Best National Parks for Young Kids

Are you hoping to show your kids the beauty and wonder of the national parks? We are sharing our favorite parks to explore if you have toddlers or young kids in your adventure group!

We firmly believe that it doesn’t matter how young your kids are, you can have a fantastic time with them in the national parks! Sit back and relax as we share our favorite kid-friendly parks to add to your bucket list.

Join us as we cover:

What makes a good park for kids? Here’s what to keep in mind
The top 9 parks you’ll want to visit with your kids
Where to go for epic sand adventures
Best places to hike with kids
Where to go if your kids want to hunt for fossils
The perfect park for trains and animal lovers
Gateway towns that you don’t want to miss
Kid-friendly activities in each park

We hope you enjoyed this episode and that you get out there and explore the national parks with your young kids!

If you are looking for fun, wholesome family destinations without the work and stress, these parks are definitely for you.

Listen to the Full Podcast Episode:

Best National Parks for Young Kids Overview

I’ve always loved traveling to national parks, especially because I was a park ranger. So when I had kids, I was determined not to give up this passion. Today, we’re diving into the best parks for young ones, especially those under six years old or so.

While every park is an adventure waiting to be had, places like Yellowstone or the Black Canyon of the Gunnison do spike my anxiety a bit with little ones in tow, given the potential dangers. But we created a list of nine parks perfect for toddlers, where they can explore freely, and parents can breathe easy.

Imagine a park experience as relaxed as letting your child play in a playground. Let’s dive in!

Criteria for Ranking

Fun Factor: Engaging activities that capture kids’ attention and can be enjoyed together.
Drive Times: Minimal in-car travel within the park.
Safety: Avoiding parks with perilous cliffs or dangerous terrains.
Touch-Friendly: The park should allow kids to explore tactilely, avoiding areas where touching is prohibited.
Gateway Towns: Proximity to towns that provide essential amenities and entertainment.

1. Arches National Park

This is my favorite national park to take young kids! It has so many great short trails to amazing sights, proximity to a fun town, and very little driving.

Trails: Mostly short, offering frequent rewards. Example: The Devil’s Garden Trail showcases multiple arches within a short distance.
Sightseeing: Many iconic structures, like the Double Arch and the windows, can be viewed up close or from the parking lot, making it easily accessible for families.
Size & Travel: The park isn’t vast. It’s a 45-minute drive from the entrance to the road’s end. Proximity to Moab ensures minimal car time and offers various amenities.
Touch & Play: Kids can walk on the red rock, climb the slick rock, and enjoy sandy trails. The primary restriction is not carving into rocks and preserving cryptobiotic soil by staying on trails.
Cultural References: Recognizable locations from movies like Indiana Jones.

Arches National Park offers a rich and accessible experience for families with kids, providing safety, engagement, and convenience.

2. Petrified Forest National Park

Petrified Forest National Park, located in Arizona, is often overlooked by many but offers a unique experience that appeals especially to families with young children. Some highlights of the park include:

Petrified Wood: The main attraction of the park is its vast expanse of petrified wood, which, over time, has turned to rock. It’s safe and fun for kids and adults alike to touch, walk over, and explore on trails. However, visitors are reminded not to take any of it home.
Durability: The petrified wood ranks between 7 and 8 on the hardness scale, making it nearly indestructible. This means kids can explore, climb, and play without risking damage to the park’s features.
Trails: One notable trail for younger children is the Long Logs Trail. Some trees here measure up to 150 feet, providing a fun and educational activity as visitors can measure the length of these petrified trees.
Open-Hike Policy: The park encourages visitors to explore beyond the established routes, as the landscape’s natural erosional forces are already at work. This provides a sense of freedom and adventure, especially for families wanting to wander off the beaten path.
Educational Opportunities: The visitor center houses a fossil lab, catering to kids and adults interested in prehistoric times. There’s also a sandbox-like area where kids can dig and discover fossils.
Short Drive: The park can be traversed end to end in just 45 minutes, making it easy for families to explore in a day.
Nearby Attractions: Close to the park is the Route 66 town of Holbrook, Arizona. A highlight is the Wigwam Motel, which inspired the Cozy Cone in the movie “Cars.” The town boasts old cars resembling those from the movie, providing added excitement for young fans. Moreover, the iconic corner in Winslow, Arizona, is also nearby.

The park’s charm lies in its ability to offer a fun, safe, and educational experience for families, particularly when approached with an open mind and a sense of adventure.

