8 National Parks You Can Explore in One Day
These parks in the West deliver dramatic vistas, easy hikes, and scenic drives without a big time commitment.
I am a Washington, DC-based travel & outdoor writer. My writing has appeared in USA Today's GoEscape, Outside, The Wall Street Journal, AARP.org, The Washington Post, Thrillist, LonelyPlanet.com, HGTV.com, Costco Connection, Travel + Leisure, Northern Virginia Magazine, Via and AAA World. I also write about hiking in Virginia at GoHikeVirginia.com and have written three hiking guidebooks for Falcon Guides. In 2026, I completed a 13-year quest to run a half marathon in every state.