Tips for trips on the 100th anniversary of the National Parks system

Whenever anyone asks me about my favorite trips or places to visit, I always answer with two words: "National Parks."

And when they ask me where to stay I always reply "In one of the historic National Park lodges." El Tovar at the Grand Canyon, the Old Faithful Inn at Yellowstone, the Lodge at Bryce Canyon, the Many Glacier Hotel in Glacier National Park, and the others are worth visiting by themselves.

Sure, you can stay outside the park, but sometimes the drive to and from scenic sites, and the waits to get into the parks, eat into your visiting time.

But there's a problem: The number of rooms are limited and you're competing not just with your fellow Americans but with visitors from all over the planet. And in this 100th year anniversary it might be harder than ever to get a bed — according to Xanterra Parks & Resorts ^[1], the largest park concession management company, which oversees the lodges in Glacier, Yellowstone, Grand Canyon South Rim, Death Valley, Mt. Rushmore, Crater Lake, Rocky Mountain and Zion National Parks.

So some tips for this year and any year:

A (jagged) peek at Zion National Park in Utah.Photo: NPS Photo/Jonathan Fortner

Book rooms several months in advance if possible. The Old Faithful Inn in Yellowstone National Park; El Tovar in Phantom Ranch and Bright Angel Lodge in Grand Canyon National Park; Glacier Hotel in Glacier National Park; and other well-known historic facilities can be booked eight months or so in advance. Still, between May 1 and late June and between mid-August and mid-October, it is still possible to reserve a room within days of arrival. Although less famous lodgings often have availability closer to check-in, it's always wise to book as far in advance as possible. National parks accept reservations 13 months in advance. For Yellowstone National Park, however, summer reservations open up May 1 for the following year (May 1, 2016, you can book for May 1, 2017 through October 2017). For winter, reservations open March 15 for the following winter (March 15, 2016, you can book for the winter of 2016/2017). Click here ^[2] for more information.

Check for cancellations. Last-minute cancellations do occur. The easiest way to check is at the individual park's website or by calling central reservations at 888-297-2757.

Travel in the off-season, even winter. Many of these lodges operate year round, and there's less traffic and fewer visitors when the weather gets cooler. But remember: Many parks require tire chains if visiting during snow seasons.

Trekking through a watery canyon in Zion National Park.

Do a package tour. Companies like Tauck Tours ^[3] book rooms in the lodges far in advance. They're not cheap but they're a great way to see several parks without the hassle of driving and booking rooms.

Make dinner reservations ahead of time. Even if you can't get a room in any iconic lodges, be sure to at least dine in one. The food is excellent, not expensive, and portions are huge. And like those hotel rooms, you can usually reserve a table in the hotel's main dining room months in advance. Guests staying at the Grand Canyon's El Tovar, for example, may make dinner reservations at the classic El Tovar restaurant six months in advance. Others must wait until 30 days before arrival. Many park dining options do not require reservations. To make a reservation, visit the dining section of each park lodge's website; often you must call or email the restaurant directly.

Book guided tours in advance. Select the guided tours you want and book them early — which also allows access to multiple tour departure times. At Grand Canyon National Park, for example, the popular half-day South Rim mule trips on the rim or overnight trips to Phantom Ranch may be booked 13 months in advance.

And one caveat: If you book into one of these historic properties, don't expect every mod con. Most rooms do have private baths, TVs, and phones, but some may not have air conditioning. Remember, you're staying, in some cases, in a national treasure possibly built over 100 years ago. Maybe you'll even stay in a room where Teddy Roosevelt once slept. It doesn't get more historic than that.