For years, the national parks of the Western U.S. sat on my bucket list, but there was always a faraway country pulling me in another direction. Then one summer, we decided to stay closer to home and finally give the parks their turn: four weeks, 10 states, and a road trip that still ranks among our family’s favorite trips.
Most of the country’s national parks lie west of the Mississippi, so even with a full month, we had to choose. We wanted a mix of landscapes and experiences, and we landed on five of the most iconic: Zion, Bryce Canyon, Arches, Grand Teton, and Yellowstone. Clients often ask me where to start with the national parks, and the answer depends on what you want out of the trip. Here’s what each of those five felt like on the ground, and what I’d tell you before planning your own.
Five Parks, Five Different Worlds
Zion was our first stop, and it was unlike any landscape I had ever seen: layers of red, orange, and cream sandstone, with far more green than I expected. Its most famous trail is the Narrows, where you hike up the Virgin River itself while the canyon walls tower above you. I can’t think of many other places where the trail is the river.
Bryce Canyon was a day trip for us, and it was worth every minute of the drive. Walking the Rim Trail, we looked down into an amphitheater packed with hoodoos, the tall, thin rock spires that make the park look like another planet.
Arches is massive compared to Bryce. To see more than the main road allows, we booked a private four-wheel-drive tour into the backcountry, where we found formations most visitors never reach, like Eye of the Whale Arch and the Marching Men.
Grand Teton is where we slowed down. We chose shorter hikes and spent more of our time watching for wildlife, including moose grazing in the wetlands with the jagged peaks behind them.
Yellowstone kept the wildlife coming, with herds of bison and, to our son’s delight, a wolf sighting. Between animal encounters, we wandered the boardwalks past bubbling hot springs, steaming vents, and of course, Old Faithful.
You Don’t Have to Be a Hardcore Hiker
You don’t need to be an outdoor enthusiast to love the national parks. In Arches, the park’s scenic drive takes you past Balanced Rock and the Courthouse Towers, and you can take in much of it from the car. Most parks also have paved paths or short interpretive trails that work well for small children and anyone with limited mobility. The Rim Trail at Bryce Canyon is a great example.
Make the visitor center your first stop in each park. The rangers there have the latest on trail conditions and programs, and they’re happy to point you toward the options that fit your family best.
Becoming a Junior Ranger
If you’re traveling with kids, the visitor center is also where you’ll pick up each park’s Junior Ranger handbook. Between the interactive displays and the handbook, kids get a real reason to pay attention to the wildlife, the landscape, and why the park is protected. We grabbed one on our first day in every park. Once your kids finish the activities, they take an oath to help protect the park and earn a badge. Our son was six at the time, and those badges were a big deal. They’re still one of the most meaningful souvenirs from the trip.
Some of Our Best Moments Happened Just Outside the Parks
A national parks road trip shouldn’t stop at the park boundaries. Many activities are restricted inside the parks for good reason, but you can often do them just outside.
One of our favorite days of the whole trip was canyoneering near the Kolob Canyons area of Zion. We put on helmets and harnesses, and our guide led us through Lamb’s Knoll as we hiked, scrambled, squeezed, climbed, and rappelled our way down.
Our favorite arch of the trip wasn’t in Arches at all. Corona Arch, about 30 minutes from Moab along Highway 279, is enormous, and we had it entirely to ourselves. Along the way, we pulled over to see dinosaur tracks and petroglyphs.
In Jackson, we floated down the Snake River looking for wildlife with the Tetons as our backdrop. And just outside Yellowstone, we celebrated our son’s seventh birthday on horseback in the national forest.
Tips for Planning Your Own National Parks Road Trip
- Go for depth over breadth. It’s not a race to collect parks. If you have a week, exploring one or two parks well will give you a better trip than rushing through three or four.
- Build in downtime. With kids under ten, one big activity a day is usually plenty. We liked to plan a morning outing, then spend the afternoon at the hotel pool or a local swimming spot.
- Book a tour or two. Some experiences you can’t (or shouldn’t) do on your own. Guided activities also shift the family dynamic and give parents a break from being 100% “on.”
- Make the drive part of the trip. Plan a few fun stops to break up long stretches between parks. Sometimes a detour to something your family loves is worth the extra miles.
- Know your limits, and your kids’. Think about how active your family is at home. If you’ve never hiked more than a flat three miles, back-to-back days of strenuous trails probably aren’t the best plan.
- Check reservation rules early. Some of the most popular parks have used timed-entry or vehicle reservation systems in peak season, and the rules can change from year to year. Lodging in and near the parks also books up far in advance for summer.
That month on the road reminded me how much beauty we have right here in the United States, and how lucky we are to share the national parks with our son.
If a national parks road trip is on your list, I’d love to help you plan it. Together, we’ll choose the parks that fit your family’s interests, find the best activities inside and outside park boundaries, match your lodging to your budget and comfort level, and map a route that makes the most of your time. Reach out at kristin@familytravelsandadventures.com, and let’s start planning your parks adventure!
