How Many National Parks Can I Visit Before the End of the Year?
About a month ago, I found myself in Colorado trying to figure out the best return route to Mississippi that wouldn’t be boring and wouldn’t take too long. HELLO NATIONAL PARK SYSTEM.
I have been slowly morphing into a National Parks Girlie for the better part of the past 5 years, even though my first (and only for over 2 decades) experience with the NPS was the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Ugh, love of my life—but that’s a whole post on its own.
SO, for 4 days in early-ish October, I trekked from Denver, CO to Philadelphia, MS—stopping by 3 unforgettable wonders of U.S. nature. Following are my thoughts on this trip’s stops and where I hope to visit before 2025!
Here I am, barely making it through a posed smile and peace sign—ready to face plant at any given moment. Thank you, dreaded stomach bug!
LOOK AT THOSE DUNES RIGHT IN FRONT OF MOUNTAINS. JUST LOOK AT ‘EM.
Okay, full disclosure: I had an absolutely mad stomach bug just before leaving CO. Unfortunately, this meant skipping Rocky Mountain National Park, deciding against Black Canyon of the Gunnison NP, and heading straight to Great Sand Dunes NP after an extra hotel recovery day (which should have been spent camping, but honestly THANK GOD for timing and a hotel room). All that to say: I was still not completely human during my v quick visit to Great Sand Dunes.
Great Sand Dunes was a total marvel to behold. A full day of driving with beautiful mountains in the background ending with the biggest sandbox I’ve ever seen—just completely unexpected and an oddity in the middle of what looks like your regular valley in the middle of a mountain range.
Thanks to continued wooziness, to my disappointment (and the reader’s as well, I’m certain), I did nothing except look at it. I did not climb the dunes. I did not visit Medano Creek. I did not sled. I simply looked at it, jumped back in my car, and continued driving.
Even with a stomach wanting nothing but saltine crackers and Gatorlyte, my brain and heart were in a journey of awe. Therefore, if you find yourself anywhere within whatever you consider driving distance to this beautiful NP, you better plan a stop to see the Great Sand Dunes.
WARNING: BEACH//NO WATER at White Sands!
White Sands NP has been on my list of things to see for about 2 years at this point. Sandy trails not leading to an ocean? CHECK. Driving through what looks like snowy hills without the frigid temps? COUNT ME IN.
This place is beautiful. This place is a geological phenomenon. This place is your next must-see.
Finally feeling a bit better, I walked for a bit on the Dune Life Nature Trail. I swear, the entire time I kept waiting to see a shoreline. Who would’ve thought a beach with no water would be smack dab in the middle-of-nowhere New Mexico? After a while, I exited the trail, jumped back in the car, and headed further down the road into the park.
At some point, you will hit a piece in the road that is covered in sand and is nothing but paved bumps. My Mississippi instincts kicked in, and I nearly panicked thinking I was driving on an icy highway—don’t you dare worry like this, guys. You and your car are gonna be just fine. This part of the road doesn’t last long before a little parking lot. I pulled over there, grabbed my camera, made my way up a taller dune than the first ones on the nature trail, and spent a good bit longer walking around in sheer happiness at the super cool nature I was getting to experience.
For sake of time and needing to get to my next campsite near Carlsbad, NM before dark, I did not stay for the night sky viewing. White Sands NP is a place I would love to visit again, so I’m sure next time I’ll be chilling in a lawn chair under the stars surrounded by sands with no water.
Y’all better see this place—that’s the recommendation.
Carlsbad? More like CarlsGOOD.
BAD PHOTO//GOOD NATURE: barbary sheep spotted in the mountains after touring Carlsbad Caverns.
For a girl who is easily freaked out by caves, I find myself visiting at least one a year. Not even a quarter mile into the walk, Carlsbad Caverns became my new favorite place to visit and I will DEFINITELY be back.
Pro tip: don’t take any of the quick exits found in several places along the self-guided cavern tour. You’re not gonna wanna miss any of the formations or views.
I could’ve easily spent an entire day in the Caverns; alas, I needed to trek a bit more than halfway across Texas to camp one more night before arriving back in Mississippi. Without a doubt, I want to (one day) spend more time exploring the caverns and battling the weird little anxiety caves give me. In the words of our somewhat beloved Arnie, “I’ll be back.”
Actual pro tip: make sure to reserve your timed entry and STAY WITHIN YOUR TIME SLOT so you don’t find yourself in a predicament the day you visit the caverns.
To make your visits smoother and even more affordable, purchase your America the Beautiful Annual Parks Pass before heading to any of our national parks. At $80, the pass pays for itself after about 3 visits to any of our national parks.
OKAY, OKAY, OKAY. This post is titled how many parks can I visit before the end of the year, so let’s get to it!
In just four days, I saw three super cool national parks our great country has to offer. I am on a little travel break at the moment, but there will be more before the end of the year (woohoo!).
Hopefully up next:
Big Bend National Park
Grand Canyon National Park
Petrified Forest National Park
Guadalupe Mountains National Park
Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park
CAN I DO IT? SHOULD I EVEN TRY?? We will see, and I will let you know whether I succeed or fail along with all the fun I find on the way.
Until then, peace out girl scouts.
Just kidding. I was never a girl scout ;)