Visiting the Best National Parks for Kids

If you can hear the call of the wild beckoning your family, and you're yearning to take them on an unforgettable expedition, then the US national parks are an amazing idea for an active adventure. But while spending your family vacation in these iconic destinations promises boundless possibilities, there's plenty to figure out too. Below, we'll answer your questions, narrow down the best national parks for kids in America and provide our top tips.

Now is the perfect time to hit these true treasures together. Let's head into the Great Outdoors!

What Can National Parks Offer Families? 

Since 1916, the national parks have inspired people like US President Franklin D. Roosevelt, who said, "There is nothing so American as our national parks... The fundamental idea behind the parks... is that the country belongs to the people, that it is in process of making for the enrichment of the lives of all of us." 

To date, the United States' National Park Service manages an incredible 400+ units comprising over 85 million acres in all 50 states, the District of Columbia and US territories. They include over 60 national parks, as well as 200+ total historical parks, historic sites and national monuments — and lots more. 

Whew! That's so much space for your whole family to play and places for them to unearth. As environmentalist and historian Wallace Stegner wrote, "National parks are the best idea we ever had." And we couldn't agree more!

Why Are National Parks Good for Kids? 

From sea to shining sea, stake your claims in this longtime tradition––more than 100 years strong––and your family will:

• Unleash the spirit of pure adventure––on land, in the air and on water.

• Get outdoors and active, enjoying high-energy pursuits.

• Appreciate the grandeur of magnificent environments, natural wonders and wildlife.

• Visit scenic towns and famous landmarks all across the United States.

• Explore cultural heritages, landscapes and topographies worth protecting.

• Trace the footsteps of dreamers and national heroes, discovering their stories.

• Learn about a vast array of subjects, outside of the classroom and in real life.

• Cherish quality time and create memories, side-by-side, in dream destinations.

Which Are the Best National Park Family Vacation Packages?

Here are our picks for family vacation packages specifically designed for multigenerational travel, and with which you'll visit some of the best national parks for kids in the US.

Majestic California: San Francisco, Yosemite & the Pacific – This 8-day California family vacation features Yosemite National Park, often at the peak of must-see national parks lists. Be awed by Yosemite Valley's cliffs, waterfalls and meadows, a privately guided Glacier Point visit, panning for gold and a moonlit dinner train ride through Sierra National Forest. On Monterey Peninsula, visit behind the scenes of Monterey Bay Aquarium, and kayak, bike or walk along lovely Monterey Bay. In San Francisco, walk on and cruise under Golden Gate Bridge, and dive in to the city's diverse neighborhoods. Click here for the full itinerary.

Alaska: Call of the Wild –This 8-day Alaska family vacation boasts numerous popular experiences, at Denali National Park and beyond, and nights in wilderness lodges. Go flightseeing above 20,000+ foot Denali (once known as Mount McKinley), North America's highest mountain peak. Head to Anchorage's Native Heritage Center and to Talkeetna for a jet boat ride in the bush. Meet champion Iditarod huskies at a sled dog training facility. Go kayaking, river rafting or hiking around Kenai Peninsula. Travel aboard Alaska Railroad along Turnagain Arm shoreline, then to a glacier adventure cruise on Blackstone Bay in Prince William Sound. Encounter amazing Alaskan wildlife. Click here for the full itinerary.

Red Rocks & Painted Canyons – On this 8-day tour of the Southwest's otherworldly landscapes, visit three national parks––and do much more! At Grand Canyon National Park, view the sunrise from your inside-the-park lodge right on the rim. Catch Bryce Canyon National Park's famous hoodoos and ride a horse or mule along its scenic trails with a cowboy. What can kids do in Zion National Park? Plenty! Explore it together. Get a bird's-eye view of Lake Powell, the Rainbow Bridge and Glen Canyon on a flightseeing expedition. Tour colorful slot canyons in the Navajo Nation. Float on a raft along the Colorado River, spotting wildlife. See the Mojave Desert, classic Western towns like Sedona, Arizona and legendary Las Vegas. Click here for the full itinerary.

Cowboy Country – Round up your family for this 8-day expedition in America's Wild, Wild West, through fascinating towns and national parks in Wyoming and South Dakota. Stay steps from Old Faithful in Yellowstone National Park. Discover the natural majesty of Grand Teton National Park and the man-made artistry of Mount Rushmore National Memorial. Also among your adventures: living the cowboy life on a dude ranch in the Bighorn Mountains, rafting on the Snake River, whooping it up at a rodeo, experiencing Crazy Horse Memorial and visiting Jackson and Rapid City. Click here for the full itinerary.

We're Here to Help Plan National Parks Trips for Families
We've been bringing guests to America's national parks since 1925, nearly as long as they've existed! Thanks to relationships and partnerships we've forged, we can offer your family richer experiences through exclusive activities, inside-the-park stays and exceptional access. We'll manage the details and driving. Simply relax and appreciate popular sites at prime times and with fewer crowds.

Get in touch with us, if you want to learn more about the best national park family vacation packages.