After a long winter, when it’s finally spring, there seem to be few better ways to shake the cold out of your bones than to take a trip to a glorious national park. Especially if you’re traveling with kids, national parks offer an affordable vacation opportunity with plenty of activities away from screens and traffic and the stresses of everyday life.
But nature isn’t always spring ready, and so planning a trip to the right park in the right weather window is important. We’ve rounded up some of our favorite places to welcome spring, from stargazing at a desert oasis to going for a swim in a volcanic hot spring or joining a wildflower-finding search party.
Kids will be occupied, adults will get to breathe in the fresh, natural air, and you’ll be supporting one of the most incredible acts of public environmentalism America has to offer. Take a look at the best national parks for families in the spring.
Saguaro National Park, Arizona
Roadrunners abound in Saguaro National Park, but there are other animals you’ll have to keep a closer eye out for, like the rare but fascinating Gila monster. Enjoy the desert wildflowers and moderate temperatures on a hike or mountain bike path along the Cactus Forest Scenic Loop Drive or hit up a local outfitter to schedule a kid-friendly horseback-riding expedition.
Kenai Fjords National Park, Alaska
Perhaps one of the best reasons to visit Kenai Fjords in the spring is to see gray whales migrating back to Alaska from Baja, Mexico, for the season. Be sure to take a day cruise boat to get up close with the whales and also the awe-inspiring glaciers that line the coast. Once you’re done, kids will have a great time at the Alaska SeaLife Center, where they can learn all about the ecology of the area.
Carlsbad Cavern National Park, New Mexico
See yucca plants in bloom or spot cave swallows at the mouth of the caverns. Most important, spring marks the return of the Brazilian free-tailed bats. The cavern itself is massive and unbelievably impressive. Give yourself at least a couple of hours to explore. It can be quite slippery, so make sure everyone is wearing skid-resistant shoes.
Grand Canyon National Park, Arizona
Set up camp at one of the South Rim’s campgrounds. While a full hike to the bottom of the canyon should be reserved for only super-fit and prepared hikers, there are plenty of other things to do at the canyon. Some favorite activities for families are a mule ride to the bottom of the canyon (children 7 and up only), guided tours, walking the rim and Junior Ranger activities. The park also has an incredible IMAX theater, so kids can get incredible views of the canyon from the comfort of a chair.
Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming
Few parks are quite as accessible and fascinating to families as Yellowstone. Wander around the Grand Prismatic Spring, keep your eyes peeled for buffalo, and go for a swim in Boiling River, where cold and hot water mix to the perfect temperature. Of course, no trip to Yellowstone is complete without a viewing of the Old Faithful geyser, which will further inspire kids' interest in hot springs, geysers and volcanic activity.
Big Bend National Park, Texas
This park doesn’t get nearly as much attention (or as many visitors) as some of the others, but it has more than 800,000 acres of protected lands and offers a real chance to unplug. Show up early to get a campsite and spend the night stargazing. Take a walk down to a 200-foot waterfall via Window Trail, and while you explore, keep an eye out for more than 450 species of birds that migrate through in the spring.
Great Smoky Mountains National Park, North Carolina & Tennessee
Drive the Cades Cove Loop, where you may get lucky enough to spot some wildlife. Check out the Newfound Gap for an epic mountain view into both North Carolina and Tennessee. If you're planning a trip in April, consider signing up for the Spring Wildflower Pilgrimage, where the whole family can learn about fungi, ferns and medicinal plants, plus bugs, snakes, birds and more.
Joshua Tree National Park, California
If flowers aren’t what come to mind when you think of the desert, that’s because you haven’t visited in the springtime. Joshua Tree has beautiful blooms in the spring, and you also won't have to deal with the oppressive heat. Have a picnic at the Hidden Valley trailhead picnic area before wandering the stunning 1-mile loop. Or give kids a tour of the prickly Cholla Cactus Garden, where you can see hundreds of cholla basking in the sun.
Grand Teton National Park, Wyoming
Drive the Teton Park Road, set up camp at a gorgeous spot (we like Jenny Lake for families, which is a hub for most of the area's hikes and has a convenience store nearby) and visit a dude ranch — a working ranch that accepts visitors (in case you never could quite figure out what “dude" meant.) Have kids ages 6-12 check out the Nature Explorer’s Backpack program, which provides kids with a journal and a list of activities in the park.
Shenandoah National Park, Virginia
This park is best in the late spring months (think May) when wildflowers are blooming, the spring rains will have mostly subsided, and you'll be surrounded by budding trees. If the kids aren't in the mood for a walk, take a spin on Skyline Drive — the main road through the park — for incredible scenery.
Zion National Park, Utah
Wildflowers and waterfalls make Zion an incredible spring destination. Take an easy family hike to Emerald Pools. The trailhead is a quick walk from Zion Lodge, the only accommodations that are actually within the park. If you have older, adventurous kids, see if The Narrows are open (spring runoff sometimes makes water levels too high.) Kids will love romping through the river bed surrounded by high canyon walls.
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