How We Visited 16 National Parks in 2024 While Working Full-Time Jobs
Visiting 16 national parks in a single year might sound impossible while working full-time jobs, but we made it happen in 2024—and you can too! With careful planning, strategic use of paid time off (PTO), and grouping parks near each other, we turned weekends and holidays into epic adventures. Here’s a breakdown of our year and tips to help you maximize your travel time.
Trip 1: Southwest Adventure (8 Days, February)
Parks Visited: White Sands, Carlsbad Caverns, Guadalupe Mountains, Big Bend
Our year kicked off with an 8-day road trip through the stunning desert landscapes of the Southwest. From hiking dunes at White Sands to exploring underground caverns in Carlsbad and trekking through rugged mountains and canyons, this itinerary packed in four incredible parks.
Key Takeaways: Start the year strong with longer trips that allow you to see multiple parks in one go. Group parks that are geographically close to maximize exploration time.
Trip 2: California Giants (4 Days, May)
Parks Visited: Sequoia, Yosemite
In just four days, we stood in awe of giant sequoias and granite cliffs. These two parks are perfect for a long weekend and offer some of the most iconic views in the U.S.
Key Takeaways: Shorter trips can still be impactful, especially when you focus on iconic parks that offer diverse experiences.
Trip 3: Rocky Mountain Getaway (3 Days, July)
Park Visited: Rocky Mountain
A quick 3-day escape to Colorado brought us alpine lakes, towering peaks, and wildlife encounters. This trip proved that even a single-park adventure can feel fulfilling.
Key Takeaways: Don’t underestimate quick trips to single parks for a refreshing nature fix.
Trip 4: Utah and Arizona Road Trip (8 Days, September)
Parks Visited: Grand Canyon, Capitol Reef, Bryce Canyon, Zion, Great Basin
This epic journey covered five national parks across Utah and Arizona, offering everything from slot canyons to hoodoos and desert vistas. Road trips like this allow you to hit multiple parks in one loop, saving time and PTO.
Key Takeaways: Road trips are your best friend for visiting multiple parks in one vacation. Plan routes that flow naturally from one destination to the next.
Trip 5: Shenandoah Weekend (2 Days, October)
Park Visited: Shenandoah
A quick weekend getaway brought us stunning views along Skyline Drive and peaceful hikes through Virginia's Blue Ridge Mountains.
Key Takeaways: Short trips close to home are perfect for weekend adventures without requiring PTO.
Trip 6: South Florida Escape (3 Days, December)
Parks Visited: Everglades, Biscayne, Dry Tortugas
To round out the year, we flew to Florida to explore swamps, coral reefs, and remote islands. This trip proved you can experience drastically different environments without leaving the U.S.
Key Takeaways: Fly-and-drive trips allow you to reach parks farther from home without taking too much time off work.
How We Did It with Only 16 Days of PTO
Leverage Weekends and Holidays - We used weekends to minimize PTO usage and planned trips around holidays for extra days off.
Group Nearby Parks Together - By visiting clusters of parks, we reduced travel time and packed more experiences into each trip.
Efficient Planning - We mapped routes, booked accommodations early, and prioritized highlights to make the most of our days.
Stay Flexible - Weather and unexpected changes can happen, so we always had backup plans to keep our trips on track.
Final Thoughts
Exploring 16 national parks in one year while working full-time is absolutely achievable with careful planning and a sense of adventure. Whether you’re dreaming of epic road trips or quick weekend getaways, let our journey inspire your next adventure. Start planning now, and who knows how many parks you can check off your list next year!
