Embark on an unforgettable adventure in the United States' most spectacular national parks

From lunar-like deserts and striated canyons to snow-capped mountains and alpine valleys teeming with wildlife – as far as national parks go, the USA has it all. With a local leader by your side, you'll explore the most iconic sections of the parks, as well as lesser-known gems that you won’t find in the travel guides. Our United States national park tours offer something for all kinds of adventurers, whether you want to hike through slot canyons in Zion, join a real-life wolf tracker in Yellowstone, tick off bucket-list-worthy hiking trails in Yosemite or witness the most beautiful night skies you've ever seen in Denali. It’s time to dust off those hiking boots... the parks are waiting!

US national parks travel deals

Departing Days From EUR
9 Mar 2024
Western USA National Parks Loop
5 1915
1628
18 Apr 2024
Zion Glamping Adventure
4 1955
1564
26 May 2024
Hiking in Yosemite National Park
5 2140
1926

Our US national park tours

5 Days From 1628

Set off on a five-day adventure through some of the USA’s most epic scenery, including...

5 Days From 1926

Follow your feet on this 5-day walking tour that shows off the very best of Yosemite...

8 Days From 1580

Explore rugged Utah on this eight-day adventure. Hit Zion National Park, Monument...

5 Days From 1020

Take a five-day road trip from Los Angeles to Vegas, stopping by Joshua Tree National...

6 Days From 876

Hit the road from Las Vegas to San Francisco on a six-day adventure, stopping by...

Tailor-Made trips

Take four or more on an exclusive trip and tailor your itinerary

6 Days From 2397

Take a discovery tour of Wyoming’s highlights, with plenty of wildlife-spotting and...

6 Days From 2508

Explore Anchorage, Denali National Park, Kenai Fjords National Park, and Seward on foot...

10 Days From 3426

From the famed LA streets to the glitz of the Vegas strip, travel through the hush of...

4 Days From 1564

Explore Zion National Park, Bryce Canyon and Antelope Canyon on this glamping adventure...

5 Days From 1661

Explore the Sierra Nevada Range on a 5-day small group hiking tour which includes...

6 Days From 2460

Explore the best of Montana on a leisurely trip including the Missouri River, Glacier...

10 Days From 4335

Explore the rugged landscape of icy Alaska. From Anchorage, circle the Kenai Peninsula...

8 Days From 2752

Drive, hike and explore your way through Nevada and California, hitting Yosemite...

13 Days From 2156

Take an adventure through California, Arizona, Utah and Nevada past Joshua Tree, Grand...

11 Days From 1896

Travel from LA via Joshua Tree, the Grand Canyon, Las Vegas, Yosemite, Sierra Nevada to...

6 Days From 2484

Explore South Dakota and Yellowstone National Park, Badlands National Park, Little...

6 Days From 3031

Take the family on a 6-day adventure in Yellowstone and Grand Teton national parks....

8 Days From 2888

Discover wild Alaska with a week exploring Denali National Park, Kenai Fjords National...

9 Days From 2882

Explore Las Vegas, Canyonlands National Park, Capitol Reef, Arches National Park, Zion...

14 Days From 2384

Beginning in Las Vegas, see Zion, Moab and Bryce Canyon, Monument Valley, Yosemite, the...

5 Days From 2830

Discover the best of the USA’s Wild West on a six-day family Zion ranch stay in Utah....

6 Days From 2376

Hike Denali National Park in Alaska and see North America’s second-tallest peak, Denali...

18 Days From 3524

Travel for 18 days from Los Angeles to San Francisco, passing through Las Vegas, the...

8 Days From 3501

Take an 8-day winter trip in Alaska, visiting Anchorage, Sheep Mountain, Talkeetna,...

12 Days From 5342

Explore South Dakota, Wyoming and Montana on a 12-day small group tour which includes...

6 Days From 1800

Escape the crowds, see incredible views, sleep under the stars, check out waterfalls...

4 Days From 2129

Discover Yosemite in winter on a 4-day small group tour that stays in Airstream...

5 Days From 3177

Surround yourself with nature on a 5-day snowshoeing small group winter tour through...

4 Days From 2120

Strap on snowshoes and take in the winter beauty of Rocky Mountain National Park on a 4...

3 Days From 1305

Experience Utah’s most famous national park as a standalone canyon country experience...

3 Days From 1800

Experience the very best of the Olympic Peninsula with a perfect balance of challenge...

4 Days From 1341

See the best of Yellowstone on an Intrepid small group hiking and camping adventure...

4 Days From 1332

Escape the crowds, see incredible views, sleep under the stars, and backpack through...

4 Days From 1508

Experience Death Valley’s narrow canyons, vast dune fields, lava flows, scenic...

4 Days From 1485

Experience Joshua Tree’s surreal landscapes, cool oases, and famous Joshua Trees on a 4...

5 Days From 1863

See the best of this iconic national park on five spectacularly diverse, hand-picked...

5 Days From 1710

Avoid the crowds and see the best of Southern Yellowstone National Park’s backcountry...

5 Days From 3200

Enjoy the luxuries of a lodge and rustic dining each evening in different locations...

6 Days From 1971

Experience Utah’s most famous national park destinations and see the best of Zion,...

6 Days From 3483

Explore the high alpine ridges, glaciated volcanoes, dramatic waterfalls, wildlife, and...

17 Days From 6163

From Los Angeles to San Francisco, take a trip through the USA’s best National Parks....