3. Great Sand Dunes National Park

Located in Colorado, Great Sand Dunes National Park stands as a majestic testament to nature’s beauty. Often likened to a colossal sandbox, this park captivates visitors, transporting adults back to the joys of childhood. The park’s primary allure is its vast sand dunes, inviting activities ranging from hiking to building sandcastles.

Visitors can engage in thrilling activities like sand sledding, with some even attempting sandboarding, although it demands a bit more bravery. A seasonal creek brings water into the sand, making the park feel like it has a beach setting, despite being nestled in Colorado.

For those planning a visit, here are a few key pointers to note:

Accommodations: A conveniently located lodge just outside the park offers easy access to the dunes within a mere ten-minute journey. This beats the alternative of staying in Alamosa, which is about 40 minutes away.
Best Time to Visit: Those keen on experiencing Medano Creek should aim to visit around late May to June. However, the end of May is typically chillier, and there might still be snow on the mountains, making it less crowded.
Mosquito Alert: Near the park’s parking area, especially along the trails leading to the creek and dunes, mosquitoes can be particularly bothersome. Visitors should come prepared with ample bug spray or other preventive measures to ensure a comfortable experience.

Great Sand Dunes National Park is a delightful blend of desert and beach, offering a unique experience that caters to both the adventurous and those seeking relaxation.

4. White Sands National Park

Located in New Mexico, White Sands National Park offers visitors a unique landscape of stunning white sand dunes. This park is not as expansive as Great Sand Dunes in terms of sand quantity but provides a different texture of sand which can be described as finer and dustier. Activities are somewhat similar to Great Sand Dunes, including sand sledding and hiking, but many choose to simply relax and immerse themselves in the serene beauty of the dunes.

Activities: Sand sledding, short trails, and breathtaking sunsets. As the sun sets, the white sand reflects the hues of the sky, sometimes making it appear bluish or even adopting tinges of orange and yellow. The shimmering and glittering of the sand under the sunlight further adds to its beauty.
Tip for avoiding crowds: Hike just beyond the first or second ridge of dunes. Despite being near popular areas, these spots are often secluded, granting visitors their own private stretch of dunes.
Accommodations: The nearby town of Alamogordo offers ample accommodations and dining options, ensuring a comfortable stay for visitors. Additionally, Alamogordo boasts other attractions like a toy train museum and the Museum of Space History, offering a diverse range of activities beyond the park.

White Sands National Park is a more leisurely national park destination, perfect for families and those looking to experience the magic of its unparalleled white sand dunes.

5. Olympic National Park

Olympic National Park, situated in Washington state, is a diverse environment that offers a variety of unique landscapes, making it a veritable “feast for the senses.” Ideal for young explorers, the park promises a rich sensory experience that changes as visitors traverse its diverse terrains.

Favorite Activity: Tidepooling! This interactive activity feels like a treasure hunt as you discover hidden marine creatures such as starfish, sea anemones, and small crabs in the shallows.
Interactive Hike: We love the Hall of Mosses Trail. This short trail offers an enchanting journey through moss-covered trees resembling tree tunnels. Children get the chance to interact with nature hands-on, touching massive trees, feeling the moss, and even spotting distinctive yellow banana slugs.
Changing Environments: The park’s vastness means you can expect a good amount of driving between attractions. However, the shifts in the environment are so pronounced that every 30 to 45 minutes, you’ll feel like you’ve entered a completely different space. This adaptability ensures that there’s always something new to see and do.
Accommodations: Nearby towns like Port Angeles and Forks offer all the necessary amenities.

6. Badlands National Park

Located in South Dakota, Badlands National Park is a favorite destination for our family because of its “open hike” policy, wildlife, and fossils.

Activities: The open hike policy allows visitors, especially younger kids, to scramble and explore the Badlands to their heart’s content.
Fossils: Badlands has a lot of fossils. While children roam and climb the Badlands, they often stumble upon fossils! Visitors can document these findings, share them with the visitor center, and potentially aid archaeologists in their studies.
Wildlife: Badlands has a lot of fun wildlife! While prairie dogs are ubiquitous and much adored by children for their cuteness, you might also spot bighorn sheep and buffalo.
Unique Spot: For those seeking a break from the park’s natural beauty, Wall Drug, situated just outside the park, offers a mix of attractions. This includes a range of souvenir shops, restaurants, and unique photo opportunities, like climbing atop a jackalope, experiencing a fake Mount Rushmore, or witnessing a giant animatronic T-rex in action.

