Planning To Visit US National Parks? Download This Helpful App Before Your Trip

Whether you're planning to explore one of the U.S.'s least visited national parks or set off on an exciting road trip across America, one thing's for sure, you're going to want to know what to do when you get there. This is where the NPS app comes in handy, in other words, the official U.S. national parks app from the National Park Service. Created by park rangers in 2021, the app provides you with pretty much everything you need to know to make the most of your visit to each of the 423 National Park sites, including memorials, monuments, and historic landmarks.

While you'll almost certainly do some research on your chosen destination before you arrive, the app's features will keep you updated on everything that's happening from current events to potential closures. One of the problems with using your phone in the more remote areas of the parks is that cell service can be pretty patchy. Something you won't have to worry about if you download the app in advance. With over 6 million downloads and around 60,000 users a day, the app is obviously popular, and the best part is it's free.

Available on both the Apple Store and Google Play, the first thing you'll want to do is download it so you can use it offline. Once you've done this, you'll find a range of practical features. Firstly, the interactive maps give you a detailed look at roads, trails, and other points of interest within the park. It also tells you where to find essential amenities such as restrooms, food outlets, bus stops, and shops. And if you're having trouble deciding where to go first, the app gives suggestions of what to see and do. 

Self-guided tours are a great way of finding out interesting facts as you hike trails or visit exhibits and are especially useful if ranger-guided tours are booked up or you just want to explore the park on your own. For those with accessibility needs, audio descriptions guide you along the trails, making them easier to follow. Thanks to real-time updates, you can keep up to speed with what's happening both while you're in the park and before you go. Knowing in advance about road closures and severe weather warnings can make or break your day.

While the app also allows you to keep memories of your visits and save sites that you've particularly enjoyed, some users have pointed out its limits. As Lojeslj wrote on Tripadvisor, "I've not found it very helpful for hiking trails other than as a general guide for where the trailhead is. If you plan to hike, get a good hiking map. I also use All Trails and download possible trails so I can use the location service on the trail." But the fact that it's free means it's worth downloading even if you need to rely on another navigation app for hiking.