• Menu
  • Skip to right header navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to secondary navigation
  • Skip to primary sidebar

Before Header

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • RSS
  • Twitter
  • TravelingDad

Traveling Mom

Traveling tips, deals, info from moms and families

  • COVID-19
  • Road Trips
    • ROAD TRIPS ACROSS THE USA
    • ROAD TRIP PLANNER
    • ILLINOIS ROAD TRIPS
    • TEXAS ROAD TRIPS
    • GEORGIA ROAD TRIPS
    • CALIFORNIA ROAD TRIPS
    • NORTHEAST ROAD TRIPS
    • MIDWEST ROAD TRIPS
  • Destinations
    • Northeast
    • Southeast
    • East Coast
    • Midwest
    • South
    • Southwest
    • Northwest
    • West
    • US Cities
      • New York City
      • Chicago
      • Los Angeles
      • Orlando
      • San Diego
      • San Francisco
  • Disney
    • Disneyland
    • Walt Disney World
    • Disney Worldwide
    • Disney Cruise
    • Discount Disney World Tickets
  • Outdoors
    • Skiing
    • National Parks
    • RV/Camping
    • Beaches
  • Travel Resources
    • Babies and Toddlers
    • Free Things to Do
    • Packing
    • Discount Attractions Tickets
    • Discount Disney World Ticket
    • Discount Universal Tickets
    • Grandparents
    • Cruising
    • TravelingDad
  • Search
  • COVID-19
  • Road Trips
    • Road Trips Across the USA
    • Road Trip Planner
    • Illinois Road Trips
    • Texas Road Trips
    • Georgia Road Trips
    • California Road Trips
    • Northeast Road Trips
    • Midwest Road Trips
  • US National Parks
  • RV and Camping
  • Beaches
  • Disney
    • Disneyland
    • Walt Disney World
    • Disney Worldwide
    • Disney Cruise
    • Discount Disney World Tickets
  • Cruises
  • Skiing
  • Free Things to Do
  • Traveling with Babies and Toddlers
  • Traveling Grandparents
  • TravelingDad
  • US Destinations
    • Northeast
    • Southeast
    • East Coast
    • Midwest
    • South
    • Southwest
    • Northwest
    • West
  • US Cities
    • NYC
    • Chicago
    • Los Angeles
    • Orlando
    • San Diego
    • San Francisco
  • International
  • Travel Resources
    • Book A Trip
    • Discount Attractions Tickets
    • Discount Disney World Tickets
    • Discount Universal Tickets
    • Packing
  • Contact Us
  • About Us

Mobile Menu

  • Facebook
  • Google+
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • Twitter
You are here: Home / Family Vacation Ideas / Family Vacations in California / Try These 10 Best National Parks to Get a Kid in Every Park
Grand Teton, top 10 national parks,
Taking a picture next the the entrance signs, is a tradition for this Traveling Mom. Photo Credit: Catherine Parker / National Parks Traveling Mom

Try These 10 Best National Parks to Get a Kid in Every Park

February 20, 2016 //  by Catherine Parker//  2 Comments

FacebookTweetPinLinkedIn
Table of Contents[Hide][Show]
  • Best National Parks
  • Top 10 National Parks for 2015+−
    • National Park Service Annual Passes
    • 16 Fee-Free Days in 2016

It’s the year of the National Park and there’s lots to see across the country. With parks from Washington state to Maine, the 10 Best National Parks List is a great place to start. The National Park Service report that a record number of people visited parks across the United States in 2015. With NPS Centennial programming and the Every Kid in a Park initiative, 2016 is the year to find your park.

Walking to the water in Acadia National Park, the first national park on the East Coast, near Bar Harbor, Maine. top 10 national parks
Walking to the water in Acadia National Park, the first national park on the East Coast, near Bar Harbor, Maine. Photo Credit: Catherine Parker / National Parks Traveling Mom

Best National Parks

Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links. If you click through and buy, TravelingMom may receive a small commission at no additional charge to you.
TravelingMom is hosting an exciting giveaway for a Skylight digital photo frame ($159 value)! ENTER HERE

It’s the National Park Service Centennial Celebration. If your family has ever wanted to visit a national park, 2016 is the year to do it. TravelingMom can help; we’ve been there.

The National Park Service just released the Top 10 National Parks for 2015 along with their annual attendance. Over 307 million visitors explored our national parks last year and more are expected this year.

Top 10 National Parks for 2015

  1. Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Tennessee and North Carolina

Ridge upon ridge of tree-covered mountains that fade into the sky. It’s 270 miles west of Raleigh, North Carolina.

  1. Grand Canyon National Park, Arizona

It’s an American icon, 215 miles north of Phoenix.You’ve seen it in pictures, but they can’t do justice to the epic vistas of the Grand Canyon. You really have to see if for yourself.

