Summary:
National parks are beautiful and educational destinations that offer a variety of activities for families with kids. With 61 designated national parks in the United States, it can be overwhelming to decide which ones to visit. In this blog post, we will explore the 46 most visited national parks and highlight family-friendly activities that are perfect for creating unforgettable memories with your kids.
1. Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming
Yellowstone National Park is the world’s first national park and is known for its geothermal wonders, including the famous Old Faithful geyser. Families can enjoy hiking, camping, wildlife viewing, and even Junior Ranger programs where kids can learn about the park’s natural and cultural resources.
2. Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Tennessee and North Carolina
Great Smoky Mountains National Park is the most visited national park in the United States, known for its stunning mountain views and diverse wildlife. Families can hike to waterfalls, visit historic buildings, and take part in ranger-led programs.
3. Grand Canyon National Park, Arizona
The Grand Canyon is one of the most iconic and awe-inspiring national parks. Families can explore the canyon’s rim, take a mule ride, or even raft down the Colorado River. The Junior Ranger program also offers kids the opportunity to learn about the park’s geological and cultural history.
4. Rocky Mountain National Park, Colorado
Rocky Mountain National Park offers breathtaking alpine landscapes and opportunities for hiking, camping, and wildlife viewing. Families can also take a scenic drive on Trail Ridge Road, the highest continuous paved road in the United States.
5. Zion National Park, Utah
Zion National Park boasts impressive sandstone cliffs, slot canyons, and a variety of hiking trails suitable for families. Families can also enjoy horseback riding, ranger-led programs, and camping in the park’s stunning landscapes.
6. Yosemite National Park, California
Yosemite National Park is known for its iconic granite cliffs, waterfalls, and giant sequoia trees. Families can enjoy hiking, camping, and water activities such as rafting or swimming in the park’s lakes and rivers.
7. Acadia National Park, Maine
Acadia National Park offers stunning coastal scenery, rocky beaches, and opportunities for hiking, biking, and camping. Families can also visit the park’s historic lighthouses and take a scenic drive on the Park Loop Road.
8. Grand Teton National Park, Wyoming
Grand Teton National Park is known for its majestic mountain peaks and abundant wildlife. Families can enjoy hiking, camping, and scenic drives, as well as guided activities such as wildlife safaris and ranger-led programs.
9. Olympic National Park, Washington
Olympic National Park offers a diverse range of landscapes, including rugged coastlines, old-growth forests, and glacier-capped mountains. Families can go hiking, camping, and take part in ranger-led programs to learn about the park’s natural and cultural resources.
10. Glacier National Park, Montana
Glacier National Park is known for its stunning glaciers, alpine lakes, and abundant wildlife. Families can enjoy hiking, camping, and scenic drives, as well as guided activities such as boat tours and ranger-led programs.
11. Cuyahoga Valley National Park, Ohio
Cuyahoga Valley National Park offers a unique blend of natural and cultural resources, including waterfalls, historic buildings, and a scenic railroad. Families can go hiking, biking, and take part in ranger-led programs to learn about the park’s history and ecology.
12. Bryce Canyon National Park, Utah
Bryce Canyon National Park is famous for its otherworldly landscape of hoodoos, or spire-shaped rock formations. Families can explore the park’s scenic viewpoints, take a horseback ride, or go stargazing at one of the park’s designated dark sky areas.
13. Shenandoah National Park, Virginia
Shenandoah National Park offers stunning mountain views, waterfalls, and abundant wildlife. Families can go hiking, camping, and take part in ranger-led programs to learn about the park’s natural and cultural resources.
14. Joshua Tree National Park, California
Joshua Tree National Park is known for its unique desert landscape and iconic Joshua trees. Families can explore the park’s scenic drives, go rock climbing, and take part in ranger-led programs to learn about the park’s geology and ecology.
15. Mount Rainier National Park, Washington
Mount Rainier National Park offers breathtaking views of the iconic Mount Rainier, as well as glaciers, waterfalls, and wildflower meadows. Families can go hiking, camping, and take part in ranger-led programs to learn about the park’s natural history.
16. Death Valley National Park, California and Nevada
Death Valley National Park is the largest national park in the United States, known for its extreme landscapes and unique geology. Families can explore the park’s scenic viewpoints, go on a ranger-led tour, or even take a dip in the park’s natural hot springs.
