tourist parks nt

15 Top-Rated Tourist Attractions in Australia's Northern Territory

Written by Karen Hastings Updated May 26, 2022

A land of stark beauty, sacred Aboriginal sites, and sweeping wilderness, the Northern Territory has always stood apart from the rest of Australia. Vast deserts, wetlands, monsoonal rains, red-rock gorges, and raging rivers spark the spirit of adventure in those who visit, and wilderness adventures top the list of things to do.

"The Territory" is also rich in culture. The Traditional Owners of this land managed to preserve their way of life for much longer than other areas of the country, and today you can learn about how they thrived here for thousands of years.

The Red Centre , in the south of The Territory, is a land of parched deserts and striking rock formations. Uluru , the iconic red monolith, is one of the region's most famous tourist attractions. Northwest of here lies the legendary outback town of Alice Springs , a popular base for wilderness safaris.

The tropical Top End , or northern part of the state, encompasses the World Heritage-listed Kakadu National Park , famed for its Crocodile Dundee scenes; beautiful Litchfield National Park; Nitmiluk National Park; and the First Peoples settlements of Arnhem Land. Also in the Top End is multicultural Darwin , the capital of the Northern Territory.

Find the best places to visit in this rugged outback region with our list of the top tourist attractions in the Northern Territory, Australia.

1. Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park

2. kakadu national park, 3. mindil beach & mindil beach markets, darwin, 4. nitmiluk national park, 5. darwin's waterfront & stokes hill wharf, 6. litchfield national park, 7. kings canyon (watarrka national park), 8. darwin's museums & galleries, 9. finke gorge national park, 10. alice springs, 11. karlu karlu (devil's marbles conservation reserve), 12. simpsons gap, west macdonnell national park, 13. larapinta trail, 14. the tiwi islands, 15. arnhem land, map of tourist attractions in australia's northern territory.

In the Red Centre, World Heritage-listed Uluru National Park, is one of Australia's most famous tourist attractions . The park's main features include Uluru (formerly Ayers Rock) , the 348-meter-high red monolith rising from the desert, and the dome-shaped rocks called Kata Tjuta ( the Olgas ), which lie 40 kilometers away from Uluru. Oxidation or rusting of iron in the rock gives the structures their beautiful red coloring.

Both sites hold deep spiritual significance to the Traditional Owners, the Anangu people, who manage the park jointly with Parks Australia. Around dusk, visitors gather at sunset viewing areas to photograph these impressive structures, when the play of color is at its finest. To really appreciate these sacred sites join a sightseeing tour led by an Indigenous guide.

Official site: http://parksaustralia.gov.au/uluru/

Kakadu's wild beauty will haunt your memory for a lifetime. Awarded dual World Heritage Status both for its outstanding natural and cultural value, this spectacular Top End wilderness area is Australia's largest national park and one of the top places to visit on a Northern Territory travel itinerary.

Landscapes range from lush wetlands to arid upland country. On the north coast lies the tidal zone, with river estuaries, mangrove swamps, and tall monsoon rainforests. Inland are the flood plains, where rivers pursue a winding course to the sea. Boat tours, like the Yellow Waters cruise and the Guluyambi Cultural Cruise take you through some of these waterways to view the unique plants and animals, including crocodiles and an impressive diversity of birds.

Waterfalls are among the many highlights of Kakadu. The escarpment of the Arnhem Land plateau runs diagonally through the park, from southwest to northeast. After heavy rain, water pours over its bare rocks and down the escarpment in magnificent tiers of thundering falls – Jim Jim Falls and Twin Falls are two of the most famous.

Hiking trails and the main access roads radiate through the gently rolling upland country, and this is the best way to explore the top attractions in this part of the park.

Wildlife mirrors the incredible diversity of habitats. Among the animals you can spot here are more than 70 different species of reptiles, the largest and most dangerous of which is the saltwater crocodile, as well as a vast array of fish, mammals, and birds.

In addition to all these natural attractions, the park is home to many sacred Aboriginal sites, and rock paintings dating back more than 20,000 years. Ubirr and Nourlangie hold Australia's most important collection of Aboriginal art.

You can visit Kakadu from Darwin , but this vast wilderness area deserves more than just a day trip. If you want to stay longer, consider basing yourself at Jabiru.

Note that seasonal flooding may close some sections of the park, especially during the wet season. For comprehensive information on the natural history and culture of this unique area stop by the National Park's Visitors Centre in Jabiru .

Official site: http://www.parksaustralia.gov.au/kakadu/index.html

Multicultural Darwin is the youngest of the Australian state capitals and the gateway to wilderness adventures like Kakadu and Litchfield National Parks. But you'll find plenty of rewarding things to do in Darwin before you head out. Watching the sunset at Mindil Beach should be top on your list.

A mere five minutes from Darwin's city center, this rather unassuming stretch of sand and sea is the setting for a curious ritual. Every evening at sunset, throngs of tourists and locals plonk down on the shore to watch the sun dip into the tranquil Timor Sea. It's one of the best free things to do in the Northern Territory.

Mindil Beach also hosts the tourist-favorite Mindil Beach Sunset Markets . Come here every Thursday and Sunday evening to feast on tasty treats from around the world, buy souvenirs for your friends back home, or just soak up the scene of happy tourists. Live music adds an upbeat soundtrack, and the general vibe is one of a huge communal picnic catered by the many food stalls.

From Mindil Beach, wander along scenic waterfront paths to East Point Nature Reserve , where you can learn about Darwin's fascinating history at the Darwin Military Museum.

Formerly known as Katherine Gorge, Nitmiluk National Park is one of the most famous Top End tourist attractions. The main must-see site is the series of gorges. Up to 100 meters deep, they were carved by the Katherine River through the soft sandstone of the southern Arnhem Land plateau.

During the dry months, the river carries little water, leaving a series of pools separated by rocks and boulders. During the wet season, the river is at its most impressive as it surges tumultuously through the narrow gorges.

In contrast to the arid Arnhem Land plateau, the perennial flow of the Katherine River nourishes luxuriant vegetation and diverse wildlife, including freshwater crocodiles and more than 160 species of birds.

Boat trips through the gorges are one of the most popular ways to explore Nitmiluk National Park . But you can also explore the park on foot. Trails range from a two-hour hike to the viewpoint above the first gorge to a five-day hike to Leliyn ( Edith Falls ) in the park's northwest.

Kayak rentals and helicopter flights are other popular ways to experience the park.

Official site: https://nt.gov.au/parks/find-a-park/nitmiluk-national-park

Darwin's Waterfront Precinct is the best place to soak up the city's salt-tinged setting. Stroll along the waterfront promenade here, in the heart of the city, and see what piques your interest. You'll find everything from tourist attractions and art galleries to restaurants, parks, shops, and, of course, glistening water views.

Traveling with kids? Stop by the Darwin wave lagoon or water park for a cool dip, pop by the waterfront park for a clamber on the rock climbing wall, or relax with a picnic on the white-sand beach. History buffs will enjoy a visit to the World War II secret Oil Storage Tunnels. At night, take the family to the Deckchair Cinema to catch the latest flicks.

Just a few minutes' stroll across the bridge from Darwin Waterfront is Stokes Hill Wharf . Another tourist favorite, this working wharf is the departure point for harbor cruises, Jet Ski tours, and fishing charters. It's also a great place to visit for an alfresco seafood meal.

Prefer to catch your own fish? Cast a line from the free fishing platforms here. Stokes Hill Wharf is also home to the Royal Flying Doctor Service (RFDS) Darwin Tourist Facility, one of Darwin's top museums .

About a 90-minute drive from Darwin, beautiful Litchfield National Park is a popular day trip from the capital. It's great way to experience the Top End wilderness without traveling all the way to Kakadu.

Among Litchfield's main attractions are its beautiful waterfalls and freshwater springs, which flow from the escarpment of the Tabletop Range and tumble over steep cliffs.

The park scenery is also beautiful. It varies from patches of tropical monsoon forest around the waterfalls and ponds to open woodland and giant magnetic termite mounds. Don't miss the Lost City . This formation of large sandstone columns sits near Tolmer Falls in the park's west.

Bushwalking and hiking are particularly rewarding. You can also enjoy a dip in the park's plunge pools and swimming holes; explore the ruins of the Blythe Homestead ; and visit Wangi Falls , one of the most popular swimming and picnicking spots.

Sealed roads lead to most of the major attractions, but 4WD vehicles are recommended to access some of the park's more remote features.

Official site: https://nt.gov.au/parks/find-a-park/litchfield-national-park

Part of Watarrka National Park and located about midway between Alice Springs and Uluru, Kings Canyon has the deepest gorge in the Red Centre . The scenery is spectacular. Orange-red rocks glow against a typically deep blue sky, and the sandstone walls of the canyon rise to heights of 100 meters, almost looking like they were cut with a knife.

The park is also surprisingly lush in areas. On the bottom of the canyon are perennial waterholes, and ferns and palm forests line the upper part of the gorge – especially in the area called the Garden of Eden . More than 600 species of native plants and animals live in the region.

To the Luritja people, this area was sacred, and their dwellings and places of assembly are decorated with rock paintings.

One of the best ways to explore Watarrka National Park is on the network of scenic hiking trails. The steep six-kilometer Kings Canyon Rim Walk is one of the top hikes in Australia . Scenic flights and camel safaris are other ways to explore the park.

Official site: https://nt.gov.au/parks/find-a-park/watarrka-national-park

Despite its laid-back feel, Darwin has a turbulent history, and you can learn all about it at the city's excellent museums.

Darwin's World War II history shaped the country. This seemingly sleepy tropical city was the site of Australia's largest single attack by a foreign power, when the Japanese bombed the city and harbor on February 19, 1942. Learn more about this fateful event at the excellent Defence of Darwin Experience at the Darwin Military Museum.

For even more exhibits on the bombing of Darwin, save time to stop by the Darwin Aviation Museum . True to its name, the museum displays a collection of military aircraft, including a B52 Bomber on loan from the US Air Force.

A second key event in Darwin's history was Cyclone Tracy . On Christmas Day 1974, this ferocious storm slammed Darwin with wind speeds of up to 280 kilometers per hour, almost destroying the entire town. You can hear a chilling sound recording of the storm at the Museum and Art Gallery of the Northern Territory . The museum also covers Darwin's maritime and natural history, and art lovers will enjoy the impressive collection of Aboriginal art. Keep a lookout for "Sweetheart," a 5.1-meter-long stuffed crocodile, one of the largest ever captured in the Northern Territory.

Prefer a feel-good museum? Head to the Royal Flying Doctor Service (RFDS) Darwin Tourist Facility on Stokes Hill Wharf. Here, you can learn all about the outback heroes who connect the Northern Territory's remote communities with life-saving medical care.

If gallery gazing is more your style, Mason Gallery (Shop 7/21 Cavanagh Street) displays and sells vibrant Aboriginal artwork with a focus on pieces from the Northern Territory.

Finke Gorge National Park is known for its prehistoric red cabbage palms, which grow in the valley of Palm Creek , a tributary of the Finke River . Extinct elsewhere, the palms are relics of a much wetter period. The imposing rock formations in the park are also of ritual significance to the Western Arrernte Aboriginal people.

Because of its inaccessibility, Finke Gorge National Park drew few visitors until a campground was established on Palm Creek, near Palm Valley. For visitors without an all-terrain vehicle, organized tours depart from Alice Springs.

An oasis in the red-earthed desert, Alice Springs is one of Australia's most famous outback towns. Affectionately called "the Alice" by Aussies, it's an important base camp for tours to Red Centre attractions, including Uluru , Kata Tjuta , the MacDonnell Ranges , Kings Canyon , and the boundless expanses of the outback.

Neville Shute's novel, A Town like Alice , and its film version nudged this unassuming town into the international spotlight. Once a dusty outback settlement, today Alice Springs brims with restaurants, hotels, caravan parks, entertainment venues, shops, and Aboriginal art galleries. At the Araluen Cultural Precinct , you can learn about the region's history and Aboriginal culture in a complex of museums and galleries.

Wildlife lovers can meet some famous Northern Territory animals at Alice Springs Desert Park and Alice Springs Reptile Park . And for a dose of local color, try to time your visit for the annual camel races at the end of April and the beginning of May. The greatest event of the year, however, is the Henley on Todd Regatta at the beginning of October. At this famous event, locals trundle boats along the dry riverbed and top off the day with a festival.

Adventures abound in the surrounding countryside. Travelers can hike the Larapinta Trail , one of Australia's most challenging walks, and drive the Red Centre Way from Alice Springs to Kings Canyon . Desert safaris on quad bikes, hot air balloon rides, and camel rides are other popular things to do.

The Northern Territory has no shortage of quirky rock formations, and Karlu Karlu (The Devil's Marbles) grace the list. These huge granite boulders, worn down and split by weathering, are striking landmarks in a flat sandy plain.

In Aboriginal mythology these massive rocks, lying tumbled on the ground or piled on top of one another, are the eggs of the rainbow serpent and are called Karlu Karlu. Their shade and the dew that settles around them provide a habitat for low-growing plants and many birds.

Karlu Karlu are a favorite subject for photographers; arrive just before sunset for the best light.

Official site: https://nt.gov.au/parks/find-a-park/karlu-karlu-devils-marbles-conservation-reserve

A visit to Simpsons Gap, near Alice Springs, is a great way to experience the rugged topography of the western MacDonnell Ranges . Deep gorges carved by prehistoric watercourses form a striking contrast to the wide desert-like plains and dunes. Areas of white sand, huge river eucalyptus trees, and white-barked ghost gums lead to a permanent waterhole in the shelter of rugged cliffs, which are particularly impressive in the slanting sun of late afternoon.

To the Aranda people who live here, the gorge is the home of their giant goanna ancestors. Walking trails lead to quiet spots where rock wallabies appear in the early morning and late afternoon, and Cassia Hill offers excellent views of the Larapinta valley .

A 24-kilometer hike from Alice Springs Telegraph Station to Simpsons Gap marks the first section of the famous Larapinta Trail , one of Australia's most famous outback walks.

Official site: https://nt.gov.au/leisure/parks-reserves/find-a-park-to-visit/simpsons-gap

One of Australia's top hikes , the legendary Larapinta Trail takes you right through the heart of the Aussie outback. This tough 223-kilometer track follows in the footsteps of the First Peoples, crossing ancient desert landscapes and threading along the craggy spine of the West MacDonnell Ranges.

Starting at the old Alice Springs Telegraph Station, the Larapinta trail is best tackled by experienced hikers. The entire hike takes about 14 days , but you can slice it up into shorter sections to suit your time and ability. Highlights include Simpson's Gap , Ormiston Gorge , Stanley Chasm , and the spectacular views from the summit of Mount Sonder.

Along the way, you'll sleep under the star-spangled desert skies in a swag, or you can pitch a tent at one of the wilderness camps. Guided group tours are the best way to tackle this epic hike.

Official site: http://www.larapintatrail.com.au

Aptly called the "Islands of Smiles," the Tiwi islands, about 80 kilometers north of Darwin, are among the top Northern Territory cultural attractions. If you look at a Northern Territory map, these unsung tropical islands sit just north of Darwin and offer a fascinating dose of Indigenous culture, as well as white-sand beaches, dense jungles, and fantastic fishing.

Bathurst and Melville Islands are the only two inhabited islands and are the top destinations for visitors, but the group also encompasses nine small uninhabited islands.

A popular way to visit the Tiwi Islands is on an organized day tour, which starts with a 2.5-hour ferry ride from Darwin. Famous for their vibrant art, the warm and friendly Tiwi people welcome visitors with a traditional song and dance ceremony, and demonstrate artistic techniques like painting, screen printing, and carving in the islands' galleries. Australian Rules Football is also a favorite pastime, and many footie fans visit during March to attend the annual grand final and local celebrations.

