National parks are favorites for families and adventurers who want to have a memorable travel experience and a budget vacation. Some parks charge entry fees, while others are free. But even in places where you pay to get in, you'll find the money is well spent. Look at 10 parks that provide maximum value for the budget traveler.
Great Smoky Mountains, Tenn./N.C.
Mark Kahler, licensed to About.com
It's not very often you find the descriptions "most popular" and "free admission" used in the same sentence, but that's exactly what you'll find in Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Just more than nine million visitors come here each year, but none pays an entry fee to the park. When land parcels were assembled to create this park, a deal was struck between the owners and the U.S. government: We sell you the land, you agree to let people visit without charge. Of course, there are plenty of places to spend your money in nearby Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge, but you have the option of enjoying beautiful scenery at no charge.
Grand Canyon, Ariz.
Mark Kahler, licensed to About.com, Inc.
The Grand Canyon's visitor count runs a distant second to Great Smoky Mountain at about 4.4 million annually. Summers can be quite crowded, but if you've never experienced the Grand Canyon, it is a trip you should strongly consider. There is nothing quite like seeing this natural wonder, especially at sunrise or sunset. Unfortunately, getting to the rim locations is not exactly convenient, and like all tourist destinations, there are plenty of places to drop large amounts of money. Check out some money-saving ideas for your journey to Arizona's greatest treasure.
Shenandoah, Va.
Mark Kahler, licensed to About.com
You'll pay a modest $15 for your vehicle to enter Shenandoah National Park, a place visited by just more than a million people each year. This was one of the first places where roads were built strictly with sightseeing in mind. Today, these first scenic pull offs remain and reveal spectacular forests and mountains along the famed Skyline Drive.
St. John Island, U.S. Virgin Islands
Mark Kahler, licensed to About.com
It's unfortunate most Americans never get to the U.S. Virgin Islands. An entire pristene island here, St. John, is set aside as a national park, yet the annual visitor total is less than half a million. Prices tend to be high for transportation, dining and accommodations. But there are some wonderful experiences to be enjoyed here for budget travelers who know what they want to do and have done their homework. You can visit this gem in the Eastern Caribbean without spending a fortune.
