July 23, 2020
These National Park Road Trips are Fun for the Whole Family
By Maya Kachroo-Levine
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Fall is undoubtedly the best road trip season, and as national parks open across the country, there are ways to safely take the whole family to see the natural wonders right here in the U.S. The beauty of a national park road trip is it reminds your whole family just how close you live to sights many travelers fly halfway ‘round the world to see. Here, our favorite national park road trips in the U.S.
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Acadia National Park — Maine
The national park gem of New England is, of course, Acadia, known for the “highest rocky headlands along the Atlantic coastline.” Acadia National Park—one of the top 10 most popular U.S. national parks—boasts 158 miles of hiking trails. A perfect national park road trip from Vermont, New Hampshire, Massachusetts, New York, and New Jersey, Acadia visitors often post up on Mount Desert Island in Bar Harbor (at properties like Bar Harbor Grand Hotel or Acadia Hotel). In addition to great hiking on lake, forest, coastal, or summit trails, there’s plenty of opportunity for boating and fishing within Acadia.
Bryce Canyon, Zion National Park, Grand Canyon — Utah and Arizona
The Bryce Canyon, Zion National Park, Grand Canyon loop is the trifecta of southwest national park road trips. Visitors could spend their entire trip just focusing on one of the three national parks, but to see each in succession is a treat. Where you start will, of course, depend on where your family is coming from. Bryce Canyon National Park is the farthest north, so roadtrippers coming from Colorado, Nevada, or Utah may start here. The California folks tend to drive through Las Vegas, which means they’ll likely hit Zion first, before going up to Bryce and then down to the Grand Canyon. Finally, roadtripping families from Arizona and New Mexico can start at either the south or north rim of the Grand Canyon, and work their way up to Zion, then over to Bryce. This is a true greatest hits national park tour, so plan your hikes accordingly with the famed South Kaibab Trail in the Grand Canyon, the Canyon Overlook Trail in Zion, and the Navajo Loop Trail in Bryce. All of them are short enough to do with children, but showcase the most exquisite hoodoos in Bryce, canyon views in the Grand Canyon, and majestic rocks of Zion.
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Great Smoky Mountains National Park — North Carolina and Tennessee
The sprawling Great Smoky Mountains National Park is shared by Tennessee and North Carolina. It’s an easy road trip from cities like Atlanta, Nashville, and Raleigh, and from various parts of Alabama, Georgia, Kentucky, North and South Carolina, and Virginia. The Great Smokies are a perfect summer or fall destination—specifically, they’re known for their fall foliage, which leaf-peeping families can take in while hiking, biking, and driving through the national park. The North Carolina-Tennessee border snakes right through the Great Smokies—as does the Appalachian Trail, so there’s plenty of learning opportunities for the kids here. Fall colors abound from early October into early November; families can take a scenic drive on Clingmans Dome Road, Blue Ridge Parkway, or Foothills Parkway to see them in full force. The only place to rent cabins within the national park is LeConte Lodge, so visitors to the Great Smokies often stay in Gatlinburg—a hotspot for AT hikers. Just outside Gatlinburg, book a glamped-out elevated tent at Under Canvas Smoky Mountains.
Shenandoah National Park — Virginia
The Virginian treasure of Shenandoah National Park is an easy road trip from Pennsylvania, West Virginia, families in the D.C. metro area, North Carolina, Maryland, and New Jersey. The 200,000 acres of protected lands are known for scenic waterfalls, gorgeous wildflowers, and impressive wildlife sightings. Take the family to the central district of Shenandoah; the area includes Big Meadows and Skyland, both of which are known for having good hotels (like Skyland Resort and Big Meadows Lodge) near the park. In the central district, you’ll find hikes through Dark Hollow Falls, Whiteoak Canyon, and up to the summit of Stony Man Mountain. Families can even bring their dogs on most hikes—Shenandoah is one of the only pet-friendly national parks.
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This article originally appeared on Departures.com. Departures is published by Meredith Corp. and owned by American Express. The content of this article was independently written by the editorial staff at Meredith. It has been reproduced with minor changes with permission from Departures.com.
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