My Yearly National Park Reminder

[NJGIRL]

Just wanted to remind everyone who is planning a trip to one of the onsite hotels at the National Parks in 2016 that bookings will be opening May 1, 2015 for the 2016 season.

Remember that most hotels need to be booked a year in advance and you should either be on the phone or online (I do both) on the first day (May 1) in order to have the best chance to get what you want.

You can go online to the National Park website and choose which park you what to book. Bookings are through Xanterra.

[ibelieveindisneymagic]

I had no idea! That is a bit crazy ... and THANK YOU! We are toying with something for next summer (2016), good thing to know we have to decide sooner rather than later.

[MNNHFLTX]

Thanks for the reminder, Rita. You do have to book way in advance at many of the national parks, at least the popular ones, like Yellowstone, Yosemite and Grand Canyon. I always feel bad when people tell me that they're going in a few months and are just starting to look at on-site accommodations, because I know they're not going to find anything available.

[NJGIRL]

I had no idea! That is a bit crazy ... and THANK YOU! We are toying with something for next summer (2016), good thing to know we have to decide sooner rather than later.

I would normally say it is crazy too (re Disneys FP+ and ADR bookings), but the reason it is not because each national park has a very limited amount of hotel rooms with the parks. They have millions of visitors each summer and there are just not enough rooms for everyone. Plus the hotels go from deluxe (national park standards) to very rustic.....so if you want a private bathroom you better book as soon as the rooms become available.

[NJGIRL]

Thanks for the reminder, Rita. You do have to book way in advance at many of the national parks, at least the popular ones, like Yellowstone, Yosemite and Grand Canyon. I always feel bad when people tell me that they're going in a few months and are just starting to look at on-site accommodations, because I know they're not going to find anything available.

I know...I learned the hard way....I always thought (was told) that bookings start a year in advance, but they actually start May 1st plus the year in advance. I tried to book our Yellowstone trip August 2009 for August 2010 and was out of luck. We had to postpone the trip by a year, and I was on the phone May1st the next year the minute they opened the phone lines....even with doing that some dates were already gone.

[Altair]

Just like WDW, try to go during the off-peak seasons of Spring and Fall. Just not too early or too late, due to snow. Also make sure to check out the gateway communities, you can book rooms there much later. All is not lost if you can't stay inside the parks.

[faline]

Yes, when we stayed in a cabin on the rim at the Grand Canyon, we booked more than a year in advance. We ended up wih a lovely cabin with great views of the canyon right from the windows of our cabin. The cabin included a lovely fireplace - I sort of wish it had been chilly enough to use it. The cost of the cabin was extremely inexpensive - I don't know if that is still the case. I remember overhearing a young couple walking by outside the cabin. The young woman commented on the cabin and how great it would be. The young man resonded that staying there would cost far too much money. They clearly had not researched possibilities!!