The prime season for national park visits is underway, and tour operators are reporting that international bookings are down while domestic bookings are up.
National parks are among the biggest tourism drivers for the U.S. and where tour operators typically concentrate their domestic itineraries. However, two major operators, Intrepid Travel and Globus, report that parks demand has softened due to a decline in international visitors.
"International bookings for our U.S. national parks tours are down 42% for 2026, with Canadian bookings down 86% -- numbers that reflect the broader decline in international travel to the U.S. this year," said Leigh Barnes, Intrepid's president of the Americas.
Globus is experiencing what chief marketing officer Steve Born described as a "modest" softening, with park bookings down about 10% from the same time last year.
Born links the decline to geopolitical uncertainty impacting international markets. He said potential travelers were turned off by questions surrounding possible disruptions to park services following the Trump administration's staffing cuts for the National Park Service last year.
On the flip side, domestic bookings for parks have grown for some operators as more Americans, hesitant to travel internationally due to the Iran war, decide to take their summer vacation in the U.S.
While the operator says international business is down, Intrepid reports a 7% increase in U.S. bookings to national parks.
National parks specialist Southwest Adventures added more departure dates to accommodate a 20% jump in business.
Tauck added three itineraries for national parks, which are among the company's most popular tours. The operator said its national parks bookings are up 5% overall due to domestic demand.
"With ongoing uncertainty around international travel, there's a notable shift in demand for North America," said Kelly Coughlan, brand manager at Tauck. She added that parks itineraries in Canada are pacing 6% ahead of last year.
Tour operator Collette didn't share numbers, but media relations senior manager Amelia Sugerman said there was "a notable increase" in demand for parks itineraries, driven by Americans. She said Collette's international bookings for national parks have declined in recent years.
Backroads, an operator that specializes in active itineraries and offers them in national parks, reported that parks bookings are mostly flat, except for a few parks like Death Valley, Yellowstone and Arches that are up for the year.
Advice for travel advisors
The tour operator encouraged travel advisors to promote guided trips as the best way to experience the country's national parks.
Between cuts to the National Park Service's funding and higher entrance fees for international visitors, independent travel could be more expensive and burdensome. Backroads is one of many tour operators that have permits that waive additional fees for guests from outside the U.S.
Some national parks also have visitor caps and timed-entry reservations, which could be another hassle for independent travelers.
"I would encourage advisors to position these trips as a stress-free, fully supported way to experience the national parks, especially in a year when independent travel can be challenging to coordinate," said Onni Vosdoganes, a Backroads travel advisor account manager.