The first national park was created in 1832. Now, there are 61 of these gems across the country, and they can make the perfect vacation spots for kids who are eager to move and explore.
Deciding which of these parks to visit can be a challenge. To help you narrow down the choices, we asked travel lovers to tell us about their favorites. Read on to learn what they had to say. (Spoiler alert: If you want to travel outside of the U.S., you’ll even read about a hidden jewel of a national park in Montenegro.)
Sarah and Paul Heer
Sarah and Paul Heer are a husband and wife team of travel bloggers who love all things Arkansas. They eat local, shop local, stay local and love to share their adventures in the Natural State. Find us at Arkie Travels.
Hot Springs National Park
Come enjoy the nation’s first national park, Hot Springs National Park, centrally located in the heart of the United States in Arkansas. Also called the Nation’s First Resort, Hot Springs was founded by gangsters and was once frequented by Babe Ruth who hit a 500-foot home run there during an exhibition game in the spring of 1918.
From Mid-America Museum to Magic Springs, it’s the perfect destination for families. Built in 2018, the Bob and Sunny Evans Tree House within the Evans Children’s Adventure Garden at Garvan Woodland Gardens is a sight to behold and a wonder to children.
See the history of the hot springs on Bathhouse Row at the Fordyce Bathhouse Museum. You can even see the steam coming off the water in little caves and streams just off the main road! Bring an empty jug with you and fill it at the thermal water jug fountain…it is odorless, colorless, tasteless and has been certified to drink when it arrives at the surface of Hot Springs Mountain.
Plan on driving up the mountain or taking the trail to the Hot Springs Mountain Tower. Hop in the elevator and enjoy 144 miles of panoramic views of the National Park.
Looking for peace and quiet? Spend the weekend camping in the natural beauty of Lake Catherine State Park. Located about 15 minutes from downtown Hot Springs, there are camper, RV and tent spots available, as well as yurts. Don’t miss out on ziplining at Catherine’s Landing and the Fall Creek Falls trail.
Hot Springs National Park has a wide variety of entertainment for both kids and their parents…give your family an experience you’ll never forget in the Natural State.
Grand Teton National Park
The reason why the Grand Teton National Park is one of the best national parks the United States has to offer is that it offers a wide range of activities ranging from hiking, biking, skiing, and many more. Besides these activities, it’s also a great place to learn more about history and culture since it offers fun educational tours that kids will truly gain insight from. Going to Grand Teton gives you the chance to bond with your kids while also molding them to be happier and more socially conscious members of society.
Jovan Radnic
Jovan Radnic is a travel expert for the country of Montenegro. He works for Meanderbug, a social venture aiming to preserve Montenegrin villages through sustainable rural tourism.
Biogradska Gora National Park
Biogradska Gora National Park, Montenegro. This is one of the last three large virgin forests in Europe, and it is located in Northern Montenegro. The glacial lakes, lush forest, and rustic mountain huts that are known in Montenegro as katuns offer an escape from tourist hotspots.
The park is actually one of the [least] known areas in Montenegro. Its hiking trails are diverse and kid-friendly, leading through many of its enchanting wonders.
Kristen Surowitz
Kristen Surowitz is a former Marketing Coordinator and current stay-at-home mom to two girls under the age of three. When she’s not chasing two toddlers around, she writes about family travel and entertainment for her parenting and lifestyle blog.
Grand Canyon National Park
Grand Canyon National Park is a great destination for families, even those with little ones in strollers. When navigated correctly, you can see amazing views of the canyon and walk an entirely paved path. The paved route begins at the Visitor’s Center and takes guests down the “Trail of Time” along the South Rim.
Having a stroller with us for this trip was a blessing. We were able to pack our lunches and bring extra water, and extra layers, without having to carry anything. After you visit Grand Canyon National Park, extend your stay in nearby Flagstaff, AZ. Drive down the famed Route 66 and visit the Lowell Observatory for even more family-friendly options.
Lauren Keys
Lauren Keys runs the personal-finance and travel blog, Trip Of A Lifestyle, with her husband Steven Keys. Together, they write about their adventures, and how they make them work financially to encourage others to get out and explore.
Adventure and open spaces
For little explorers, Badlands National Park, just an hour from affordable accommodations in Rapid City, South Dakota, would be a great destination. There are plenty of wildlife viewing opportunities inside the park, including a prairie dog town and packs of big-horned sheep. However, the most exciting part is the hikes, which offer opportunities to discover fossils!
