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National Parks are America’s treasures and they offer an amazing opportunity for families to reconnect, unplug and enjoy time together in a naturally beautiful setting. Some of our fondest travel memories have been from spending a day together in a National Park. There is always so much to see and explore, usually a good hike to take, a scenic drive, and plenty of educational opportunities. In total, the National Park Service protects over 52 million acres of beautiful land for us to enjoy.
There are 69 total national parks currently in the United States. In order for your family to have the opportunity to see them all you would need to visit 29 different states as well as two U.S. territories in North America. The good news is that there is likely a National Park within driving distance from you. The bad news is this makes it a little difficult just due to the sheer number for families to be able to get out and enjoy all the parks. Because of this, we have narrowed it down to our top ten favorite National Parks that if you can visit, you should plan to take your family on a road trip.
Tips for Visiting National Parks
Do your research ahead of time.
Yes, it is possible to just show up to a National Park, grab a map and get something out of your day, but the truth is every single park is it’s own beast and has its own unique quirks and challenges. For example, some people may not know that Zion National Park has very limited parking and if you don’t get there early you will need to park in town and take a shuttle into the park. Also, even if you can drive in you can only drive to the main lodge and then you have to take a park shuttle to the various stops. Had you not been aware of this- you may not have planned ahead with a backpack full of snacks, sunscreen, and water bottles and your trip may be more difficult.
Get a 4th-grade Pass or an America the Beautiful Pass.
Each park has it’s own entry fees that range from $0 to $50. The best way to get your bang for your buck is if you know you are going to hit several National Parks on your road trip is to purchase an annual pass to the National Parks. This also gets you into over 2,000 federal recreation sites- so you may be only planning on hitting one or two parks but you may find a historic site and be pleasantly surprised it’s covered as well. One pass is good for one vehicle (up to 4 adults and children 15 and under are free) and it’s $80 a year.
If you have a 4th grader in your family (yes it works for homeschoolers!) they can get a free annual pass and get the family in for free. Seniors can get a lifetime $80 pass or $20 annual pass. If you are a member of the military please take advantage of the free pass and enjoy the beauty of the nation you help serve and protect.
Dedicate at least a day.
There are very few National Parks we have been to as a family that we have felt like a couple of hours could do it justice. More often than not, we are wishing for more time together as a family to enjoy because there are so many beautiful things to see. Some National Parks are SO huge (Yellowstone, Yosemite, Smoky Mountain, Everglades) it may take several days to really enjoy your time there and see all you want to see.
Grab the necessities.
Always bring food, water, a full tank of gas, a small first aid kit, sunscreen, and wear layers so that you can be comfortable during your excursion and not be worried or stressed.
Check with your park before you go.
You always want to be aware of any updates or information on road closures or park news before you head over, so each morning check the website for the specific park you are visiting. For example, White Sands may have road closures on specific days due to missile testing. You can find info on nps.org
10 National Parks You Will Want To Take Your Family To:
Grand Canyon National Park
The Grand Canyon is by far the most widely accepted, most visited National Park within the National Park Service and with great reason. The Grand Canyon makes you feel small in all the best ways possibles. It’s quite marvelous to explain to your kids what one tiny river can do. There is so much more to do at the Grand Canyon than just sit and stare at the beautiful mountains, valley, and wildlife. You can also plan a hiking trip, go river rafting, go on a donkey ride, or simply take a bus tour.
Yosemite National Park
California is home to many beautiful National Parks and Yosemite is one of the most visited and beloved. It’s located in the Sierra Mountains in central California. It’s best known for its stunning giant Sequoia trees, waterfall hikes and famous hikes up the granite cliffs of half dome. It is also home to famous nature photographer Ansel Adam’s photograph gallery. Families who visit Yosemite typically spend about a week and favor camping.
Yellowstone National Park
If you haven’t been to Yellowstone, you are in for a treat. The wildlife is diverse (please remember to keep your distance) and there is so much to see and do. Take your children on a walk around the hot pots, sit and wait for Old Faithful (or catch another geyser show), hike to explore waterfalls or catch a view of geothermal pools that are the most beautiful shade of crystal clear blue. Summer is by far the most popular time to visit Yellowstone, but Fall is way less crowded and is a beautiful time of year to drive through the park. If you are up for an adventure- snowmobiling through Yellowstone is high on many thrill-seeker’s lists and would make for some great family memories.
