NPS Road Classes
For purposes of functional classification, the routes which make up a park road system are grouped based on use into three categories: Public Use Park Roads, Administrative Park Roads, and Urban Parkways and City Streets. Note that federal or state roads may exist within National Park System lands. This section only refers to the roads that are maintained by the NPS.
The assignment of a functional classification to a park road is not based on traffic volumes or design speed, but on the intended use or function of that particular road or route.
| NPS Class |
Name | Description | Suggested Waze Road Treatment |
| I (one) |
Principal Park Road, Rural Parkway | Roads which constitute the main access route, circulatory tour, or thoroughfare for park visitors. | Primary Street, Street |
| II (two) |
Connector Park Road | Roads which provide access within a park to areas of scenic, scientific, recreational or cultural interest, such as overlooks, campgrounds, etc. | Street |
| III (three) |
Special Purpose Park Road | Roads which provide circulation within public use areas, such as campgrounds, picnic areas, visitor center complexes, concessioneer facilities, etc. These roads generally serve low·speed traffic and are often designed for one-way circulation. | Street +/- unpaved attribute |
| IV (four) |
Primitive Park Road | Roads which provide circulation through remote areas and access to primitive campgrounds and undeveloped areas. These roads frequently have no minimum design standards and their use may be limited to specially equipped vehicles. | Off road / not maintained |
| V (five) |
Administrative Access Road | All public roads intended for access to administrative developments or structures such as park offices, employee quarters, or utility areas. | Private Road |
| VI (six) |
Restricted Roads | All roads normally closed to the public, including patrol roads, truck trails, and other similar roads. | Private Road |
The following diagram provides examples of where these road classes might be located in a typical National Park setting.
