What defines a national park as kid-friendly? For us, it’s the diversity of nature they provide, the various activities they offer both inside and outside the park, and the ease with which we can travel there. Of course, at practically every national park you visit, you’ll have to contend with extreme weather and concerns about your safety. Because it’s vast outdoors, it’s a fantastic opportunity to teach your children about environmental stewardship and outdoor safety. Below we listed the Best National Parks for Kids.
- Yellowstone National Park, CA
- Wind Cave National Park, SD
- Lake Clark National Park, AK
- Acadia National Park, ME
- Dry Tortugas National Park, FL
- Sequoia & Kings Canyon National Parks, CA
- Redwood National Park, CA
- Grand Teton National Park
- Voyageurs National Park, MN
- Capitol Reef National Park, UT
- Yosemite National Park, CA
When everyone is away from their devices and simply enjoying the great outdoors with the ones they love, some of the best family memories are produced at national parks. Discover locations of natural beauty that will delight, educate, and intrigue your family with our list of the finest national parks for kids. These 11 parks, which have been recommended by campergoals, represent various beauty. So let’s jump right into it.
Yellowstone National Park, CA
Yellowstone National Park, the first national park ever established, is at the top of our list of the most significant national parks to visit with kids. Because Yellowstone is the most famous and visited national park in the system, you can expect to find plenty of family-friendly activities there.
The variety of wildlife species in this park will amaze kids. You’ll almost certainly see bison grazing, and you might also see elk, bighorn sheep, moose, bears, and wolves. Old Faithful will fascinate children of all ages, and since it goes off every 75 minutes, it’s not something you’d want to take a chance on with your children.
Take your kids to Old Faithful Geyser, which should be at the top of your list. This water feature will not only amuse them but will also inspire them to go geyser searching on one of your numerous walks. The paper Geyser Basin circular trail is recommended. It’s four miles long, probably the maximum distance for young children. They’ll undoubtedly witness some geysers, but they’ll also be exhausted by the end of the day.
Wind Cave National Park, SD
Children adore caverns, and there are plenty of them in this South Dakota National Park. Wind Cave National Park, a place for children, is a hidden jewel in the National Park system. You can trek, camp, and see plenty of animals, but your kids will be most interested in the caves.
A few of the three journeys, Natural Entrance Tour, Fairgrounds Tour, or Garden of Eden Tour, is recommended. The first is the most demanding, lasting about 90 minutes and involving 450 total steps, although your children should be fine if they are over the age of eight.
Our favorite tour is the Natural Entrance Tour because it allows you to enter the cave through a man-made entrance, exactly like explorers did in the past.
Avoid visiting two caves on the same day. These are famous tours, so your children may be exhausted. Tickets sell out rapidly as well. Also, don’t forget to bring a jacket. It can be 75 degrees outside, but it’s in the low 50s inside the cave.
Lake Clark National Park, AK
The Lake Clark National Park and Preserve is a stunningly gorgeous location. Volcanoes erupt, salmon swim, bears graze, and jagged mountains glisten in turquoise lakes. Yet, local people and culture are still reliant on the land and water in this area. Enter the park to become a part of the natural world.
Head to Alaska and Lake Clark National Park with your family for a great experience, where you can paddle between mountains, walk the Tanalian Trail system, and fish for sockeye salmon. While younger children will enjoy this excursion to the National Parks, it will be more fun for those aged ten and over.
Spotting brown bears will be one of the highlights of their trip. There are plenty of them in this park, and park guards can point you in the right direction and advise you on how to stay safe. As your family uses basic logic and respects a bear’s personal space, these bears are safe to watch.
Acadia National Park, ME
Another of our favorite national park locations is Maine’s Acadia National Park, located halfway across the United States. Acadia, located on islands in the northern section of the state, has deep forests, glittering ponds, and steep granite peaks.
Because it may get quite cold up here, try to visit during the summer! Although the coast is largely rocky, there are some lovely protected beaches to visit; two family favorites are Sand Beach in Bar Harbor and Seal Harbor Beach in Mount Desert.
Your children, for example, might be able to handle Cadillac Mountain, which rises to around 1,500 feet. However, it’s a gradual process. If you have small children, the 20-minute trip from Bar Harbor to a parking lot at the top of the mountain for a family portrait is recommended. Then, go to sunrise and sunset to take it to the next level.
Dry Tortugas National Park, FL
This unique park offers a variety of activities for children. The Dry Tortugas has a lot to offer kids, from exploring a 19th-century fort to swimming on a coral reef! If you’re visiting the Florida Keys with your family, you must spend at least one day exploring Dry Tortugas National Park.
First and foremost, your children will enjoy the two-hour ferry voyage that is the only way to reach the group of seven small islands. A seaplane is another alternative, but it is much more pricey.
Snorkeling there in the coral reef system will be one of your children’s favorite activities. There are some shallow spots near the moat wall where you can see a variety of colorful fish.
