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How Interstate 40's Closure Is Affecting Travel To Great Smoky Mountains National Park

It could take three months or longer to clean up a rock slide and reopen a section of Interstate 40 on the North Carolina side of Great Smoky Mountains National Park. That means getting to the park from some areas will be a bit tricky. It also means don't rely on your GPS units to find a shortcut, as that could spell trouble.

You'll Need to Win the Lottery to Attend This Year’s National Christmas Tree Lighting

People who want to attend this year’s National Christmas Tree lighting on December 3 (invited VIPs excepted, of course) will need to score tickets distributed to the general public by lottery. You can enter the lottery online or by phone during November 4-6. Here are the details.

Anniversary Celebration of California Desert Protection Act at Mojave National Preserve

October 31 isn't just about pumpkins and goblins anymore. The date also marks the anniversary of the California Desert Protection Act, a major milestone for Death Valley and Joshua Tree National Parks and the Mojave National Preserve. The day will be celebrated at a special event on Saturday at the Mojave National Preserve.

Winter Lodging Deals at Mammoth Cave, Zion, Grand Canyon, and Death Valley National Parks

Comparatively few people think of visiting national parks during the winter months, and that's unfortunate for a variety of reasons. Not only does this season present an entirely different view of the parks than the one you normally experience during spring and summer, but lodging typically is less expensive, as the following offers demonstrate.

Mammoth Cave National Park Harbors More Than A Few Ghost Stories

With more than 150 documented paranormal events, many of them experienced by credible witnesses such as rangers and scientists, Mammoth Cave National Park easily qualifies for the title “most haunted natural wonder in the world.” Park rangers Colleen O’Connor Olson and Charles Hanion have recorded many of the park’s creepiest tales in their book Scary Stories of Mammoth Cave, a must read for anybody intrigued by the park’s supernatural history.

Congress Boosts National Park Service Budget by $130 Million to $2.7 Billion

Congress on Thursday gave the National Park Service a 9 percent budget bump, one that translates into a $130 million boost above the appropriation sought by President Obama. If signed by the president, which is expected to prevent the government from grinding to a halt this weekend, the Park Service's Fiscal 2010 budget will stand at $2.7 billion.