I've been to all 63 major national parks. These are the 8 I recommend visiting in the winter.

Become an Insider and start reading now. Have an account? . After traveling to all 63 US national parks , I've narrowed down my favorites to visit in the winter. Parks like Joshua Tree, Death Valley, and Saguaro have milder temperatures in the winter months. Dry Tortugas and Virgin Islands National Park are great if you're craving a tropical getaway. Winter can sometimes be a challenging time to visit national parks due to weather and logistical considerations. Although some parks are definitely beautiful in the snow and cold, many are subject to road and trail closures with limited access during the winter months (or are even outright inaccessible). However, after visiting all 63 US national parks solo - many of them several times in different seasons - I have a few favorites that I enjoy visiting in the winter months. These eight parks stand out because they remain open and accessible, with winter temperatures that make hiking, sightseeing, and exploring more enjoyable. California's Death Valley National Park is much milder in the winter months. Summer heat in Death Valley National Park can be downright dangerous - with high temperatures soaring to over 120 degrees Fahrenheit. That's why visiting in the winter is generally the best idea. The mild weather often means the park is busier, but its vastness ensures that it seldom feels crowded. Warm days also make hiking, exploring the dunes, or wandering the Badwater Basin salt flats more comfortable. Plus, sunrise at Zabriskie Point is unforgettable. In my opinion, winter is the best time to take in the park's scale, quiet, and otherworldly beauty without battling the summer heat. Dry Tortugas National Park in Florida feels like a tropical getaway. Winter is a popular time to visit Florida, but as long as you book the seaplane or ferry to Dry Tortugas National Park in advance, getting there is fairly easy. The winter weather is perfect for snorkeling, swimming, and exploring Fort Jefferson, and the island feels like a tropical getaway, even though you're just about 70 miles west of Key West . I think winter is the best time to visit White Sands National Park in New Mexico. Winter is a great time to visit the otherworldly White Sands National Park in New Mexico . The cooler winter days make hiking, sledding the dunes, and exploring the gypsum landscape much more enjoyable, and at night, the dark desert skies are incredible for stargazing. Sunrise and sunset cast a warm glow across the sands - a bucket-list sight and reason to visit any time of year - but are especially lovely in winter, when crowds are lessened, and temperatures drop. Joshua Tree National Park in California is much more enjoyable in the cooler months. I've found the cooler winter weather makes exploring iconic sites in Joshua Tree National Park , like Skull Rock and the Cholla Cactus Garden, much more enjoyable. For example, I've visited at the end of May, but it was already too hot for me to...

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