Rainy weather? Why you should visit that national park anyway.

If you love national parks, it’s probably happened to you: You spent years dreaming about a destination, and months planning your visit. You pictured yourself climbing picturesque peaks, watching birds in cerulean skies and posing for perfect selfies in front of pristine landscapes. Then, when you arrive, the clouds move in, the mercury drops, the wind whips and the rain begins to fall. Suddenly, your national park fantasy is ruined.

Or is it?

Even bad weather can make for a good national park visit, says Jeff Powell of Cherry Log, Georgia, who is on a mission to visit every national park in the United States. So far, he’s visited 18.

“When the weather is uncooperative, you have a decision to make,” says Powell, author of the travel blogs Smoky Mountains Ventures and National Park Ventures and founder and CEO of Smoky Mountains Ventures Custom Travel Planning, which designs custom travel itineraries for visitors to the Smoky Mountains. “Do you just sit in the hotel room and feel sorry for yourself? Choose ‘Plan B’ and find an indoor activity? Or forge ahead and conquer the elements? I’ve done all three.”

On a winter 2024 trip to Great Smoky Mountains National Park, he chose the first option and regretted it. “The temperatures dropped dangerously low,” Powell recalls. “So, we huddled up in our hotel room, turned on the gas fireplace, had our dinner delivered and watched TV. It was a restful weekend, but we could have done that at home. What a waste of time and money.”

Unfortunately, some conditions are just too cold, wet or dangerous for anything but hunkering down. When safety allows, however, creative compromises can turn even the most disappointing forecasts into national park dreams come true.

Planning Is Paramount

Bad weather can only ruin your day if you’re unprepared, says Zac Shepherd, who likes unwinding at national parks when he has time off from his job as an ICU travel nurse for Aya Healthcare. “I’ve learned to make the most of the time I get off — even if it’s raining in the Pacific Northwest or hitting 95 degrees in Southern California,” he says. “Before heading out, I always check the weather … Knowing what I’m stepping into helps me plan smarter — and enjoy more.”

Forecasts can help you strategize, echoes wedding and elopement photographer Micah Chaffin. “If it’s raining during your national park visit, the first thing to do is check the forecast and see if it might stop later in the day. If it will, you can hang out somewhere in the park until it stops,” says Chaffin, whose husband-and-wife photography business, The Chaffins, specializes in national park nuptials.

Central to planning is packing, says travel blogger and frequent national park-goer Elliot Schoenfeld. “A light rain jacket — make sure it has a hood with a bit of a peak to cover your face — a backpack cover and water-resistant hiking boots or sneakers go a long way,” notes Schoenfeld, who co-authors the travel blog Scho & Jo with his partner, Jennifer Johnson. “Unless it's completely downpouring, these will allow you to hike quite comfortably even in the rain. These saved us earlier this year in Everglades National Park when it was lightly raining practically the entire five days we were there.”

Be Flexible

Flexibility is key, says frequent park visitor Melissa Smith, who so far has checked 36 national parks off her bucket list. “It’s helpful to have a backup plan that includes visiting surrounding cities … or other parks,” notes Smith, who previously worked in the travel and outdoors industries and now serves as director of content at SolarReviews.com, a website that helps consumers shop for solar energy. “For example, my parents rented a camper van and were in Yellowstone National Park during the historic flooding event in June 2022, which resulted in a total park closure. They ended up changing their itinerary to leave Yellowstone early and spend more time in the Grand Tetons.”

Parks enthusiast Luke Enno of St. Paul, Minnesota, has made similar adjustments during visits to more than three dozen national parks — like Mount Rainier National Park in Washington. “Visiting Mount Rainier almost necessitates a nice … day to get the best views,” says Enno, a content writer for digital marketing company Art Unlimited. “A few years ago, when we had several days in western Washington … we made sure to juggle our travel itinerary to visit Mount Rainier National Park on the one sunny day during the week. To accommodate this adjustment, we visited Olympic National Park on a rather foggy and rainy day. But it was terrific. Olympic National Park is quite beautiful, especially in the fog and mist, and this experience was the highlight of our trip.”

