was before there was an internet. I guess I was part of the "library book" set.

Now I use the internet to find places to avoid.

What is a "3x24 shot camera films"? Do you mean you used 3 rolls of film?

Three rolls of film with 24 shots each. You didn't take 30 photos of the same thing. Film typically was sold in 100, 200 or 400 exposure ratings, which relates to speed and light.

Apparently real film is becoming a thing again, like vinyl records.

OK - it was worded weirdly.

-also old person who used film cameras then and still do occasionally now