What Happened to My Travel Plans During the U.S. Government Shutdown

After a few peaceful nights at the canyon, I headed toward Flagstaff, Arizona, where I had a reservation at Bonito Campground, located on forest service land north of town. I’d been worried the government shutdown might affect my stay, but the campground was open and operating normally. Seasonal closure wasn’t scheduled until mid-October, so I was good.

My main reason for stopping in Flagstaff was personal.  I wanted to take my niece and her husband out for an early anniversary dinner since I was passing through. We enjoyed catching up and sharing a meal before I hit the road again the next morning.

From there, my original plan was to make my way toward Petrified Forest National Park. Unfortunately, it was closed due to the government shutdown. That one stung a bit, I’d really been looking forward to exploring the colorful badlands and fossilized trees.

Still, I understood the reasoning. During the 2018 shutdown, the park experienced unusually high vandalism and resource damage, so this time the National Park Service took stricter precautionary measures to protect the area. As an RV traveler used to planning around closures, I appreciated their foresight, even if it meant rerouting my travels. 

Since Petrified Forest was off the table, I continued north to Page, Arizona, where I stayed at a BLM (Bureau of Land Management) campground near Lake Powell. It was a first-come, first-served site with no hookups, so I half-expected it to be closed because of the shutdown. Instead, it was open, spotless, and surprisingly quiet.

Several BLM hiking trails branched off from the campground, all in great condition. I didn’t see any signs of vandalism, just wide desert views and a few fellow RV campers enjoying the Southwest. Across the road sat the Glen Canyon National Recreation Area, which was also accessible. The Glen Canyon Dam Visitor Center was closed, but the parking lot, overlook, and dam walkway were open for exploring.

After leaving Page, I continued north to Utah’s Mighty 5 National Parks: Arches, Canyonlands, Capitol Reef, Bryce Canyon, and Zion. I’d expected limited access, but Utah stepped up in a big way. The state funded the park rangers during the shutdown, keeping even the visitor centers open for RV travelers.

Entrance fees were waived (a rare perk!), but otherwise, operations ran smoothly. Trails were maintained, restrooms open, and parking lots accessible. The only real disruption I witnessed was a brief moment in Bryce Canyon National Park, where I saw a young girl start to scratch a canyon wall with a rock along the Wall Street Trail.

I didn’t hesitate.  I spoke up right away, telling her that damaging park formations could lead to hefty fines and even a lifetime ban from national parks. She froze, dropped the rock, and her mom looked mortified. Luckily, that quick intervention seemed to do the trick.

Despite the uncertainty that came with the federal government shutdown, my RV travel across Arizona and Utah went surprisingly smoothly. Most operations continued thanks to state management and concessionaire-run services. While I expected locked gates and “closed” signs, I instead found open trails, friendly travelers, and a reminder of how resilient these places, and the people who love them, can be. 

The only disappointment was Petrified Forest National Park remaining closed, but knowing it was for the protection of its rare and fragile features made that a closure I could fully support.