Besides aboriginal cultural and art tours, another way to experience the islands is on a fishing trip based out of either Melville Island Lodge, Clearwater Island Lodge, or Johnson River Camp. Barramundi, giant trevally, golden snapper, and jewfish are some of the species found in the rivers and coral reefs.

If you prefer to skip the ferry, flights to the islands take about 25 minutes, but you need to organize a permit well in advance for overnight stays.

Wondering about unique things to do in the Northern Territory? Add Arnhem Land to your Northern Territory itinerary and learn about one of the oldest living cultures on Earth. Rivaling the size of Iceland, this remote homeland of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people lies about 500 kilometers from Darwin.

The Yolngu people are the Traditional Owners, and with their permission, you can visit here to experience their way of life, admire vibrant Aboriginal art, see ancient rock art sites, and learn how they live off the land.

Make sure you bring a camera. The striking landscapes here will linger long in your memory. Lush greens vibrate against the glowing red earth, and the turquoise Arafura Sea washes up on empty white-sand beaches. The wildlife is also a highlight. Crocs, birds, goannas, kangaroos, and dugongs are just some of the animals you can see here.

Fishing is another top thing to do in Arnhem Land. In fact, the Cobourg Peninsula is one of Australia's top fishing spots.

Visiting Arnhem Land requires some planning. First, you'll need to organize a permit in advance. Second, decide whether you want to do a DIY trip or join a guided tour. The latter is probably the best way to see all the highlights. No matter how you do it, this trip is one of the best ways to get an authentic taste of this fascinating ancient culture.

More on Australia

National parks in the Northern Territory

• 1.1 Time to visit
• 6 Stay safe

A trip to the territory is never complete without visiting the national parks of the Northern Territory . The Northern Territory offers one of the most spectacular landscapes, including two of Australia's most famous parks – Uluṟu-Kata Tjuṯa National Park and Kakadu National Park.

Understand [ edit ]

With the exceptions of Uluṟu-Kata Tjuṯa National Park and Kakadu National Park , all parks are managed by the Parks and Wildlife Commission of the Northern Territory. The other two are managed by the federal government under Parks Australia. See nt.gov.au for official information about most parks, and Parks Australia for the other two.

There are two UNESCO World Heritage national parks – Uluṟu-Kata Tjuṯa and Kakadu. There are no parks on the tentative list, however Tjoritja / West MacDonnell could become proposed.

The variety of parks you will encounter in the NT are very different, and such, there are two distinct types of park you'll encounter. The ones in the Red Centre and the lone single national park in the Barkly Tableland are red, dry and show the finest desert landscapes in the centre of the dry continent while the parks in the Top End are humid, very tropical (the tropical you'll find in Thailand, not Hawaii or Florida – the Top End is much more tropical than the latter two), wet, has only two seasons and often a scene not commonly associated with Australia. Crocs are common here, and too are some of the wildest waterfalls.

Time to visit [ edit ]

While the territory has two distinct geographical regions and climates, the time to visit remains the same – during southern winter, between April and early October, around the time when the southeastern states and territories use standard time (not the NT one – the NT does not follow DST). As you can imagine, going to the Red Centere on a hot 45° day during summer is unpleasant but the reason for the Top End is very different – not because of heat, but because it's monsoon reason and it pours hell. Many sites in parks like Kakadu or Litchfield close then and others with access only via unsealed roads may not even be open.

Parks [ edit ]

Most of the Northern Territory's national parks are either located in the tourist regions of the Top End and the Red Centre . There is only one national park in the vast barren open Barkly Tableland – an area of the size of the UK, with fewer than 6,000 inhabitants.

As the size of the NT is about the same as Mongolia, the number of parks are comparable.

See [ edit ]

Each park has something different to see. Some parks may have something that can easily be seen by car, while others might require you to do a little hike to get there. See the relevant park articles for details.

Do [ edit ]

• Many national parks in the Northern Territory will have some sort of walking or hiking trails. However, do be aware that it is not advisable to do such during November to March, since it's monsoon season in the Top End , and temperatures can get scorching hot in the Red Centre and the Barkly Tableland .
• In some parks, there may be Aboriginal cultural tours, perfect to immerse yourself into the territory's 60,000-year-old Indigenous culture .

Eat [ edit ]

Most national parks will not have any sort of places to eat. In those cases, you will need to bring your own food, however, the more popular parks such as Uluru-Kata Tjuta, Kakadu or Litchfield have some.

Stay safe [ edit ]

In the Top End , crocodiles can pose a severe threat. In most cases, leave them alone and you will be all right.

See also [ edit ]

• National parks in Australia
• Marine parks in Australia
• Indonesian national parks

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Arltunga Historical Reserve

Heat warning.

Temperatures across the Northern Territory can be very hot between October and April.

It can exceed 40 degrees Celsius in some locations. High humidity in the Top End can also make you tire easily.

Check forecast temperatures before you visit. Find out how to prepare and  stay safe in the heat .

Arltunga was the site of hope, struggle and mateship for many fortune hunters who came here on foot to find gold.

Born out of a goldrush in 1887, Arltunga was officially Central Australia's first town and once supported up to 300 people.

At the visitor centre you will be introduced to Arltunga's colourful past and wild characters.

You can learn about gold mining in Arltunga and find out how gold used to be extracted.

Walks at the reserve take you through the Government Battery, Cyanide Works, Old Police Station, mines and homes.

This park requires visitors to the NT to have a  parks pass .

Get the Arltunga Historical Reserve fact sheet and map PDF (1010.6 KB) .

Get the exploring Arltunga information sheet  PDF (1.2 MB)

Get the Arltunga gold extraction process information sheet PDF (1.4 MB)

Get the Aboriginal involvement in mining at Arltunga information sheet PDF (928.2 KB)

Check if this park is open

Phone:  08 8951 8250.

Opening hours

All year round. The best time to visit is during the cooler months from April to September.

The visitor centre is open daily from 8am to 5pm.

How to get there

Arltunga is located 110km east of Alice Springs. Follow Ross Highway and Binns Track signs to Arltunga.

The last 33km are on an unsealed road.

Check road conditions before heading out as roads may become impassable after rain.

What to see and do

You can see and do all of the following:

• bushwalking
• wildlife spotting
• historical ruins
• four wheel driving
• ranger-guided activities .

Self-guided walks

You can go on self-guided walks at the reserve.

Golden Chance Mine

This 60 minute walk takes you to the Golden Chance Mine and includes a visit to a miner's dwelling.

It boasts impressive views over much of the Goldfield.

Get the  Arltunga Golden Chance Mine self-guided walk information sheet PDF (1.1 MB) .

Government Works

This 40 minute walk takes you on a tour of the Government Battery and Cyanide Works.

You will see various buildings and sites in this area including the assayer's residence, post office and government offices.

Get the  Arltunga Government Works self-guided walk information sheet PDF (1.0 MB) .

Great Western Mine

This 40 minute walk allows you to explore one of the few remaining historic White Range mines.

Get the  Arltunga Great Western Mine self-guided walk information sheet PDF (1.0 MB) .

Joker Gorge

This walk provides plenty of opportunity to explore the wildlife and fascinating mining history.

The distance and level of difficulty of your walk is up to you.

A trip to the historic buildings is 15 minutes return. From there you can climb 150 metres up the hill to Joker Mine which is an hour return to the car park or continue on to the gorge.

Get the  Arltunga Joker Gorge self-guided walk information sheet PDF (1.1 MB) .

MacDonnell Range Reef Mine

This 40 minute walk will give you an insight into the hardships endured by Arltunga miners.

These mines have vertical shafts. Children must be supervised closely.

Get the  Arltunga MacDonnell Range Reef Mine self-guided walk information sheet PDF (1.1 MB) .

Camping is not permitted in the historical reserve, but campsites are available at nearby  Ruby Gap or  N'Dhala Gorge Nature Parks .

Access to these campsites is by high clearance four-wheel drive (4WD) only.

Other accommodation options include the Ross River Homestead, Arltunga Bush Pub and Eco Retreat and Old Ambalindum Station.

Arltunga has all of the following facilities:

• information signs
• ranger station – for emergency contact only
• drinking water
• public toilets
• picnic area
• walking tracks.

Please remember

When visiting the park remember all of the following:

• visitors to the NT require a parks pass
• stay on designated roads and tracks
• all historic, cultural items and wildlife are protected
• firewood collection is not permitted in the reserve
• bins are not provided so take your rubbish with you
• pets are not permitted in the reserve
• you need a permit to use a drone - you must get it before you arrive.

Fossicking, including the use of metal detectors, is not permitted in Arltunga Historical Reserve.

However, you can fossick in the adjoining fossicking reserve if you have a current NT fossickers permit. Permits are available from the  Fossicking in the Northern Territory website .

You can have a safe and comfortable trip to Arltunga Historical Reserve by doing all of the following:

• observe park safety signs
• carry and drink plenty of water
• wear a hat, sunscreen, insect repellent, suitable clothing and footwear
• avoid strenuous activity during the heat of the day
• think about your health and fitness when choosing a walk.

Arltunga Ranger Station phone: 08 8951 8250

Go to  Parks and Wildlife Alice Springs for more tourist information.

Last updated: 19 May 2023

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The Perfect Itinerary for a 2 week Northern Territory Road Trip

If you want to experience the Australian Outback, there is nothing better than a Northern Territory road trip when you travel to Australia.

Home to spectacular gorges, pretty as a picture swimming holes and abundant wildlife, the area also has a rich indigenous history and is the perfect place to learn about their ancient culture.

If you are looking for NT road trip ideas, or need help planning your Northern Territory itinerary, you have come to the right place. Our outback road trip itinerary will take you to some of the best Top End road trip destinations including three Northern Territory National Parks located in the Top End: the UNESCO World Heritage Listed Kakadu National Park, Nitmiluk National Park and Litchfield National Park.

• 1 Tour or self drive the Northern Territory?
• 2 Northern Territory Itinerary
• 3 Campervan hire in Darwin
• 4 Northern Territory Road Trip
• 5 Day 1: Darwin to Jabiru (Kakadu National Park)
• 6 Day 2: Jabiru to Ubirr
• 7 Day 3: Ubirr to Cooinda
• 8 Day 4: Cooinda to Jim Jim Falls
• 9 Day 5: Jim Jim Falls to Maguk Gorge (Barramundi Gorge)
• 10 Day 6: Maguk Gorge to Gunlom
• 11 Day 7: Gunlom
• 12 Day 8: Gunlom to Umbrawarra Gorge Nature Park
• 13 Day 9: Umbrawarra Gorge to Katherine (Nitmiluk National Park)
• 14 Day 10-11: Nitmiluk National Park
• 15 Day 12: Katherine to Edith Falls (Leliyn)
• 16 Day 13: Edith Falls to Florence Falls (Litchfield National Park)
• 17 Day 14: Florence Falls to Sandy Creek
• 18 Day 15: Sandy Creek to Darwin
• 19 Day 16: Darwin
• 20 When to visit Northern Territory
• 21 Getting to Darwin
• 22 4WD Camper Rental Darwin
• 23 Northern Territory Guide Book
• 24 Travel Insurance

NT Road Trip Essentials >> Don’t rely on mobile reception. Purchase your Northern Territory State Map here >> Book your 4WD – compare prices here >> Pack the right gear – see our Outback Packing List here >> Find the best hotel prices in Darwin here. >> Avoid being bitten by the mosquitoes! Click here to purchase the Thermacell Repeller.

Tour or self drive the Northern Territory?

When we first decided to explore the Top End, I have to admit I was nervous about a self drive road trip – it is the Australian Outback after all! But the reality wasn’t scary at all.

The driving conditions on our Northern Territory trip were perfectly manageable for inexperienced 4WD drivers like us. The 4wd camper we rented handled the terrain easily.

And the best thing? A self drive road trip gives you so much more freedom to explore the Northern Territory destinations at your own pace.

We recommend renting a 4wd campervan and taking a Northern Territory road trip through the Top End to experience the very best of the Australian Outback.

We share more tips on choosing a vehicle for your Northern Territory road trips here.

Top end Tours

If you absolutely cannot do a self drive road trip, we strongly recommend you look at the multi-day tours instead of a day trip, especially for Kakadu National Park.

There are many tour companies offering day trips from Darwin , but they involve a lot of driving. The Northern Territory is a big place and driving distances can be huge!

Click here to see some good multi-day tour options for the top end

Northern Territory Itinerary

So how long do you need to explore the Top End? It depends how much you want to see and how often you want to move.

More time is always better, but we think a 2 week Northern Territory itinerary gives you a good amount of time to see the best of the Top End landmarks .

It is possible to explore the National Parks more quickly, but there are so many things to do in the Northern Territory. It is a long way to go so you may as well make the most of it, right?

You will notice that most stops are one night stays. We decided to camp at a new site each day rather than base ourselves at a single campground. It saves a lot of travel time and also means you can experience more unique places during a two week road trip.

Our Northern Territory self drive itinerary is a loop starting and ending in Darwin. You could reverse the order of the itinerary too.

This itinerary can easily be modified to be part of a one-way trip to or from Alice Springs or even as part of a longer road trip to Western Australia .

10 day Northern Territory Itinerary

If you only have 10 days for your Darwin road trip, we recommend the following changes:

• Reduce your Gunlom stay to one night
• Skip the night at Umbrawarra Gorge
• Reduce your stay at Nitmiluk Gorge to 2 nights
• Visit Florence Falls on the way to Sandy Creek and don’t stay the night

Trip map courtesy of TravellersPoint

Map Your Itinerary

Start plotting your itinerary with the help of the Hema Maps NT State Map .

Hema Maps produce excellent detailed maps of popular Australian road trip destinations complete with fuel stops, camp sites and 4wd tracks marked.

We love them and have purchased and used many of their maps for our Australian road trips.

They are very affordable and an essential resource in outback areas with patchy internet and phone reception.

>> Click here to check the price for the HEMA NT State Map

Campervan hire in Darwin

There are many campervan hire options in Darwin, with all of the big rental companies offering vehicle rentals out of Darwin.

There are many 2WD options but we recommend renting a 4WD camper to give you more freedom to explore off the main roads, experience the outback with fewer people and stay in smaller campgrounds in spectacular locations.

Another option would be to rent a 4WD car and take tents and camping equipment with you.

Expert Tip: Campervan rental prices jump significantly during school holidays, so if you have flexibility to travel outside of those dates, you will save a lot of money!

Whichever way you decide to travel, ensure the rental agreement allows you to travel on dirt roads so you can see the Australian Outback at its best.

We rented a 4WD Landcruiser and were very happy with our choice. The car was easy to drive on dirt roads, through shallow river crossings, over bumpy and sandy tracks. The roof tent was quick to set up each day and all bedding and kitchen equipment was provided too.

Book your campervan | Compare 4WD camper prices | Search car rentals

Northern Territory Road Trip

Our NT itinerary is broken down day by day with the highlights, campground details and key information listed for each day.

You can read all our best tips for planning a Northern Territory road trip here.

We share our Outback Australia packing list here.  With everything from clothes to bags to cooking equipment and lighting, you can be confident you have a complete packing list to plan your trip.

Note: All prices listed throughout the itinerary are in Australian Dollars.

Day 1: Darwin to Jabiru (Kakadu National Park)

Distance: 247 kms (153 miles) Driving time: 2.5 hours

Pick up your 4WD in Darwin and drive straight to Kakadu National Park. It is an easy drive to Jabiru on paved roads.

On the way out of Darwin make sure to stop at the town of Coolalinga to stock up on groceries. You will want to stock up on as many non-perishables as you can squeeze into your vehicle before you leave Darwin. There is only one small grocery store within Kakadu National Park, in the small town of Jabiru.

