Keen to Visit 47 US National Parks? Algorithm Maps Out The Most Efficient Route
Image via ID 140260035 © Gillian08 | Dreamstime.com
There are 59 protected areas across the United States that are managed by the National Park Service, and these constitute the national parks.
12 of these are located off the mainland, in places like Alaska and Hawaii. But the other 47 can be visited in a single highly-efficient road trip, and someone has figured out exactly how.
For the most optimal American national parks experience, Dr. Randy Olsen, a data scientist and artificial intelligence researcher, has devised an algorithm to plan the most efficient trip. There’s no need to do any of the calculations yourself.
In total, around 14,500 miles will be covered and will require around at least two months to complete, speeding through “at a breakneck pace.” To be able to reap the rewards of the mammoth distance travelled, three or four months might be a more suitable timeframe.
This route has been designed to form somewhat of a circle, which means that any commuter can join in the route at the park nearest to them and carry on from there.
Image via Randal Olsen
Under his blog post, comments from seasoned travelers and those interested share tips on detours, other interesting sights that happen to be along the way, and how best to carry out this experience of a lifetime. It’s quite heartwarming.
One suggestion in particular is a detour through New York to Maine, which takes travelers off the interstate and through the mountains instead.
And if any of the areas don’t suit your fancy, Olsen also offers resources to help others map out their own routes using Python and Google Maps. For the less code-inclined, he also suggests a website to help with the effort.
A full list of the 47 parks covered can be found on Olsen’s website, and includes destinations like Mount Rainier, Washington, and the Great Smoky Mountains, Tennessee.
[via Good News Network, images via Randal Olsen and ID 140260035 © Gillian08 | Dreamstime.com]
Also check out these recent news
