16 Best National Parks For Kids

Vanessa M.:  Explore Mammoth Cave with kids! The longest known cave system in the world is located right here in the USA, as a national park in central Kentucky. Buy tickets for guided walking tours at the visitor's center, then go underground and see the Frozen Niagara, a giant flowstone formation, or experience Fat Man's Misery, a portion of the cave one must stoop and squeeze to get through. Note that reservations are recommended and because of some narrow passageways, there are stroller and baby carrier restrictions.

Shila:  Great Smoky Mountains National Park is one of the best national parks for kids to enjoy because of the surrounding tourist attractions that cater to families. Check out roller coaster theme parks, aquariums and quirky museums, theatre dinner shows, loads of family fun centers, and much more in nearby Gatlinburg, TN.

Within Smoky Mountains, young families especially love to visit Clingman's Dome. This paved, stroller-friendly hiking pathway ascends the mountain to expose stunning panoramic views of the national park. Another top spot is Cades Cove. Guided carriage rides and hay rides embark on 30-45 minute rides through beautiful nature trails.

The Indiana Dunes is a registered national park along the lake shore! Located along the southern tip of Lake Michigan in northwest Indiana, the Indiana Dunes attracts millions of visitors each year. While best known for its beaches, the Indiana Dunes offers so much more: world class cuisine, breathtaking scenery, eclectic nightlife and exhilarating biking and hiking, a drive-in movie theatre, water park, and more.

Tracy Snyder Molina:  Bring the family to Everglades National Park in Southern Florida, a short drive from Miami. This unique landscape is home to countless species of wildlife including manatees, alligators, crocodiles and birds. You'll find all-level trails for hiking, biking and kayaking, too. The best things to do in Everglades with kids include taking a guided tram or boat tour through the wilderness, getting your feet wet while slough slogging in the marsh, and taking part in a Junior Ranger program to meet and greet local species. Nearby attractions, too, offer adventurous airboat tours through the swamp landscape.

Maine's Acadia National Park (the only one in the Northeast) offers fabulous views from Cadillac Mountain, the highest point on the US Atlantic coast. Visitors come to Acadia to hike granite peaks, bike historic carriage roads, relax on the shores, enjoy boat cruises (including whale watching), and more! The park offers more than 120 trails to hike and kids can enroll in tide pool school to learn all about starfish and other shellfish. The nearby town of Bar Harbor offers plenty of hotel options and several restaurants to feast on New England favorites.

Shila:  Badlands National Park, located in South Dakota, features many cool overlooks to view centuries of geologic deposits, fossil beds, and rugged yet beautiful terrain. Most people experience the Badlands with kids while driving to or from visiting Mount Rushmore. Some relatively quick things to do in Badlands National Park include driving the Sage Creek Rim Road Scenic Loop (watch for bison!), and/or getting out to stretch your legs on a few easy looped-trails, many of which are accessible right off parking lots.

For an extended stay, expect to lodge at nearby cabin rentals or camp. Kids may enjoy spending more time visiting the Fossil Preparation Lab and meeting real paleontologists, stargazing on clear nights, or tackling the Notch Trail (1.5 miles). The Notch Trail is easy to access, and goes through canyons and a log ladder for even more striking views.

Shila:  Rocky Mountain National Park is located about an hour and a half outside Denver. The entire landscape is a magnificent experience to drive through, as well as hike, bike, camp, and climb. In fact, there are over 300 miles of trails to explore, the most famous being Trail Ridge Road which peaks at over 12,000 feet. Families should check-in at the visitor center to map out the most kid-friendly options for them. Trails range from flat and mild to expert. Discover waterfalls, wildflowers, and wildlife! As you circle through the park by car, Grand Lake, CO, at the western entrance, is home to a few sandy lake beaches too.

Shila:  The blue sky against bright white gypsum sand dunes is a beautiful sight to see, whether you have time to linger for hours or just a quick pitstop. The park offers wide open space for family-friendly play and picnics, and you can even rent sleds at the visitor center!