Also note that takeaway alcohol cannot be purchased within Kadadu National Park, so if you would like to have drinks on hand you will need to purchase them in Darwin.

Don’t forget: Purchase your Kakadu National Park Pass. A family pass costs $100. A single adult costs $40. The pass can also be purchased at the Bowali Visitor Information Centre when you arrive.

We caught sight of our first crocodiles cruising the South Aligator River and were excited to watch the landscape change quickly from urban to outback.

If you have time, head to the Bowali Visitor Information Centre . Otherwise you can do this first thing the next day.

Where to stay in Jabiru

Kakadu Lodge is a great stop for your first night in Kakadu National Park.

It is a large campground with cabins, unpowered and powered sites, a pretty lagoon style swimming pool and an onsite bar and restaurant. We paid $32 for a shady unpowered site.

Click here to check current prices for Kakadu Lodge

Give yourself adequate time to set up camp on the first night. We got more efficient at setting up and packing down during our Northern Territory 2 week itinerary but it takes time to learn the ropes.

We were able to set up the tent in around 15 minutes. Pack down was a little longer, around 20 minutes.

Watch our timelapse video setting up the roof tent here.

Day 2: Jabiru to Ubirr

Distance : 42 km (26 miles) Driving time : 45 mins

Before heading to Ubirr, we recommend you stop in at the Bowali Visitor Information Centre. The helpful staff can provide details on which campsites and 4WD tracks are open.

They also have information on the excellent and free ranger-guided programs.

Activities include guided walks, talks and art activities with local aboriginal artists. We adapted our Top End itinerary to fit in with some of these activities and I am glad we did because they are great.

Note that many of these programs are scheduled during the week, so you may need to plan your itinerary around these times.

The Visitor Centre also has displays about the local wildlife, plants and aboriginal culture which is a great introduction to the Park. The Visitor Centre is open every day from 8am – 5pm.

Basket Weaving

We stopped in at the Merl Campground to join a basket weaving session run by two local female indigenous artists.

Over two hours the kids watched and learned how the pandanus leaves are stripped, they helped make the colourful dyes from local plant roots and flowers and made their own bracelets using the dried pandanus.

It was a hands-on, interactive learning experience and one of the best free Kakadu activities with kids. We highly recommend it.

Cahills Crossing

While in the area make sure to visit Cahills Crossing. Located on the East Alligator River, Cahills Crossing is one of Australia’s most dangerous bodies of water.

It is a tidal river crossing into Arnhem Land and has been the site of several fatal crocodile attacks. It is a challenging crossing for some, evidenced by the rusted upturned cars downstream.

We watched cars make the crossing and also watched men risk their lives standing shin deep in the river to fish off the causeway despite the crocodile warning signs.

We saw a number of crocodiles in the area and couldn’t believe they were fishing!

Ubirr Rock Art Site

The highlight of any visit to Ubirr is the UNESCO World Heritage listed Ubirr Rock Art site. It is one of the best things to do in Kakadu National Park.

We joined a free ranger-led walk through the site, which ran from 4.10pm – 6.10pm. The walk included 4 info sessions with breaks in between to freely explore the surrounding area and the rock art.

After admiring the rock art, head to the lookout for sunset. You will be rewarded with spectacular views across the floodplains and to the distant escarpments.

Where to stay at Ubirr

We stayed at Merl Campground . It is a pretty campground with plenty of space and shade. There is drinking water, flush toilets and hot showers available for $38 for a family on an unpowered site.

Warning: The Merl campground backs onto a swamp and the mosquitoes at night in this campground were unlike anything we have seen anywhere in the world.

There were swarms of mosquitoes after sunset. So much so we found it difficult to cook and eat dinner.

Despite spraying ourselves with mosquito spray and covering up, we were still being bitten through our clothes. We could see them everywhere and could hear them buzzing all around us.

When we woke in the morning we could see dozens of mosquitos sitting on the flyscreens, looking in at the tasty meal they missed out on!!

The very next day, on advice from the ranger, we bought a Thermacell Mosquito Repeller. It wasn’t cheap, but it works!

Click here to buy the Thermacell Camper’s Kit

Thankfully we didn’t experience mosquitoes so bad anywhere else during our trip, but we used the Thermacell most nights to keep the pesky mosquitoes away.

When we turned the device on, there was not a mosquito to be seen. Best purchase ever!

Tip : The alternative to staying at Ubirr is to stay at Jabiru and return there in the evening. You need to watch out for wildlife driving at night as you return after Sunset, but there were plenty of people taking this option when we visited.

Where to eat in Ubirr

Apart from self-catering you only have one option, but it is a great one.

Stop in at the Ubirr Border Store on your way out to or back from the Rock Art site. As well as serving snacks and delicious icy cold drinks they serve up great Thai food too. The yellow and green curries were delicious.

Read Next: 17 Essential Tips for a Northern Territory Road Trip

Day 3: Ubirr to Cooinda

Distance: 118km (73 miles) Driving Time : 2 hrs

The next stop in our Northern Territory holiday itinerary is Cooinda, on the south side of Kakadu National Park.

Cooinda is a great base from which to join a cruise on Yellow Water Billabong.

Don’t forget to stock up on groceries and fuel at Jabiru on the way through.

Burrungkuy (Nourlangie) Rock Art Site

On the way to Cooinda, take a detour to another UNESCO World Heritage Rock Art Site known as Burrungkuy (Nourlangie).

There are ranger led programs available here, but this time we explored the site on our own. The x-ray rock paintings are very impressive and easily accessible via a short walk up through shaded rock shelters.

If you have time, check out the nearby Anbangbang Billabong (a nice spot for lunch) or walk up the Nawurlandja Lookout for spectacular views cross the escarpment (best at sunset).

Yellow Water Wetlands Cruise

A cruise along the Yellow Water Wetlands is a must on any Kakadu road trip.

The guides are very knowledgeable, the floodplain is teeming with birdlife, crocodiles and lush vegetation, and the colours of the landscape are spectacular.

It isn’t a cheap activity at a whopping $300 for a family of 4, but it was one of the highlights on our Northern Territory travel itinerary.

The cruise is especially good at sunrise or sunset.

There is a free shuttle from Cooinda Lodge to the jetty. The sunrise cruise departs at 6.45am. The sunset cruise leaves at 4.30pm. You can book tickets online here .

Where to stay in Cooinda

We stayed at the campground at Cooinda Lodge. Cooinda Lodge offers rooms as well as a campground with powered and unpowered sites.

There is a pretty billabong style pool to cool off and a large restaurant and bar for those who don’t feel like cooking. We paid $36 for an unpowered site for the family.

>> Click here to check the prices and availability at Cooinda Lodge

Day 4: Cooinda to Jim Jim Falls

Distance : 71 kms (44 miles) Driving Time : 2.5 hrs

Today make your way to Jim Jim Falls, one of the most impressive gorges in Kakadu National Park.

Don’t forget to top up groceries, drinking water and fuel at the small general store at Cooinda Lodge.

Access to Jim Jim Falls is via a dirt/gravel road for about 50 kms (30 miles).

I couldn’t believe the colours of the landscape around us as we drove along. 

Brilliant red dirt, clear blue skies, lush green palms, charred black ground from recent fires. It is a dramatic and stunning landscape.

The road is wide but corrugated and was generally in a good state of repair when we visited in late June. We travelled at around 50-60km/hr without any trouble but it can vary.

Once you reach the Garnamarr campground the road narrows for the last 8 kms (4.9 miles) to the Jim Jim Falls carpark. A 4WD is required for this last section.

The track crosses a number of shallow causeways and was sandy in places, but our Landcruiser had no problem navigating the terrain.

The trailhead to Jim Jim Falls is at the carpark where there are basic pit toilets available.

The 2km (1.2 miles) return trail is very pretty as it meanders through monsoon forest, across large boulders and along a creek that gradually narrows into a steep and jaw dropping 200m (1/8 mile) tall gorge.

The kids loved scrambling up over rocks, although they were nervous at how close the trail was to the creek considering the large crocodile warning signs they had just read at the carpark!

Jim Jim Falls is one of the most spectacular waterfalls we visited on our 2 week Northern Territory road trip and the trail can only be accessed during the dry season.

I can only imagine how impressive it must look in the wet season with water pouring off the top.

We spent an hour or two exploring the plunge pools and beach pool with brilliant white sand, paddling in the water, and Matt braved a chilly swim out to the wispy waterfall, all the while thinking about the croc traps we had sighted on our way in!

There is another walk to the top of the falls. It is listed as a difficult 5-6 hour walk on steep terrain over 6kms (3.7 miles) return.

If you want to take the walk, ensure you leave early and take at least 3 litres of water per person.

Where to stay at Jim Jim Falls

Camping is available close by at the Garnamarr campground . We had wonderful views of the red stone escarpment from our site. Showers and toilets are available and we paid $20 for the family.

Expert Tip: We suggest stopping in at the campground first, choosing a site and leaving table/chairs at the site so that you can return later in the day and know you have a site secured as the site did fill up. We share more tips on campgrounds here .

Day 5: Jim Jim Falls to Maguk Gorge (Barramundi Gorge)

Distance : 116 kms (72 miles) Driving Time : 2.5 hrs

The drive from Jim Jim Falls to Maguk Gorge is again mostly on gravel/dirt roads.

The road into Maguk Gorge was heavily corrugated, but completely manageable in the 4WD. The last 1km from the campground to the car park was very sandy and a high clearance 4WD is essential.

We saw enormous termite mounds everywhere along the sides of the road – able to withstand fire, rain, the heat and the dry – they are impressively tall buildings for these little creatures.

The walk from the car park to the gorge is shaded through monsoon forest, again along a small creek bed, then along small beaches and across smooth large rocks before arriving at the swimming hole.

Maguk is a very pretty waterhole with crystal clear water, surrounded by sandstone cliffs and pandanus plants. It was an instant favourite.

We took lilos to swim out to and under the waterfall. The kids searched for fish and found rocks to jump off into the water.

Maguk is incredibly peaceful, not very busy and we didn’t want to leave. So we came back in the morning for another swim before we left!

It is possible to walk to the top of the waterfall where there are a number of smaller plunge pools.

To reach the top of the falls, stay on the left hand side of the creek and follow the track to the top.

Where to stay at Maguk Gorge

We stayed at the small campground at Maguk, about 1km before the carpark to the gorge. Note there is no drinking water or showers available. The toilets are basic pit toilets.

Be sure to reserve your spot with a table/chair before making your way to the gorge for a swim. We paid $15 for a family.

Day 6: Maguk Gorge to Gunlom

Distance : 87 kms (54 miles) Driving  T ime : 2.5 hrs

The last 35km of this drive is along gravel/dirt roads. We picked up firewood along the way and enjoyed the views towards the escarpment.

Gunlom is one of the most famous destinations in Kakadu and most day trips from Darwin to Kakadu will include it in the itinerary.

The high waterfall plunges into a large pretty swimming hole and there is a small sandy beach and grassy picnic sites nearby.

But it is the plunge pools ABOVE the falls that make this such a memorable place to visit.

Just a 500m steep walk to the top brings you to a set of gorgeous natural plunge pools, a natural infinity pool with spectacular views across the plains and even a narrow gorge to swim through.

Our kids managed the walk easily in about 15 minutes, but it is a steep climb.

The view from the top is simply out of this world gorgeous. The views at sunset are incredible. Where else can you swim in a pool with views like this, for free!

It certainly beats many hotel roof top pool views!

Where to stay at Gunlom

There is a campground right alongside Gunlom waterhole and it is a great spot to stay.

Everything is close by. There is drinking water, flush toilets and showers available. All sites are unpowered. We paid $38 for the family.

Day 7: Gunlom

After a week of moving each night, we decided to stay 2 nights at Gunlom. With a nice campground and gorgeous plunge pools for swimming, we weren’t short of things to do for an extra day.

There are also a number of walks close by for those seeking a bit more activity.

Kakadu is home to a third of Australia’s bird species and I think all of them live at Gunlom! Each day we were woken by a cacophony of sound as the birds woke up for the day.

The rocks at the top plunge pools are smooth and warm up through the day. They are the perfect place to laze away a few hours.

We spotted a water dragon swimming through the gorge and the kids loved exploring all the little pools and finding higher and higher rocks to leap off into the water.

Day 8: Gunlom to Umbrawarra Gorge Nature Park

Distance : 133km (82 miles) Driving Time : 3 hrs

Drag yourselves away from Gunlom and continue south towards Katherine. Umbrawarra Gorge Nature Park is a great place to break up the trip if you have the time.

On the way you will drive through the small town of Pine Creek. Top up groceries, fuel and water here.

The Gorge is a detour off the main highway along a dirt track for about 20 kms (12.4 miles).

Once you arrive at the small carpark, the trail through the Gorge is an easy 2km (1.2 miles) return walk along the creek, although it is possible to continue walking for much further up the gorge by scrambling over the rocks.

The creek is lined with native paperbark eucalyptus, wattle, grevilleas and surrounded by deep red sandstone cliffs.

In the early dry season it is possible to swim in the waterholes along the way, which we were lucky enough to do. We spotted kookaburras and parrots. To me this gorge was the perfect image of the Australian Outback.

Where to stay at Umbrawarra Gorge

There is a small, basic campground close to the gorge.

There is no drinking water or showers available. Pit toilet only. It is worth saving a spot before walking the gorge. We paid $7.70 for the family.

Day 9: Umbrawarra Gorge to Katherine (Nitmiluk National Park)

Distance : 138km (85 miles) Driving Time : 2 hrs

The drive to Katherine is along the main highway where you will get to see the famous road trains. Used in remote outback areas to move freight across the country, these trucks often had 3 or 4 large trailers.

To get to Nitmiluk National Park you will drive through the town of Katherine. You should stop to stock up on groceries, water and fuel here.

Katherine Hot Springs

A great spot to stop on the way to Nitmiluk National Park is the Katherine Hot Springs. These natural thermal springs are on the banks of the Katherine River and are fed from a hole in the river bed upstream.

You can enter the springs at a number of spots along a path and it fun floating down the river and across small cascades.

There are more thermal springs further south at Mataranka and Bitter Springs, but as we were not traveling any further south this was a great stop to include in our Northern Territory road trip itinerary.

Nitmiluk National Park

Nitmiluk National Park is owned by the local Jawoyn People.

It is a beautiful National Park where the main attraction is Nitmiluk Gorge. Carved out by the Katherine River for over 12km, the surrounding rock faces are over 70m high in places.

The Gorge is actually made up of 13 separate gorges and there are many ways to explore the beauty of the gorge.

Once you arrive, check in at the visitor information centre to receive maps and information on hikes, kayaking and river cruises.

Where to stay in Nitmiluk National Park

We stayed at the lovely Nitmiluk National Park Campground .

While it was more expensive, at $50 per night for the family, we were based right in the park and didn’t need to travel at all for 3 nights.

For those looking for something more luxurious, the Cicada Lodge is located within the National Park and makes a great option for a treat.

Click here to see prices and availability at Cicada Lodge

Day 10-11: Nitmiluk National Park

There are a number of hikes and lookouts in the area as well as the opportunity to take a boat cruise, helicopter flights and even rent kayaks (or bring your own) to explore the gorge at a slower pace.

We spent our two days in Nitmiluk Gorge hiking and kayaking through the gorge.

Click here to book activities at Nitmiluk Gorge

Day 12: Katherine to Edith Falls (Leliyn)

Distance : 91 kms (56 miles) Driving Time : 1.5 hours

As you make your way back to Darwin, a stop at Edith Falls is a must. The site is off the main highway and is an easy drive on paved roads.

