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Know before you go: American Samoa

How to stay safe here, what to pack and what to leave at home.

By The Green Adventures · Updated · How we check

Today at American Samoa

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Alerts: National Park Service, checked hourly. Forecast: National Weather Service, for Visitor Center and Park Store. Always confirm on the official park site before you set out.

Stay safe

  • Wildlife: Keep at least 25 yards (23 m) from all wild animals, and 100 yards (91 m) from bears and wolves where they live. Never feed wildlife. Use pullouts to watch animals from the road.
  • Water and weather: Conditions on the water change fast. Check marine forecasts and tides, wear a life jacket on boats, and remember cold water is dangerous even in summer.
  • Remote travel: There are few or no services. Plan flights or boats in advance, carry extra food and a way to call for help, and leave your plans with someone.
  • Cell service: Coverage is patchy in most parks. Download offline maps and the park’s info before you lose signal.

What to pack

Start with the park service’s ten essentials:

  • Navigation: a paper map or offline map, plus a charged phone and battery pack
  • Sun protection: sunglasses, sunscreen and a hat
  • Layers: a warm layer and a rain shell, even in summer
  • Headlamp or flashlight
  • First aid kit
  • Fire starter (matches or a lighter) for emergencies
  • Repair kit and tools (a small knife, tape)
  • Extra food
  • Extra water and a way to treat it
  • Emergency shelter: a space blanket or tarp

For American Samoa also bring:

  • Water shoes or sandals
  • A dry bag for phones and cameras
  • Seasickness tablets if you are taking a boat
  • Binoculars for wildlife watching from a safe distance

What to leave at home

  • A drone: launching, landing or flying drones is banned in almost every national park site.
  • Firewood from home: it can carry tree-killing pests. Buy it where you burn it, ideally within 10 miles.
  • Pets: of the 5 hikes the park service lists here, 4 allow pets. Where pets are allowed they must be on a leash no longer than 6 feet.
  • Anything you plan to take home from the park: rocks, plants, antlers, artifacts and fossils must stay where you find them.
  • Food that wildlife can reach: store it as the park directs, in your car or a locker, never in a tent in bear country.

Weather

American Samoa is in the South Pacific Ocean, between the Equator and the Tropic of Capricorn. A tropical climate prevails with warm or hot temperatures year-round and high humidity. Rain showers are frequent and can last only for a few minutes or all-day. The average annual rainfall is 125-inches in the dryer areas to as much as 300-inches in the highest mountains. Tropical storms are more prevalent during the long, wet summer season (October -May) and a slightly cooler and drier season (June-September)

From the National Park Service (public domain).

Sources

Last checked 1 November 2026.

Frequently asked questions

What should I pack for American Samoa?
The ten essentials (map, sun protection, layers, light, first aid, fire starter, tools, extra food, extra water and emergency shelter), plus water shoes or sandals.
Can I fly a drone in American Samoa?
No. Launching, landing or operating drones is prohibited in national parks unless the superintendent approves it in writing.