I’ve read a lot of packing lists, so when it was time to leave to work in Yellowstone National Park for a summer, I was surprised that there didn’t appear to be a single packing list for working seasonally in a National Park. So I thought maybe I’d capitalize on that niche.
Probably the most important way to prepare for taking an extended trip with a remote destination is to pack smart. Especially if you’re like me, and flying severely limits what you can bring with you. I can’t believe I didn’t post this packing list beforehand, but I figure that it’s probably the best piece of advice I can offer for anyone who’s planning on working a summer season at one of the US national parks.
Normally, I am strictly carry-on only. However, because I’d be facing extreme temperatures and working in an extremely remote place, I paid for one large, checked bag to bring more along. I was told it would be remote, but trust me when I say that even basic necessities like shampoo are either a 3 hour drive away or insanely expensive.
For the most part, I think that I packed very well for the summer, even though I brought a few too many t-shirts. Another thing to note is that I simply didn’t have room to bring multitudes of camping gear, but in my case that didn’t pose any issues with camping because I was either able to share with friends or rent gear from one of the many outdoors stations. So without any more blabbering, here is a guide to what to pack for working the summer season in a national park!
Luggage
- XL suitcase (checked)
- VenturePal collapsable backpack (carry on)
Clothes
- Winter coat
- Polar fleece jacket or pullover
- Rain jacket
- 2 sweatshirts
- 3 long-sleeved shirts
- 5 comfy T-shirts
- 5 athletic T-shirts
- 2 tank tops
- 1 comfortable dress
- 5 athletic shorts
- 2 normal shorts
- 2 pairs of leggings
- 2 normal bras
- 3 sports bras
- 15 pairs of normal socks
- 5 pairs of hiking socks
- 20 pairs of underwear
- 1 baseball cap
- 1 knit hat
- 2 pairs of gloves
Shoes
- Hiking boots (waterproof)
- Tennis shoes
- Chacos
Toiletries
- 2 tubes toothpaste
- Toothbrush
- Hairbrush
- 10 hairties
- Floss
- 2-pack deodorant
- Moisturizer
- Facial and body sunscreen (biggest containers I could find)
- Bug spray (bought there)
- Bear spray (bought there)
- Chapstick
- Concealer/mascara/lipgloss (tiny comforts)
- XL containers of shampoo, conditioner, body wash, lotion
- 2 facial towels
- Beach towel
- Loofah
- Pack of razors
- tampons and pads
Dorm Gear
- Sleeping bag
- Blanket
- Fitted sheet
- Pillow + pillowcase
- Fold-up posters for the wall
- Tape/thumbtacks for hanging decorations
Tech
- Phone
- Laptop
- Phone and laptop chargers
- 6-outlet surge protector
- Portable charger
Extras
- Lanyard
- 32oz water bottle
- hot/cold thermos
- Sunglasses
- Wallet/cards/money stuff
- notebook and pens for journalling
Other Packing Tips: Feel free to skip if you’ve got all you need, but here’s some extra clarifying info in case you’d like to have it.
- Don’t feel the need to pack what I did exactly, but the name of the game is layers. In Wyoming, mornings might be below freezing while afternoons get up into the 80’s, so having things that can easily be taken on and off makes hiking and general living so much easier. My polar fleece was my best friend here.
- You’ll notice I didn’t pack any food or cooking supplies- that’s because the employee cafeteria graciously provided all of that. My roommate brought a fridge which was nice to have but not necessary to get by.
- It is so worth it to pay a premium for good hiking boots. I tried to go cheap for my first pair which I bought from Walmart, and while they were advertised to be waterproof, I almost got frostbite after accidentally stepping into a puddle and getting my feet soaked. Now I have Sketchers Basecamp boots and they are fantastic (and actually waterproof).
- Chacos were also awesome, they’re great for warm-weather hikes and for swimming/wading. They even doubled as my shower shoes! With these and hiking boots combined, you honestly don’t really need to have tennis shoes, though I liked to have them for walking around the towns we visited.
- I originally brought a Hydroflask water bottle, and while it’s great to have ice-cold water, it was just so freaking heavy to lug around on hikes. I got a Nalgene about halfway into the summer and found that I preferred that much better.
- Lanyards are way more handy than I’d originally thought, they can be used as a wallet and it’s a great way to bring your valuables with you when you go swimming so that you don’t have to worry about leaving them on shore.
- Chapstick and lotion may seem frivolous, but leave that contempt at the door because trust me, you’ll be in PAIN if you forget it. The days where I forgot to apply chapstick and moisturizer, I could instantly tell because the dry air works fast and ugh, it stings so bad. And chapstick is like $7 at the general store.
Well, there you have it! My packing list for working in a National Park! Preparing for this kind of adventure is definitely not a one-size-fits-all process, but this list allowed me to survive out here in the wilderness pretty comfortably.