If you can’t change dates, change the time of day — which is what Powell once did to avoid extreme heat in Tucson, Arizona. “Instead of camping in the desert, we decided to camp in the Tucson Hilton,” he says. “We visited Saguaro National Park in the evening, after the temperature had dropped a bit, and had a wonderful time exploring Tucson.”

For maximum flexibility, buy an America the Beautiful annual pass instead of daily park pass. “A yearlong parks pass is my secret weapon,” Shepherd says. “If the weather’s too wild … I can always shift plans to another day — no pressure, no wasted money. Just more chances to get outside when the time is right.”

Embrace the Indoors

If it’s crummy outside, look for indoor activities, Smith suggests. “Most of the national parks have interpretive centers with small exhibits that teach about the wildlife in the area and a bit of history of the park,” she says.

Unfortunately, facilities at many parks are small and crowded, which means you probably won’t spend much time there. Some parks, however, are blessed with ample indoor options. Powell, for example, recommends Gateway Arch National Park in St. Louis, which has “an excellent interactive museum and a tram that carries you inside the Arch to the top.” Chaffin, meanwhile, suggests California’s Yosemite National Park, whose Yosemite Village offers a welcome center, restaurants and museum.

Other good options, Smith says, are Hot Springs National Park in Arkansas, whose indoor bathhouses are an ideal retreat in bad weather; Mesa Verde National Park in Colorado, whose archaeological museums are packed with artifacts; and Grand Canyon National Park in Arizona, which boasts historical buildings, shops, restaurants and museums.

Don’t forget cave and cavern parks like Carlsbad Caverns National Park in New Mexico, Wind Cave National Park in South Dakota and Mammoth Cave National Park in Kentucky. “Along with the underground portions that keep you out of bad weather, many of these parks have larger interpretive centers that teach about the geology of the area,” Smith says.

Schoenfeld agrees. “Carlsbad Caverns … might just be the best national park, regardless of weather conditions. The main attractions within this park are completely underground in its caves, which stay at a cool 56 degrees Fahrenheit year-round. This makes the park comfortable to visit, no matter if it's raining, sweltering or the middle of winter.”

Shift Gears — Literally

You can enjoy some parks from the climate-controlled comfort of a car. “Many have either designated scenic drives or viewpoints … that are just a short walk from a parking lot,” Smith says, offering as examples Saguaro and Yosemite, as well as Petrified Forest National Park in Arizona, Joshua Tree National Park in California and Canyonlands National Park in Utah.

Big Bend National Park in Texas is another drivable option. “Ross Maxwell Scenic Drive … runs for 30 miles through the park,” Schoenfeld says. “This can be done 100% from the comfort of your car, and there are so many places to pull off and take photos that it’s easy enough to fill half a day just on the drive.”

Powell’s favorites, meanwhile, include Great Smoky Mountains National Park and Colorado’s Rocky Mountain National Park. “Great Smoky Mountains National Park is home to Cades Cove Scenic Loop and the Roaring Fork Motor Nature Trail. Both are excellent and feature beautiful scenery, wildlife and historical structures,” he says. “Old Fall River Road in Rocky Mountain National Park is an absolutely stunning drive leading to the highest point in the park. Along the way, you'll experience breathtaking mountain views, beautiful wildflowers, wildlife and, likely, snow.”

Surrender to the Elements

Inclement weather doesn’t have to be a deal-breaker. “The reason you’re visiting a national park is to enjoy the beauty of nature, so try to find the beauty in your surroundings — even if it’s not the weather you were hoping for,” Chaffin says.

When hiking in rain or snow, “Keep safety in mind and avoid any hikes with exposed cliffs and narrow paths,” Chaffin continues. “Choose hikes through the forest, to waterfalls or where the main attractions are close enough to see even in the rain.” Apps like AllTrails have search filters for finding low-elevation and covered trails that are safer in wet weather.

Your experience often hinges more on attitude than weather, stresses Powell, who recalls a particularly memorable visit to Hawaii Volcanoes National Park. “Kilauea Iki Trail … begins in the rainforest before dropping down into the crater formed by the eruption of Kilauea,” he says. “It was cold, rainy and foggy … but we were determined to hike this iconic trail. We dressed in layers of clothing and wore hats and rain jackets. When we warmed up, we removed a layer and stuffed it in our backpacks. The experience was unforgettable. In some ways, the weather actually made the hike even better.”