Edith Falls is within Nitmiluk National Park and is also the final stop for those completing the Jatbula Trail , a 62 km multi day day hike through Nitmiluk National Park. This walk is on our bucket list and looks achievable when the kids are older.

Spend the day swimming at the top pools and in the billabong at the base of the falls. The kids loved paddling under the waterfall at the top pools, leaping off the rocks and attempting to swim under the waterfall.

We are pleased we packed the inflatable surf mats as we all made great use of them during the road trip. You can download our full Outback Australia packing list here.

There are a number of different walks starting from the campground for those seeking a longer hike, with many more pools along the way to cool off.

Where to stay at Edith Falls

There is a popular, managed campground at Edith Falls and you need to arrive early to secure a site.

We arrived at 9am and already the sites were filling up. It is a lovely grassy, shaded campground.

There is drinking water, showers and toilets available. All sites are unpowered. We paid $30 for a family.

Day 13: Edith Falls to Florence Falls (Litchfield National Park)

Distance : 259 kms (160 miles) Driving Time : 3 hrs

On your way back to Darwin visit Litchfield National Park. Due to its proximity to Darwin it is one of the most popular places to visit in the Northern Territory.

This also makes it one of the busiest and we noticed a marked difference in the number of people visiting compared to the places we visited in Kakadu National Park.

Our first stop in Litchfield National Park was Florence Falls. After finding a campsite it was an easy 2km (1.2 mile) return walk to the falls along a paved path.

The falls were very busy with visitors when we arrived. We had a quick dip and returned later in the day to explore a little more without the crowds.

You can swim up to and under the waterfalls at Florence Falls which is loads of fun. There is also a lookout not far from the falls which gives you a great view over the falls and swimming hole.

Where to stay at Florence Falls

We stayed at the old 4WD campground at Florence Falls. There are two campgrounds at Florence Falls and both are easily accessible.

There were toilets and showers available, but no drinking water. We paid $15.40 for a family.

You should arrive by early afternoon to ensure you can claim a campsite. It is a very popular campground.

Day 14: Florence Falls to Sandy Creek

Distance : 31 kms (19 miles) Driving Time : 50 minutes

For our final night in the 4WD camper we decided to make our way to Sandy Creek. Much quieter and a little out of the way, it was one of our favourite campsites and close to Tjaynera Falls.

On our way to Sandy Creek we stopped at Buley Rockholes and Tolmer Falls.

The drive into Sandy Creek is along a 4WD dirt track, and has a water crossing. The road had only opened in early July so there was still a bit of water across the road, at around 50cm depth.

It made for an interesting water crossing, then through scrub land to a pretty campsite not far from Tjaynera Falls.

Buley Rockholes

The well-known Buley Rockholes are just up the road from Florence Falls.

A series of cascades running over smooth, shallow rocks, it was fun to make our way down the cascade, find little waterfalls to sit under and rocks to jump from.

It was very busy, so visit early or late in the day to avoid the crowds.

Tolmer Falls

We also stopped to admire Tolmer Falls from the lookout.

The Falls aren’t open to the public, but you can view them from a lookout which is only 1km return walk from the carpark.

Tjaynera Falls

It is a 3.4km (2.1 miles) return walk from the Sandy Creek campground along a flat trail that follows the creek to get to the falls.

The swimming hole is very pretty, surrounded by impressive large overhanging sandstone cliffs and a tall cascading waterfall.

There only a few people there and it was a very peaceful place to swim and play for the afternoon. It was one of our favourite swimming holes in our Northern Territory road trip.

Where to stay at Sandy Creek

There is a lovely, small campground at Sandy Creek. The campground has toilets and showers, but not drinking water. We paid $15.40 for a family.

The campground is small and was full by mid-afternoon so don’t arrive too late in the day.

Day 15: Sandy Creek to Darwin

Distance: 145 kms (90 miles) Driving Time : 2.5 hrs

There are two ways to get back to Darwin from Sandy Creek.

One is back via Batchelor and along the main highway. The alternative is via Cox Peninsula Road which passes Wangi Falls and Berry Springs. We chose the latter route.

There is a small section of dirt road, but it is wide and well maintained.

You need to check whether the road is open all the way through, as it is often closed in wet season due to flooding.

Wangi Falls

We stopped in at Wangi Falls early in the day on our way back to Darwin.

It is a very popular destination (you can also camp at Wangi Falls), so we recommend you get there early, or camp at the site to explore the falls without the crowds.

Don’t forget to take a dip in the small rockhole bored from the rock at the base of the waterfall on the left.

I am not sure whether it was the crowds or the fact we had seen so many other gorgeous falls, but I didn’t rate Wangi Falls as highly as many of the others we had visited in our 2 week Northern Territory road trip.

Berry Springs Nature Park

Another great stop on the return trip to Darwin, Berry Springs is a pretty thermal spring.

Free to visit and bigger than the Katherine Hot Springs, there are a set of pools (upper, main and lower) of gorgeous turquoise water, surrounded by grassy picnic grounds.

It makes a lovely stop for lunch and a swim before the final drive into Darwin. Note that due to its proximity to Darwin it can get pretty busy.

Unfortunately, things can and do go wrong when you travel.

World Nomads offers coverage for more than 150 activities as well as emergency medical, lost luggage, trip cancellation and more.

Day 16: Darwin

We had just one day to explore and found there are plenty of things to do in Darwin.

We enjoyed our visits to the Darwin Military Museum and the Museum and Art Gallery of Northern Territory.

Click here to see the full list of things to do in Darwin.

The easiest way to explore the city is by car. While it is a small city, the public transport isn’t great and it is easy to find places to park the car in the city and surrounding areas.

Click here to book your Darwin rental car

Where to stay in Darwin

There are number of different accommodation options available in Darwin.

If you are looking for a campground , we recommend Darwin FreeSpirit Resort.

Book Darwin FreeSpirit Resort | Read Trip Advisor Reviews

If you are looking for a hotel , like we were (as we dropped our 4WD camper back on our arrival in Darwin), we recommend the Novotel Darwin Airport.

The hotel is walking distance from the airport, which makes it very convenient for anyone with early flights in or out of Darwin.

The hotel breakfast is available from 4am so you can get something to eat before an early morning flight!

We booked a double queen room and were overjoyed to have a long warm shower, sleep in a comfy bed, enjoy a buffet breakfast and eat out for 2 nights before our flight home!

Book Novotel Darwin Airport   | Read Trip Advisor Reviews

Where to eat in Darwin

Darwin has a great food truck scene. We ate both dinners by the ocean at different food trucks at East Point and NightCliff during our stay and loved eating out in the warm evening air and watching the sunsets Darwin is famous for.

Food trucks we can recommend include Salty Plum Café, Needle in a Haystack and Cucina Sotto le Stelle. For a list of other food trucks and their locations see the schedule here.

When to visit Northern Territory

The Top End has two seasons: Wet and Dry. While the temperature changes little over the year, the difference is the level of humidity and the amount of rain.

Dry season is May to October. Wet Season is November to April. Peak tourist season is during the dry season.

We visited the Top End in the dry season in late June / early July. Daytime temperatures were in the low 30s Celsius (86 F) with overnight lows around 18 C (64 F).

We were worried it would be too hot to hike and explore, but there are so many swimming holes that we never went a day without a dip to cool off.

The lower humidity levels meant the temperatures were manageable as long as you planned to do the most energetic activities in the morning, and took a swim in the afternoon when the heat was at its peak.

Accessibility to popular spots in wet season may not be possible. Some areas remain closed until June and even later so we recommend you check with the relevant the national park website for up to date information.

Getting to Darwin

Getting in and out of Darwin can be expensive, particularly during the peak season and school holidays.

Flight times from domestic locations also vary, with many budget airlines departing and arriving through the night.

Look at regional airlines such as AirNorth for daytime options if you don’t mind some additional travel time.

Search Skyscanner for the best priced flights to Darwin

4WD Camper Rental Darwin

There are many rental options available out of Darwin. We rented a 4WD Landcruiser with seating and beds for up to 5 people.

Northern Territory Guide Book

We have used Lonely Planet Guidebooks for over 20 years.

Buy your copy of Lonely Planet Northern Territory on Amazon .

Plus don’t forget to buy your HEMA Northern Territory map .

Travel Insurance

Disclaimer: As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

We hope we have answered all your questions about NT road trips. Find all our articles on Australia travel here .

If you have any questions about our Northern Territory self drive tours please leave us a comment or contact us – we are happy to help!

Looking for more road trip inspiration? You might like:

• 17 Essential Tips for a Northern Territory Road Trip
• Ultimate Outback Australia Packing List
• Best gift ideas for road trip lovers
• 2 week South Africa road trip itinerary with kids
• Europe by campervan with kids

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Rachel Rodda

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8 thoughts on “the perfect itinerary for a 2 week northern territory road trip”.

How much did the trip end up costing?

Hi Tom, Excluding flights and travel insurance, the trip cost about $7K AUD. That includes car rental, all campsites and hotels, food and activities.

Wow, this is an excellent guide! I did a 4-day camping trip in Kakadu National Park many, many years ago when I was a university student in Adelaide. The landscape of Northern Territory and the outback is truly spectacular and indeed the best way to explore these places is to be on a road trip. Love your post! #FarawayFiles

Thanks Kat. It was our first time to Outback Australia and I am 100% sure it won’t be our last. I was quite taken with the landscape.

This looks like a wonderful way to explore the Australian Outback. I particularly appreciate that you’re not travelling miles each day, instead stopping to explore and enjoy the amazing things along the way. Thanks for sharing on #FarawayFiles

It is tempting to try and cover a lot of ground, as there is so much to see. We enjoyed the shorter drives on this road trip as like you said it meant there was a lot more time to enjoy each place.

Excellent itinerary. Looks like you guys had a lot of fun. I had no idea there were so many swimming opportunities up there – they all look fantastic.

The number of swimming holes was a pleasant surprise for us too! It made the heat bearable, which was great.

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Coolalinga Tourist Park, Darwin NT

The coolalinga tourist park provides quality onsite facilities for their guests including:.

ENSUITE, POWERED OR UNPOWERED

PARK CABINS AND BUDGET ROOMS

SPACIOUS AND OPEN PLAN UNITS

PET FRIENDLY

Limit of 1 dog per site

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NT to charge visitors for entry to its national parks

Grey nomads and other interstate travellers to the Northern Territory are to be slugged with more national park entry fees from 2022.

The NT Government has announced that more parks including Litchfield National Park near Darwin and Nitmiluk National Park outside of Katherine are likely to be among those soon requiring a paid entry permit.

The ABC report that, previously, all NT Government-run national parks have had free entry for all visitors. However, the Territory’s two biggest federally-run tourism drawcards, Kakadu and Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Parks, already have paid permits systems in place.

The new charges will only apply to interstate holidaymakers, with NT locals exempt from having to pay for short trips to the parks.

An NT Government spokeswoman told the ABC that park fees in the Territory had not increased for the past 20 years, and that fees provide would funds for improvements to parks and reserves.

The spokeswoman said changes to park passes wouldn’t happen this year, but flagged that they would be included in the 2021 budget, due around November. She said the government was also considering an online booking system, while price changes to camping and multi-day walking trips are also being reviewed.

Tourism Top End chief executive Glen Hingley said the fees would be “yet another impediment that’s put on businesses that makes their business unviable in these uncertain times”.

However, some visitors say they would be happy to pay to visit the parks in the future. The ABC spoke to Victorian tourist, Jack Collins, at Buley Waterhole in Litchfield National Park.

“I’d 100% come here, tell my family about it, happy to pay to come here,” Mr Collins said. “It’s great. Nothing like it in Victoria.”

Tourist, Terrina Fernando, felt the same way.

“I’m from Sydney and all our national parks have parking fees and that sort of park-use fees,” she said. “It’s not something that’s unusual for me.”

• How do you feel about the prospect of being charged to enter NT national parks such as Litchfield? What do you think would be a fair fee? Comment below.
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This is not a shock nor are we travellers to be slugged. WE are to pay a fee to enjoy some fantastic places. Hopefully all the money goes towards managing these great places.

National parks should be left natural with no ugly man made barriers & walkways ! Thus these fees would be kept to a minimum. It is also high time to allow dogs on leads !

I agree stop the paving, the handrails, the signs and the buildings, but keep the dogs and all domesticated animals out – forever!

You have to pay entre fees every where else, why not in the NT.

We don’t mind paying, if reasonable rates. But why hit the tourist dollar. We have been to other places where tourists/travellers are charged, not the locals, yet often it is the locals that leave a mess, abusing the free facilities. Tourists put money into areas everywhere, now they are expected to pay for services (if any) while state/territory residents don’t !

I dont mind paying a fee as long as NT people are also charged as everywhere else you go interstate everyone is charged whether they live in the state or not .

I really wonder how efficient it is to manage these service fees. Most of the fees would be used to cover the cost of putting on extra staff to manage it. You’ve only to look at some of the ‘charities’ where most of the donations go to administration costs and little to the intended recipient.

The interesting thing is that all national parks are funded through the state governments, financed by the people … the very people who then have to pay again to gain access. Go figure!

Zol, you are 100% correct, the issue is that these incompetent governments charge additional taxes for this and that and then have the audacity to say that the tourist must then pay an entry fee, never mind the double dipping. The tourists have to start to wake up that these governments will continue to impose fees on us mugs whilst ever we just say, “ooh well someone has to pay,” wrong stop paying twice for all these parks and sites that actually belong to the people anyway and the government might actually get it.

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How to plan an epic summer trip to a national park

We’ve got insider tips on the best times to visit the most popular parks, timed entry passes, and where to stay.

As summer approaches, the siren call of national park adventures grows stronger. However, these iconic sites are bringing in unprecedented crowds.

In 2023, the National Park Service (NPS) reported over 300 million visits , a four percent increase from the previous year. This surge isn’t limited to famous spots; lesser known parks such as Congaree and Dry Tortugas are also experiencing record-breaking numbers. To manage the influx, park authorities are implementing innovative strategies to improve the guest experience.  

( These are the 10 most popular national parks .)

From snagging the perfect stay to timing your bookings just right, we’ve got insider tips to ensure your national park vacation is nothing short of epic. Here’s what you need to know.

Best time to visit

Timing is crucial in planning your summer getaway, especially if you’re eyeing popular national parks. Finding affordable lodging and activities during the high season can be tricky.

During the shoulder seasons—early- to mid-spring and late fall—you can expect pleasant weather and a reprieve from the crowds, but there are a few trade-offs to consider. Some hotels and lodges might close during the off-season and reopen later in the year, potentially limiting your accommodation options. Additionally, parks at higher elevations, such as Glacier or Lassen Volcanic , may not have all their trails open and could require snowshoes or traction cleats to get around.

( Here’s why Yellowstone in the off-season is great for families .)  

Arriving before sunrise has its perks, too. Typically, most visitors don’t arrive until mid-to-late morning, allowing you to enjoy attractions like Arches ’ Windows or Delicate Arch with minimal crowds, provided you arrive early enough.

When permitted, exploring the parks in winter offers a unique perspective that few experience. Yosemite Valley, for instance, transforms into a winter wonderland —a sight cherished by photographers and nature enthusiasts alike.

Tony McDaniel, a Yosemite   Mariposa County spokesperson, says the best way to plan a visit is to avoid taking a “checklist approach” to your visit.

“Slow down and immerse yourself in the destination,” McDaniel says. “There’s no place on earth like Yosemite National Park , and it’s best seen slowly and outside of a vehicle where you can fully embrace the sights, sounds, and smells.”

What parks require timed entry passes?

