U.S. Secretary of the Interior David L. Bernhardt designated August 4 as the Great American Outdoors Day as part of The Great American Outdoors Act in 2020, granting free entrance to national parks and public lands.
The act combines two major conservation initiatives into one legislative package. It establishes the National Parks and Public Lands Legacy Restoration Fund (Restoration Fund) and guarantees permanent full funding for the existing Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF). This will allocate $900 million a year to the LWCF and provides up to $9.5 billion over five years to begin clearing up a backlog of maintenance projects at national parks across the country.
Every August 4 will be a free entrance day to celebrate the signing of this landmark legislation. (Dates may vary but free entrance celebrations are the birthday of Martin Luther King, Jr. Jan. 15, first day of National Park Week in April, National Park Service Birthday Aug. 25, National Public Lands Day Sept. 26 and Veterans Day Nov. 11.)
In this blog, let’s take a look at our four midwestern National Parks, starting with the most popular one system-wide.
Nearly 12 million people, on average, visit the Great Smoky Mountains National Park each year, and it is consistently one of the most visited national parks in the country. Over the last decade, visitors have increased 42%, supporting jobs and businesses in the growing area.
The park has more than 500,000 acres for hiking, biking, camping and sightseeing. One of the best times to visit the park is autumn when spectacular reds, golds, oranges light up the tree-lined mountains.
Two recommended scenic drives are:
There are also five recommended hikes for autumn colors.
Indiana Dunes was named a national park in early 2019, the third-newest after New River Gorge National Park & Preserve was named a national park in West Virginia in 2021. The Dunes is 15 miles of beach along the southern shore of Lake Michigan between Indiana cities of Gary and Michigan City.
Think sand and solitude.
“Whether you enjoy scouting for rare species of birds or flying kites on the sandy beach, the national park's 15,000 acres will continually enchant you. Hikers will enjoy 50 miles of trails over rugged dunes, mysterious wetlands, sunny prairies, meandering rivers and peaceful forests,” according to the parks service.
Writer Henry Alford visited the park in the summer and said, “At the park’s eastern end, right on the lake near Michigan City, I visited a 126-foot-tall dune called Mount Baldy. Carefully heeding the prescribed walking route — in 2013, a child was trapped on Baldy for four hours — I climbed over the dune and then trudged for three minutes down its gorgeous, windswept front to the wholly unpeopled beach on Lake Michigan,” he wrote in the New York Times.
National Geographic calls it “one of the world’s great natural wonders. With more than 400 miles of mapped passageways, Mammoth Cave National Park encompasses the planet’s longest known cave system, with five levels and caves yet to be discovered.”
One of the best ways to explore the cave is through one of several guided tours.
“Over 30 miles of the Green and Nolin Rivers trace through the Mammoth Cave National Park and offer a wealth of recreational opportunities. Angle for muskellunge, bluegill, catfish, bass, perch, crappie, and other game fish. Canoe or kayak the rivers looking for wildlife, springs and river bluffs,” according to National Park Service. (Canoe and kayak rentals are available in the park.)
The park is also popular with bicyclists, and is included in two U.S. Bicycle Routes (USBRS) that connect urban and rural communities across the United States via signed roads and trails.
Ohio is home to one national park, located in Summit and Cuyahoga counties.
The Towpath Trail follows the historic route of the Ohio & Erie Canal and is a bicycle, jogging and walking destination.
Another popular destination is Brandywine Falls, a 60-foot waterfall that is easily accessible year-round. (Ice formations in the winter are captivating.) The 1.5-mile Brandywine Gorge Trail lets you explore beyond the waterfall. The trail is worth revisiting in the spring to view vernal pools that temporarily fill with water, attracting breeding salamanders.
The popular Cuyahoga Valley Scenic Railroad that runs through the valley and along the Cuyahoga River is a fun way to experience all the park has to offer. Check the park for updates.
Camping, cabins and other types of lodging are available in or near the parks, but you might not be comfortable spending the night in an unfamiliar place or pitching a tent and sleeping on the ground.
When you rent an R.V., you’re getting a rental car, hotel and more direct access to where you want to go. The cost of renting an RV can be as low as $50 a night for a popup camper to $1,000 a night, depending on size and level of luxury. But for most, the cost averages $1,000 a week.
Demand for rentals is typically highest over the summer, but in the fall when children are back in school, you should be able to find one to fit your needs – from oversized vans to bus-size and towable options.
Make sure you carefully review the rental contract. How many miles can you drive without incurring additional costs? What is the per mile charge over the limit? Pet friendly, but is there an extra charge to bring your four-legged friend? What about a cleaning charge?
There lots of options for overnight parking besides campgrounds. Hipcamp features unique outdoor stays for RV and other camping, such as horse farms and apple orchards. Stores with large parking lots – think Walmart and Cabelas – might allow free overnight parking, but availability varies by locations so be sure to check beforehand.
Add Oberlin to Your Must-Visit List!
Small town charm, metropolitan amenities. Plan a visit to Oberlin soon for unique shops, restaurants and more!
This blog was originally published in 2020 and was updated in 2024.
In the past, Molly Kavanaugh frequently wrote about Kendal at Oberlin for the Cleveland Plain Dealer, where she was a reporter for 16 years. Now we are happy to have her writing for the Kendal at Oberlin Community.
About Kendal at Oberlin: Kendal is a nonprofit life plan community serving older adults in northeast Ohio. Located about one mile from Oberlin College and Conservatory, and about a 40 minute drive from downtown Cleveland, Kendal offers a vibrant resident-led lifestyle with access to music, art and lifelong learning.