Exploring the great outdoors is one of the best ways to create lasting memories with your family, and few places are better suited for this than America’s national parks. With awe-inspiring landscapes, abundant wildlife, and activities that cater to all ages, these parks provide the perfect backdrop for adventure and bonding.
When it comes to national parks, the western United States stands out for its incredible diversity. From geysers and canyons to rainforests and red rock towers, the variety of experiences available is unmatched. If you’re wondering where to start, this guide highlights the best family-friendly National Parks in the West, complete with key attractions, must-do activities, and helpful tips to make your trip unforgettable.
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1. Yellowstone National Park (Wyoming, Montana, Idaho)
Why Yellowstone is great for families
Yellowstone offers many things, from geothermal wonders to seeing unique wildlife. Many of the sites are easy hikes along a boardwalk, which makes it accessible for families of all ages. The towns surrounding Yellowstone offer fun stores to walk through, animal sanctuaries where you can safely observe wild animals like bears and wolves, and the parks department usually has activities or information that kids love.
Top Family-Friendly Spots
- Old Faithful: A must-see when visiting Yellowstone. It can be a bit of a wait standing and waiting for the geyser to go off, but there is a visitor’s center near the geyser you can check out while you wait. Once you see the geyser go off, you will see it is worth the wait.
- Grand Prismatic Spring: A short walk leads to this vibrant, rainbow-colored hot spring.
- Lamar Valley: Known as the “American Serengeti,” it’s perfect for spotting bison, elk, and even wolves. Just remember that even though the animals may look friendly, they are wild, and be sure to keep your distance.
- Grizzly & Wolf Discovery Center: Located outside of the west entrance of the park is a non-profit wildlife park and educational facility. You can see and learn about bears, wolves, and potentially other wildlife. When we were there, they had eagles and otters as well. This was our kids’ favorite part about visiting Yellowstone. They test bear-safe containers by letting the bears try and open them. The kids thought this was the greatest thing ever!
Kid-Friendly Activities
- Participate in the Junior Ranger Program, where kids can earn a badge by completing fun learning tasks.
- Collect coins/stickers from each National Park that is visited. At each National Park, they sell passports and coin books. You can buy a coin or get a stamp in your passport at every National Park visited.
- Take a short, scenic hike to Fairy Falls or explore the bubbling Mud Volcano.
Pro Tip
The time of year you choose to go to Yellowstone really matters. Most of the roads are closed for the winter and open in April, and close around the end of October/November, depending on the weather. It can get cold and still have snow in Spring/Fall. Summer is a great time, weather wise but can become pretty crowded. We have gone in Spring and Fall, and the crowds weren’t bad at all; you just had to bundle up in winter clothes some days.
2. Yosemite National Park (California)
Why Yosemite is Great For Families
Yosemite is home to magnificent waterfalls, towering granite cliffs, and massive sequoias. It is a treasure trove of natural beauty for the whole family to enjoy. Its easy trails and diverse attractions make it a family-friendly park.
Top Family-Friendly Spots
- Yosemite Valley: Enjoy views of El Capitan and Half Dome. If you park at the El Capitan picnic area, you can get a view of Horsetail Fall, which can appear to be on fire. While you’re there, you can enjoy a nice picnic lunch!
- Mariposa Grove: From the Mariposa Grove Welcome Plaza, jump on the free shuttle to Mariposa Grove. There are multiple short hikes (ranging from 0.3 miles to 7 miles) to enjoy the views of the incredible giant Sequoia trees. The two most family-friendly hikes are the Big Trees Loop (easy, .3 miles) and the Grizzly Giant Loop Trail (moderate, 2 miles).
- Glacier Point: Take in panoramic views of Yosemite Valley and waterfalls.
Kid-Friendly Activities
- Join ranger-led nature walks for an educational and engaging experience.
- Explore and rock scramble in Tuolumne Meadows during the summer.
Pro Tip
Plan your visit in spring or fall to skip summer crowds and enjoy cooler weather. If you are planning on camping inside the park, it can be difficult to reserve a camping spot. Make sure you reserve a spot as early as possible. Before May and after October, there are first-come, first-served spots, but they do fill up fast on the weekends.
3. Grand Canyon National Park (Arizona)
Why the Grand Canyon is Great for Families
The Grand Canyon is one of the wonders of the world and is a must-see for anyone! The sweeping views and fascinating geological history captivate kids and adults alike. It is a great spot for educational and adventurous activities.
Top family-friendly spots
- South Rim viewpoints: Mather Point and Yavapai Point provide excellent, safe viewing spots.
- Bright Angel Trail (short sections): Offers stunning canyon views without being too challenging.
- Bearizona: See many different types of wildlife with either a walk-through or drive-through experience.
Kid-Friendly Activities
- Sign up for the Junior Ranger program and learn about the canyon through hands-on activities.
- Explore exhibits at the visitor center or take an easy rim walk for up-close views.
Pro Tip
Use the shuttle bus to reach scenic stops, which is easier for families with young children. Make sure to always keep kids close and have an eye on them. There are many cliffs everywhere.
4. Zion National Park (Utah)
Why Zion (or Zions as the locals call it) is Great for Families
Zion is a beautiful, dramatic, red cliffed canyon with water hikes and offers a unique adventure for families.
Top Family-Friendly Spots
- Emerald Pools Trail: A relatively easy hike that leads to waterfalls and natural pools
- Riverside Walk: Perfect for kids, it is a shaded trail that leads to the entrance of the iconic Narrows. If there are no flash flood warnings, you can dip your feet into the Virgin River at the end of the hike.