You have around five hours to explore on day trips. A tour of Fort Jefferson is an excellent place to start. If your children are older, take a guided tour of the fort to learn more about its fascinating history. A self-guided tour is perhaps a better alternative if they’re younger.
Sequoia & Kings Canyon National Parks, CA
Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Park in California are home to 8,000 huge sequoia trees, including the world’s tallest tree, the General Sherman Tree.
These trees can be found throughout the trail systems. Start with the Zumwalt Meadow Trail if you have younger children. It’s a 0.8-mile track that’s suitable for hikers of all abilities. A river, trees, birds, and other wildlife will be seen. There are restrooms near the trailhead so that everyone can get ready for the day.
Throughout the year, the Rangers offer free interpretive programs for families. Additional programs, such as Kids’ Campfire Talks, may be available during the summer.
Another fantastic choice is the Roaring River Falls. It’s a half-mile paved trail with the option of climbing down to splash around in the river’s shallow parts at the end.
Redwood National Park, CA
The magnificent redwood trees may be enough to occupy your children for several hours. This park is home to the superb Old Grove Redwoods, the world’s largest trees, and miles of rough California coastline. But, there’s more to Redwood National Park than large trees and beautiful coastal vistas; there’s a lot to see and do.
Take the Fern Canyon hike with your smaller children. The 0.7-mile loop is beautiful and filled with history. The ferns covering the 30-foot cliffs have been around for 325 million years. Climbing over massive fallen trees will be a blast for your youngsters. The Foothill Trail is another short but simple hike that leads hikers through beautiful ancient woodland.
Grand Teton National Park
Although Yellowstone is enormous, Grand Teton may be visited in a single day or over a long weekend. With several lakes to discover, including Jenny Lake, you’ll want to rent or bring kayaks, paddleboards, or tubes to experience Grand Teton National Park’s gorgeous lakes.
Hiking to Jumping Rock on Phelps Lake is an excellent activity for older children. However, for your adventure-seeking kids, a 25-foot jump into chilly alpine water is the ideal delight.
Colter Bay is another popular spot for families, featuring a huge space for water play and rock-throwing. The neighboring Lakeshore Walk, a flat 2-mile trail with spectacular vistas of the Tetons, is well worth a visit.
Voyageurs National Park, MN
While Northern Minnesota is probably not on your radar for a family trip, Voyageurs National Park makes a strong argument for being a top spot for making memories.
Even so, the state is known as the “Land of 10,000 Lakes.” Through outdoor activities, Voyageurs does an excellent job of teaching kids about the rich history of trapping.
The North Canoe Program is highly recommended. Park rangers will dress up as French trappers and describe the hardships they faced in providing food and supplies for their families. You paddle a canoe on the Ash River with ten other people as part of the program. Always double-check your schedules and weather forecasts.
Capitol Reef National Park, UT
This fabulous park in Utah is ideal for your children to explore, and the adults will undoubtedly enjoy it as well! If you just have one day in the park, the Capitol Gorge Trail is a must-see. The majesty of this gorge will be a pleasure for adults, but your children will like the gorge’s sandy bottom. Your children will not become confused because the path is limited. Make sure you have towels to dry off with.
Check out the Grand Wash Trail whether you have some additional time. It’s barely 16 feet tall at one point, but there are lots of crevasses and alcoves for your kids to climb on safely. In addition, Capitol Reef has over 3100 fruit trees that you can harvest and eat for free while you’re there. The trees, which were leftover from the early Mormon settlers, are ready to be harvested from June through October.
According to the month you visit, visitors can choose between cherries, apricots, pears, apples, plums, mulberries, almonds, and walnuts. After a day of exploration, stop by the Gifford House for a slice of legendary pie for the entire family. It’s also possible to buy ice cream.
You’ll want to stop by the historic Gifford House for fresh-baked pie in furthermore to the beautiful fruit orchards. They sell out every day, so get there early and enjoy a piece of happiness at one of the many picnic tables in Capitol Reef National Park’s Fruita section.
Yosemite National Park, CA
Being one of the most visited parks in the national park system, Yosemite is undoubtedly a favorite with kids. Yosemite is one of the most beautiful national parks in the United States, and it is often regarded as one of the most excellent family-friendly parks in the country. While many national parks are sparsely equipped, Yosemite makes up for it by providing everything from backcountry camping to world-class amenities.
Yosemite is well-known for being the destination to go for rock climbers. Your children may join in the excitement with age-appropriate lessons that teach them the fundamentals of mountain climbing. Your children may then wait in the valley with binoculars and watch the adventurous climbers ascend El Capitan.
The opportunity to stand next to 200-foot-tall sequoias at Mariposa Grove, shadowed by these massive trees and their shaggy orange bark, will be remembered by children forever. With the purchase of a unique guidebook, kids can sign up to become a Junior Ranger (ages 7 to 13) or a Little Cub (ages 3 to 6) before going on a day hike to Upper Yosemite Falls.
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