by Mia Taylor
Last updated: 2:20 PM ET, Wed March 27, 2019
America's national parks feature some of the most unforgettable scenery and experiences that the country has to offer.
But determining the best time to visit these popular parks can be challenging at best, particularly if it's solitude you're after. Places like Yellowstone and Grand Canyon can see anywhere from four to six million visitors per year annually, according to Priceline.
To help plan your visit, Priceline's data analysts researched the country's most popular national parks between 2017 and 2018, identifying the best time to explore them if you want to avoid peak season hotel pricing. Here's what they found.
Rocky Mountain National Park
Peak Season: In the nearby Colorado town of Estes Park, lodging was most expensive during June and July, with average daily hotel rates soaring to $180 or more.
Off Season: Those looking to explore nature while saving some money should plan to visit during November through January when average daily hotel rates can drop to as low as $100.
Grand Canyon National Park
Peak Season: In the surrounding towns of Kingman, Flagstaff, and Page, lodging was most expensive April through June. Regardless of travel time, Page was the most expensive place to bunk, with an average daily rate of $211.
Off Season: Travel from November through January to score the most affordable rates in the three cities near the Grand Canyon. Average daily rates can go for as low as $75.
Looking for the city that provides the best bang for your buck? Across all of the cities, Kingman is the most affordable place to stay, according to Priceline, regardless of the month. The average daily hotel rate is $75.
Zion National Park
Peak Season: In the nearby towns of Hurricane and St. George, lodging was most expensive February through April with average daily rates as high as $116.
Off Season: Looking to score a deal, travel during December and January when rates are most affordable (average daily rates fall around $80).
As for the best city to get the most for your travel dollars, Hurricane offers the most affordable option regardless of month with an average daily rate of $94.
Great Smoky Mountains National Park
Peak Season: At nearby towns of Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge, Tennessee; and Cherokee and Bryson City, North Carolina, lodging was most expensive during July and October with average daily rates over $120.
Off Season: Travel in January or February to score the most affordable rates in these cities as average daily rates fall between $86 to $100.
To get the best bang for your buck plan to stay in Pigeon Forge where regardless of the month the average daily rate is $109.
Yellowstone National Park
Peak Season: At nearby cities of Cody, Wyoming; Gardiner, Montana; Island Park, Idaho; and Jackson, Wyoming, the expensive time to travel was June and July with an average daily rate of $220.
Off Season: The least expensive time to travel is November and December with a typical average daily rate of $133.
Across all the cities, Cody, Wyoming was the least expensive option during both years studied, with an average daily rate of $156.
Denali National Park
Peak Season: In the nearby cities of Anchorage, Seward, and Healy, the most expensive time to travel was June through August with an average daily rate upwards of $234.
Off Season: Explore the tundra, spruce forest and glaciers when it's most affordable during November and December where average daily rates start at $95
The best place to stretch your travel dollars across all cities is Anchorage, which offers the least expensive average daily rate of $124.
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