- Pa’rus Trail: A paved trail along the Virgin River with the potential to see wildlife. Lower Pine Creek Waterfall Trail: This one is considered a moderate trail and can involve some scrambling over rocks as it is not a maintained trail. We have taken our little ones on it multiple times. If you go slow, you should be okay. It leads to a little pond and waterfall at the end with soft sand that the kids can play in. It is a less crowded trail in Zion and one of our favorites. Be sure and check water conditions before you go; if the water is high, the pond will be deeper and the waterfall more intense.
Kid-Friendly Activities
- Visit the shops in Springdale. There are fun, unique shops to look at in the town just outside Zion.
- Cool off by wading in the Virgin River or keep an eye out for deer, big horn sheep, and rock squirrels. Don’t feed the squirrels, they will come right up to you expecting it, though! To see big horn sheep, go north through both tunnels. They like to hang out just off the road on the top side of Zion.
Pro Tip
Get there early! The park can get very crowded, and you can’t drive to some of the hikes; you have to take the shuttle. Getting into the park early or riding a bus or shuttle into the park will help alleviate parking issues. Avoid going at all during any holiday weekend; the park can reach capacity, and you may not even get in. If you can plan a trip during the week in either spring or fall. You will catch the best weather and avoid the big crowds. In the summer, Zion can reach temperatures over 100 degrees most days, hiking in that heat can be very dangerous; it is best to avoid planning your trip from May to August.
5. Great Basin National Park (Nevada)
Why Great Basin is Great for Families
Great Basin is an overlooked National Park that has a lot to offer. With Caves to dark skies you will feel one with nature at this incredible park.
Top Family-Friendly Spots
- Lehman Caves Tour: Lehman Caves are the longest cave system in Nevada. Get a tour of the incredible cave system to see one of nature’s wonders.
- Baker Creek Loop Trail: An easy trail that the whole family can enjoy. In the spring and early summer, the meadow can be filled with beautiful wildflowers.
- Snake Creek Overlook Trail: See ancient Bristlecone Pine trees and stunning wildflowers with this 1.1-mile trail. Out of all the trails we did in Great Basin, this was everyone’s favorite. The giant trees at the top of the loop were stunning.
Kid-Friendly Activities
- Get a Junior Ranger Book from the visitors center. It has activities to do throughout the park. The kids loved getting to fill out the book while we explored the park.
- Great Basin is in the middle of nowhere, which means you can see stars in the sky, unlike anywhere else I have ever been. They have a variety of astronomy-based events and programs. Check their calendar while you are there and try and participate in at least one of the programs. They even have a Junior Ranger Night Sky Explorer program.
- Visit Ely, NV, and take a train ride and visit the Nevada Northern Railway train museum. They have different themed train rides during holidays, and the excursion train, which is about a 90-minute train ride. I was hesitant to do this at first, but it ended up being one of our favorite parts of the trip!
Pro Tip
Go in the summer or early fall. We went on Memorial Day weekend, and some of the passes were still closed due to snowfall. We planned on camping, but ended up getting a hotel in Ely because the nighttime temperatures were still in the 30s.
6. Olympic National Park (Washington)
Why Olympic National Park is Great for Families
Olympic offers an incredible variety of landscapes, from lush rainforests to rugged beaches and snow-capped peaks.
Top Family-Friendly Spots
- Hoh Rainforest: Explore lush greenery and moss-laden trees on flat, easy trails.
- Rialto Beach: Perfect for tide-pooling and building driftwood forts.
- Hurricane Ridge: Enjoy stunning mountain views and short nature trails.
Kid-Friendly Activities
- Search for sea stars and hermit crabs in tide pools.
- Spot wildlife like elk and river otters during your adventures.
Pro Tip
Make sure you plan your trip long enough to be able to enjoy the whole park. There are so many incredible sights to see that it may be hard to fit them into a weekend or short trip.
Bryce Canyon National Park (Utah)
Why Bryce is Great for Families
Bryce Canyon is a magical wonderland with hoodoo formations and plenty of family-friendly hikes to enjoy.
Top Family-Friendly Spots
- Mossy Cave Trail: This is a fun, scenic trail that is very family-friendly. Pack a lunch and have a picnic at one of the tables around the trail!
- Sunset Point: Offers incredible views of the hoodoos.
- Queen’s Garden Trail: A short, kid-friendly hike through the park’s iconic formations.
Kid-Friendly Activities
- Stargazing in the park is one of the best nighttime activities—Bryce Canyon is known for its dark skies.
- Horseback riding is another great way to explore the landscape.
- Check out Ruby’s Inn just outside of the park. It has been around for 100 years and has a cute store, multiple dining areas, adventure rentals like ATVs and mountain biking, and lodging.
Pro Tip
Bring a camera to capture incredible photos with the majestic background! If you want even more magical photos, head out in the morning or evening for the softer light.
Make Memories in the National Parks
Whether your family loves spotting wildlife, hiking through incredible scenery, or learning about nature’s wonders, these western national parks have something for everyone. From the geysers of Yellowstone to the hoodoos of Bryce Canyon, each park offers its own one-of-a-kind adventure. For tips on what kind of gear to pack for your outdoor adventures, check out this post.
Now it’s your turn. Start planning your next family getaway and create memories that will last a lifetime. Which national park is your favorite for family trips? We’d love to hear in the comments below!