Are you planning a trip to a national park in 2024? Wouldn’t it be handy to have all the important information about the park at your fingertips, both before you go and while you’re there? Now you can – with the NPS app.
The free app was created by National Park Service rangers with visitors in mind. It provides up-to-date information about each of the nearly 430 national park sites across the country to help you make the most of your visit. You can even download content for offline use, which comes in handy if you’re exploring remote areas in parks or have concerns about data limits.
The tools provided by the app range from the basic to the esoteric. Once you click on the Explore Full Park tab, you’ll find directions and interactive maps; lists of park amenities like food, restrooms, shopping, and accessibility accommodations; information on special events, ranger programs, and self-guided tours; and recommendations for points of interest and recreation opportunities.
Some parks include more specialized information for visitors with unique interests. History buffs can find out how to access the archives at Ulysses S. Grant National Historic Site, for instance. Or winter sport enthusiasts can learn about snowshoeing or sledding opportunities at Voyageurs National Park.
Other examples of highlights that the app offers for visitors to our partner parks include information on how to:
- Rent a kayak and embark on a scenic river ride at Mississippi National River and Recreation Area
- Listen to a new narrated self-guided walking tour through the town at Ste. Geneviève National Historical Park. Or take an audio-described self-guided tour at Little Rock Central High School National Historic Site.
- Sign up for a ranger-led boat tour of Voyageurs National Park.
- At President William Jefferson Clinton Birthplace Home National Historic Site, learn about additional sites related to Clinton’s early life elsewhere in Hope, Arkansas.
- Learn about the “volcano” (that really wasn’t a volcano) at Missouri National Recreation River.
If for no other reason, you’ll appreciate the app for its real-time updates on conditions within a park, such as road closures, long entry lines, weather advisory warnings, fees, and reservation information.
The NPS App is currently available for iOS- and Android-powered devices such as phones or tablets. You can download it for free through the App Store and Google Play.
JNPA Blog 