10 Best National Parks in the US for Kids

Best National Parks on the East Coast to Visit With Kids

1. Cape Cod National Seashore — Massachusetts

Perhaps when you think of Cape Cod, you think of the packed towns along the shore filled with quaint shops. While that’s true, and gives you a great variety of places to stay when visiting here, Cape Cod National Seashore is over 40 miles of protected land out at the tip of the cape.

Six beaches make up the Cape Cod National Seashore National Park: Nauset Light, Marconi, Coast Guard, Head of Meadow, Race Point, and Herring Cove. Each has a unique personality, from the family-friendly Coast Guard Beach to the stunning sunsets at Race Point. In addition to its beaches, this park also boasts a network of bike trails that allow you to coast through pine forests, sandy dunes, and low-lying cranberry bogs. 

Note: camping is not allowed inside this park, though there are a few houses available to rent. There are two nearby state camping sites, Nickerson State Park and Wellfleet Hollow Campground, which can be reserved on Reserve America, and loads of charming inns and vacation rentals nearby.

Find a whole list of family-friendly activities and awesome Cape Cod hotels in our roundup of the 60 Best Things To Do on the Cape with Kids. 

From Acadia National Park, you can watch the first sunrise in the US. Photo by Kelley Hayworth

2. Acadia National Park — Maine

Nestled in the heart of Downeast Maine, Acadia National Park is unique in many ways and not just because of its stunning oceanside location. It’s the first national park east of the Mississippi River; it houses the first spot in the US where you can watch the sunrise, has some of the best popovers in the country; and possesses 45 miles of carriage roads created by John D. Rockefeller. 

The landscape of this national park is a perfect mixture of pine trees, mountains, and salt air all waiting to be explored. Don’t miss the stargazing: being on the edge of the landed US and near the water, your kids minds will be blown with the vastness of the universe of stars in the sky and reflecting in the water. 

Jordan Pond House is a popular destination to grab a bite to eat; if you go when it’s open in the summer, don’t miss its famous popovers. Camping is available in the park, and Acadia shares its spot on Mount Desert Island with Bar Harbor, a charming coastal town filled with restaurants and lodging.

Read our full Acadia National Park Travel Guide for more tips on visiting with kids.

The Everglades is the only place in the world you can see crocodiles and alligators! Photo by Meghan Rose

3. Everglades National Park — Florida

And now for something completely different… The Everglades is the largest of the 11 national parks in Florida, covering over 1.5 million acres, which means there are lots of places to go and so many things to do with kids. Here you’ll find enough flamingos, alligators, manatees, panthers, swamps, marshes, hikes, mangold thickets, and more exotic animals and features to make you feel like you’ve landed in a fairy tale.

Fun fact: the Everglades is the only place in the world where you can see both alligators and crocodiles! And the best way to see them both, as well as manatees, is on an airboat tour, which is where we’d always start an Everglades vacation. As a matter of fact, read our review of Everglades airboat tours and the best ones to book, plus tips for taking kids.

From there you’ll want to hike and explore nature trails, and if you are by the Shark Valley entrance, don’t skip the Shark Valley Tram. 

You can camp at the Everglades (we recommend the Flamingo Campgrounds, which have heated showers) or the Everglades RV resort, which has cabins and loads of activities for kids. Miami is a short drive away, so there are loads of hotels in Fort Lauderdale and Miami Beach that cater to kids.

Best National Parks in the Midwest to Visit With Kids

4. Grand Canyon National Park — Arizona

This is probably the first place you think of when envisioning a family vacation to a national park. (Thanks Clark Griswold!) Well, there’s a reason for that.

In addition to hiking, or mule riding, down into the spectacular canyon, you can raft, stargaze, bike, and more. But mostly, you can take in the amazing views.

Some of the best ways to explore the vastness of this national park are: Renting a bike at Blue Angel Bike Rentals to enjoy a scenic cruise along the South Rim’s Greenway Trail. Or, drive along the South Rim’s Desert View Drive to enjoy panoramic vistas from the comfort of your air-conditioned car or RV.

Adventure seekers can take a walk over the canyon on Grand Canyon West’s Skywalk. Families with kids 9 & up can even take the world famous mule rides, though they are a little pricey.

For more fun things to do in Arizona, including our favorite Grand Canyon hotels and campgrounds, check out our list of the 51 Top Things To Do in Arizona With Kids.

Some trails in Zion National Park are even stroller-friendly. Photo by Gina Ragland

5. Bryce Canyon National Park & Zion National Park — Utah

This may be cheating, but we’re calling this a tie between Bryce Canyon and Zion National Parks.

Utah national parks are renowned for their rugged western beauty. Dubbed the “Mighty 5,” Utah national parks are all vacation-worthy, but we especially like Bryce Canyon and Zion. There’s nothing like the otherworldly beauty of the rock formations and canyons at these parks, especially at sunrise and sunset. In fact, parents that frequent these parks have a hot tip: aim to see sunrise at Bryce and sunset at Zion. The light turns the canyons spectacular colors.

Either canyon has a unique landscape of stunning rock formations that are the perfect outdoor playgrounds for kids. Explore by car, foot, or bike depending on your level of activity.

There isn’t really any rock climbing in Bryce Canyon; if you’ve got big kids who want to do more of that, head to Zion. For safety’s sake, with kids, you definitely want to hire an experienced company to guide you, like Rock Odysseys, who will take kids as young as 3 years old!

