There are a few easy ways to save money on lodging for your national park vacation. These ideas may seems like common sense, but to go forth and apply these methods is the first step to enjoying your national park vacation and saving some money while you're at it.

You are on vacation, everywhere you look is beautiful scenery. So, skip the rooms with a view. Get out of the room early to begin enjoying the vistas that make these national parks so special. Set your alarm clock for the sunrise and really get outside and look around. Your room should be the place you spend the least amount of waking time on your vacation. The rooms with a view are slightly more expensive, so this can be a money saver for you.

Sunrise: must leave your room to see this. photo by MCA/Mike Allyn on Flickr

If you are trying to pinch pennies, a room with a kitchenette is a great idea. This way you can go grocery shopping and buy all the necessities for your meals as a group. Kitchenette rooms are also ideal because you can keep your leftovers cold and then heat them up in the morning. Kitchenette rooms will give your group the freedom to perhaps go out to a nice restaurant, rather than eat at the cheaper joints the whole time. This gives you an opportunity to try some renowned cuisine while eating well for the duration of the trip.

As everyone knows, the summer and weekends are generally busier than spring, fall and weekdays. For a great opportunity to enjoy a cheaper vacation, visit in the off season. Less people and off-season deals can make your vacation memorable for the right reasons and not for the crowds and elbow rubbing. This strategy for best timing can also be applied to traveling a week before or after the busiest holiday weekends.

Vacations are supposed to be memorable for what you go and see, not necessarily for the view out of your room, the overpriced food at the nearby restaurants or the overwhelming crowds competing for a photo opportunity of the popular vista. A little timing and planning can go a long way. Not only will these tips help you to save money, it should also give you a guideline for having a more enjoyable vacation. Of course, National Park Reservations is the best way to arrange your preferences in national park lodging.