Quote:
Originally Posted by ///d
National Parks have seen a steep rise in attendance since COVID and many had to go t oa timed entry system. It's unfortunate. It was hard enough to get campsite reservations before COVID, now it's next to impossible. Folks will book sites without even having a trip planned and without even knowing if they will go, and then never show up.  |
Go in November, that's when the wife and I travel. We hit quite a few NPs (10+) last year between Arizona and California and also the East Coast. We have the America the Beautiful Pass, best money saver by far. All the parks we went to we rarely saw anyone. Even the Grand Canyon was light. Key is is to get there as soon as they open the gates and during the week.
We had the Painted Desert Petrified Forest pretty much to ourselves. Also there are plenty of smaller NPs such as Montezuma Castle and Montezuma well, both very unique, and we literally had them to ourselves.
As far as camping I know in Arizona the Bureau of Land Management (they own over 60% of Arizona and quite a bit of other states) allow you to camp anywhere, for free, if you do primitive style...which is the best kind. That can be as simple as just pulling off a park road and pitching your tent. All the camp grounds are dead that time of year, if you want an actual spot. Of course some areas are closed for winter but there is still plenty to see and do...all without people!