National Park Packing List: 10 Easy Essentials for Exploring

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I’m a sucker for a National Park. If I’m being completely honest, I’m not even the biggest outdoorsy girl, but I LOVEEE National Parks. One of my favorite government entities, please take all of my tax money and give it to the rangers.

Well, maybe education first. And then healthcare.

BUT THIRD??? The National Park Service. Hands down.

Then maybe…idk public transportation? We can hash it out at city hall. But I digress, National Parks are awesome. Not only are they beautiful, but they also make the outdoors more accessible to so many more people.

Still, it can be a little intimidating if you’ve never been, so that’s why I’ve prepared this handy dandy National Park packing list! Part of the anxiety and stress around visiting a National Park is not knowing what to bring and the other half is not knowing what to do. This National Park packing list will at least help with one of those!

That said, outdoor gear is EXPENSIVEEE. I’d recommend spacing out your shopping and keep an eye out for sale dates like Black Friday, Memorial Day, and Labor Day. For the following suggestions in this National Park packing list, I’m going to drop Amazon links because they are unfortunately the most accessible, but I highly highly encourage you to shop around once you get an idea of the things you’ll need.

If you can get some things second hand or from a buy-nothing group, even better! Again, gear gets pricey. I won’t be covering camping specific items, I have another dedicated post for that, so this National Park packing list is specifically for day trippers who are not staying overnight in the park.

Alright now with that outta the way, let’s get into it!

Table of Contents

National Park Packing List

I’m going to start with the items that are the most general and that everyone will need, and then whittle down to the more hiking/outdoorsy intensive things. The great thing about National Parks is that people of any mobility level can enjoy them. You can see a good amount of beauty just from the car and driving past the various viewpoints. There are stops where you literally just get out of the car and see something incredible, no hiking required.

There are paved trails that are wheelchair, walker, and stroller friendly. There are dirt trails that are leveled. There are guard rails and trail markers and even sign translations into different languages. And they have beautiful views too!

National Parks are for everyone.

National Park Pass

First up first up, something that everyone will need in their National Park packing list – a pass to get into the park. Some parks may have public transit options or visitors may be part of a group tour, but for the most part, the majority of travelers will be driving in themselves.

To enter the park, each vehicle requires a pass. Each park offers a variety of local passes, either a day pass, an annual pass for that specific park, or a pass bundle for the National park and nearby state parks and monuments. Choose whichever works best for your trip, but I will say if you plan on visiting at least two National Parks a year, I recommend buying the “America the Beautiful” pass every year for $80 USD.

You can technically buy that online ahead of time, but I encourage you to buy them in person, especially if you are visiting a less-popular National Park. The majority of the funds (~80%) for the “America the Beautiful” pass are put back into the park it is purchased at, with the rest of the portion distributed to smaller National Parks.

It’s kind of steep, but you do end up saving money if you frequent National Parks or lands managed by the US Forest Service or Bureau of Land Management. And for some, that might be the price they spend weekly at a coffee shop or a nice dinner. Why not redirect the cash into enjoying the beautiful world we live in?

That said, a few folks can get discounted or free America the Beautiful Passes!

Seniors (62+ years old): the annual pass is $20, or a lifetime pass for $80.
Current US military (and dependents): annual pass is free
Veterans and Gold Star Family members: lifetime pass is free
Disabled citizens & permanent residents: lifetime pass is free (and many sites off discount on amenity fees such as camping and guided tours)
4th grade educators and 4th grade students: “annual” pass is free during the 4th grade school

If you have the National Park Pass, make sure you don’t forget it! They come with a rearview mirror holder so you can hang it up and not have to dig around for it when you enter the park.

Water

Aside from a pass, the next essential thing on this National Park packing list is water. Especially if you are visiting in warmer months, you can easily get dehydrated if you aren’t careful. While the visitor centers do sell water, it will be much easier to just bring lots of water with you so you don’t have to worry about running out, or changing your plan in order to go find some.

I’d ration for at least two bottles of water per person per day (if you’ll just be in the car), and more if you plan on hiking. I drink a ton of water myself, so I like to bring along my 64 oz HydroFlask for a day, and I can refill it at stations throughout the park if needed (though that is usually enough for me). Plus, it’ll keep your water cold even if you leave it in a hot car!

But also, no need to buy a new fancy bottle. Use what you have – again, most of the time you can find refill stations at bathrooms and the visitor centers.

Snacks

Underrated but definitely needed on any National Park packing list – SNACKS. Imma be real, as much as I love our National Parks…they don’t have the best food. If there’s any food at all. So I highly encourage you to bring food with you.

If you are able and have a cooler or ice chest, packing meals items like sandwiches and pasta salads are really great. The carbs provide the fastest energy sources that you can eat cold and even better if you can load on the protein to help keep you satiated longer. If you really want to invest in a highest quality cooler, the Yeti is one of the front runners. Personally though…I’m not at that price range so I just have a modest Coleman cooler that still gets the job done!

If you’re not planning on being in the park that long or don’t have time/space/energy for all that, then eat beforehand and bring along easy snacks like nuts and trail mix. Anything with a little salt will be great to keep your electrolytes up since you’ll be staying well hydrated!

Camera

This might be a given since the large majority of us have a pretty decent smartphone these days, but just as a reminder. Make sure you bring a camera AND YOU HAVE ADEQUATE SPACE ON IT!!!!!!!

I’m speaking to myself here.

If you are a photographer or have a “fancy” camera, bring that too and make sure your battery (and backup batteries) are charged. Oh, and MAKE SURE YOU BRING YOUR SD CARDS!!!!