White Sands National Park
Finally, White Sands National Monument has been recently changed to White Sands National Park. It is stunning and worth a trek for your family.
If you ask my kids what their favorite park they have been to is they will always mention White Sands. Not only is the scenery stunning with seemingly endless rolling white sand hills and blue skies, but the real highlight is exploring, running and of course sledding. One of our all-time favorite days we have spent together on the road.
Read more about White Sands: 9 Things To Know Before You Go to White Sands National Monument
Joshua Tree National Park
I will be honest- I had no idea what to expect on our first visit to Joshua Tree National Park. At first, I was very confused at how much the scenery in this park changes.
You enter the park right outside the visitor’s center on the edge of town and have to drive for a few minutes before you feel like you’re actually in the park. Soon the road opens up to gorgeous rock formations, and of course Joshua Trees as far as the eye can see. The park is so big that one side is very dry, then about an hour into the drive on the other side of the park as the elevation climbs it turns more mountainous. If you come in the spring is covered with wildflowers and butterflies. A stop at the botanical cactus garden is also a must but warn your children to stay on the trails- those needles are no joke!
Read more about Joshua Tree: Tips for visiting Joshua Tree National Park with Kids
Redwood National Park
Truthfully, Redwood National Park is not the most easily accessible National Park as it is located on the very Northern California coast, but it is definitely worth the drive and effort it takes to get there. Most people know you get views of majestic and historic redwoods with the opportunity to drive through and walk through some famous trees, but you also get the opportunity for some amazing hikes, educational nature studies and to have a picnic on some of the most scenic and quiet beaches in America. A visit to Redwood National Park will be something your family will talk about for years to come.
If you’re close to San Francisco and don’t want to travel too far a closer Muir Woods National Monument is also full of Redwoods, but they aren’t quite as big.
Read more about John Muir Woods: Tips for Visiting John Muir Woods National Monument
Great Smoky Mountains National Park
The Smoky Mountain National Park will always hold a special place in my heart because we lived so close to it for six years. One thing I love about the Smokies for families is that it is completely free and there is so much to see and do. Going on hikes to various waterfalls or even just spending a day on a scenic drive through Cades Cove looking for black bears and then a nearby visit to Dollywood and Gatlinburg will be a great family vacation option that is budget-friendly with a wide variety of activities for everyone to enjoy. A lot of families like to make this is a multi-generational trip and enjoy the views of the scenic mountain ranges and mountain peaks.
Zion National Park
Utah is a nature lovers paradise. There are so many amazing and beautiful National Parks and State Parks that are worth being on every family’s bucket list. Zion is a place that is gaining popularity every year and for a good reason. The tall red mountains in contrast with the cool blue water and green plants are one of the most stunning sights I have still yet to see. There are plenty of amazingly family-friendly trails and then some extremely challenging trails that parents with older children may want to attempt (Angel’s landing if you are brave enough!). You need to be a little prepared for crowds at Zion and there are definitely some things you want to know before you go.
Read more about Zion: Visiting Zion National Park with Kids
Everglades National Park
A little bit rustic but beautiful and fascinating in its own way, the Everglades are famous for getting a close-up view of Floridian wildlife including alligators, panthers, manatees and beautiful Mangrove trees. The park is huge and includes over 1.5 million acres of protected wetlands. Everglades National Park is located in the southernmost tip of Florida and is a short trip from Miami. If you are catching a cruise or going to Miami for the beach it would be a great day trip to add variety to your vacation.
Mount Rushmore/Badlands National Park
A road trip to South Dakota should be on your family’s bucket list. The beautiful scenery is as surprising as it is breathtaking. Children will get an amazing educational opportunity visiting Mount Rushmore and Badlands National Park. They will learn about the four presidents who stand majestically at Mount Rushmore and pre-historic times of dinosaurs and the amazing history at Badlands. Families love watching prairie dogs, learning about dinosaurs, climbing rocks and hiking fossil trails. The unique scenery changes drastically as you head over to Custer State Park to drive through canyons, watch herds of buffalos and feed donkeys. There is so much to do in this area and unique experiences to have so you will want to plan a week or more!
Read more about South Dakota’s Parks: 10 Reasons Why South Dakota Should Be on Your Family’s Bucket List
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