US Travelers Lean Into the Outdoors as Backroads Adds Park Trips

Backroads, a travel tour company, is increasing its 2026 US national park departures after seeing stronger demand for several park itineraries.

The active travel company said bookings are up year over year for trips visiting Death Valley, Great Smoky Mountains, Arches, Yellowstone, Yosemite, Saguaro, and Joshua Tree. Because of that, it is expanding its national park schedule by 12 percent and adding new itineraries.

Demand is rising across key park destinations

The company said sales are up 10 percent to 20 percent for select national park trips. Death Valley and Great Smoky Mountains are seeing the biggest gains, with demand up as much as 30 percent to 60 percent.

Backroads focuses on active travel, including guided hiking and biking trips.

Travelers are looking for trips that feel easier to plan

Backroads said it is also seeing stronger interest in North American departures overall. The company linked that trend to global uncertainty, which may be leading some travelers to choose destinations closer to home.

US national parks fit that demand well. They are familiar, well-known, and easier to understand than many long-haul international trips.

Backroads is betting the trend will continue

This update shows that national parks are becoming a bigger part of Backroads’ growth strategy, not just a seasonal product.

The broader takeaway is that US national parks remain one of the clearest ways for travel companies to sell memorable outdoor vacations at a time when some travelers are making more careful choices about where to go.

Domestic travelers are becoming more important for US leisure demand

Backroads’ update also comes at a time when parts of the US travel market are relying more heavily on domestic demand. Weaker inbound international travel is making local and regional travelers more important for many parts of the industry. Stronger interest in national park trips suggests operators like Backroads may be benefiting not only from demand for outdoor travel, but also from a market where domestic vacations are playing a bigger role.

Photo by Veronika Bykovich on Unsplash