By Sarah Schlichter

updated 3:28 p.m. ET July 23, 2007

Are you dreaming of getting away to the great outdoors? If so, you're not alone — national parks in the U.S. see more than 270 million visitors a year. From the scenic mountains of Glacier National Park to the sweeping vistas of the Grand Canyon, national parks are a perennially popular vacation destination for families, outdoor adventurers and travelers in search of natural beauty.

Whether you're planning on camping in the backcountry for a week or simply driving along the parks' many scenic roads, we've pulled together a few key tips to help you get the most from your national park vacation. Read on to learn how to avoid crowds, plan your trip and stay safe in the great outdoors.

When to go
Most national parks see their peak crowds in the summertime, when kids are out of school and the weather and scenery are at their best. Campgrounds, lodges and hotels fill up quickly during peak travel times, and the main roads running through the parks often get clogged with cars and RV's. You'll often have a better experience if you visit in spring or fall, when most parks are less crowded.

Does that mean you shouldn't visit during the summer? Absolutely not. While the most popular parks see millions of visitors each year, that doesn't mean you have to run into all those visitors during your trip. Crowds tend to cluster around major visitor attractions (such as Yellowstone's Old Faithful) and scenic overlooks (like those along the Grand Canyon's South Rim), but even the most popular parks have many miles of less discovered hiking trails and backcountry roads far from the tourist trail. If you can, ditch the car and take a hike to find your own little patch of natural beauty away from the crowds. Save the more popular attractions for either first thing in the morning or just before sundown in order to beat the midday rush.

Planning your trip
Your first stop should be the Web sites of the National Park Service (for U.S. parks) or Parks Canada (for parks north of the border), both of which provide up-to-date, unbiased information about each park within their jurisdiction. These sites offer maps, trail reports, road closure information, operating hours, activity listings, fee information and much more.

AAA is also a good source for comprehensive national park maps, which members can order at no charge. If you're not a member of AAA, you can get maps at any visitor center once you arrive at the park.

Each national park has a wide range of lodging options both within the park and outside it, ranging from campgrounds and rustic cabins to budget motels and upscale hotels. Camping is almost always your cheapest option, but keep in mind that campgrounds can fill up quickly during the peak travel season. Many parks allow you to reserve your campsite ahead of time; you can do so at Recreation.gov (for U.S. parks) and PCCamping.ca (for Canadian parks).

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Don't do tents? Budget travelers can stay in cabins within the park or in family-friendly motels outside the main park entrances, while those willing to pay a little more can often stay in elegant lodges with beautiful views of the park. Be sure to check for the amenities that are important to you — not all park lodging will have private bathrooms, for instance. As with campgrounds, park lodges and cabins often sell out very quickly at peak times, so be sure to book well in advance if you have your heart set on staying inside a particular park.

Park passes

What to pack checklist What you pack will vary widely depending on the climate of your particular national park and on what kind of activities you have planned; however, the following list of basic gear should get you started. — Alcohol wipes — Backpack or day pack — Bathing suit — Binoculars — Bottled water and/or water filter/purifier — Camera — Camping gear — Compass — Extra clothing layers — First-aid kit — Flashlight — Food — Hiking boots — Insect repellant — Matches — Plastic bags for wet or dirty clothes — Rain gear — Sunblock — Sunglasses — Toilet paper — Trail map — Wide-brimmed hat

If you're planning on visiting several parks over the next year, you may want to consider purchasing a park pass. The National Park Service has introduced the new America the Beautiful - National Parks and Federal Recreational Lands Pass, which replaces the former National Parks Pass. At $80 a year, the pass is more expensive than its $50 predecessor, but it includes admission not only to any national park or monument but also to any sites managed by four other government agencies. The pass grants admission for the passholder and his or her vehicle (at sites that charge per vehicle) or for the passholder and up to three other adults (at sites that charge per person). Children under 16 are admitted free.

Seniors aged 62 and up pay only $10 for a lifetime pass, while permanently disabled travelers can get their lifetime pass for free.

National Parks Passes and other discontinued passes will still be honored according to the provisions of each pass.

Canada also offers a variety of park passes, starting at $31.70 CAD (about $30 US). A full list of fees can be found here. Note that not all parks participate in the program, so be sure to make sure the parks you want to visit are included.

Staying safe in the parks
It may seem self-evident, but many visitors forget that the wild animals they're in the park to see are just that: wild. Animal attacks in national parks are rare, but they do happen. Before you arrive in the park, be sure to thoroughly research what types of wildlife you might encounter and learn what to do if you find yourself in danger. Parks Canada has a useful guide to safely enjoying and protecting wildlife. Do not feed the animals, approach them or try to pose for photographs with them.

If you're traveling with children or pets, be sure to watch them carefully at all times, and never let pets off their leash — small animals look like lunch to bears and other predators, and can lead them straight to your campsite. (Many parks do not allow pets at all, so be sure to check ahead of time.)

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