Again, speaking to myself here.

SPF protection

Everyone needs sun protection. EVERYONE. I don’t care how much your Black don’t crack, your Asian don’t raisin, your Indigenous is limitless, your Arab keeps you cherub, you’re Hispanic so don’t panic, your Brown won’t let you down….Skin cancer DOES NOT DISCRIMINATE.

Please add sunscreen to your National Park packing list. If you haven’t found one that works for you, check out by recommendations for sunscreen brands for darker skin tones that won’t leave a white cast. Go into your nearest beauty store and test a few of them out. My current favorite is Shiseido, which is on the higher end but goes on completely clear and is moisturizing.

Other sun protection that you likely already have is a simple hat with a wide brim. Definitely add that and sunglasses to your National Park packing list. I’ve also picked up a UV umbrella that is SOOO nice when you’re out on a long hike with no shade. It helps keep you cool and blocks UV rays! There’s also SPF clothing, though I haven’t tested any of those out yet.

Layers

And now that we’re on the topic…make sure you have various layers of clothing on your National Park packing list. Especially if you plan on arriving early and leaving late (one of my biggest tips for avoiding crowds at National Parks), the weather can change a lot throughout the day.

National Parks are not temperature controlled, and depending on where you go, you might be drastically changing elevations or landscapes. At the very least, you should always pack a light jacket or windbreaker, and it doesn’t hurt to bring something heavier.

Bug spray

Certain parts of National Parks can get buggy, especially near water, so just be prepared and carry some with you.

Whatever you normally use at home should be fine. If you don’t have bug spray at home, then I personally use Sawyer. It’s…strong, so I wouldn’t suggest putting it on your skin, but it’s great to spray your clothes and gear with! For skin, it’s a bit more personal so grab something that works for you.

Binoculars

Wildlife folks, this one is for you. A good pair of binoculars are essential on the National Park packing list if you love seeing beyond the naked eye. Of course, these are great for spotting wildlife (was it really an elk or just a bush?), but it can also be fun to look at glaciers and sulfur pools and other geographical wonders that -for safety reasons- you shouldn’t ACTUALLY stand that close to.

Hiking Shoes

Alright, this National Park packing list is getting a bit more active no! If you plan on doing any hiking beyond the short paved or flat trails, I’d recommend hiking shoes or boots rather than sneakers. Again, most of the short ones are probably fine with normal sneakers, but once the ground starts to get more uneven and you’re scrambling over rocks and roots, you really don’t want to risk rolling an ankle.

Good hiking shoes are really up to whatever is comfortable to the wearer, so I recommend going in person to an REI or outdoor retailer to try them on and see what fit you like best. I personally gravitate towards the brand Sorel (*ahem when they have sales), but you might like something else.

Another thing, good hiking socks will also make a difference. They’ll help protect or feet and ankle from chaffing against the tops of your hiking shoes. Cloudline wool socks are great, but there are lots of great brands out there.

Hiking pack

For those of you planning on doing hikes that are in the 3+ hour range, or if you just don’t want to hold your water bottle or stuff (keys, wallet, phone), consider bringing a small backpack with you. Obviously if you’re hiking-hiking, you should prioritize a hiking backpack with good back support – I am partial to the Osprey brand (*ahem when they have sales).

Otherwise, bring any small backpack you have to hold your water, snacks, and knick knacks.

Optional Items

Now that we’re through the essentials, the next few items are ones that may be useful depending on what you’re trying to do.

Bear Spray

FULL DISCLOSURE, I’ve never had bear spray on my National Park packing list, mostly because I don’t be out in the woods like that. Buuut if you plan to do any “more serious” hiking, it might be worth considering bringing some bear spray with you.

Most importantly though, make sure you know how to use it.

Swimsuit & Towel

Okay, this probably won’t make the National Park packing list cut if you’re going to like…Joshua Tree or the Everglades, BUT for some of the other parks with pleasant and safe bodies of water to swim in, it’s nice to have the option.

I’d also add in that water shoes or secure sandals are nice to have as well.

Walkie Talkies

Cell service at National Parks is notoriously unreliable. If you are traveling in a group and some members want to hike at different speeds, or would prefer going a different route, or just want to sleep in at the campsite, walkie-talkies can be a great way to keep in touch with each other.

Likewise, if you are one of those people doing longer hikes and crossing less trafficked terrain, if you need to send an SOS message for any emergency reason, make sure to add those to your National Park packing list.

Hiking Poles

While not a necessity for a National Park packing list, they can really help ease up on your knees. I technically have hiking poles, but I’ve never been bothered to use them because I hate carrying things. But they DO help, especially on switchback hikes like when I trekked into Havasupai Falls.

Headlamp

And certain parks like Mammoth Cave National Park are inherently dark (hello, cave), or you might like seeing the park after sundown, so having a headlamp can be helpful. Again, this is something that I usually don’t use, but depending on your own interests, it might be useful.

National Park Travel Guides

I’ve said it before, I love National Parks and have been to quite a few. I haven’t written a post on all the ones I’ve visited, but for the ones I have, I’ll drop them below!

And a few more on the way! Check out my post (coming soon) ranking the National Parks I’ve visited for all of the guides and my thoughts on each of them!

Conclusion

Alrighty folks, we’ve finally reached the end of the road! Thanks for sticking through it with me! Hopefully you feel more prepared and ready for your next trip to a National Park. If you’ve visited one before, is there anything you’d add to this list that you swear by? Let me know in the comments below!

National Park Packing List: 10 Easy Essentials for Exploring