Timed entry reservations typically provide access within a two-hour window. The price of the pass, however, does not include the standard park entry fee. But, a separate timed entry permit is unnecessary if you already have campground reservations, a wilderness permit, or bookings for a pre-arranged, park-sponsored activity. Additionally, if you plan to stay inside the park for multiple days, only one timed entry reservation is required—just make sure not to leave the park during your visit.

Although these passes can reduce a trip’s spontaneity, NPS spokeswoman Kathy Kupper says they also lead to better park experiences.

“Visitors love the timed entry system,” Kupper says, “because it gives them increased confidence that they’ll be able to get in and get where they want to go.”

If you miss out on a timed entry reservation, don’t fret. Ditch your car and opt to walk or bike into the park at any time of day. Glacier National Park adjusts its timed entry program annually, including relocating entry gates beyond the visitor center, where guests can hop on a shuttle bus to access the park.

( Ready to plan your fall hike? Read this safety advice first .)

Arches: Timed entry reservations will be required from April 1 to October 31. The reservation system operates on a rolling basis. For example, June 1–30 bookings opened March 1; July 1–31 reservations opened April 1. A limited number of reservations will also be released at 7 p.m. MST the day before, providing some flexibility for last-minute planners to Utah.

Glacier: For travelers intending to drive along the iconic Going-to-the-Sun Road or head to North Fork, Montana, a vehicle reservation is mandatory between 6 a.m. and 3 p.m. from May 24 to September 8. Similarly, from July 1 to September 8, a reservation is required to access Many Glacier between 6 a.m. and 3 p.m. These reservations can be secured up to 120 days or approximately four months in advance, starting at 8 a.m. MST. Additionally, a limited number of next-day vehicle reservations will be released at 7 p.m. MST for those seeking entry on the following day on a rolling basis.

Mount Rainier : Two areas of this Washington State park—Paradise Corridor from the south and Sunrise Corridor from the northeast—will require reservations from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m., May 24-September 2, and July 4-September 2, respectively. Each corridor requires a separate vehicle reservation, valid for a single day per vehicle. Note that reservations are unnecessary when entering the park from a different entrance.

Rocky Mountain :   Between May 24 and October 20, reservations are required for entry into this Colorado park. Two types of reservations will be available: one granting access to the entire park, including the bustling Bear Lake Road Corridor from 5 a.m. to 6 p.m., and another from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. that excludes access to this corridor. Reservations for May 24 to June 30 can be secured starting at 8 a.m. on May 1. Subsequent reservation releases will follow, with reservations for July becoming available on June 1, and so forth.

Yosemite: Reservations are needed from April to October. On Saturdays, Sundays, and holidays (May 27, June 19, September 2, and October 14) from April 13 to June 30 and August 17 to October 27, reservations are required from 5 a.m. to 4 p.m. From July 1 to August 16, reservations are needed daily during the same hours.

( Discover the best day hikes in Yosemite National Park .)

What parks require a specific area pass?

Acadia : In Maine, Cadillac Mountain Summit Road vehicle reservations are required from May 22 to October 27. About one-third of them can be purchased 90 days in advance, while the rest become available two days before, starting at 10 a.m. Reservations cost $6 and are sold only at https://www.recreation.gov/timed-entry/400000 .

Great Smoky Mountains : While you don’t need a timed entry reservation to enter this Tennessee-North Carolina park, you will need a parking permit to stop for more than 15 minutes. Passes are $5 (daily),   $15 (weekly), and $40 (annually). Permits can be purchased in person or online . Passes are good for one vehicle only.

( See fireflies magically light up this national park .)

Haleakalā : To park at Hawaii’s Haleakalā summit for sunrise, you’ll need a parking pass from 3 to 7 a.m. throughout the year.

Shenandoah : Visitors hiking Virginia’s Old Rag Mountain must obtain a $2 day-use ticket in advance from March 1 to November 30. Of the 800 tickets issued daily, 400 will be released 30 days in advance, with the remaining 400 released five days beforehand on https://www.recreation.gov/ticket/10088450/ticket/10088451 .

Zion: You’ll need a timed permit to hike Angel’s Landing in Utah. Lotteries open for June-August hikes on April 1, September-November on July 1, and December-February on October 1. A limited number of next-day licenses will be available at 12:01 a.m. the day before. Hiking groups of up to six people can apply for a permit. Winning groups will be charged an additional $3 per person.

( Not a hiker? That’s not a problem at these eight national parks .)

Best alternatives to national parks

If you’re visiting in the summer, don’t have a reservation, and couldn’t get into the park early enough, you still have options. State parks and national forests surrounding official national parks often offer similar views but with few visitors.  

( Go wild—and skip the crowds—at these 7 spectacular parks .)

For example, if you get shut out of Utah’s Bryce Canyon , you can always drive 15 minutes away to the picturesque Dixie National Forest . Instead of being shoulder-to-shoulder with thousands of other visitors on the trails, you’ll be almost entirely alone while overlooking nearly identical scenes.

Where to stay in or near a popular park

Most NPS campgrounds can be reserved six months in advance on a rolling basis through Recreation.gov, but the most popular sites, including Yellowstone ’s Slough Creek or Watchman in Zion , can sell out within minutes. Even if you miss out, you still have plenty of options.  

“For something similar to camping in Yosemite Valley, Housekeeping Camp or Curry Village are as close as you’ll get to camping, plus you don’t need to bring a tent,” says McDaniel. “In areas like Wawona, Yosemite West, and Foresta, there are cabin rentals that will still get you into the park. Outside the park, there are hundreds of more options in great locations and historic towns that are generally more budget-friendly and put visitors close to more dining options.”

( These historic lodges are the perfect way to see North America’s wild parks .)

Nearby national forests and Bureau of Land Management areas typically offer established campgrounds or free dispersed camping (areas outside a designated campground). Sites are generally first-come, first-served. Arrive at an established campground between 10 a.m. and noon to score a recently vacated site.

Apps like AllStays and sites like freecampsites.net and Campendium can help tremendously. Signal Mountain Campground in Wyoming’s Grand Teton National Park sells out almost immediately, but on a recent trip to the park, I found an incredible mountaintop dispersed campsite, in   Bridger-Teton National Forest . The view of the Tetons was spectacular, made even better because the campsite was free.

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10 best national parks for non-hikers

From going on a drive, splashing in the water or riding a horse to digging for fossils, national parks can be enjoyed in a variety of ways.

By Alyssa Bradford

Visiting a national park does not necessarily have to involve hiking. There are a variety of activities available for all ages, such as white-water rafting, sandboarding, fossil hunting, rock climbing and horseback riding.

What are great national parks for individuals who don’t like hiking?

If you want to see what a specific national park has to offer, search for the park you want to go to on the National Park Service’s main website . After selecting your park, hit “Menu,” shown with a three bar symbol, and click the arrow on “Plan Your Visit.” After doing so, you will see a drop-down menu. Click “Things To Do.”

Most of the parks below also contain scenic drives that are great for breaks and relaxation on your trip.

Badlands National Park — Fossil hunting

Badlands National Park in South Dakota is known for its rugged terrain with rocky formations and deep canyons. This park contains one of the world’s richest fossil beds.

During your visit, check out the Fossil Preparation Lab, where individuals can interact with paleontologists and park staff to study fossils found in the Badlands, according to the National Park Service .

Scenic drive suggestion: Badlands Loop Road.

Canyonlands National Park — White-water rafting

In Utah, Canyonlands National Park has amazing canyons and rock formations shaped by the Colorado River. The park allows guided white-water rafting tours that vary in length of days.

The National Park Service shares links to all of the companies who are authorized.

Before going, make sure to remember important safety tips such as wearing life jackets, holding paddles properly, staying in the boat, knowing how to swim, refraining from panicking and listening to your guide, per Raft Masters .

Scenic drive suggestion: White Rim Road.

Cuyahoga Valley National Park — Scenic railroad

Cuyahoga Valley National Park, in Ohio, features a landscape of forests, waterfalls and the Cuyahoga River. Visitors can enjoy taking a scenic train ride to view the entirety of the park, hopefully seeing some wildlife along the way.

According to the National Park Service , trains have been in the Cuyahoga Valley for over 100 years. Today, a train continues to run in the park, stopping at different stations to pick up passengers.

Scenic drive suggestion: Riverview Road.

Dry Tortugas National Park — Boating, fishing and snorkeling

Dry Tortugas National Park, situated off the coast of Florida, is a beautiful spot with clear waters, coral reefs and an old fort called Fort Jefferson.

Per the National Park Service , Dry Tortugas offers a wide range of water activities for you, your family and friends:

• Swimming, snorkeling and diving .
• Paddleboarding .

Scenic drive suggestion: There are no scenic drives; however, consider taking a ferry instead.

Great Basin National Park — Stargazing

Found in Nevada, Great Basin National Park has tall mountains, old pine trees and cool caves to explore. It’s also widely known as a great place for stargazing.

According to the National Park Service , with limited light pollution, visitors can see thousands of stars, including the Milky Way at night. Popular areas within the park to stargaze include the Astronomy Amphitheater near the Lehman Caves Visitor Center and Mather Overlook along the Wheeler Peak Scenic Drive.

Want to get the best stargazing experience? Try some of these tips below, per BBC Sky at Night Magazine :

• Let your eyes adapt to darkness: Do not get on your phone and use red light to see where you are walking.
• Learn stars, constellations and other space features: Use stargazing apps, preferably with a red screen or the brightness lowered.
• Remember that telescopes are not needed: You can spot planets without one.
• Look at meteor shower dates.

For optimal stargazing, it’s best to choose a time when the moon is not visible, as its brightness can overshadow the stars and diminish the viewing experience.

Scenic drive suggestion: Wheeler Peak Scenic Drive.

Great Sand Dunes National Park — Sandboarding and sand sledding

Great Sand Dunes National Park, located in Colorado, features towering sand dunes against the backdrop of the Sangre de Cristo Mountains.

Go surfing or snowboarding in the heat! At the Great Sand Dunes, retailers outside of the park allow individuals to rent sand sleds and sandboards to bring into the park and slide down the big dunes, per the National Park Service .

Scenic drive suggestion: Take a four-wheel drive vehicle on the Medano Pass Primitive Road.

Hot Springs National Park — Bathhouses

Hot Springs National Park in Arkansas is known for its historic thermal springs. Instead of hiking, visitors can explore bathhouses from the early 20th century.

Within the park, individuals can fully submerge into thermal water at two bathhouse locations. Spas and steam rooms are also available inside, according to the National Park Service .

Scenic drive suggestion: Hot Springs Mountain Scenic Drive.

Lassen Volcanic National Park — Horseback riding

Lassen Volcanic National Park, found in California, showcases a landscape shaped by volcanic activity, featuring steaming fumaroles, boiling mud pots and rugged peaks.

Over 100 miles of Lassen Volcanic allow horseback riding. Individuals can also stay overnight with their horses at certain stock corrals, per the National Park Service .

Scenic drive suggestion: Lassen Volcanic National Park Highway.

Yellowstone National Park — Camping

Yellowstone National Park, spanning Wyoming, Montana and Idaho, is known for geysers and wildlife. The park offers a high number of places to sleep, from camping to staying at lodges.

There are 12 campgrounds with over 2,000 campsites offered within Yellowstone. They also operate nine lodges with over 2,000 rooms. All locations are highly rated, according to the National Park Service .

Scenic drive suggestion: Grand Loop Road.

Zion National Park — Rock climbing

Zion National Park, in southern Utah, is known for its red rocks and narrow slot canyons, cut by the Virgin River. While there are a numerous amount of activities to choose from, one popular option is rock climbing.

Per the National Park Service , among rock climbers, Zion’s cliffs are world renowned. However, many routes are seasonal, closed at times to protect nesting falcons.

To avoid accidents, follow these suggestions from Rock About Climbing Adventures :

• Use proper equipment.
• Climb with a partner.
• Take a lesson beforehand.
• Assess the terrain and weather conditions.
• Listen to your body.

Scenic drive suggestion: Zion Canyon Scenic Drive.

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The ultimate guide to the must-visit national parks in the United States

The United States is blessed with a diverse array of 63 national parks, each offering unique landscapes, ecosystems, and recreational opportunities. If you’re lucky, you’ll be able to experience all of them, but there are certainly some absolute must-see destinations for every traveler to visit during their life. Here's an overview of some of the best national parks in the U.S. and their distinctive features:

Yellowstone National Park (Wyoming, Montana, Idaho)

• Yellowstone is America's first national park and is renowned for its geothermal features, including geysers, hot springs, and bubbling mud pots.
• It is home to iconic attractions like Old Faithful, Grand Prismatic Spring, and the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone.
• The park also boasts diverse wildlife, including bison, elk, bears, and wolves.

Yosemite National Park (California)

• Yosemite is famous for its dramatic granite cliffs, towering waterfalls, and ancient sequoia trees.
• Iconic landmarks, such as El Capitan, Half Dome, and Yosemite Falls, draw millions of visitors each year.
• The park offers excellent hiking, rock climbing, and wildlife viewing opportunities, including bears, coyotes, bighorn sheep, and mule deer.

Grand Canyon National Park (Arizona)

• The Grand Canyon is one of the world's most spectacular geological wonders, with its vast expanses of layered rock formations carved by the Colorado River.
• Visitors can enjoy breathtaking vistas from overlooks along the rim, hike into the canyon on various trails, or raft down the river.
• The park also features diverse ecosystems, ranging from desert scrub to pine forests, supporting a variety of plant and animal life.

Zion National Park (Utah)

• Zion is characterized by towering sandstone cliffs, narrow slot canyons, and verdant river valleys.
• The park's most famous hike, Angels Landing, offers stunning panoramic views of the surrounding landscape.
• Visitors can explore the Virgin River Narrows by hiking through its towering walls or enjoy scenic drives through the Zion-Mount Carmel Tunnel.

Glacier National Park (Montana)

• Glacier National Park is known for its pristine wilderness, mountainous terrain, and numerous glaciers (although their numbers are dwindling).
• The park offers over 700 miles of hiking trails, including the iconic Going-to-the-Sun Road, which traverses the park's stunning alpine scenery.
• Wildlife enthusiasts can spot grizzly bears, mountain goats, and bighorn sheep roaming the park's forests and meadows.

Great Smoky Mountains National Park (Tennessee, North Carolina)

• Great Smoky Mountains National Park is America's most visited national park, renowned for its mist-shrouded peaks, lush forests, and rich biodiversity.
• The park features over 800 miles of hiking trails, including a section of the Appalachian Trail.
• Visitors can explore historic homesteads, waterfalls, and scenic drives through the park's diverse landscapes. More than 1,500 species of plants and animals call this place home too.

Rocky Mountain National Park (Colorado)

• Rocky Mountain National Park is celebrated for its soaring peaks, alpine lakes, and abundant wildlife.
• The park offers opportunities for hiking, camping, wildlife viewing, and scenic drives along the Trail Ridge Road, which crosses the Continental Divide.
• Visitors can spot elk, mule deer, moose, and bighorn sheep, as well as elusive predators like mountain lions and black bears.

Arches National Park (Utah)

• Arches National Park is famous for its stunning red rock arches, spires, and fins carved by erosion.
• Visitors can hike among over 2,000 natural sandstone arches, including the iconic Delicate Arch and Landscape Arch.
• The park offers breathtaking vistas, excellent photography opportunities, and stargazing due to its dark skies.

Grand Teton National Park (Wyoming)

• Grand Teton National Park is known for its majestic Teton Range, pristine alpine lakes, and abundant wildlife.
• Visitors can enjoy hiking, mountaineering, boating, and fishing amidst the park's rugged beauty.
• The Snake River winds through the park, offering scenic float trips and wildlife viewing opportunities.

