We’ve been traveling with all of our kids since they were babies. Now we have kids aged 1 – 17!! We have all the ages right now! (Teens, Elementary, Preschool, Toddler!). I was just asked what tips I would give to parents taking little kids to National Parks and thought doing an entire post of tips would be useful for people – since we’ve taken kids of all ages now!
• Bring FOOD (and tons of snacks!) – ok, this is my number one tip for going ANYWHERE with kids! This is especially true at the National Parks though! You won’t find a Walmart or Target nearby most parks, so you need to bring in whatever you are going to need for the day. Bring lunch. Bring more snacks than you think you’ll need because – kids! Your food options will be very limited or very expensive in and near most National Parks.
• Bring reusable water bottles for everyone. The National Parks are great about having water bottle filling stations everywhere. We also bring a very large jug to keep in the van that we can refill bottles from when we are unable to find a fountain nearby.
• Bring baby essentials like diapers, wipes, bottles, etc.. If traveling with a baby, bring everything you’ll need, as with most National Parks, you won’t be able to find them for miles and miles!
• Bring Pencils/pens/crayons – if planning to do Junior Rangers, which I HIGHLY suggest, bring pencils to work on the books, as not all Ranger stations have pencils available.
• Bring extra shoes, socks, clothes in the car. You are outdoors with kids. Need I say more? You may encounter muddy trails and you may not want that all over your car.
• We always ask the Rangers where the best hikes for kids are. When doing your research online, KNOW your kids and YOUR limits. Easy trails and Wheelchair accessible trails are usually good for strollers. We have a hiking backpack and baby wrap for stroller unfriendly trails, but so far, we’ve been able to take our strollers on *most* trails (we’ll just pick it up if it becomes too difficult to use – we take lightweight strollers).
• Depending on the National Park, there may be long drives between stops. Have activities to occupy your kids while driving or plan nap time between stops.
• If you’re going to a park where you have to take a shuttle (like Zion), bring a backpack or two with everything you’ll need for the day, as it is difficult to get back to your vehicle! With 6 kids, it was a challenge, but we managed to do so! (We mainly just take snacks, diapers, wipes, and water)
• Backup Batteries – your phones will die quickly in the parks, as they continue to look for a cell signal, and with most parks, there is not a signal to be found! If you plan to use your phone for photos, bring an extra battery.
• Don’t plan to use your phone for the internet – speaking of phones and signals, most parks have very little cell service, if any! Know where you are going and what you plan to do beforehand or use Rangers for help! If you have teens, prepare them for lack of service – ha! We heard many teens in Yellowstone “There is no service here! We have to enjoy Nature and stuff!” It was hilarious.
• Go early. Depending on the park, time of year, and popularity (think Yellowstone, Zion, Grand Canyon) there may be limited parking at many places within the park. Get an early start or you’ll be hiking with the kids just to get into the park.
• Don’t try to do too much or have too high of expectations. It’ll always take longer than you expect and your kids won’t always be as cooperative as you’d like. Be flexible and willing to change plans as needed. Flexibility is always the key to traveling with kids of ANY age. Flexibility and FOOD! Have a couple “must-do” items, do them first. Anything else you get to see, consider gravy on a great day exploring with your kids.
• Talk to and interact with your kids about what they are seeing and experiencing. This is the time to interact with them and experience the beauty of the world. Junior Ranger books work really well for this!
Enjoy your trip and being in nature with your children. As long as you have food, water, and a good attitude, You will have a wonderful time enjoy the beauty our country has to offer! Have Fun!!!
