The best national park family vacations for every season

February 9, 2024 • 5 min read

Fall foliage, winter wonderlands, summer swims, and spring super blooms—every season is truly special at America’s national parks. Here are our top picks for the best national parks to visit with the fam in every season. But we should note, all of these parks are incredible year-round.

Points of interest

Seasonal park activities include snow shoeing, leaf peeping, and hiking
Each park has vacation rentals within a short drive of the entrances
The whole family can enjoy a park tour by car, gondola, snowcoach, or carriage

Three friends enjoying a first snowfall.

Winter: Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming

Make your winter break one to remember with a trip to Yellowstone. Winter’s fewer park visitors make the incredible scenery and abundant wildlife even more enjoyable than in summer. It’s almost as if the park is your own. Once the weather cools down, steam rises from the geothermal vents and open hot springs, giving the whole area an otherworldly vibe. Old Faithful still erupts like always, but the towering geyser looks even more striking against the snow-covered surroundings.

Best winter attractions in Yellowstone National Park

Snowshoeing or skiing: Strap on your preferred mode of transportation and explore one of the many backcountry trails of Yellowstone. Don’t worry about bringing your own equipment—it’s rentable within the park.

Soak in the hot springs: Nothing takes the edge off the winter temperatures quite like a soak in toasty geothermal waters.

Take a snowcoach: Day or night, Yellowstone snowcoach tours offer some great vistas from the comfort of a warm vehicle. Wildlife such as bison and elk stand out against snow-covered landscapes during the day, while the stars pop against the inky blackness of the night skies.

Best places to stay

Yellowstone has several access points with wonderful vacation rentals near all of them.

Entire home in Gallatin Gateway, Montana

Spring: Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Tennessee

Give your family a different kind of spring break replete with colorful wildflowers in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. The park has many trails suitable for family hikes that wind in and around the eye-popping array of flowers. Wildlife viewing opportunities are abundant, and the fireflies in late May and early June are a natural spectacle that bring a little magic to evenings in the park.

Best spring attractions in Great Smoky Mountains National Park

Family hikes: With more than 150 trails, there’s sure to be one that fits your family’s skill level. One of the best hikes in spring is Middle Prong Trail, known for its three incredible waterfalls and abundance of wildflowers.

Great Smoky Mountains Railroad: Climb aboard an open-air gondola car and travel through the mountains past open landscapes of blooming wildflowers. Theme rides for younger guests are also available on select dates.

Blue Ridge Parkway: Known as “America's Favorite Drive,” the Blue Ridge Parkway is a winding, 469-mile (754-kilometer) stretch of roadway that cuts through both Great Smoky Mountains National Park and the Appalachian Highlands.

Best places to stay

Knoxville, TN is about 50 minutes away by car.

Summer: Acadia National Park, Maine

Acadia National Park is a summer break paradise. The park consists of a multitude of islands and peninsulas and is surrounded by the ocean, giving visitors plenty of ways to enjoy the water. Explore the rugged coastline, hike to the top of Cadillac Mountain for sunrise, and swim in the clear waters of Jordan Pond. Biking, kayaking, and ranger-led programs tailored to kids are also popular summer vacation activities.

Best summer attractions in Acadia National Park

Thunder Hole: Visit this popular tourist destination for an earsplitting experience. As waves crash into the rocks and caves surrounding a small inlet, they create a sound akin to a thunderclap and send spray as high as 40 feet (12 meters) in the air. Locals suggest visiting Thunder Hole two hours before high tide for the most thunderous sounds. Bring a poncho!

Carriage Roads: Bike, rollerskate, walk, or book a horse-drawn carriage to take you through Carriage Roads’ winding network of paved paths, some of which are more than 100 years old. This 45-mile system highlights some of the park’s best features, including Jordan Pond, Eagle Lake, and Mount Desert Island.

Schoodic Point: Enjoy the peaceful seclusion of this mainland portion of Acadia National Park as the Atlantic smashes into the rocky shoreline. For those wanting an expedition in the evergreens, there are plenty of hiking trails, such as Shoodic Head and Anvil Trail.

Best places to stay

Vacation rentals on Mount Desert Island, ME are all within a short drive, while Ellsworth, ME is about 25 minutes away.

A lighthouse at sunset on the rocky coast of Acadia, ME.

Fall: Shenandoah National Park, Virginia

When fall arrives, Shenandoah National Park becomes a riot of color as the leaves change and the temperatures cool down. Most people familiar with Shenandoah suggest visiting the park during mid-to-late October to experience fall foliage at its best, when the golds, oranges, and reds of changing deciduous leaves mix with evergreens in a way not even a photo can capture.

Best fall attractions in Shenandoah National Park

Skyline Drive: Take a tour down this 105-mile (168-kilometer) highway hedged by the marvelous hues of changing foliage. Make a pit stop along one of Skyline Drive’s 70 overlooks for an awe-inspiring vantage of the autumnal colors on display.

Stony Man Trail: Take in the rich colors wrapped across the rolling Blue Ridge Mountains on this 2-mile round trip trail.

Watch out for bears: With hibernation just around the corner, black bears can be spotted wandering the trees in search of berries and nuts. They can be fun to spot (from a distance) but it’s probably a good idea to outfit your hiking crew with bells and bear spray.

Best places to stay

Harrisonburg, VA is about 35 minutes by car.

No matter the season, America's national parks offer exceptional opportunities for family adventures. From snow-covered mountains to blooming wildflowers and everything in between, these parks showcase the beauty and diversity of the natural world in every season.