Visiting the National Parks With Kids: Everything You Need to Know

Summer is almost here and the forecast calls for family fun at the national parks! Visit the U.S. national parks for an unforgettable experience, no matter what age you are. Keep reading to learn how you can make it extra special. Learn to incorporate strategic planning and packing with a little outdoor magic. Keep reading and create childhood memories that will last a lifetime!

Top 3 Family-Friendly National Parks

The U.S. national parks are all relatively family-friendly to some degree. All of them are rich with history, nature, and learning opportunities. Each park includes trails for all skill levels and campgrounds with amenities. 

Know how far you’re willing to travel and what types of activities your family prefers. This will help determine which park you should visit. While it’s hard to narrow it down to just 3, here is our list of the best parks for camping with kids!

Redwoods National Park

It’s the ultimate California family getaway! This park expands through the most northern parts of the state. It also encompasses many state parks. Incredible old forests, waterfalls, coastlines, and so much more await in the Redwoods!

There are endless easy-going trails, perfect for kids. Take in the full magnitude of these trees—it’s hard to believe! Kids will be in awe of the size and age of this amazing forest. There are lots of opportunities to see wildlife, like herds of elk, eagles, and banana slugs.

Great Smoky Mountains National Park

Explore the dense green forests and mountains over the border of Tennessee and North Carolina. Kids will love exploring this iconic national park. With a rich Appalachian history, wildlife, and miles of natural beauty, you will never run out of things to do. 

Numerous tent campgrounds within the park offer amenities like bathrooms. If the family needs a break from the park, Gatlinburg is the nearest town outside. It has tons of mountain-town attractions and activities for kids. Inside the park, venture along biking trails, lush waterfalls, and easygoing hiking trails.

Yellowstone National Park

Yellowstone offers the camping experience of a lifetime. No matter how old you are, you will marvel at the natural wonders and wildlife of this park. From geysers blasting off to witnessing free bison roam, kids will love visiting this incredible diverse park. Venturing outside the park holds lots of adventure, too. Families can kayak, ride horses, and more. There are multiple campgrounds within Yellowstone. Reserve your campsites far in advance, since, like most parks, spots fill up fast. 

Tips for Camping With Kids

Camping with kids doesn’t have to feel intimidating! It just requires a little extra planning and supplies. You know your family best, so their specific needs will come first. The rest is having a good strategy. Packing, having the right gear, getting the kids involved, and lots of fun plans in store! Here are some of our best tips and tricks for a successful camping trip with the kids.

Go With The Right Gear

The right gear makes all the difference. Especially with kids. From tents to storage to camping tent accessories. Let’s dive into all the puzzle pieces of a great family campsite!

Family Camping Tent

On your family camping trip, bring a tent that can handle it all. A spacious, heavy-duty canvas tent is perfect for kids. Not only is it highly durable, but super comfortable as well. Canvas is naturally insulating and breathable. So it’s cozy during the nighttime and cool during the day. There’s no need to worry about stuffy nights or condensation. A strong canvas tent can withstand the elements. It’s waterproof, UV-resistant, and has a reliable grounding system.

It’s also easy to clean! And with kids, this is kind of important. Canvas is easy to dust off, spot clean, and perform light repairs on if needed. Use a canvas tarp for picnics, arts and crafts, playtime, and more. This is a multifunctional item that’s great to have on hand at camp. It helps keep everything clean and organized.

Storage and Organization

Storage and organization are essential for successful camping with kids. It’ll make your life a whole lot easier if small toys, game pieces, and gear are put in their places. Get creative! Use vertical and hanging storage for small gear to keep it out of reach. Durable canvas bags are great for clothing and soft goods. Have designated containers for food and specialized gear. When in doubt, label everything! That way, kids know where to put things back, too!

Cooking Setup, Prep, and Snacks

A great cooking setup at camp just makes life easier. Especially with kids who’ve worked up an appetite playing outside! A wood-burning stove is easy and safe to set up inside your family camping tent with a built-in stove jack. Meal prepping at home is also a key way to make mealtime more efficient and stress-free. Prep everybody’s favorite meals and heat them up on the stove. 

And while we’re talking about food, don’t forget the snacks! Pre-pack your favorite go-to snacks to grab on the way out to the trail!

Don’t Forget the Games and Activities

Any successful camping trip includes lots of games and activities. If you’re stuck in the tent on a rainy day, it helps to have some board, cards, and other games at the ready. Have some gearless games in mind! I Spy and nature scavenger hunts really come in handy during long car rides and trails.

Don’t sleep on the Junior Ranger programs! They are available at all the national parks. This is a super great way to get kids and the whole family involved! Learn from actual rangers all about the local environment and history. Kids complete activities, workbooks, and earn badges inspired by that national park! 

Add Variety to the Experience

Hiking all day, every day, might be fun for us older folks. But it can get a little redundant for kids! Mix it up day to day. One day of hiking, another day of biking. Try more unique excursions like horseback riding or visiting an area off the beaten path. Even try letting the kids vote on what they’d like to do! 

Get The Whole Team Involved

Make every part of camping interactive! Give kids a chance to feel involved and essential to the process of camping. It totally enhances the experience for the whole group! It’ll reignite an excitement for the outdoors in yourself.

Recall the magic of the first time you camped. Your first fire or pitching a tent. Teach kids the importance of being bear-aware and wildlife protocol. Put up the hammock together, and practice cooking over the campfire. Tasks may take longer with little campers involved, but you’ll be amazed how quickly they get the hang of things! And besides, it won’t be long before they’re the ones showing you new things!

Expect the Unexpected

With kids, anything can happen. Let alone kids when camping. Someone could get sick or injured. Long days and tuckered-out kids could lead to meltdowns. It might mean taking lots of breaks on the trail and more “slow-downs” than you’re used to.

Especially with the onset of fewer workers at the national parks. Expect longer lines, unkempt bathrooms, and more may lead to some stressful moments. Most of the time, these moments remain out of our control. 

Remember to have a flexible and positive attitude. Kids are adaptable and highly intuitive. When you lead with positivity, you will often be met with positivity as well.

Let’s Go Camping!

For an unforgettable summer vacation, get the whole family involved. Curate lasting childhood memories of adventure. The towering giants of the Redwoods, to the majesty of vibrant prismatic geysers. The national parks will leave quite the impression on both kids, and us kids at heart! 

Camping at the national parks with kids isn’t really complicated. In fact, it can be very rewarding for the whole family. Just practice strategic planning and packing, and you’ll get the hang of it. Camp in a large enough, durable tent. Add a cooking setup, bring some games, and get ready to have a cozy time. 

Get the kids excited about the outdoors by involving them in all the little details of setting up camp. Better yet, join the Junior Ranger programs! Kids will love the interactive and immersive national park experience.

And when all else fails, don’t be afraid to improvise! After all, the best memories are made from scratch, and often the ones we least expect.

Relive the magic of childhood when you visit the national parks. Happy Camping!