Bryce Canyon National Park (Utah)

• Bryce Canyon is known for its otherworldly landscape of hoodoos, spires, and natural amphitheaters.
• Visitors can hike among the colorful rock formations, take scenic drives along the rim, stargaze under one of the most ideally dark skies in the country, or even go cross-country skiing and snowshoeing in the winter.
• The park's elevation provides cooler temperatures in the summer, making it a popular destination for escaping the heat.

Acadia National Park (Maine)

• Acadia is the juncture of mountains and the sea, which provides scenic vistas of the Atlantic coastline from oceanside cliffs.
• Visitors can explore rocky shores, hike to the top of Cadillac Mountain for sunrise, and bike along carriage roads through forests and meadows.
• The park offers a wide range of outdoor activities, including hiking, birdwatching, kayaking, and scenic drives along the Park Loop Road.

Mount Rainier National Park (Washington)

• Mount Rainier National Park is among the most visually stunning parks in the entire country. It is renowned for its majestic peak, the 14,411-foot Mount Rainier, glaciated landscapes, and diverse ecosystems.
• Visitors are drawn to the park for its opportunities for hiking, climbing, wildlife viewing, and scenic drives along the winding roads that encircle the mountain.
• Wildlife enthusiasts can spot a variety of animals, including black bears, deer, elk, marmots, and mountain goats, while exploring the park's diverse habitats.

The National Park System actually includes over 400 sites across the U.S., but the main 63 with “National Park” in their name feature some of the most majestic wonders the country has to offer. Now is the time to gather your loved ones, plan your road trip route, and make memories in the natural beauty of our world.

Stay safe on your way to, through, and from these beautiful national parks by wearing a seat belt. Buckling up saves lives!

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What to Know Before Booking a National Park Trip This Summer

Additional routes in popular parks now require reservations, the annual pass gets a big change, Juneteenth is now a new free entrance day and more changes for 2024.

By Lauren Matison

In 2023, the seashores, lakeshores, battlefields, historic sites, monuments and more that make up the National Park Service had 325.5 million visits , an increase of 4 percent from the year before.

The National Park Service director, Charles F. Sams III, praised the surge of interest in “learning our shared American story throughout the hidden gems of the National Parks System.”

Expecting an even greater turnout in 2024, the Park Service and Recreation.gov , the booking platform for federal land reservations, have implemented new measures to streamline the park experience, manage overcrowding and safeguard the environment.

More parks are requiring reservations

To better avoid congested trails, packed parking lots and overflowing trash cans, additional parks are joining Rocky Mountain , Arches and Glacier National Parks this year in requiring day-use permits, timed entries and other reservations for travelers who wish to visit, particularly during peak hours, holidays and the parks’ high seasons. Yosemite National Park is reinstating a timed-entry system it instituted in 2020, but paused in 2022.

Many park enthusiasts expressed mixed feelings about the reservation policies, with some lamenting a lack of first-come, first-served campsites while others find comfort in knowing they have a confirmed booking. As nearly 75 percent of visitors each year descend on national parks from May to October (and often on weekends), park officials stand by the system.

“In some parks, the level of demand is exceeding the capacity for which infrastructure was designed or is outpacing the National Park Service’s ability to sustainably support visitation,” said Kathy Kupper, a public affairs specialist for the service. “This trend is resulting in the need to explore new strategies to protect natural and cultural resources and provide opportunities for safe and meaningful visitor experiences.”

It can be confusing.

New to implementing timed-entry reservations for vehicles is Mount Rainier National Park , in Washington, for its popular Paradise and Sunrise Corridors during certain times in the summer season. Reservations cost $2, are valid for one day and must be purchased along with the park ticket, but do not apply for visitors with wilderness permits or camping or lodge reservations. Similar vehicle reservations are now required for certain periods for viewing the sunrise at Haleakalā National Park in Maui, Hawaii , and driving the Cadillac Summit Road in Maine’s Acadia National Park .

Visitors wishing to hike Old Rag Mountain in Virginia’s Shenandoah National Park must obtain a day-use ticket between March 1 and Nov. 30, and in Zion National Park, in Utah, hikers wishing to visit Angels Landing , the dramatic 1,488-foot-tall rock formation, also need to purchase a permit. Fees range from $1 to $6, in addition to the parks’ entrance fees.

As each destination is managed differently, check the park’s webpage for the type of reservation required. Although most bookings can be made through Recreation.gov, some sites, such as Muir Woods National Monument, use a different system.

New features on Recreation.gov

In 2023, Recreation.gov reported that more than 4 million camping reservations and 2 million timed-entry reservations were booked online, and 1.5 million permits were issued. Some 2.9 million new users signed up for the site. With its expanding user base, the booking platform has added 58 reservable national park locations — including 17 campgrounds — such as Central Avenue Walk-in Sites at Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore and Bluff Hike In Camping in South Carolina’s Congaree National Park.

Recreation.gov has also improved an alerts feature, piloted in July 2023, that can notify users through email or mobile push notifications when a sold-out campsite becomes available. After Recreation.gov notifies you of availability, you must book the campsite yourself online — and quickly, as you’ll be shown how many other people (possibly hundreds) have received the same alert.

While its customer support center and mobile app are still only available in English, Recreation.gov recently introduced a Spanish language translation option. The Park Service partners with Latino Conservation Week , which hosts nationwide hikes and events on environmental education and in-park stewardship, and will celebrate its 10th year in September.

A limit to the annual America the Beautiful pass

The 2024 America the Beautiful pass no longer allows two owners. The annual interagency pass, which costs $80 and covers the entrance fees for more than 2,000 federal recreation sites (of which roughly 100 do not charge for admission year-round), is now marked by a single signature line on the back of the card. The pass owner must show I.D. and be present with any accompanying travelers wishing to access the park with the pass. (Annual passes issued in 2023 will still be valid until their expiration date.) The pass covers all passengers in a vehicle — up to four adults, and children under 16 are admitted free — or up to four cyclists riding together. Active military or veterans and people with permanent disabilities are eligible for a free lifetime pass; 4th grade students may receive a free annual pass; and senior citizens may purchase a $20 annual pass or pay $80 for a lifetime pass.

At the parks, more accessible features, E.V. chargers and new lodging

To better protect against global warming, the Park Service is putting more than $65 million from the Inflation Reduction Act and Great American Outdoors Act into climate mitigation and ecosystem restoration.

Using $15.9 million budgeted for zero-emission vehicle deployment, charging capacity and infrastructure, the Park Service is prioritizing a reduction in carbon emissions, said Mr. Sams, by installing new electric-vehicle charging stations and running electric buses.

An interactive online locator tool created in 2023 shows E.V. charging stations throughout 27 national parks and the type of chargers available. In addition to the tool, every national park page displays alerts on road closures, parking lot capacities, construction work and other incidents.

Mr. Sams also said the Park Service is investing $1.3 billion from the Great American Outdoors Act to improve accessibility features, ranging from a new A.D.A.-compliant visitor center at Morristown National Historic Park in New Jersey to new beach wheelchairs at Sleeping Bear Dunes , Channel Islands and Virgin Islands National Parks . Each destination’s website has an accessibility tab to help visitors plan their trip, and Recreation.gov now has a search filter on its homepage to make it easier to locate accessible accommodations.

New lodging options now available across the country include the Flamingo Lodge , which opened inside Everglades National Park last fall with 24 guest rooms built from repurposed shipping containers. In March, along the southeastern border of Great Smoky Mountains National Park, the Cataloochee Ranch reopened with 11 renovated cabins and a new restaurant. This spring, the Clubhouse Hotel & Suites will welcome its first guests in Rapid City, S.D., the closest major town to Badlands National Park , and opening in May in Idaho is the Yellowstone Peaks Hotel , a 30-minute-drive from Yellowstone National Park. This fall, California-bound travelers planning a visit to General Sherman, the largest known tree on Earth, might book at AutoCamp Sequoia , just outside Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Park .

Also in California: Those who don’t score a highly coveted (and contentious) spot at the newly reopened High Sierra Camps in Yosemite could book Wildhaven Yosemite in Mariposa, which offers more affordable rates, hiking trails and views of the Sierra Nevadas. Reservations for its first season are available beginning May 1.

Celebrating milestones and a new free entrance day

On the 60th anniversary of the Civil Rights Act, visitors can pay tribute to African American heritage at over 100 parks , including the Frederick Douglass National Historic Site in Washington, D.C., Birmingham Civil Rights National Monument , and the Selma to Montgomery National Historic Trail . This year also marks 100 years since Indigenous people were recognized as United States citizens. Although many parks have Indigenous programming , Mr. Sams, who is the first Native American to serve as N.P.S. director , suggested visiting Hopewell Cultural Historical Park in Ohio and Whitman Mission Historic National Historic Site in Washington, where he recently brought his daughter.

“In order to celebrate the diversity that makes our country great, we must share the complete story of America, which includes both the successes and challenges encountered on the way to form a more perfect union,” Mr. Sams said.

Juneteenth National Independence Day is the National Park Service’s newest free entrance day . Visitors can also take advantage of free admission on April 20, the first day of National Park Week; Aug. 4, the four-year anniversary of the Great American Outdoors Act ; Sept. 28 on National Public Lands Day ; and Nov. 11 for Veterans Day .

Follow New York Times Travel on Instagram and sign up for our weekly Travel Dispatch newsletter to get expert tips on traveling smarter and inspiration for your next vacation. Dreaming up a future getaway or just armchair traveling? Check out our 52 Places to Go in 2024 .

An earlier version of this article misstated the location of the Flamingo Lodge. It is inside Everglades National Park, not outside the park.

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See which popular national parks are requiring reservations for summer 2024

Every year, it seems that more national parks are requiring timed-entry reservations . Sometimes, it’s just to drive into a park . Other times, it’s for specific, sought-after activities .

This summer is no different, with Mount Rainier and Yosemite joining the mix. The requirements add an extra step and expense for travelers, but they’re not meant to be a hurdle.

“The timed entry system reservation system is not to limit visitation but to spread it out more equitably throughout the day,” Mount Rainier National Park ranger Terry Wildly told USA TODAY in February.

In the past, she said visitors had to wait up to three hours just to enter the popular park, and some caused lasting damage to meadows when venturing off-trail to avoid crowds. 

As Mount Rainier rolls out reservations this summer, here’s what other park visitors should know.

How many national parks have timed entry?

Only a fraction of America’s 63 national parks require timed-entry reservations or permits for particularly popular experiences. In most cases, they’re only for certain portions of the park during the busiest times of day. 

◾ Acadia National Park will require timed-entry reservations for vehicle access to Cadillac Summit Road from May 24 through Oct. 22. There are two types of reservations, Sunrise and Daytime, with varying restrictions. Each reservation costs $6 per vehicle and may only be purchased online, not in the park. A separate $35 vehicle entry fee is also required for the park.

◾ Arches National Park requires timed-entry reservations for all vehicles entering the park between 7 a.m. and 4 p.m. through Oct. 31. Timed-entry tickets cost $2. A separate vehicle entry fee of $30 is also required.

◾ Glacier National Park will require timed-entry reservations for vehicles accessing North Fork and Going-to-the-Sun Road from the West Entrance between 6 a.m. and 3 p.m. from May 24 through Sept. 8. Reservations will not be required for vehicles entering Going-to-the-Sun Road from the St. Mary Entrance nor will they be required for Two Medicine, like they were last year. However, they will still be required for Many Glacier between 6 a.m. and 3 p.m from July 1 through Sept. 8. Each type of reservation costs $2. A separate $35 vehicle entry fee is also required for the park.

◾ Haleakalā National Park requires reservations year-round for visitors who want to watch sunrise from the summit. Summit sunrise reservations cost $1 and are required for every vehicle entering the park between 3 a.m. and 7 a.m. A separate $30 vehicle entry fee is also required for the park.

◾ Mount Rainier Natonal Park , for the first time, will require timed-entry reservations for two of its most popular areas: Paradise Corridor from May 24 through Sept. 2 and Sunrise Corridor between July 3 and Sept. 2. Reservations will only be needed between 7 a.m. and 3 p.m. Each type of reservation will cost $2. A separate $30 vehicle entry fee is also required for the park.

◾ Rocky Mountain National Park will require timed-entry reservations to access most roads between 9 a.m. and 2 p.m. from May 24 through Oct. 14. Visitors who also want to access the park’s busy Bear Lake Road will need a specific type of reservation, Timed Entry+, between 5 a.m. and 6 p.m. from May 24 through Oct. 20. Timed Entry+ covers all park roads. Both types of reservations cost $2.

◾ Shenandoah National Park requires day-use tickets to hike Old Rag Mountain through Nov. 30. Tickets cost $2 per person and can be reserved 30 to 5 days in advance. The day-use tickets are separate from the park’s $30 vehicle entry fee .

◾ Yosemite National Park now requires reservations for vehicles entering the park between 5 a.m. and 4 p.m. on certain days. Through June 30 and between Aug. 17 and Oct. 27, they’ll only be required on weekends and holidays. But they’ll be required every day from July 1 through Aug. 16. Peak hour reservations cost $2, on top of the $35 vehicle entry fee for the park.

◾ Zion National Park is continuing to pilot its permit system for its popular Angels Landing hiking trail. Permits can be obtained through a seasonal lottery or daily lottery on Recreation.gov. Lottery registrations costs $6 for up to 6 people for each lottery. Permits cost $3 per person. That’s on top of the $35 vehicle entry fee for the park.

When can I make park reservations?

Dates vary by park, but all national parks book reservations through Recreation.gov .

The great outdoors next door: Hot to find hiking, camping, more near you

Which national parks in Utah require reservations?

Of Utah’s “ Mighty 5 ” national parks, only Arches requires reservations for park entry.

Do you need reservations to get into Zion National Park?

No. Reservations are not required to enter Zion, just permits to hike Angels Landing.

Can I get into RMNP without a timed entry?

Yes. Rocky Mountain National Park’s timed-entry requirements don’t begin until May 24. Even after that, reservations will only be required during peak hours.

Are reservations required for Yellowstone?

No. Yellowstone does not require timed-entry reservations. However, permits are required for specific recreational activities , such as backcountry camping and boating.

10 Fun-Filled Things to Do in Santa Clara, CA for Newcomers 

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Welcome to Santa Clara, a bustling city located in the heart of Silicon Valley. Despite the high cost of living in the area, there are plenty of fun-filled activities that won’t break the bank that gets visitors wondering what living is like in Santa Clara . From thrill rides at California’s Great America to indulging in delicious foods at the local farmer’s market, Santa Clara is a fun city to live in for people of all ages because there’s always something to do.

As a city that’s home to some of the biggest tech companies in the world, you can also expect to find innovative experiences that are unique to the area. Whether you’re a  local, a visitor looking into the Santa Clara housing market to possibly buy a new house or rent a apartment in the area, make sure to grab your sunglasses as you try out some of the most exciting things to do around Santa Clara.

1. Experience thrills at California’s Great America

Get ready for a day of heart-pumping adventure at California’s Great America . With over 70 rides and attractions, you’re sure to find a ride that will delight. Brave the intense twists and turns of the Gold Striker, the park’s wooden roller coaster, or test your limits on the RailBlazer, a gravity-defying coaster that twists and turns in every direction. If you’re looking for something less intense, explore Planet Snoopy, a section of the park designed for younger children with smaller rides and attractions. Cool off on a hot day with a dip in the water park, or grab a snack and take in the atmosphere.

Your future home is just a tap away

Experience the rich cultural history of Santa Clara with a visit to Mission Santa Clara de Asis . Established in 1777, this mission is one of the oldest in California and is located on the campus of Santa Clara University. Take a self-guided tour of the mission and learn about its significance in the region’s history. Admire the beautiful architecture and artwork, including the restored frescoes on the ceiling. With free admission, this is a great way to experience Santa Clara’s rich history.

