Save money and have a great time exploring America's outdoors through its National Park System with these handy vacation planning tips.

According to recent traveler surveys, almost three-quarters of family vacationers plan to visit a national park in the next year. It looks like visiting national parks this upcoming summer will be a hot trend for families seeking cost-effective vacations that will allow them to save a few pennies, enjoy the great outdoors, and make memories that will last a lifetime.

As a leading concessioneer of the National Park Service, ARAMARK Parks and Destinations provides first-rate lodging and dining options for families experiencing the natural beauty of many national parks. FTF staff have reviewed many of their facilities while covering the national parks, and we think you'll find their cost-saving tips to be very helpful.

1.  Get to Know Your Region's History

Wherever you're located, there's probably a national park nearby that can offer an affordable and family-friendly travel option for last-minute travel.  Looking for a daytrip or a weekend trip with the family?  National parks offer complimentary guided tours that showcase the unique history of the region and offer a great learning experience for all ages.

According to one TripAdvisor survey, 36% of travelers will engage in an educational activity on vacation, and 87% said they plan to visit an historic site. This means more travelers are looking to supplement their vacations with educational opportunities for the entire family.

What better way for families to save on cash than to hike the trails of their favorite park, fish, bike ride, or share a picnic while watching the sunset. Visitors get a world of experiences by visiting UNESCO World Heritage Sites at such national parks as Mesa Verde, where the world's largest archeological preserve in North America lies, and Glacier Bay, with one of the nation's largest biosphere reserves.

2.  Book Shoulder Season Travel

While traveling during off times may not sound that appealing, many national parks offer great deals on accommodations, tours, and services at the beginning or toward the last few weeks of a season.

Families looking to see the beauty and grandeur of national parks without the crowds will see firsthand what the locals experience year-round. September brings the very best of fall foliage in Alaska, while the months of May and June usually have more temperate weather conditions, allowing for the best travel in warmer regions of the country.

3.  Skip the Hotel

The best part about visiting national parks is the variety of unique lodging options. What better way to experience the great outdoors than to "rough it" with the family by camping, or renting one of the National Park Service's cabins, or by parking the RV at the campground.

For guests at Lake Powell Resorts and Marinas in the Glen Canyon National Recreation Area, travelers can skip the hotel and head right for the houseboat (many with their own waterslide) and cherish a unique way to sleep on the crystal blue waters of Lake Powell, America's top houseboating destination. Better yet, check out great seasonal fuel offers to save on gas, advertised periodically to boost traffic.

As crowds of families visit the national parks to engage in hiking and outdoor activities, you'll have to plan farther ahead to ensure the best lodging is available.

4.  Go Green

More and more, Americans appear to be supporting the environment and going "lean and green" with their vacation plans. As requested, most guests now know to 'take only pictures and leave only footprints' when they get out into the Great Outdoors.

A number of ARAMARK Parks and Destinations are incorporating green initiatives and sustainable cuisine into their fine-dining menus -- steps that will help the environment and the local economies. Alaska's Denali National Park Resorts, for example, is leading the way with its new Articlean Ozone laundry system, award-winning recycling program, and addition of a hybrid bus to its tour fleet. With more travelers looking for eco-friendly destinations, national parks offer families the perfect green getaway.

National Parks Vacation Trip Planning Details

Families should plan ahead as much as possible to make the most out of a park visit, and experience the best each region has to offer. Many ARAMARK Parks and Destinations offer unique packages geared around special events and festivals that show off the culture of the region, whether it's the Indian Arts & Culture Festival at Mesa Verde National Park in Southwestern Colorado, or the Apple Butter Festival at Shenandoah National Park in Virginia.

Check out package deals, which are more popular and available than ever.  Today, nearly every newspaper and popular travel magazine and website lists package deals, often bundling a rental car and hotel with a national parks pass.

ARAMARK suggests booking accommodations through hotel websites directly, rather than through the search engines. You are guaranteed to get the best rate, for example, if going directly to Bestwestern.com, rather than booking lodging through a central site. In light of the slow economic recovery, company loyalty programs to help keep customers happy and coming back for more, are on the rise.  Be sure to sign up to earn and accumulate points and win travel rewards.

And don't forget to prepare the family for their foray into the Great Outdoors. Use the internet to research the flora and fauna you may encounter on your park visit, ask each family member to help you put together a nature guide and collect souvenirs for a scrapbook, and download maps and hiking trail guides to your GPS or to print out, prior to your visit. 

With cutbacks in government budgets to match your own, the Visitor Center at the national park you visit may not be as well stocked with giveaway guides and other literature as you'd expect, but on weekends especially, there are sure to worthwhile ranger-led tours and programs.