Popular US national parks

Highlights of US national parks

The vivid colours of Grand Prismatic Spring as seen on an Intrepid Travel tour

Marvel at Grand Prismatic Spring

Grand Prismatic Spring is full of heat-loving microbes that create a rainbow rim of vivid colours around the edge of the water. At a mighty 370 feet wide and 160 feet deep (FYI, that's bigger than a soccer field and taller than a 10-story building), it's also the largest hot spring in the US. Walk along the boardwalk to get up close to the hypnotising colours or hike to the overlook for an impressive bird's eye view. Grand Prismatic Spring is the kind of site that needs to be seen to be believed.

A group of travellers hiking The Narrows on an Intrepid Travel tour

Hike Zion's Virgin River Narrows

Imagine wading through turquoise river passages and looking up to see giant canyon walls towering 1000 ft (305 m) above you. A 'hike' doesn’t quite cut it – tackling Zion's iconic Narrows trail is an exciting adventure that will have you wading through ankle-deep (and sometimes waist-deep) water passages, swimming in natural sandstone pools, and doing the odd bit of rock scrambling. Hidden away from the crowds, this is the Zion that most don't get to see.

The most geyser in Yellowstone NP, Old Faithful erupting water into the air

Watch Old Faithful erupt

Yellowstone is home to over 10,000 thermal features – including the highest concentration of geysers on the planet – but Old Faithful is the superstar. Watch safely from the sidelines as this mighty cone geyser shoots 14,000 litres of hot water high into the air. There are around 20 eruptions a day, with each lasting two to five minutes. Listen out for the powerful roaring sounds as Old Faithful begins to erupt as well as the gurgling plughole sounds of other geysers nearby.

A traveler on a hiking trail in the Grand Staircase Escalante Monument

Explore Grand Staircase Escalante

Escape the crowds and enjoy the endless vistas of the Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument – an epic national monument brimming with otherworldly plateaus, arches and cliffs that you could spend a lifetime exploring. Get lost in the labyrinths of sandstone boulders and rock formations, take a peek inside Peek a Boo slot canyon, hike to the hoodoos in Devil’s Garden, or cool off in the Utah heat by taking a refreshing dip in the Lower Calf Creek Falls.

A ice-covered lake in Denali National Park, Alaska

Go wild in Denali

Denali National Park puts the 'wild' in wilderness. Wake up surrounded by dazzling snow-capped peaks, catch a glimpse of grizzlies and other Alaskan wildlife, watch the magical northern lights dance in the night sky, or lace up your hiking boots and tackle one of the park's many trails. You might also like to learn about the diverse traditions, language and culture of Alaska’s Indigenous peoples at the Alaska Native Heritage Centre.

The sun setting over Cathedral Lakes, Yosemite National Park

Take a dip in Cathedral Lakes

Most people hike to Cathedral Lakes to enjoy a picturesque picnic. We have a better idea: plunge into the cold, crystal clear water before coming up for air to see the huge steeple-looking peak towering over you. The views – and maybe the cold water – will take your breath away. If swimming in cold water isn’t your thing, follow the 8-mile trail around Lower and Upper Cathedral Lakes to enjoy Yosemite's alpine scenery and impressive granite pinnacles reflecting perfectly on the water.

US national park tour reviews

US national parks FAQs

Trips from 1 January 2023 onwards

From 1 January 2023, Intrepid will no longer require travellers to provide proof of vaccination against COVID-19 (excluding all Polar trips and select adventure cruises).

However, we continue to strongly recommend that all Intrepid travellers and leaders get vaccinated to protect themselves and others.

Specific proof of testing or vaccination may still be required by your destination or airline. Please ensure you check travel and entry requirements carefully.

Learn more about Intrepid’s COVID-19 policy

The US is home to an impressive 423 national parks, monuments, and protected sites. Of this number, 63 are classified as national parks. 

The best time to visit a national park really depends on what you want to experience on your trip. The US is a huge country with diverse weather, foliage, and wildlife. Most parks change quite dramatically from season to season. Our trips run all year round but spring through to early fall is the most popular time to go when the weather is mild, crowds are smaller, and hiking conditions are good. 

The 10 most visited national parks (The National Park Service, 2020) are:  

  • Great Smoky Mountains National Park  

  • Yellowstone National Park  

  • Zion National Park  

  • Rocky Mountain National Park  

  • Grand Teton National Park  

  • Grand Canyon National Park  

  • Cuyahoga Valley National Park  

  • Acadia National Park  

  • Olympic National Park  

  • Joshua Tree National Park 

Cell phone service, WiFi, and internet access varies and some parks will have coverage while others may be completely cut off. Most visitor centers, lodges, and restaurants will offer free internet access but it’s worth reading up on coverage or checking with your guide before your trip begins so you can be prepared.  

Absolutely. Everyone that travels with Intrepid is required to purchase travel insurance before their trip begins. Your leader will log your travel insurance details on the first day of the trip. In addition to health and hospital care, travel insurance can cover you for things like personal liability, trip cancellation, curtailment, and loss/damage of personal belongings.  

Yes, all Intrepid trips support the Intrepid Foundation. In fact, we make a donation on behalf of every traveller. Trips to this country directly support our global Intrepid Foundation partner, Eden Reforestation Projects. 

Eden Reforestation Projects

Eden Reforestation Projects are helping to mitigate climate change by restoring forests worldwide; they also hire locally and create job opportunities within vulnerable communities. Donations from our trips support restoration across planting sites in 10 countries around the globe.

Find out more or make a donation

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