17. Arches National Park, Utah
Exploring the 46 Most Visited National Parks with Kids: Family-Friendly Activities
Arches National Park is famous for its more than 2,000 natural sandstone arches, as well as other unique rock formations. Families can go hiking, camping, and take part in ranger-led programs to learn about the park’s geology and wildlife.
18. Capitol Reef National Park, Utah
Capitol Reef National Park offers stunning rock formations, cliffs, and canyons, as well as opportunities for hiking, camping, and stargazing. Families can also visit the park’s historic orchards and take part in ranger-led programs to learn about the park’s cultural and natural resources.
19. Everglades National Park, Florida
Everglades National Park is the largest subtropical wilderness in the United States, known for its unique ecosystem and diverse wildlife. Families can go hiking, camping, and take part in ranger-led programs to learn about the park’s natural history.
20. Badlands National Park, South Dakota
Badlands National Park offers a unique landscape of eroded buttes, pinnacles, and spires, as well as abundant wildlife. Families can go hiking, camping, and take part in ranger-led programs to learn about the park’s geology and history.
21. Smoky Mountains National Park, Tennessee and North Carolina
Smoky Mountains National Park is known for its stunning mountain views, waterfalls, and diverse wildlife. Families can go hiking, camping, and take part in ranger-led programs to learn about the park’s natural and cultural resources.
22. Rocky Mountains National Park, Colorado
Rocky Mountains National Park offers breathtaking alpine landscapes and opportunities for hiking, camping, and wildlife viewing. Families can also take a scenic drive on Trail Ridge Road, the highest continuous paved road in the United States.
23. Zion National Park, Utah
Zion National Park boasts impressive sandstone cliffs, slot canyons, and a variety of hiking trails suitable for families. Families can also enjoy horseback riding, ranger-led programs, and camping in the park’s stunning landscapes.
24. Yosemite National Park, California
Yosemite National Park is known for its iconic granite cliffs, waterfalls, and giant sequoia trees. Families can enjoy hiking, camping, and water activities such as rafting or swimming in the park’s lakes and rivers.
25. Acadia National Park, Maine
Acadia National Park offers stunning coastal scenery, rocky beaches, and opportunities for hiking, biking, and camping. Families can also visit the park’s historic lighthouses and take a scenic drive on the Park Loop Road.
26. Grand Teton National Park, Wyoming
Grand Teton National Park is known for its majestic mountain peaks and abundant wildlife. Families can enjoy hiking, camping, and scenic drives, as well as guided activities such as wildlife safaris and ranger-led programs.
27. Olympic National Park, Washington
Olympic National Park offers a diverse range of landscapes, including rugged coastlines, old-growth forests, and glacier-capped mountains. Families can go hiking, camping, and take part in ranger-led programs to learn about the park’s natural and cultural resources.
28. Glacier National Park, Montana
Glacier National Park is known for its stunning glaciers, alpine lakes, and abundant wildlife. Families can enjoy hiking, camping, and scenic drives, as well as guided activities such as boat tours and ranger-led programs.
29. Voyagers National Park, Minnesota
Voyagers National Park offers a unique experience for families with its interconnected waterways and opportunities for canoeing, kayaking, and boating. Families can also camp, hike, and take part in ranger-led programs to learn about the park’s natural and cultural resources.
30. Sequoia National Park, California
Sequoia National Park is home to the world’s largest trees, the giant sequoias. Families can explore the park’s trails, camp among the towering trees, and take part in ranger-led programs to learn about the park’s unique ecosystem.
31. Denali National Park, Alaska
Denali National Park is home to North America’s highest peak, Mount McKinley. Families can take a bus tour into the park, go camping, and take part in ranger-led programs to learn about the park’s wildlife and history.
32. Haleakala National Park, Hawaii
Haleakala National Park offers stunning views of the Hawaiian Islands and is home to the world’s largest dormant volcano. Families can go hiking, camping, and take part in ranger-led programs to learn about the park’s geological and cultural history.
33. Carlsbad Caverns National Park, New Mexico
Carlsbad Caverns National Park is home to one of the largest cave systems in the world. Families can explore the caves on guided tours, go camping, and take part in ranger-led programs to learn about the park’s unique geology.
34. Mammoth Cave National Park, Kentucky
Mammoth Cave National Park is home to the world’s longest cave system. Families can explore the caves on guided tours, go camping, and take part in ranger-led programs to learn