One of the coolest places to stay near Zion Canyon is AutoCamp, and you can read our parent review of the glamping spot, plus more details about visiting Zion National Park. (It’s a favorite spot for many of our West Coast editors.)

6. Great Smoky Mountains National Park — Tennessee 

Ok, technically this isn’t the Midwest, but it’s adjacent, so we’re putting the Great Smokey Mountains here. The stars aren’t the only things that shine at Great Smoky Mountain National Park. This special spot is also home to 19 species of fireflies, including the Photinus carolinus, the only species that put on a synchronized light show. 

The Great Smoky Mountains is also home to the highest spot in Tennessee. Climb the half-mile paved ramp of Clingman’s Dome to be rewarded with 360-degree views of the Appalachian Mountains. Start your visit at one of the park’s Visitor Centers to grab the kids’ Junior Ranger Badge booklets.

At Great Smoky, families can enjoy horseback riding, camping, hiking, biking, picnicking, and floating down the river for tubing at Deep Creek. 

To learn more about the area, we’ve rounded up 70 Fun Things To Do in Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge, Tennessee with Kids, plus our picks for the area’s most family-friendly hotels and resorts.

For fans of Dolly Parton—and who isn’t a fan of Dolly Parton?—Dollywood is right nearby. We’ve also got a parent’s guide to Everything You Need to Know About Visiting Dollywood With Kids.

Yellowstone’s geysers and hot springs are stunning and a can’t-miss national park experience.

7. Yellowstone National Park —Wyoming 

We’d be remiss not to include Yellowstone National Park, as it’s the world’s first national park! It encompasses 2.2 million acres of wild and unrivaled natural beauty, and is a spectacular place to visit with kids. With canyons, gushing geysers, hot springs, lush forests, and a plethora of wildlife, there is no better place for children to learn about nature and watch the buffalo roam.

Of course you need to see Old Faithful, but you also can’t miss the Boiling River, Mammoth Hot Springs, and the Grand Prismatic Spring. After that, just soak it all in and explore. It’s a good idea to start your exploration at the Albright Visitor Center at the north end of the park, to get maps, information, and plan your visit.

Wildlife watching is a big draw for the kids, and you might want to plan a visit to the Grizzly & Wolf Discovery Center, where kids can safely view bears and gray wolves. 

To stay in the park, be prepared to plan and pay! Rooms book up a year in advance at the Old Faithful Inn, and it’s not cheap, though it is worth it. Other good options include Park Hotel Yellowstone and the Explorer Cabins.

For the scoop on the best time to visit Yellowstone National Park, and more tips on visiting with kids, check out our Year-Round Guide to Visiting Yellowstone National Park with Kids.

Best National Parks on the West Coast to Visit With Kids

Want to gaze at two thousand-year-old trees and hike to the foot of a waterfall? Yosemite is the national park for you!

8. ​Yosemite National Park — California

We’re trying to pick only one national park per state for our list (though we cheated with Bryce and Zion!), and if you can only pick one in California, you have to go with Yosemite. Though, if you have the time, our cheat here is to drive the two and a half -ish hours south and check out the redwoods in Sequoia National Park, including General Sherman!

But back to Yosemite: where else can you see El Capitan and Half Dome simultaneously, gaze at two thousand-year-old trees, and hike to the foot of a waterfall? The easiest hike you can take with kids and see El Capitan and Half Dome is the Tunnel View hike, which is gorgeous from the second you park, so as soon as kids are tired, you can turn back without having missed anything!

Kids also love seeing Mariposa Grove, which is the largest grove of Giant Sequoias in the park.

Yosemite has several lodging options right in the park, and our favorites when traveling with kids include The Ahwahnee, Yosemite Valley Lodge, and Curry Village. If you have overnight accommodations, no day pass is needed. Upper Pines Campground is our pick if you want to camp in the park.

Make sure you visit Yosemite.org for nature videos, online art demonstrations, and kids’ activities, and review our guide to the Best of Yosemite National Park with Kids.

9. Olympic National Park — Washington

The breathtaking biodiversity of Olympic National Park in Washington ranges from the rugged glacier-capped mountains to the wild Pacific coast with temperate rain forest thrown in. Dive into the Living Sanctuary of Ruby Beach’s tide pools (make sure you review your tidepool etiquette).

You can also hike through the Hoh Rain Forest, which is, frankly, the main reason this gorgeous national park makes our list. The Hall of Mosses hike is spectacular and serene, and should not be missed. Near the northern edge of the park is the Northwest Wildlife Sanctuary, which is a little pricey to tour, but an amazing experience for kids who love animals.

 Guests can stay at Sol Duc Hot Springs Resort, Log Cabin Resort, and Lake Crescent Lodge right in the park, or plan to stay in nearby Seattle for a whole host of hotel options.

If you opt for Seattle, check out our list of the best things to do in Seattle with kids, or our comprehensive 3-day Seattle itinerary! 

Sled dogs, moose, hikes, and glaciers can all be found in Denali National Park. Photo courtesy of the NPS

10. Denali National Park — Alaska

Denali National Park in Alaska offers an unforgettable adventure for families, with a chance to see the tallest mountain in North America and a variety of wildlife. Whether it’s spotting a moose, enjoying a scenic hike, or visiting sled dogs, there are countless activities that are only-in-Alaska experiences.

If you feel daunted by Denali National Park’s 6 million acres, remote location, limited road access, unpredictable weather, ice flows, or even bears(!), we have tips to help you navigate any potential hurdles, plus the best places to stay with your family in our Guide to Visiting Denali National Park in Alaska with Kids.