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Tallgrass Prairie National Preserve

Most Overlooked National Park System Units

There seem to be countless national park stories in the media about "best this" or "best that," or "most underrated" park. More often than not, those stories revolve around the 63 "national parks" that go into the 428 units of the National Park System. What about the remaining 365 units? Let's take a look at some of the most overlooked parks in that universe (and we hope you'll help!).

A $25 Million Boost For Bison

Mythic, iconic, and nomadic, bison are an American relic, the continent's largest mammal that once roamed from Canada to Mexico, from Nevada to Virginia. Reduced in number from an estimated 60 million to just thousands, the species is being given a $25 million lifeline from the Biden administration to bolster its genetics and herds.

National Parks Traveler Podcast Episode 202 | Favorite National Park Stories From 2022

We’re just about to close the books on 2022, and what a year in the National Park System it has been. We’ve seen catastrophic flooding, drought, and crowds, lots of crowds.

Today though, we’re going to focus on some of the positives about being out and about in the parks. Editor Kurt Repanshek is joined by contributing editors Lynn Riddick and Kim O’Connell to discuss their favorite adventures and stories from the parks this past year. 

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National Parks Traveler Episode 193 | The Bison Of Tallgrass Prairie

Back in 2009, a small herd of bison was relocated from Wind Cave National Park in South Dakota to Tallgrass Prairie National Preserve in Kansas. The goal was not only to restore an essential foundational species of wildlife that had not grazed on those lands for more than a century, but to also reestablish the unique ecological benefits bison bring to the landscape while preserving the genetic integrity of the species.

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National Parks Traveler Episode 178: Walking Tallgrass Prairie National Preserve

There are 423 units in the National Park System, but a surprising number of people focus on about two dozen parks. Last year, when roughly 300 million visited the park system, just 25 units – the Yellowstones, Grand Canyon’s, Zions, Cape Cods, Blue Ridge Parkways – got 50 percent of the traffic. There are so many overlooked units in the National Park System worthy of a visit. They might not be your final destination, but they’re certainly worth becoming a destination on your traveling itinerary.
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The Essential RVing Guide

The Essential RVing Guide to the National Parks

The National Parks RVing Guide, aka the Essential RVing Guide To The National Parks, is the definitive guide for RVers seeking information on campgrounds in the National Park System where they can park their rigs. It's available for free for both iPhones and Android models.

This app is packed with RVing specific details on more than 250 campgrounds in more than 70 parks.

You'll also find stories about RVing in the parks, some tips if you've just recently turned into an RVer, and some planning suggestions. A bonus that wasn't in the previous eBook or PDF versions of this guide are feeds of Traveler content: you'll find our latest stories as well as our most recent podcasts just a click away.

So whether you have an iPhone or an Android, download this app and start exploring the campgrounds in the National Park System where you can park your rig.