Shila:  A Giant Saguaro cactus can grow to be near 70 feet tall, and there is a place in southern Arizona where over a million cacti species reside! If you find yourself driving by on a road trip, or are looking for a fun day trip idea from Phoenix with the family, visit Saguaro National Park in Tucson, AZ. Visitors of all ages can drive in, park, and easily walk a short or long trail. You won't find that many kid-friendly things to do in Saguaro National Park beyond hiking and camping, but mingling among these intriguing and mammoth-sized cactus characters definitely leave everlasting impressions.

Shila:  Visiting Grand Canyon with kids is a must-do adventure for families looking to make ultimate national park memories. The views are endless! Grand Canyon is one of the most popular national parks to visit; observe millions of years of geological history artfully carved-out to perfection by the mighty Colorado River. Enjoy glamorous sunsets, all-level hiking, water rafting, horseback riding, and the Skywalk, a glass walkway that juts out 70 feet over the edge of the rim.

Don't let the prospect of large crowds intimidate you, the park is so massive, you will always find an unobstructed view to enjoy! Free and frequent (and air-conditioned!) shuttle buses are readily available to hop on and off. They can take you from one magnificent view to another. There's plenty of camping and in-park lodging options, too.

Kristy Pepping:  Zion National Park is a great option for kids of all ages, but especially great for adventurous older kids and teens. There are several trails including Angel's Landing which overlook the Virgin River 1,500 feet below. The park also includes one of the best national park hikes in the USA, the Zion Narrows, which trek you along a series of slotted canyons at ground level. There are options to rent special water hiking boots and walking sticks as you will encounter ankle, knee, and even shoulder high water! This popular experience is generally frequented by guests of all ages, including undaunted little ones.

For accommodations, there is a campground on-site or you can choose a nearby hotel that offers great views of the park scenery. Note: familiarize yourselves to recognize signs of potential flash flooding at Zion, and especially at the Narrows.

Kristy Pepping:  Glacier National Park is simply majestic. Go there to view 7,000+ year old glaciers before they melt! Though, centuries of ice melt has also formed the most crystal clear and pristine mountain lakes in the USA, such as Lake McDonald. Rent a kayak or have a picnic alongside it with the family. Red Bus Tours (vintage, top down vehicles) are really great ways to get around Glacier National Park with young kids too. For lodging, there are several hotels and campsites to stay in onsite, or if you have your passports handy, you can even stay across the border in Canada!

Montana is home to several Indian reservations that are rich in heritage and tradition. On occasion, some nearby reservations will host festivals that are open to the public. Celebrate Tribal Nations culture through dance, storytelling, music, pow wows, and more. Kids and families may appreciate this invitation to experience the land in another special way.

A fascinating landscape and a variety of shorter trails place Joshua Tree among the best national parks for kids and families who are newer to hiking. The iconic Joshua trees dotting the desert landscape look like something out of a Dr. Seuss book! Even short hikes will treat you to amazing views of a cactus garden, a dam frequented by bighorn sheep, and dramatic rock formations including the cool "Skull Rock."

Temperatures are most comfortable for a visit in the spring or fall. Since you can explore much of the park in a day, it's a nice quick side trip if you're already in Palm Springs or doing a California road trip.

Kids will be in awe when they see this national park: it's home to groves of giant sequoia, the world's largest tree! Many groves are accessible via car, so kids won't be too exhausted to enjoy the sights once you get there. Kids and families should also check out Crystal Cave, an all-ages marble cavern by guided tour. Visitors will enjoy hiking among acres of fairy-tale like forests, huge canyons, and sunny groves. Stay the night at one of the many wilderness lodges and camps on site, complete with various dining options.

Yosemite is known globally for its iconic granite outcroppings, beautiful views, and tons of tourists! Camping is a great way to truly immerse yourself into your surroundings, but there's fancier lodging available in the area, too. Reservations are recommended, but availability depends on the season, with spring and fall being busiest. There's plenty to do, from camping, hiking, and backpacking to guided tours, ranger and interpretive programs, bird watching, horseback riding, rock climbing, stargazing, and more!