Are you traveling in the US with your family? Would you like to take everyone to a national park but are having difficulty deciding which of them is the most family-friendly? Fret not, fellow traveler. After a study of multiple online sources, we now confidently present the 16 best US national parks to visit with kids.
The 16 Best US National Parks to Visit with Kids
1. Acadia National Park, Maine
Acadia is more about leisure, carriage rides, picnics, and enjoying nature than challenging outdoor adventure. Here you can cruise the popular Park Loop Road, sample a tasty popover at the Jordan Pond House, enjoy the view from atop Cadillac Mountain, and even see the sunset from the old Bar Harbor Lighthouse. A number of the hikes here are more like family-friendly strolls.
All of Acadia’s main attractions are joined by the previously mentioned Park Loop Road. Quite simply, you do not have to do any lengthy hiking to visit most of the park’s most memorable places. Mind you, if you are a family of adventurous hikers, there are a number of super trails to hike here. In fact, if your kids are older and unafraid of heights, hit the Beehive Trail and make some memories!
2Arches National Park, Utah
Arches National Park is popular for its epic hikes, scenic drives, and spectacular landscapes. It is a very kid-friendly park as well. After all, most of the numerous landmarks here are actually located near the road or only require a short hike.
Some “must-see” sights that are easily accessible include Balanced Rock, Double Arch, and the Windows. Additionally, if your entire family are good hikers then you can hit the popular Delicate Arch Trail. Hike to Landscape Arch as well.
If you have a busy family schedule, no worries here! You can visit Arches National Park during any season. Mind you, in the summer, it is pretty hot for any real hiking. Again though, you can see a lot simply by cruising the well-known Arches Scenic Drive and briefly stopping your car at the available viewpoints. Enjoy a fun, family-friendly rafting trip down the Colorado River too.
3Bryce Canyon National Park, Utah
This national park is one of the state’s well-known “Might Five.” Its unique landscape and distinctive hoodoos are not only a part of the stunning scenery here but make for amazing photographs and breathtaking scenery. School-aged children should be able to hike the 2.9-mile Navajo Loop and Queen’s Garden Trail in order to get a close look at the unusual formations.
If you have preschool children or don’t like to walk, there are also ranger programs, horseback outings, and other family-friendly activities. Mind you, the extreme elevation changes in this park mean variable temperatures so you will need to pack layers. If you plan on staying in the park’s Bryce Canyon Lodge, you need to know it is often pricey and they’re often booked months in advance. There are less expensive choices in accommodations mere minutes from the park’s entrance.
4Death Valley National Park, California
Many marvel at the other-worldly atmosphere of Death Valley. Some compare the Mesquite Flat Sand Dunes to a “Star Wars” shooting location. Kids of all ages enjoy sliding down the seemingly endless sand dunes.
Must-see sections here include the incredible Artist’s Drive, the distinctive Devil’s Golf Course complete with its jagged rock salt spires created by eons of rain and wind erosion, and the Dali-like Badwater Salt Flats highlighted by natural geometric designs which can be seen for miles. What’s more, you are actually 282 feet beneath sea level. Energetic kids love trying to lift the large hunks of salt here.
Need a break? Kick back on a bench that overlooks stunning Zabriskie Point. Remember that the weather here can be extreme and the terrain is rough. Book your rooms well in advance as there aren’t a lot of options.
5Everglades National Park, Florida
Encompassing more than 1.5 million acres, this is the third-largest national park in the contiguous US. It’s bigger than Glacier, Grand Canyon, and Yosemite National Parks. Some think it’s little more than a swamp, but it’s really a diverse ecosystem and a fun place for families to explore.
Visit the friendly Shark Valley Visitors Center and board a tram ride through the entire park, bike the hiking trails, or explore this place via kayak or canoe. You can also take an airboat tour through the verdant mangrove jungles. Indeed, some say it’s actually the very best way to navigate the waterways and marshy grasslands here.
Are you vacationing in Miami? You can visit this popular, family-friendly park from there. There are other accommodation options closer to the entrance of the park, too.
6Glacier National Park, Montana
This park is praised both for its beauty and its remoteness. It spans an area of more than one million acres and only one road crosses it. Most of the park is accessible only on foot.
More importantly, this park offers a number of different family-friendly activities. Your younger kids will be fascinated by peaceful Lake McDonald. The multi-colored rocks under the clear glacial water here sparkle.
You can even rent stand-up paddleboards or kayaks and get a closer look. If you prefer dry land, you can all hike the easily accessible Trail of the Cedars. While veteran visitors say it is perfect for the entire family, it is important to note that the specific extension to Avalanche Lake isn’t ADA accessible as this goes to press. The best time to hike this trail is after 4:00 p.m. when the visiting crowds begin to thin out.
7Grand Canyon National Park, Arizona
In order to help you plan, you need to know the North Rim is closed during the winter months. The South Rim, however, is open all year. You can cruise the 25-mile Desert View Drive that runs along the canyon’s edge.
While hiking the canyon rim-to-rim is amazing, it’s challenging and requires preparation. You can enjoy other activities as well. Some say the Grand Canyon is one of the best national parks for stargazing.
It’s also a great place to watch the sunrise and see how the varying amounts of light affect the canyon’s appearance. Hike the Trail of Time at Yavapai Point. It’s a good mile in length and offers a better understanding of the geological history of the park. The Junior Ranger Program is free and includes several fun activities for kids. Teenagers will especially love river rafting on the Colorado River!
8Grand Teton National Park, Wyoming
Some overlook this park in favor of its more famous neighbor, Yellowstone. Nevertheless, Grand Teton features beautiful lakes, mountain hikes, and stunning scenery that offer a sharp contrast to the more arid, flatter Yellowstone. Get there early, as some parking lots fill quickly and the park offers several super family-friendly hikes.
Cross Jenny Lake via boat and hike to famous Inspiration Point. It’s not an overly steep trail and there are several viewpoints along the trail. However, if you plan on going to the top, there is a steep drop so it’s suggested more for families with older kids.
Favored spots include Oxbow Landing, Signal Mountain, and Schwabacher Landing. Indeed, get near the latter early enough and you might just see some moose! Drive through Elk Flats and check out bison herds too! Stay inside the park at Jackson Lake Lodge.
9Great Smoky Mountains National Park, North Carolina, and Tennessee
This national park is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and the most-visited national park in the nation. It straddles the border of North Carolina and Tennessee. It takes less than one day to drive there from most of the eastern US states so it’s a great addition to any family road trip.
Here you and yours can take many hikes, some to beautiful waterfalls, that should be easy for the entire family. Hike up to popular Clingman’s Dome and see the sunset. Go biking through Cades Cove. Go ride horses along the river. If you plan on visiting in June, you will see the fireflies lighting up the dark, night sky.
10Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, Hawaii
If you missed the classic Brady Bunch episode, Hawaii is a fun, educational place for one and all. This park, located on the Big Island, features a pair of the most active volcanoes on the planet. Enjoy the craters, lava fields, steam vents, sulfur banks, and tropical rainforest.
You can reach everything via the park’s pair of roads. If you’d like to see lava flows and watch Kilauea’s caldera smoke, take Crater Rim Drive to Jaggar Museum. Depending on when you visit, you might even see lava glowing.
Cruise the Chain of Craters Road through agricultural remains, dried lava fields, petroglyphs, and eventually superb panoramic ocean views. You might even spot endangered Nene or Hawaiian geese. Stroll through the popular Thurston Lava Tube, bike to where the lava ran into the sea, and take a boat or helicopter tour as well.
