National Park Playoffs: Vote for America’s Greatest Park
We’re kicking off the National Park Playoffs. It’s a bracket-style tournament where all 63 U.S. national parks go head-to-head. Only one will be crowned champion. Think college basketball brackets (that happen in March and April), but more scenic. And the best part? You can play along.
Current Standings (March 24, 2026)
Who’s Behind the Playoffs?
We’re Katie and Joe. We’ve made it our mission to visit every U.S. national park. So far, we’ve explored 45 of the 63 U.S. national parks. We’ve visited the most popular and the most remote and are on track to complete all 63 in 2026.
We’re hosting the National Park Playoffs because we love the National Park System. We want to share that love with as many people as possible. Whether you’re a seasoned park-goer or a first-timer, this tournament is for you.
Our hope is simple: spark some curiosity. Help people discover the incredible variety of parks across the country. And maybe inspire a few new adventures along the way.
Want to follow along? You can find us here:
- Instagram: Daily inspiration from across the globe
- Facebook: A little bit of everything: photos, vlogs, and travel tips
- YouTube: Real footage as we explore the parks and more
- Blog: Itineraries, packing lists, and everything you need to plan your visit
How It Works
Every round, we pit two parks against each other, and the one with the most combined votes moves on.
Public voting will happen through Instagram Stories (@KatieAndJoeOnTheGo). Voting will only open on the scheduled date for each round but don’t stress, we’ll email you when voting goes live.
- Round 1: March 18, 2026
- Round 2: March 23, 2026
- Round 3: March 26, 2026
- Quarter Final: March 30, 2026
- Final Four: April 2, 2026
- Championship: April 6, 2026
Your job: predict the winners before voting begins (March 17th at 11:59 MDT)! Download your bracket, fill it out, and email it to hello@katieandjoeonthego.com with the subject line “National Park Playoffs Entry – Your Full Name” by the deadline. Example: “National Park Playoffs Entry – Theodore Roosevelt“
The person with the most accurate predictions wins the prize!
How To Fill Out Your Bracket
Filling out your bracket is simple. Whether this is your first bracket or your hundredth, here’s how to get it done.
- Pick a winner for every matchup on both the left and right sides of the bracket.
- Work your way towards the center by using your Round 1 picks to fill in each subsequent round.
- Name your Champion by picking the one park you think will win it all.
- Submit your bracket. Email it to hello@katieandjoeonthego.com with the subject line “National Park Playoffs – Your Full Name” Include your full name and email address in both the bracket submission and email.
The Deadline
Brackets must be received by Monday, March 17 at 11:59 PM Mountain Time to be eligible. Late or incomplete entries won’t qualify, so don’t wait!
Download the Bracket
We wanted to make this as simple as possible. However, there’s no perfect way to host a bracket, so we created three versions. Each one covers the same matchups. Simply choose the format that works best for you.
- Digital Version: Fill it out directly on your computer and email it to us
- Printer Friendly Version: Print it out, fill it in with pen, and email a scan or photo
- Accessible Text Version: Designed for screen readers and assistive technology
You can download the versions below by filling out your First Name and Email Address.
YOU ONLY NEED TO FILL OUT ONE OF THE VERSIONS.
Official Rules
- Open to participants who submit a completed bracket predicting the winner of each head-to-head matchup. Parks will advance based on public voting conducted via Instagram Stories and on our website (KatieAndJoeOnTheGo.com). The park that receives the most combined votes in each round moves on.
- Limit one (1) bracket entry per person. Each bracket must clearly include the participant’s full name and email address to be considered valid. To be eligible to win, completed brackets must be emailed to hello@katieandjoeonthego.com with the subject line “National Park Playoffs” no later than 11:59 PM Mountain Time on March 17. Brackets submitted after this deadline or with missing information will not be eligible.
- Winner will be determined based on the most accurate predictions. Winner must be a US resident. Do not reply to any messages regarding this giveaway unless it comes from us (@katieandjoeonthego or Hello@KatieAndJoeOnTheGo.com) — don’t get scammed! We will DM the winner and they will have 24 hours to respond and claim the prize.
- No purchase necessary. Must be 18 or older to enter. Void where prohibited by law. No substitution of prize permitted except at Sponsor’s sole discretion. ARV of prize: $100. Odds of winning depend on the number of eligible entries received. This promotion is in no way sponsored, endorsed, administered by, or associated with Instagram or Meta Platforms, Inc.
