The Best National Parks for Family Adventures
My mom loved the beach. It was the one thing she loved almost as much as she loved my dad. So, when I was growing up, every summer my family drove down to Florida to spend a week or two on the beach. That was our family vacation, and we looked forward to it all year long.
When I had kids of my own, I realized that my husband had some different thoughts about what a family vacation should look like. He had certainly been on his share of beach trips, but he really loved the mountains and seeing different types of places too.
So, I started considering that getting away with my kids didn’t have to be just to the beach – it could be something else too, and we found a love for our nation’s national parks.
Before 2013, I had only ever been to one national park – and really, I had only driven through that one (no hiking or real adventuring), so I had no idea what someone would even do for days and days at a national park.
On our very first trip to Mammoth Caves National Park, I quickly found out how easy it is to get caught up in National Park magic. You can:
Grab a map and explore.
Join a ranger program and learn.
Take a guided walk or tour for the full experience.
Ask for a junior ranger book and get a badge.
All these years later, I’ve lost count of the national parks, historic sites, state parks, national seashores, and national lakeshores we’ve visited. But I do know that my kids have a whole lot of junior ranger badges, and we treasure them as little tokens we’ve collected all over the country.
I’m convinced all National Parks are magical, but. . .
Here’s our list of the best national parks for family adventures in the lower 48 United States:
Acadia National Park
Plenty of hikes, walking paths, and gorgeous views for families with kids of all ages. Our favorite time to visit is mid-May or mid-September to avoid the crowds and see the trees in all their beauty, but it’s magical no matter when you visit.
Glacier National Park
Not only are the views here outstanding, but the ranger programs are top-notch. The hiking is tough in some spots, especially since it takes so long for the snow to melt, but it’s worth it.
Zion National Park
The diversity of this park and the gorgeous hikes keep it on our list. The crowds can be a real bummer, but our opinion is that everyone should see this park at least once in their life.
Arches National Park
The beauty of the arches cannot be described in words, and the trails in this park are stellar.
Grand Teton National Park
We love Jackson Hole and the Tetons, and although it’s a small park compared to some, this is one of our favorites for its hikes, lakes, and snowy scenes that can last even into June.
Padre Island National Seashore
There aren’t too many places in the world where you can take your camper right onto the sand and camp for a few days, but this is one of them. Even if the conditions aren’t good for beach boondocking, the campgrounds are nice, and fishing, shelling, birding, and sunbathing make this one of our favorites.
White Sands National Monument
I don’t know a kid (or parent) who doesn’t like to grab a sled and slide down a giant slide made of sand. That makes this one a winner in our book.
And there are heaps more. These are just our favorite. If ever been to one of them, you know why!
(Or, if after reading this you can’t help thinking, “Wow, that’s nice but it’s too late for my family, read this.)
What are your favorite national parks for family adventures?
Join the discussion over in the email group - we’d love to hear your list!