3. Indulge in fresh produce at Santa Clara Farmers Market

Support local farmers and artisans while indulging in fresh, organic produce, and handmade crafts at the Santa Clara Farmers Market . This year-round market is held every Saturday and offers a wide variety of goods from local vendors. From fresh fruits and vegetables to artisanal cheeses and baked goods, you’ll be sure to find something good. Take in the sights and smells of the market as you wander through the stalls, and don’t forget to bring a reusable bag to carry your purchased items.

4. Learn about tech history at the Intel Museum

Discover the fascinating history of computer technology and innovation at the Intel Museum . This free museum is located at Intel’s headquarters in Santa Clara and offers a variety of interactive exhibits and displays. Learn about the evolution of microprocessors and their impact on modern technology. See the world’s largest silicon chip and learn about Intel’s role in shaping the tech industry. With something for both tech enthusiasts and casual visitors, the Intel Museum is a must-visit destination in Santa Clara.

5. Take a Stroll at Central Park

Escape the hustle and bustle of Silicon Valley with a relaxing stroll through Central Park . Located in the heart of Santa Clara, this park features beautiful gardens, playgrounds, and picnic areas. Take a stroll through the rose garden, admire the koi pond, or simply relax under the shade of a tree. With plenty of open space, it’s the perfect place to throw a frisbee or fly a kite. Pack a lunch and make a day of it.

6. Experience the arts at Triton Museum of Art

Discover a world of creativity at the Triton Museum of Art . This museum features a variety of contemporary and historical art exhibits, showcasing the work of local and international artists. With free admission and guided tours available, it’s a great way to spend an afternoon exploring the world of art. Admire the beautiful sculptures and paintings, or attend one of the museum’s special events. The museum hosts a variety of accessible art exhibitions and educational events that give locals the opportunity to learn from artists themselves in a variety of art making workshops.

7. Enjoy a game at Levi’s Stadium

Experience the excitement of a live sports game or concert at Levi’s Stadium . Home to the San Francisco 49ers, this stadium boasts state-of-the-art technology and a variety of food and beverage options. Join the cheering crowd and soak up the energy of a big game, or take in a concert by your favorite artist. With a variety of events throughout the year, Levi’s Stadium is a must-visit destination for sports and music fans alike.

8. Immerse yourself in nature at Alviso Marina County Park

Enjoy the great outdoors at Alviso Marina County Park . Located along the San Francisco Bay, this park offers stunning views of the wetlands and surrounding hills. Take a stroll along the nature trails or go birdwatching in the marshlands. With picnic areas, playgrounds, and a visitor center, there’s something for everyone. Don’t forget to bring your camera to capture the beautiful scenery.

9. Unwind at Santa Clara Wine Trail

Escape to the picturesque Santa Clara Wine Trail and experience the local wines and vineyards. Enjoy a relaxing day exploring the beautiful countryside, tasting delicious wines, and taking in the scenic views. With a variety of wineries to choose from, you can plan your own itinerary or join a guided tour. Whether you’re a wine connoisseur or simply looking for a relaxing day out, the Santa Clara Wine Trail is the perfect way to unwind and relax.

10. Shop and Dine at Santana Row

Experience luxury shopping and dining at Santana Row , a district just outside Santa Clara in San Jose . This premier shopping destination features designer boutiques, artisanal eateries, and a variety of entertainment options. Shop for the latest fashion trends or unique gifts, then enjoy a meal at one of the many restaurants or cafes. With a vibrant atmosphere and something for everyone, Santana Row is the perfect place to indulge in a day of shopping and dining.

Thinking about moving to the area?

Fun things to do in santa clara recommended by locals, 1. participate in cycling.

“Whether you’re an active or occasional cyclist, you can find cycling events in Santa Clara County on Battistrada,” shares Battristrada . “We also offer tools to help you easily organize your cycling calendar and bucket list, including the option to synchronize your selected events straight into the calendar app on various devices. And if you’re looking for cycling events outside of Santa Clara County, there’s plenty events to choose some on our calendar .”

2. Mountain biking

“If you’re looking for a place to mountain bike in the Bay Area, El Corte de Madera Creek Open Space, also known as Skeggs Point, is the perfect spot,” suggests Silicon Valley Mountain Bikers . “With over 34 miles of trails, you can enjoy stunning views of redwoods, the ocean, and rare sandstone formations. There are endless possibilities for rides, but be warned, it’s not for the faint of heart. Most trails start at the top of the ridge and drop several hundred feet before requiring a climb. Once you’ve finished your ride, make sure to stop by Alice’s Restaurant, where you can get anything you want, including delicious food and a great selection of beers on tap.”

3. Work on projects and collaborate with creative community members

“Mountain View is home to the Hacker Dojo, a space where people like myself can work quietly on projects and collaborate with like-minded individuals,” says Ann Zeise from Go Milpitas . “It’s just a 15-minute drive from Milpitas, located off 237, so on Saturdays I often spend my afternoons there, brainstorming podcast ideas with a friend.”

4. Take music classes

One of the most unique things to do in the Santa Clara area is to take your little one to a MusicalMe class held outdoors in either the Los Gatos or Campbell areas,” recommends MusicalMe . “These classes take place in beautiful parks, where kids can sing, dance, and have a blast with the grown-ups who love them. Classes are held every week.”

5. Pick fresh produce

“If you’re looking for an insider tip, head to the Forge Garden at Santa Clara University (SCU) to pick up some affordably-priced, organically-certified produce,” says until suburbia! “The donation-based farm stand is open every Friday from 12:30 pm to 1:30 pm during community hours. Make sure to bring cash with you. The half-acre garden is part of SCU, located at 1051 Sherman St. in Santa Clara, CA. Additionally, if you’re interested in learning more about sustainable gardening, you can attend one of their workshops.”

6. See the Levi’s Stadium

“Many newcomers and visitors don’t know that Santa Clara is now the home of the San Francisco 49ers, a 5-time Super Bowl Champion,” says The Minivan Bucket List . “This makes a visit to the brand new, state-of-the-art Levi’s Stadium not only one of the most unique things to do in Santa Clara, but also something worthy of inclusion on anyone’s California Bucket List . And there’s more to do than just watch football games. You can visit the 49ers Museum, where you can see life-size statues of hall of famers like Joe Montana, or use augmented reality to take your place next to current and former players. You can also take a tour of the stadium and see why it’s considered the most technologically advanced stadium in the world, which is fitting for one built in the heart of Silicon Valley.”

7. Picchetti Winery

“Picchetti Winery is our ever-reliable local vintner located near the heart of Silicon Valley. Quaint grounds, a rustic tasting room, and their oft-photographed resident peacocks create a refreshingly whimsical wine-tasting atmosphere. Their port is the highlight of their flight, always served with a slice of homemade fudge,” shares Quincy Koetz .

8. Mt. Umunhum, Sierra Azul Open Space Preserve

“When we need to escape the Silicon Valley hustle, Mt. Umunhum’s hiking trails are an easy destination. Only recently opened to the public, the peak can be gained by a winding drive or an invigorating 7.7-mile hike. The summit itself invites lingering exploration with an expansive panorama of much of the Bay Area. The nearby famous radar tower known as the Cube adds a little Cold War intrigue to the visit,” mentions Quincy.

9. Birding at Don Edwards National Wildlife Refuge

“Prior to living in the Bay Area, we thought of birding as a fun but inaccessible pastime. The South Bay is ringed with sites of the Don Edwards NWR, making this hobby far easier and more fascinating,” suggests Quincy. “Awash in a mosaic of ducks, shorebirds, and periodic birds of prey, a simple walk becomes an immersive experience. Seasonal changes and migratory patterns make the visit feel new every time.”

Learn more about Santa Clara

4 Popular Santa Clara Neighborhoods: Where to Live in Santa Clara in 2023

7 Popular Parks in Santa Clara, CA That Locals Love

Is Santa Clara, California a Good Place to Live?

14 Must-Try Santa Clara Restaurants: Where the Santa Clara Locals Eat

Holly is part of the content marketing team and enjoys writing about home improvement and lifestyle. Her dream home would incorporate both an industrial and biophilic design.

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Tourism and growth are double-edged swords for Utah’s dark sky-certified places

Even in a state like Utah which prides itself on its starry night skies, becoming a certified dark sky community is a tall task.

Springdale, near Zion National Park, has had rules on the books to limit light pollution since 2009. So when it applied for a designation from Dark Sky International a few years ago, it expected to be a shoo-in.

“We were thinking: We've been a leader in preserving dark skies for a long time. We've done a great job. … Folks are going to say, ‘This is the best application ever. Of course, you're going to be certified,’” Director of Community Development Tom Dansie said.

“So we were a little bit humbled when the Dark Sky folks came back with: ‘That's a good first try.’”

The town made changes and applied again the following year. When it finally got approved in 2023 , it was the culmination of nearly 15 years of work.

It didn’t come cheap, either.

The town spent roughly $1 million to replace its street lights with models that shield the light downward, Dansie said. After installing them, the town realized the new lights weren’t dark enough, so they spent even more time and money developing a way to retrofit them. Now, Springdale has until 2028 to update the street lights with adaptive controls that automatically dim as the sky gets darker, which Dansie estimates could cost another $200,000.

That’s a lot of money for a small town, and it doesn’t include the updates required to lighting on private property — something residents have long raised concerns about. But in a community that values its celestial sights, he said it’s money well spent.

“When you look at the investment in the street lights in terms of protecting the night sky resource, it makes a whole lot more sense … rather than looking at it as, ‘Oh, we had to spend a million and a half dollars just to get this certification.’”

Dark skies can also have other benefits, he said, for human health and wildlife .

Springdale is one of four Utah towns that have earned the designation, joined by Helper, Torrey and Castle Valley, which became the state’s newest addition in January. Moab has submitted its application to join the club, something the town has been working toward since enacting its outdoor lighting ordinance in 2019.

As Utah’s population and popularity grow, keeping skies dark is likely to get even harder.

In their annual reports to Dark Sky International, parks across the state list increasing light pollution from development and tourism as the main threat to maintaining their certification. And those sites — from Capitol Reef and Canyonlands national parks to Antelope Island and Jordanelle state parks — say those threats are increasing.

For places like Springdale, it’s a delicate balance. The community relies on tourism. Without it, it would be tough for a town of fewer than 600 people to afford a million-dollar lighting project, among other things. But visitation to Zion National Park has nearly doubled in the 15 years the town’s been working to limit outdoor lighting, and that brings the risk of more light.

“Every new development, every new hotel that's built, every new single-family residence that is built has an impact on the night sky,” Dansie said. “So it's increasingly important for us as a community to be careful.”

With more and more places worldwide losing their view of the night sky, however, that makes the places in Utah that have held onto their darkness all the more special. It can have big economic impacts.

Gov. Spencer Cox declared April as Utah’s dark sky month again in 2024, saying astrotourism is expected to generate $6 billion in the American Southwest over the next decade. Utah has more than 20 certified dark sky places, a total the state touts as the highest concentration in the world.

Joshua Rowley has seen the economic benefits of dark sky tourism near Capitol Reef National Park, where he co-owns the Skyview Hotel . It’s located in Torrey, a town of 219 people in Wayne County that became Utah’s first dark sky community in 2018.

The hotel leans into the dark sky as one of its amenities, with dim lighting and a rooftop stargazing deck. Rowley said the night view is a big reason their customers spend their time and money there.

“More people are coming to see it. People are staying longer to see it. It gives them more to do in their trip… which is obviously going to impact the economy of the whole area.”

The hotel opened in 2023 and meeting the town’s strict lighting requirements presented some challenges. For example, he said the typical way engineers light up parking lots might be two or three times brighter than what they could do in a dark sky town. And since having lights in key places is a safety issue, it meant dimming or even tweaking the color temperature of its illumination to meet code.

“You have to get kind of creative. … Over time, people will have to get less creative because there's more of a system in place.”

Growing that system could be a big part of sustaining dark sky towns’ futures.

In Springdale, Dancie said they’ve started having conversations with other southwest Utah communities, and he’s hopeful they can work together to protect the region’s night skies. That matters, he said, because no town is an island.

Driving west from Springdale into the more populated parts of Washington County at night, it’s already easy to see the dome of light pollution in the distance. If the St. George metro area grows the way it’s projected to — and doesn’t safeguard the night sky as it does — Springdale could see its dark skies slip away.

“At some point, no matter what an awesome job we do, our dark sky resource will be threatened because of the impact of light in other areas of the region. … Those light domes will gradually get larger and larger and larger until they encompass Springdale.”

Seven people who influenced our national parks

The national parks system represents one of the largest and most well-known examples of environmental protection in the United States, and yet — from Acadia to Zion — the popular version of this story often begins and ends with familiar figures (ahem, Theodore Roosevelt) championing the majesty of its landscapes.

In reality, of course, these incredible places were known and cared for long before ranger stations welcomed the lines of cars rolling into them on a packed summer day. All 63 national parks sit on what were once Indigenous lands. And for thousands of years, before the National Park Service was created, people carefully tended these ecosystems and stewarded these resources.

In the course of my research and reporting for The Post’s “Field Trip” podcast , I discovered many people whose efforts during more than over 150 years of land management helped change how these fragile and dynamic landscapes will be protected into the future. Out of them, here are seven whose unique contributions captivated me.

George Meléndez Wright

One of the first Hispanic park rangers, George Meléndez Wright had studied zoology at the University of California at Berkeley and was appalled at what he saw in Yosemite during the 1920s: The National Park Service was feeding bears from trash cans for visitors’ entertainment. Park employees were also killing mountain lions as part of a broader predator eradication effort across U.S. public lands.

Podcast episode

“For him, that was all so completely unnatural and against why national parks were created,” said Jerry Emory, author of the biography “George Meléndez Wright: The Fight for Wildlife and Wilderness in the National Parks.”

Although only in his early 20s, Wright became one of the first major surveyors of wildlife in the national parks. In addition to Yosemite, he traveled across the western United States, using his own money to finance the National Park Service’s first coordinated wildlife survey. He documented those findings in a seminal report called “Fauna No. 1.”

In 1933, the National Park Service appointed Wright the leader of its new Wildlife Division, and he thus also became the first Hispanic person to hold a leadership role within the service. A few years later, at the age of 31, he died in a car accident when leaving what would become Big Bend National Park in Texas.

Despite his brief career, Wright’s recommendations laid the foundation for many of the core wildlife conservation policies the Park Service has adopted.

Mardy Murie

In many ways, Mardy Murie continued Wright’s efforts, advocating for the National Park Service to make wildlife its central priority and to preserve ecosystems for their own sake.

“In order to be successful in protecting wildlife, you have to protect land,” said Bill Meadows, former president of the Wilderness Society. “And she knew this.”

Murie initially found her way into conservation work through her husband, a prominent wildlife biologist named Olaus Murie who studied the migration of elk and caribou. Together, they became vocal advocates both for adding new areas to the national park system — such as the Grand Tetons — and for redrawing the boundaries of existing national parks to keep whole ecosystems intact.

An expedition the Muries led in 1956 to northeastern Alaska helped convince President Dwight D. Eisenhower to establish what is now called the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge. After Murie’s husband died in 1963, she began lobbying for legislation — later signed into law by President Jimmy Carter in 1980 — that turned enormous parts of Alaska into federally protected lands, doubling the total footprint managed by the National Park Service. And in 1998, at the age of 96, she was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom for her decades of work to protect wildlife.

“She was in awe of her husband and those around him,” Meadows said, “and grew to a place where people were in awe of her.”