Badlands National Park provides an ideal mix of exploration, education, and entertainment. Whether it’s the joy of climbing, the thrill of finding fossils, or the chance to witness unique wildlife, this park ensures a memorable experience for visitors of all ages.

7. Great Smoky Mountains National Park

Great Smoky Mountains National Park, nestled on the Tennessee–North Carolina border, is renowned for its appeal to families, especially children. Despite having trails that may be somewhat challenging for younger hikers compared to other parks, the area has a lot to offer in terms of fun and educational experiences.

Fun Gateway Towns: One of the standout features that elevates Great Smoky Mountains’ allure is its proximity to the vibrant gateway towns of Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge. These towns are packed with attractions that children adore, from go-karting, and the intriguing exhibits at Ripley’s Believe It or Not to candy shops and the famous Dollywood theme park. This makes it convenient for families to intersperse their park visits with fun-filled activities.
Activities: Inside the park, the Smokies boast numerous kid-friendly points of interest. Many areas, like the Metcalf Bottoms Picnic Area, are near water, providing the young ones with an opportunity to play, throw rocks, and wade.
History: Apart from natural attractions, the Smokies also preserve the region’s human history. Sites like the Mountain Farm Museum and several homesteads with old buildings allow children to explore and discover. Combined with farm instruments from bygone eras, these structures provide curious minds with a glimpse into the past.

Great Smoky Mountains National Park offers a harmonious blend of nature, history, and entertainment. Its dual charm, both inside and outside the park boundaries, makes it a top choice for families looking to start or continue a cherished tradition of memorable outings.

8. Cuyahoga Valley National Park

Cuyahoga Valley National Park, located just outside of Cleveland, Ohio, is a hidden gem that many don’t often think about. Despite being tucked between major cities like Cleveland and Akron, making it an urban park, it offers varied activities perfect for families, particularly those with kids. Here are some highlights:

Historical Significance: The park celebrates the canal’s history, particularly related to the Erie Canal.
Towpath for Biking: A major highlight is its towpath, which is ideal for biking. Bike rentals, including kid trailers for little ones who can’t ride on their own, are available in the town of Peninsula, adjacent to the towpath trail.
Scenic Train Ride: Kids are bound to love the train that runs through the park. It’s not just any train; it mirrors the rich history of the area. The train rides showcase picturesque views, with the conductors dressed in period-appropriate clothing. During winter, special “train rides to the North Pole” reminiscent of the Polar Express are available.
Brandywine Falls: A beautiful and easily accessible waterfall that visitors can marvel at.
Nature Exploration: For those interested in hiking, there are spots like the beaver ponds where kids can spot turtles, blue herons, and other wildlife. The ponds offer a great opportunity for bird-watching and observing nature up close.
Proximity to Urban Areas: Its unique location means you’re never too far from urban amenities. This makes the park extremely accessible for short visits or for those not looking to stray too far from city conveniences.

Cuyahoga Valley National Park is a versatile destination offering a blend of history, nature, and fun activities. While different from the vast wilderness seen in other national parks, its unique offerings make it a special spot, especially for families with young children.

9. Grand Teton National Park

Grand Teton National Park holds a special place in my heart, having visited the park every year since I was two years old! The park is renowned for its breathtaking views and abundant wildlife, offering experiences even without strenuous effort. Unlike Yellowstone or the Grand Canyon, Grand Teton provides a serene environment without the associated dangers of more massive national parks.

Lakes: You can spend hours enjoying the rocky beaches, all while marveling at the backdrop of the magnificent Tetons.
Drive times: Especially suitable for families with young children, Grand Teton offers easy access to stunning vistas without long drives, as it’s considerably smaller than its northern neighbor, Yellowstone.
Gateway town: With the added benefit of the nearby gateway town, Jackson, visitors have a range of amenities and activities available, from old western shootouts to horse rides and more, all within a short distance from the park’s entrance.

Grand Teton National Park is a haven for memory-making, with various activities available, from enjoying lakeside views at places like String Lake to exploring scenic trails. The park is delightful year-round, with opportunities for snowshoeing and dog sled races in the winter, alongside sleigh rides through the Elk Refuge.

We aimed for a list of ten ideal national parks, but after much deliberation, we wanted to present only the best recommendations for first-time family adventures without compromising on quality or safety. So, a list of nine parks it is!

If you’re taking the first steps to immerse your kids in nature, this list is your go-to guide. Thanks for journeying through the national parks with us.

Links mentioned in this episode:

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