Best National Parks for Kids
Bringing the family to a national park is a great idea. In addition to having fun quality time together in nature, it exposes kids to principles of conservation, history, geology, biology, etc. It also gets them moving in the outdoors with hiking, paddling, swimming and biking. They might even enjoy learning how to take photographs or draw some of the amazing scenery. And the Park Service's junior ranger programs are great for kids. National Park vacations are a great family tradition, one which they will hopefully continue with their own families someday.
So what are the best parks for kids? In order to answer that, you have to think about what kids love—the best kid parks have plenty of wildlife to spot, rocks to climb on and lots of things to do. [And know what kids don’t like—scenic drives with endless pullouts, long uphill hikes or long flights.] Let’s take a look at some of the best options for the whole family.
Yellowstone is a good choice for a family trip. It’s got lots of fun features such as dramatic geysers, colorful hot springs and bubbling mud pots to get kids excited. And there is so much wildlife to see, especially if you are willing to get up early and head to Hayden Valley or Lamar Valley. A bison jam can be frustrating for adults but endlessly entertaining for kids. Most hiking trails are short and flat, and can be found in the Geyser Basins or around Canyon Village (Yellowstone Falls). And a morning out on the lake is always a hit. The downsides to Yellowstone are the crowds, which kids don’t tend to mind as much as adults, and the driving times—it’s a very large park (try to book accommodations in the park). Bring lots of snacks for the car rides.
Arches is a great park for kids. The rock formations are otherworldly enough to fascinate them, and there is no end to the opportunities to climb and scramble on rocks. There are plenty of short trails they can enjoy, most of which will involve lots of stopping for yet another boulder exploration. The trails around Park Avenue and Garden of Eden are best for little ones. [Save Fiery Furnace and Devil’s Garden for when they’re older.] And the star gazing at Arches is out of sight. Moab is a fun town, and you should try to plan a day floating the river with any number of outfitters—there are flatwater options for little ones and whitewater for older kids. Note that this park is too hot for kids in the summer.
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Yosemite is a great choice for kids due to the variety of activities there. The scenery, loaded with mountains, canyon walls, waterfalls and meadows, will hold anyone’s attention. The Valley has several short flat trails (many end at waterfalls), and those who can walk a bit further will love Vernal Falls. There are also opportunities to rent bikes, horseback ride, or (my favorite) float a raft down the Merced River through the Valley. The river is brisk but has several good swim beaches. A walk through one of the Giant Sequoia groves to go hug a tree (the size of a house) will excite them. And younger kids will enjoy spotting deer, chipmunks and stellar jays. Yosemite is a very user-friendly park, with lots of lodging and dining options. Bonus points for all the winter options in Yosemite—snow draped hikes, beginner skiing, ice skating, etc.
Grand Teton is another user-friendly park. The mountains and lakes are beautiful. Many of the hiking trails are flat and go around lakes, leading to many hike/swim days (bring a towel and water shoes). There is usually plenty of wildlife to spot, especially by the lakes in the early mornings or early evenings. Take a float trip down the Snake River (there are both flatwater and whitewater options). There are also some good spots for paddling, whether the kids are just passengers or are old enough to man an oar (or at least hold one)—Jackson Lake is calmer than Jenny Lake, especially in the mornings. It’s a smaller park, so driving times are easier. I prefer staying in the park, but Jackson has lots of lodging and dining options.
Dakotas (Custer, Badlands, Wind Cave, Mt Rushmore, Theodore Roosevelt):
If you want to avoid the crowds and your kids are good with car rides, a trip to the parks of the Dakotas packs a lot of kid-oriented fun. Custer State Park has so much wildlife to see, and a lot of fun easy trails for hikes and small lakes for boat rentals. Badlands has short trails with plenty of rock formations for the kids to explore and climb on (Door/Window/Notch Trails). Wind Cave (or Marble Cave, which I prefer) is an interesting underground adventure. Mt Rushmore won’t hold their attention for more than an hour (if even), but it’s worth a short stop. And if you have time, Theodore Roosevelt has lots of wildlife (bison, wild horses, prairie dogs) and short trails that will be a big hit. While you’re there, go to “The Show” in Medora—the kids will love it.
Olympic is another great choice for a family trip. Explore the mountains of Hurricane Ridge, the lakes and waterfalls of Lake Crescent and Sol Duc, the moss draped rainforests and the pacific coast. Its variety of ecosystems will give them a great exposure to all the different faces of nature and whet their appetite for future national park trips. Short hikes, boat and bike rentals, swimming and tide pooling will fill their days.
Great Sand Dunes and White Sands/Carlsbad Caverns:
I have to wrap this up with two honorable mentions: Great Sand Dunes and White Sands. Each are good for a day trip, but the kids will love sledding down the dunes. Bring a long plastic toboggan (and some board wax) rather than the circular sleds, as they work better, and sit in back for more speed. Great Sand Dunes has much bigger dunes and great mountain scenery, and has the added bonus of Medano Creek to splash around in when the dunes get too hot in the afternoon. And White Sands is about a 3hr drive to Carlsbad Caverns—a great underground adventure that will let their imaginations run wild.
On any trip with small kids, bring plenty of snacks (and food for a picnic lunch) and water. Keep expectations low and be flexible. Be sure to also read Hiking with Kids for more tips. Have fun—they will keep these core memories forever!
What do you think? What was the first park where you took your kids? Would you add a Kid-Friendly Park to this list?