George Masa

Many know the work of Ansel Adams and the role his stunning landscape photography played in helping to protect Yosemite National Park, but few people are aware of similar efforts on the other side of the country at around the same time.

George Masa, a Japanese immigrant living in North Carolina during the 1920s, spent years hiking deep into the woods with his large-format cameras and documenting the beauty of the Great Smoky Mountains: storm clouds gathering over an undulating ridgeline of mountains, sunshine glaring off a still lake.

“Anyone who’s spent time in the Smokies knows the haze, knows the rain showers,” said Janet McCue, co-author of an upcoming biography of Masa. “Not unless you’ve been there do you understand how hard they are to photograph and also how hard Masa worked in order to get those views.”

At a time when trails were barely marked, camera equipment was extremely heavy and even a modest photograph demanded exact conditions, Masa was able to create images that stirred a public reverence for Appalachia. His photographs accompanied numerous articles advocating for protecting the Smokies from the logging industry. They played an important role in persuading President Calvin Coolidge and Congress to establish the Great Smoky Mountains as a national park, and they also played a crucial role in convincing donors like the Rockefellers to spend millions of dollars to purchase the land and then turn it over to the federal government.

Today, roughly 100 years after Masa hiked among its oaks and hemlocks, Great Smoky Mountains National Park is the most popular of all 63 national parks in the system. More than 13 million people visited it in 2023, experiencing much of the same magic in its ever-shifting forests. As McCue said, “It was Masa who was able to capture that better than anyone else.”

For national park aficionados, Polly Dyer’s name is synonymous with environmental activism in the Pacific Northwest. Starting in the 1950s, she became a central champion of the region’s natural wonders — from its dramatic coastlines to its temperate rainforests to its subalpine meadows.

“Polly was a very strong, articulate, forceful advocate for doing the right thing,” said Destry Jarvis, a former assistant director for the National Park Service. “She was a presence.”

In 1953, Dyer’s powers of persuasion helped end an effort to open part of Olympic National Park to logging. In 1958, she also helped quash a proposal for a road in the park that would have damaged miles of Pacific coastline.

As a founding member of the North Cascades Conservation Council, she convinced members of Congress to create North Cascades National Park in 1968, protecting more than 500,000 acres of mountains, glaciers and alpine forest.

“There was a fair amount of opposition to establishing North Cascades,” Jarvis said. But, he added, “she was extremely persistent.”

Howard Zahniser

There are few pieces of conservation legislation as significant as the Wilderness Act, which created high levels of protection for some of the most pristine areas in the United States. Howard Zahniser envisioned the plan, wrote the legislation and then advocated for it.

Working at the Wilderness Society, Zahniser drafted the bill in 1956 after he had participated in an effort to prevent a dam from being built within Dinosaur National Monument, a landscape of rivers, deserts and canyons on the border between Colorado and Utah. The political struggle convinced him that better legal safeguards should exist to protect land from development.

The road to establishing the Wilderness Act was a long one, though. Zahniser would spend eight years revising the potential bill’s language. He wrote 66 drafts before Congress finally passed it in 1964 — just a few months after his death.

“He didn’t give up,” said Meadows, the former Wilderness Society president. “And he did it through words. Some people call it the most lyrical legislation that’s ever been passed.”

Thanks to the Wilderness Act, more than 100 million acres of land — many of which sit within national parks — are now off-limits to any development, including industrial projects like dams but also basic infrastructure such as visitor centers, roads and even campgrounds.

Designated wilderness areas currently make up more than 80 percent of all land managed by the National Park Service. So even as visitation to the national parks continues to increase, large parts of their ecosystems remain shielded from excessive human impact.

“This has affected the makeup of the Park Service,” Meadows said. “It really put in place the values that parks need to be protected, as well as open to the public.”

Carl Stokes

Carl Stokes was the mayor of Cleveland, and the first elected Black mayor of a major U.S. city, when the Cuyahoga River caught fire in 1969 because of pollution. A story in Time magazine that summer described the river as “chocolate-brown, oily, bubbling with subsurface gases, it oozes rather than flows.”

While the fire did relatively minimal damage, Stokes used the incident to help draw national media attention to the environmental hazards facing urban and minority communities, including the lack of clean water. His outspokenness about the state of the Cuyahoga River helped push forward the Clean Water Act a couple of years later and also set the stage for the nearby Cuyahoga Valley to be managed by the National Park Service starting in 1974 as a national recreation area. (It would later become the rare national park to have a superfund site within it.)

And yet, on the first Earth Day, which occurred less than a year after the Cuyahoga River fire, Stokes also urged that current environmental efforts not “come at the expense” of other priorities that affect low-income communities. An early voice in the environmental justice movement, Stokes convinced people that urban places deserve just as much protection as remote places of unadulterated beauty.

Gerard Baker

The National Park Service manages roughly 400 areas other than the 63 large national parks. They include places that have historical as well as environmental significance, including Montana’s Little Bighorn Battlefield National Monument — the site of a famous showdown between the U.S. Army and several tribes of Plains Indians.

For nearly 50 years, it bore the name Custer Battlefield National Monument, commemorating the Army officer and his troops on the losing side of the fight. Then in 1989, Barbara Sutteer became the first Native American superintendent of the site and began the process of changing its name. That work continued under the following superintendent, Gerard Baker, a member of the Mandan-Hidatsa Tribe of the Fort Berthold Indian Reservation, who oversaw both the official renaming and several additional efforts to make the park unit more inclusive of Indigenous perspectives.

“He got the first serious recognition of the native role, the native presence, the native impact,” said Jarvis, the former assistant Park Service director. “And that was a huge change for the Park Service in direction.”

In 2004, Baker became the first Native superintendent of Mount Rushmore, another Park Service site where he helped surface Indigenous history that had long been obscured. (The Black Hills, where four presidents’ faces are chiseled into the rock, are highly sacred to the Lakota Sioux.)

Native people were the original environmental stewards of all the lands that now make up the national park system. Today, there is a greater effort within the National Park Service both to acknowledge that fact and to better incorporate Indigenous knowledge into park management. In 2021, Charles Sams III was appointed as the first Native American director of the National Park Service.

“We’re seeing the Park Service open its doors much more widely,” Jarvis said. “Gerard was the first person, really, to set that whole move in motion.”

More on climate change

Understanding our climate: Global warming is a real phenomenon , and weather disasters are undeniably linked to it . As temperatures rise, heat waves are more often sweeping the globe — and parts of the world are becoming too hot to survive .

What can be done? The Post is tracking a variety of climate solutions , as well as the Biden administration’s actions on environmental issues . It can feel overwhelming facing the impacts of climate change, but there are ways to cope with climate anxiety .

Inventive solutions: Some people have built off-the-grid homes from trash to stand up to a changing climate. As seas rise, others are exploring how to harness marine energy .

What about your role in climate change? Our climate coach Michael J. Coren is answering questions about environmental choices in our everyday lives. Submit yours here. You can also sign up for our Climate Coach newsletter .

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Home » Travel Guides » United States » California (CA) » 15 Things to Do in Santa Clara (CA)

15 Things to Do in Santa Clara (CA)

Santa Clara is a city of nearly 125,000 residents that’s located in Santa Clara County, about 75 kilometers south of San Francisco .

The city was founded more than 200 years ago as a Spanish Mission. Now, it’s most well-known for its booming tech industry that’s commonly referred to around the world as Silicon Valley.

Though it’s common knowledge to most football fans, it’s a surprise to many to discover that the relatively small city is also the home of the National Football League’s San Francisco 49ers.

Visitors to Santa Clara have abundant activity options at their fingertips without venturing outside city limits, so staying engaged and entertained shouldn’t be an issue.

1. Levi’s Stadium

With a capacity of nearly 70,000, Levi’s Stadium on Marie P. DeBartolo Way in Santa Clara is one of the country’s premier professional football stadiums.

The 49ers play their home games here, and during the off-season, the stadium hosts a variety of annual events, including concerts featuring big names in the music industry.

Taking a family to a football game isn’t the least expensive activity option in the area, but for those who’ve never taken in a pro game, it’s an exhilarating experience that may be worth the cost.

Guided tours are also regularly available, and the bars and restaurants around the stadium are fun to visit year-round.

2. Ulistac Natural Area

Despite its large population and the overall hustle and bustle, the Bay Area features plenty of urban parks and natural areas that are convenient options for those interested in enjoying the great outdoors.

The Ulistac Natural Area is located on Lick Mill Road in Santa Clara. It is comprised of more than 40 acres that include a variety of distinct environments.

The natural area straddles the Guadalupe River and is home to an array of plants and animals that are well-suited to its riparian habitat.

A particularly popular attraction for bird watchers, it features a number of well-marked nature trails dotted with interpretive signs.

3. Santa Clara Art & Wine Festival

Californians take their art and wine seriously, and there’s no better way to combine the two than by visiting the Santa Clara Art & Wine Festival.

The event is held in the city’s Central Park and features nearly 200 vendors from across the country selling fine art and crafts, gourmet food, and a vast selection of California’s best wines.

Proceeds are donated to worthwhile causes that benefit residents in need. It all takes place in the early fall when the central California weather is perfect for outdoor activities.

Other highlights include live entertainment and lots of art-related activities for kids.

4. The de Saisset Museum

Though he’s not exactly a household name for those who don’t typically travel in West Coast art circles, Ernest de Saisset was one of the Bay Area’s most prominent artists in the 19th century.

Saisset was a French immigrant who enrolled in Santa Clara University and studied painting as a young man.

The museum that now bears his name is located on the university’s campus. It includes a collection of more than 100 of his most impressive works.

It’s as much a historical attraction as it is an art one, and it also has other works from European and American artists dating back hundreds of years.

5. Intel Museum

Intel is one of the titans of the tech world. Over the years, it has been responsible for some of the most significant technological leaps forward in computer hardware.

The Intel Museum is located on the campus of the company’s world headquarters in Santa Clara, and it’s regularly open to the public.

Even for those who don’t fall into the tech-savvy category, it’s a fascinating place that’s definitely worth an hour or two of time.

Though it may sound dry to technophobes, it’s packed with interactive exhibits for visitors of all ages, so it’s great for kids with short attention spans too.

6. Santa Clara Farmers’ Market

There’s really no better way to rub elbows with locals, enjoy pleasant weather, and have access to tons of great products you won’t find elsewhere than by visiting a farmers’ market.

The Santa Clara Farmers’ Market is open year-round and features a little bit of everything – from seasonal produce and fresh baked goods to health and body products and prepared food items.

Held on Jackson Street near the downtown area, it’s common to find different items each time you go.

Spending a few bucks is a great way to support local farmers and entrepreneurs, and don’t be shy about asking them for suggestions for things to see and do while in town.

7. California’s Great America

There’s no shortage of theme parks in the Golden State, but there’s one clear choice for those visiting Santa Clara.

California’s Great America is located on Great America Parkway just outside of town. It features tons of rides, dining options, kid’s activities, and a water park that’s a huge draw during the hot summer months.

Though Great America can really draw a crowd during peak times when kids are enjoying their summer vacations, previous guests have noted that wait times for rides weren’t overly long.

Many families choose to spend an entire day on-site to avoid wasting valuable recreational time in the car.

8. Mission Santa Clara

Mission Santa Clara is one of the city’s premier historic sites, and it’s now conveniently located on the campus of Santa Clara University.

The mission was established by Franciscans in the 1770s to spread Christianity to the area’s Native American population.

Sadly, things didn’t go according to plan; due to several natural disasters, the mission was forced to move from its original site to where it is now.

Over the years, it was also run by the Jesuits. Though it’s no longer functioning in its original role, it now doubles as a museum and chapel that are open to visitors.

9. The Triton Museum of Art

Though guests tend to visit the Triton Museum of Art for the works in its collection, its stunning contemporary architecture usually makes a big impression as well.

The museum’s collection includes works from all over the country, but its emphasis is on pieces created by Bay Area artists using local people and scenery as inspiration.

The grounds also include a sprawling outdoor sculpture garden spread over nearly seven acres, and a home from the mid-1860s that’s among the most well-preserved examples of historic American architecture in the area.

The museum is located on Warburton Avenue, and most visitors spend a few hours on-site.

10. Santa Clara Players

The Santa Clara Players traces its roots all the way back to the early ‘60s, when a group of local performers began putting on small shows for the community.

Now nearly seven decades later, they’re still going strong. Their annual performances run the gamut from dramatic theater and mystery to satire and humor.

The players are part of a community theater group staffed by talented volunteers dedicated to providing high-quality, family-friendly entertainment at a reasonable cost.

They’re located on Don Avenue in Santa Clara and offer lots of volunteer opportunities for budding actors and stagehands.

11. Central Park

Featuring lots of wide-open spaces and massive swimming and community rec centers, Santa Clara’s Central Park is a go-to destination for activity minded visitors looking to make the most of their limited vacation time without traveling to more distant attractions.

The park is centrally located on Keily Boulevard, has ample parking, and features lots of outdoor amenities and recreational activity options.

From tennis and basketball to softball, lawn bowling, and a big playground, there’s really no excuse for getting bored while on-site. For those looking to spend a relaxing afternoon, there are a lake, built-in BBQs, and public restrooms.

12. The 49ers Museum

Even for those who won’t be in Santa Clara during the regular season, the 49ers stadium and museum are fun attractions worth visiting for sports-minded visitors.

The museum is located inside Levi’s Stadium and features nearly a dozen distinct galleries that are open to the public year-round.

It’s a fun and educational experience for visitors of all ages. In addition to football, its exhibits touch on science, technology, and art in a way that engages and entertains young and old minds alike.

Most guests check out the introductory video in the visitor’s center before showing themselves through the impressive collection of trophies, balls, and Super Bowl memorabilia on display.

13. The Santa Clara Fire Museum

The Santa Clara Fire Department’s roots run all the way back to the 1850s when it was founded.

The museum is now located on Walsh Avenue in an unused training center behind the city’s new fire station.

It sports an impressive collection of equipment and historical memorabilia that give visitors unique insights into the lives of fire and rescue personnel in years past.

The museum’s highlights include a fully restored Model-T fire truck that served for two decades, beginning in the 1920s.

The knowledgeable local volunteer staff also offer regular programs geared at educating the public about fire safety and prevention issues.

14. Edward Peterman Museum of Railroad History

The Edward Peterman Museum of Railroad History is run by a local historical society. It is housed in the depot of a now-defunct railroad on Railroad Avenue in Santa Clara.

Like many local historical attractions, the museum is staffed by local volunteers who love answering questions and showing first-time visitors around.

The museum’s exhibits include a variety of railroad equipment and memorabilia, including signals, safety equipment, and historical photographs dating back over 100 years.

The museum is regularly open to the public. It maintains an extensive library of books relating to railroad development and local history as well.

15. Voyager Coffee

Though it has only been around since 2016, Voyager Coffee’s owner and staff are dedicated to the noble pursuit of making their customers happy.

They do this largely by providing world-class coffee, but also by offering a comfortable space in which guests have opportunities to build relationships with like-minded customers.

Many of their coffees sport internationally influenced flavors, and they’re often infused with things like orange essence and cherry blossom water.

Don’t worry if you prefer your coffee straight-up, because they’ve got more traditional brews as well.

They offer fresh pastry and baked goods, tea, and other non-coffee drinks too.

15 Things to Do in Santa Clara (CA):

• Levi's Stadium
• Ulistac Natural Area
• Santa Clara Art & Wine Festival
• The de Saisset Museum
• Intel Museum
• Santa Clara Farmers’ Market
• California's Great America
• Mission Santa Clara
• The Triton Museum of Art
• Santa Clara Players
• Central Park
• The 49ers Museum
• The Santa Clara Fire Museum
• Edward Peterman Museum of Railroad History
• Voyager Coffee