National Park Hacks

NOMADS KNOW A thing or two when it comes to avoiding crowds, saving money, and making the most of their time, and a lot of us are national park geeks. We plan our entire year around them, spend months working in or near them, and take some of our most treasured photos on their mountains, in their lakes, and along their trails.

If you’ve ever tried to hike Zion during spring break or see Old Faithful or the Grand Canyon when there’s no snow on the ground, you know the hassle of sharing our national parks with throngs of tourists. It isn’t quite as fun as it could be.

So, if you want to know the best ways to experience the national parks, ask nomads. The five families featured here have avoided crowds and landed jobs in some of