National Park Service

Let a park ranger be your guide! The National Park Service App is the brand new official app for all 420+ national parks. Find interactive maps, tours of park places, on-the-ground accessibility information, and more. The app was created by National Park Service staff—people who know national parks—to help you make the most of your visit. With all of these parks and a brand new app, it will take some time to finish creating content for each park. If you don’t find what you’re looking for now, check back regularly as our rangers work to complete the experience for each of our parks.

Brief

The National Park Service app is a comprehensive digital companion designed to enhance the experience of visiting any of the 420+ National Park Service sites. Authored with insights from park rangers, this app offers a wealth of authoritative information alongside user-friendly features perfect for planning and navigating your park adventure.

Core Features

• Interactive Maps 🗺️: Detailed park maps including points of interest, trails, and roads to aid in planning your visit.
• Park Tours 🕵️‍♂️: Access self-guided tours that direct you to both popular and hidden spots within the park, complete with ranger insights.
• Amenities Locator 🚻: Find essential services like transportation, food, restrooms, and shopping within the parks.
• Accessibility Tools ♿: Offers tools including audio descriptions to cater to visitors with accessibility needs.
• Offline Use 📴: Downloadable content for entire parks allows for offline use, making it invaluable in remote locations or to conserve data.

Pros

• Expert Information: Get tips and guides directly from park rangers. 👩‍🏫
• Comprehensive Coverage: Every park in the National Park System is included. 🌲
• Share Memories: Generate and share virtual postcards of your visit. 📸
• Activities Galore: Discover a wide array of activities from hikes to educational ranger programs. 🚶‍♂️🏞️

Cons

• Dependence on Mobile Device: Constant use during trips may drain the battery. 🔋
• Offline Data Storage: May require significant storage space on the device. 💾
• Internet Requirement: Initial download of content for offline use requires internet access. 🌐
• Occasional Updates Needed: To ensure the latest information, the app may need frequent updates. 🔄

Price

The National Park Service app is free to download and use, providing a cost-effective resource for park-goers. 💵 Note that while the app itself is free, some parks may require entrance fees or have paid activities within.

Community

• Official Website: National Park Service
• YouTube Channel: National Park Service
• Instagram: National Park Service
• Twitter: National Park Service
• Facebook: National Park Service
• Reddit: Subreddits related to the National Parks such as r/nationalparks

Embrace the beauty and history of America's national parks with the National Park Service app, your personal guide to discovering and exploring the natural wonders of the United States. 🇺🇸🏞️