For children that need to burn more energy, a trip to Yosemite might be your best bet. It’s less than an hour and a half from Fresno, California (home to two other fabulous parks: Kings Canyon and Sequoia), so there are plenty of places to stay and eat in town and even in the park (especially in Yosemite Village). In the park, there are so many ways to have fun in Yosemite Valley. There are hiking and biking trails (some of which take you safely to the base of a waterfall), swimming, and many guided tour options.
For older kids, a trip to Canyonlands and Arches outside Moab, Utah, might be more their speed. Lots of adventure and open spaces for biking and riding ATVs through the rugged terrain.
Shawna Newman
Shawna Newman currently lives in Las Vegas where she gets in lots of great hiking at Red Rock Canyon and Valley of Fire State Park. When she has time, she visits National Parks in a quest to visit each one in the U.S. Find her at www.activeweekender.com
Badlands National Park
I think Badlands National Park is a great choice for a kid-friendly trip. The park has tons of wildlife that you can see on the scenic loop from the comfort of your car, which is perfect for those tired little ones.
The fossil lab in the visitor’s center is a great way to make the trip both educational and fun for the kiddos. The visitor center also has junior ranger activity books for children.
And if the family is into hiking, the Fossil Exhibit Trail is accessible for all ages. It’s an easy boardwalk trail that has some cool fossil replicas and information about animals that used to roam the area.
Older kids can enjoy the short and easy Window Trail, which rewards you with a nice view of an eroded canyon.
Lindsey Steck
Lindsey Steck is a marketing and communications associate for Visit Pensacola. A Pensacola native, Steck enjoys hosting dinner parties, traveling as much as she can and NFL football. She moved away for a brief period following college and soon returned after realizing why people vacation and retire to the coast.
Gulf Islands National Seashore
The ethereal stretch of shore and gulf along the Gulf Islands National Seashore captivates all ages. Families often spend long days digging in the sand, running in the waves and exploring the many trails and boardwalks throughout the park. From dolphin fins skimming the emerald gulf surface to ospreys dipping in and out of sight, the beach provides a simple, natural place to connect and explore.
Pro tip: Bring a bike. There are trails to Fort Pickens and there’s nothing like the drift of sea breeze to carry you. At Fort Pickens, you can roam the halls of a 19th-century war fort, see expansive views of the island and even go fishing on a nearby pier. A short drive off the island, there are loads of family-friendly free and low-cost activities. The world’s largest National Naval Aviation Museum, Historic Pensacola, and the Pensacola M.E.S.S. are a few.
Christian Antonoff
Christian Antonoff is a Marketing Manager at Excel Template. He has worked as a journalist and is passionate about music, concerts, and coffee. In his spare time, he loves to travel and attend art exhibitions.
Pick the right destination
As an uncle, I love to take my nieces on various trips or organize fun activities for them. Traveling with children can be pure joy, especially if you pick the right destination. Across the U.S., you can find great spots to go hiking.
Teton National Park
Grand Teton National Park is a little less known than its neighboring Yellowstone National Park, but it’s no less beautiful. Majestic peaks nestled among green meadows and little winding trails are some of the things kids and parents alike will enjoy.
Great Smoky Mountains National Park
The Smoky Mountains offer miles of unprecedented beauty with their lush forests. The park has many hiking trails, most of which are easy enough for kids as well.
Glacier National Park
I have always loved Montana for its wild spirit and endless miles of rich forests, not to mention the many lakes the state is famous for (apart from mining and David Lynch). The park offers a great variety of trees and animals that the kids could learn about too.
Shenandoah National Park
With its 500 miles of hiking trails and nearly 80,000 acres of designated wilderness, Shenandoah National Park is a hiker’s dream come true. Kids will love the great outdoors there, as well as the many plants and animals they’ll encounter.
Rocky Mountain National Park
The #1 place I have to recommend is Rocky Mountain National Park (RMNP). As a native Coloradoan, this is hands down my favorite spot in the state.
Not only is it absolutely beautiful, but it’s HUGE. This park has everything you need, from hiking, climbing, fishing, horseback riding, whatever! My favorite thing to do is hike one of the longer trails up to the hanging lakes. There are a few lakes in this park nestled in the mountains that offer spectacular views once you scale to the peak.
What’s epic about this park is that it’s mountainous and forested. Head west and the land starts to look like Utah, with all the red rocks and canyons. RMNP, on the other hand, is green as can be.
For camping, they have four campgrounds that are car-friendly. Call ahead for reservations, or consider picking up a permit to camp in the woods.
Before you camp, stop in the nearby town of Lyons. We like Smokin’ Dave’s for BBQ and The Stone Cup for coffee and breakfast bites. This fun mountain town has something for everyone.
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