Should You Book a Guided Tour for Your Next National Park Visit?

Do you really need a guided tour when you visit a national park? If you’ve ever visited a U.S. national park before, you may have done it alone. After all, with a handy guide from the visitors’ center, most national parks are easily navigable on one’s own. They’re typically well-maintained, with lots of signage and clear directions to help visitors get around and see the sights.

However, for a more robust, all-encompassing experience, Austin Adventures advises travelers to consider a guide for their 2022 national park visits.

“The best way to enjoy the parks to their fullest is to sit back and let the pros do the planning, logistics and guiding. On paper, it can seem like going guided costs more than a do-it-yourself visit, but an important item to factor in is your time,” said Dan Austin, founder, Austin Adventures,. “When going guided, your time is not being wasted on hours of planning or in long lines searching for parking, lodging or dinner reservations.”

The brand also notes a guide offers a range of benefits beyond just help with planning. Austin Adventure guides can reserve all your needed travel permits, from permits needed for exploring the parks to simple parking permits. They also already know the best hotels and restaurants to stay at or visit nearest the parks. They also can help personalize a park visit to fit your needs and travel wish list, whether you want to see the Grand Canyon below the rim (which the brand says only 1 percent of visitors actually do) or enjoy a chef-prepared picnic on the trail.

Could a tour guide help you make the most of your next national park visit? If so, check out Austin Adventures’s offerings, available at more than a dozen national parks across the western United States and in Maine.