Our top tips for exploring national parks with kids
Plan ahead. We use the NPS app for each park we visit, we look on the app for park alerts and closures as well as safety tips and weather. The app also provides a map, hiking trails, tips for what to see and things to do.
Check the weather! This seems like a no-brainer, but in so many places that we’ve been, it got windy/cold/rainy/hot while we were there and the weather changed drastically from when we left the RV. This makes everyone grumpy, so just be sure to check the weather!
Pack a lunch. The grand majority of national parks have picnic tables in scenic spots, so this allows us to enjoy more of nature and save a little $$$ by packing our own food. Be sure to also pack a trash bag for all of your trash - leave no trace!
Pack plenty of snacks and water. You never want to be on a hike with kids without plenty of snacks and water - just trust me, you don’t.
Pack layers. As mentioned earlier, weather can change rapidly, we always keep a change of clothes/shoes for the kids in the truck and pack jackets/hats/gloves/etc as needed.
Make sure everyone goes to the bathroom (or has a diaper change) at the visitor center before heading out on a hike. Again, this seems like a ridiculous tip, I know. But believe me, if you’ve gotten lost on the drive, the kids are losing it, you’re frustrated and your husband is about to make everyone get out and walk, you’re overstimulated and forget the little things like making sure to remind everyone of a bathroom break. Then, it's an hour later halfway into a 3-mile hike and your 5-year-old says he has to poop. This fun situation will always remind you to make sure you remind everyone to go to the bathroom. And while we are talking about bathroom habits, ALWAYS pack extra diapers for hikes - blowouts in a hiking backpack are no fun either…just trust me.
If you plan to be in a wooded national park, we always recommend tick/bug spray!
If you plan to visit multiple national parks within the year, the America the Beautiful pass is definitely worth it. It will get you into every park that is run by the national parks system for only $80 for the year. You can buy this pass at any park visitor center.
Don’t forget to stop by the visitor center for your Junior Ranger book before you head out to explore! The Junior Ranger book has been so fun for our family and we recommend doing them at all of the sites in the national park system (national monuments, national historical parks, national memorial sites & national seashores have them too!).