  1. Rocky Mountain National Park, Colorado

Drive through wildflower meadows on the mountaintops, just 75 miles west of Denver.

  1. Yosemite National Park, California

Set in a valley overflowing with wildlife and waterfalls, it’s 200 miles east of San Francisco.

  1. Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming

Visit Old Faithful Geyser and drive through valleys full of bison. It’s 320 miles northeast of Salt Lake City.

  1. Zion National Park, Utah

The red sandstone cliffs and rock formations are a hiker’s paradise, just 160 miles northeast of Las Vegas, Nevada.

  1. Olympic National Park, Washington

Where the mountains, the ocean and the rainforest collide. It’s 110 miles west of Seattle.

  1. Grand Teton National Park, Wyoming

The pristine lakes reflect the granite peaks towering above them for a postcard picture at every turn. It’s 280 miles northeast of Salt Lake City.

  1. Acadia National Park, Maine

Catch the sunrise at the first national park on the East Coast, 265 miles northeast of Boston.

  1. Glacier National Park, Montana

It’s one of the few places to catch the vanishing glaciers, 275 miles east of Spokane, Washington.

We wait for the Old Faithful Geyser to erupt. top 10 national parks, yellowstone, NPS

We wait for the Old Faithful Geyser to erupt in Yellowstone National Park, the first national park. Photo Credit: Catherine Parker / National Parks Traveling Mom

National parks are budget-friendly destinations. Most parks charge $20 to $30 per vehicle for a 7-day pass. All of the Top 10 National Parks offer camping for less than $30 a night for a developed camp site. Add the hotdogs and marshmallows and that’s one budget-friendly vacation.

If you are visiting more than one park over the year, consider an annual pass. There are several passes to choose from as well.

National Park Service Annual Passes

Type of Pass Eligibility Cost
America the Beautiful Pass All visitors $80
Military Pass Current U.S. military members and their dependents Free
Senior Lifetime Pass U.S. citizens and permanent residents 62 years and older $10
Access Pass U.S. citizens and permanent residents with a permanent disability Free
Volunteer Pass Visitors volunteering 250 hours a year Free
Grand Teton, top 10 national parks,
Taking a picture next to the national park entrance signs is a tradition for this Traveling Mom. Photo Credit: Catherine Parker / National Parks Traveling Mom

In celebration of the NPS centennial, President Obama launched the Every Kid in a Park initiative to get fourth graders in the parks this year. Ten-year-olds complete an online activity, print out a voucher and turn it in at a NPS park for a free annual pass for them and their family. This offer is available until August 30, 2016.

16 Fee-Free Days in 2016

Even if you don’t have a fourth grader, there are ways to get into a National Park for free.

Martin Luther King, Jr. Birthday January 18, 2016
Presidents’ Day Weekend February 13 – 15, 2016
National Park Week April 16 – 24, 2016
National Park Service Birthday August 25 – 28, 2016
National Public Lands Day September 24, 2016
Veterans Day November 11, 2016
The vintage buses can be found at Glacier and Yellowstone National Parks. national parks, Yellowstone,
Hop aboard a vintage bus for a tour in Glacier or Yellowstone National Parks. Photo Credit: Catherine Parker / National Parks Traveling Mom

Tips from a Traveling Mom:

  • National Parks are popular destinations during school breaks and holidays–make reservations as early as possible. Reservations for lodging are available 13 months in advance.
  • Parking can be an issue at popular destinations during the middle of the day.
  • Watch your children at all times, many features have barricades kids can climb over.
  • Keep wild animals wild. Don’t feed them for your safety and theirs.
  • Bring food and refillable water bottles for your visit. Food service can be limited.
  • Drones are not permitted at any NPS location.

Which park do you most want to visit? Share with us in the comment section below.

FacebookTweetPinLinkedIn

Category: Family Vacations in California, National ParksTag: outdoors

You May Also Like

  • yosemite with dogs
    How to Visit a National Park for Free in 2021
  • family at Arches National Park
    US National Parks: The Ultimate Guide for Families
Previous Post: «Free in London with kids Free Things To Do in London with Kids
Next Post: Winter Splendors of Utah for Skiers & Non-Skiers Alike »

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

2 Comments on “Try These 10 Best National Parks to Get a Kid in Every Park”

  1. Jennifer Greene, Tween 'N Teen TravelingMom says:
    May 16, 2016 at 10:09 pm

    4.5

    Reply
  2. Catherine Parker, National Parks TravelingMom says:
    April 15, 2016 at 10:03 am

    5

    Reply

Primary Sidebar

  • Contact Us
  • About Us
  • Ask Us!
  • Privacy & Terms
  • Manage Push Notifications
  • Site Admin

Copyright © 2021 Traveling Mom · All Rights Reserved