Least Difficult National Parks to Travel to for Hiking?
 

My friend and I are trying to plan a trip later in Oct. or so to go hiking somewhere in the U.S. - but we are super aware that none of the bigger national parks are close to airports (and rental cars are seriously expensive and hard to get right now). We like the idea of hiking in UT, MT, NV, WA/PNW, and alike.

Anyone have tips for some parks that are not awful distance from major airports or have good transportation available from airports? This is our first time doing anything like this so the logistics of the situation are... overwhelming.

Any advice or help is appreciated.

Well Zion is pretty closes to Las Vegas. And once in the town of Springdale there is a free shuttle to get you into and around the park. Most people rent a car to drive to the park from the airport, but most people are also going other places (like Bryce Canyon NP). If you just want to go to Zion (which has plenty of hiking possibilities) you could look into a public bus from Las Vegas to the town of Springdale.

Yosemite has direct YARTS transport from FAT (Fresno) It isn't a 'major' airport but is served by American, United, Southwest, Allegiant, Alaska, Delta, etc. so you can connect there from just about anywhere. No need for a car

There is a small airport in Moab so you could Uber from there to Arches and Canyonlands. Or fly to Vegas and take a bus to Grand Canyon, see if one of the tours would. Let you go there on one tour and back a couple of days later. There are lots of tour companies, some geared to hikers, look into it.

You can book trains from Los Angeles Union Station to the Grand Canyon.


I wouldn't call it easy but it's possible.

You might find it difficult to book a tour for a mixed group to a National Park.

Springdale from Las Vegas by shutlle bus is another good idea.

https://www.stgshuttle.com/

Kalispell MT airport is very close to Glacier Park.
How you get to and around the park I don't know... but others might.

well, you can get to Muir Woods from San Francisco by bus, at least close by

https://marintransit.org/routes/61-61m

Rocky Mt NP is not too difficult from Denver airport but not in October for hiking.

I missed the later October part. Too late in the year for Glacier NP.
I love that time of year for hiking at Yosemite. There might be snow at higher elevations but nothing that would limit - unless there's a big, drought busting early season snow, which can happen in the Sierras... as we know from the tragic events of late October 1846...

IMO, a car is necessary (although expensive right now) if you want to get a lot of hikes in.
In October, a lot of the shuttles are no longer running, or on reduced schedule.
You may spend 1/2 your trip waiting for rides (what's it worth to avoid that?)

I won't be surprised if rental fees will be greatly reduced by then. Book one now, but make sure you can cancel and rebook later.

I do not recommend Washington state for what you are seeking. They are all a distance from the airport, you'd really need a rental car, but most importantly the parks themselves (especially ONP, NCNP) are huge. They are not a drive-thru-the-gate and you're there kind of park. Also October is getting a bit late in the year if you are trying to hike at altitude at all.

Saguaro National Park is on both east and west side of Tucson. Chiricahua National Monument is not that far away