Visiting all 63 U.S. National Parks is a dream for many RV owners, but it’s no small feat. Between logistics, budgeting, and time constraints, planning visits to all the parks requires some serious strategy.

In this episode of The RV Atlas, podcast, we interview Shellie Bailey-Shah, a seasoned traveler and founder of KidTripster, who has visited every single U.S. National Park. With years of experience RVing across the country, she shares practical tips for visiting all 63 National Parks—whether you want to visit them all in a few years or spread them out over a few decades.

If you’ve ever wondered how to make a goal like this happen, listen to the podcast episode or read on for 10 expert tips that will help you efficiently and meaningfully explore America’s most iconic and cherished landscapes.

This is part four of a four-part series on National Parks with Shellie–here are the first three podcasts in this series:

1. 8 Great National Parks for Kids
2. The 5 Most Underrated National Parks in America
3. 13 National Parks You Can’t Visit By RV

1. Establish a Realistic Goal

photo provided by Shellie Bailey-Shah

Seeing all 63 national parks is a huge undertaking, and for many, it may not be a feasible goal. Some of the most remote parks—like American Samoa National Park and Gates of the Arctic in Alaska—are incredibly difficult (and expensive) to reach.

Shellie suggests setting a realistic goal that works for you:

• Visiting all the parks in the continental U.S.
• Completing the western parks or the Big Five in Utah
• Exploring a set number of parks each year

By defining what success looks like before you start planning, you’ll avoid frustration and create an achievable bucket list.

2. Plan Park Visits Based on Your RV Size

Many national parks have length restrictions for RVs, particularly for in-park campgrounds. If you currently own a smaller RV but plan to upgrade in the future, visit the size-restricted parks first.

Shellie’s family followed this strategy by visiting length-restricted parks in their 31-foot RV before upgrading to a 38-foot RV. This allowed them to experience certain campgrounds that would not have been accessible later.

Some parks with notable RV length restrictions include:

• Lassen Volcanic National Park, CA (35-foot limit in campgrounds)
• Zion National Park, UT (Tunnel restrictions for rigs over 11’4”)
• Glacier National Park, MT (Vehicle restrictions on Going-to-the-Sun Road)

3. Group National Parks Together for Efficient Travel

Rather than making individual trips to parks spread across the country, maximize efficiency by visiting parks in geographically connected clusters. Some natural groupings include:

• Yellowstone & Grand Teton
• Utah’s Big Five: Zion, Bryce Canyon, Capitol Reef, Arches, and Canyonlands
• Theodore Roosevelt, Badlands & Wind Cave
• Colorado’s Three Parks: Rocky Mountain, Mesa Verde, and Great Sand Dunes

By bundling parks together, you reduce travel time, save money, and create more immersive trips.

4. Consider a Cross-Country Adventure

For those committed to visiting many parks in a short period, a cross-country RV trip is a fantastic way to check off multiple destinations. Shellie has done two coast-to-coast trips, using different routes each time to maximize the number of parks visited.

On one cross-country trip, her family hit 10 national parks, strategically planning stops to get the most out of their time on the road.

If you have the time and flexibility, consider taking a long-haul RV trip that incorporates multiple parks, covering different regions of the country in one go.

5. Combine RV Travel with Other Purposes

Visiting all 63 National Parks doesn’t mean visiting all of them as standalone trips. Shellie and her family blended park visits with other travel priorities, such as:

• College visits – Planning RV stops near prospective schools
• Kids’ sports tournaments – Exploring parks near competition locations
• Business travel – Tagging on an extra day for a quick park visit

By integrating national park visits into other trips, you can gradually check parks off your list without adding extra travel costs.

6. Visit a National Park as Part of a Non-RV Trip

photo by Shellie Bailey-Shah

Not every park visit has to involve your RV. Some parks are easier to visit as part of a traditional vacation.

For example, Shellie’s family visited Congaree National Park during a beach trip to Kiawah Island. Since Congaree didn’t fit into any of their cross-country RV itineraries, they planned a day trip to explore it while on vacation.

Consider visiting parks as side trips during other vacations—especially for destinations where campgrounds or RV access may be limited.

7. Accept That Some Park Visits Will Be Short

Not every national park visit has to be a week-long experience. Shellie encourages travelers to embrace shorter visits, especially when road-tripping across multiple parks.

If you only have one day, make it memorable by choosing a unique activity, like:

• Ocean kayaking at Channel Islands National Park
• Sand sledding at White Sands National Park
• Scenic hiking in Shenandoah National Park

A short but meaningful experience is better than skipping the park altogether.

8. Plan Unique Experiences to Avoid Park Fatigue

When visiting dozens of national parks, they can start to blend together—unless you intentionally create distinct experiences at each one.

Shellie’s family made sure each visit was special, including:

• Taking a seaplane to Dry Tortugas instead of the ferry
• Ice climbing in Wrangell-St. Elias for a once-in-a-lifetime adventure
• Watching bears in the wild in Alaska

By choosing unique activities, each park becomes memorable and distinct.

9. Share the Fun with Friends & Family

Photo provided by Shellie Bailey-Shah

National park trips aren’t just about the landscapes—they’re also about the people you share them with.

On one of Shellie’s cross-country trips, she planned the journey in three legs, traveling with different family members and friends along the way.

By including loved ones in your journey, you can create lasting memories and inspire others to explore the parks, too.

10. Plan Ahead—Time Goes Fast!

If visiting national parks with kids is part of your goal, start planning early. Kids grow up fast, and once they hit their college years, family travel may become more difficult.

For families, Shellie suggests:

• Mapping out spring breaks, summer vacations, and holiday trips
• Prioritizing parks best suited for young kids vs. teens
• Accepting that some parks might need to wait until retirement

If this goal is important to you, start planning now, even if it takes decades to complete.

Make Your National Park Dreams a Reality

photo by Shellie Bailey-Shah

Visiting all 63 national parks is an incredible achievement, but it requires thoughtful planning, flexibility, and creativity. Whether your goal is all 63 parks or just a select group, these tips from Shellie Bailey-Shah can help you create an efficient, enjoyable, and memorable national park journey.

Are you working on your own national park bucket list? Join the conversation in The RV Atlas Facebook group and share your experiences!

And don’t forget to listen to the full podcast episode for even more details and stories from Shellie’s journey.