Looking for the best national parks to visit in September?
September is one of our favorite times to visit National Parks. Some parks start to see the signs of fall, and since most kids are back in school, the crowds start thinning out.
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Last Updated: September 1, 2022
Before we get into it, we want to remind everyone to please explore the parks responsibly using Leave no Trace principles. Stay on established trails, carry out anything you carry in, and don’t take anything you find in the parks.
About the National Park by month Series
To put together this list, we’ve combined our personal experiences and tips we gathered from locals and cross-referenced them with the weather, accessibility, local forums, seasonal attractions like fall foliage or wildflowers, and special events happening in the area. We also took into account any unique adventures only offered at certain times of the year to find the most optimal months to visit each National Park. Phew! that was a lot!
It took me a whole week of research, but since I’m a maximizer, it was completely worth having a year-round calendar of adventures (publishing that soon!). Also, check out our complete list of all the national parks and all national park units that include soon-to-be national parks.
We also chose not to include the hardest-to-access national parks in Alaska and the ones in U.S. territories in this series.
Is September a Good Time to Visit National Parks?
Yes! It’s the best month for so many national parks that we couldn’t even narrow it down to our typical top 15. 17 will just have to do.
Plan on visiting more than two national parks this year? Pick up an America the Beautiful annual pass to save money (entrance fees to each park are, on average, $30-35 per vehicle). Plus, you are helping support the Parks that always need the funding.
17 Best National Parks to Visit in September
1. Grand Teton National Park, Wyoming
43.8067345,-111.2627799, map
Average Temperatures: 66°F / 32°F
Why Visit: September marks the start of the fall in Grand Teton National Park. The cottonwood and aspen trees usually peak around the third week of September, and it’s also a good time to spot wildlife since they are out…