The 10 Best National Parks To Visit In Winter With Kids
Curious about the best national parks to visit in winter with kids? We’re happy to hear that! When winter rolls around, many families seek warm escapes, but there’s a growing appeal to braving the cold and venturing into the great outdoors.
For us, winter trips mean fewer crowds, cheaper lodging, unique activities like snowshoeing or wildlife spotting, and plenty of family time in nature. Whether you’re exploring steaming geysers in Yellowstone or soaking up the mild winter sun at Carlsbad Caverns, these parks showcase how incredible the winter season can be.
Our guide highlights the top ten national parks to visit in winter with family. Don’t worry; we included a few warm ones for the sun worshipers.
Top 10 National Parks To Visit In Winter With Kids
Arches National Park
Location:
Utah
Highlights:
While all of the parks mentioned are spectacular, Arches National Park tops our list of the best national parks to visit in winter with family. Why? It offers light, easily accessible adventure, has other activities around it, and you can explore it in one to two days tops. Also, this well-visited national park is so popular that from spring to summer, you need a timed entrance ticket to enter the park. In the winter, you can drive right in.
The park is famous for its stunning natural arch formations, including the iconic Delicate Arch, which is even more breathtaking when dusted with snow. Kids will love the opportunity to explore and interact with the unique landscape. The Sand Dune Arch Trail is a family favorite, offering a short, easy hike through soft sand surrounded by towering rock fins—perfect for little ones to run, play, and discover.
For families with energetic kids, The Windows Section is another must-visit spot. Here, children can scramble up rocks, crawl through arches, and marvel at the massive formations, including the North and South Windows and the Double Arch. The area feels like a natural jungle gym, igniting their sense of adventure.
Family Tip:
Arches National Park is near Goblin Valley State Park and the family-friendly slot canyon hike, Little Wild Horse Canyon. Both can be done on a day trip from Arches and are FANTASTIC spots for kids to play. While we loved Arches National Park, we actually loved the side trip to these two places even more.
The Average Weather in the Winter:
Winter in Arches National Park is chilly but very manageable, with daytime highs typically ranging from 40°F to 50°F and nighttime lows dropping below freezing. Snow is infrequent but can create a stunning contrast against the red rock formations. Be prepared for fluctuating temperatures and pack accordingly.
Zion National Park
Location:
Utah
Highlights:
While Zion National Park is bursting at the seams with over 1 million people visiting in the summer, winter transforms the park into a serene retreat with fewer crowds, cool temperatures, and magnificent scenery. The red cliffs dusted with snow create a magical contrast that kids will find enchanting, and the lower elevations mean most trails remain accessible year-round. Visiting in winter means families can enjoy hiking without the sweltering summer heat or long shuttle lines.
The Riverside Walk, a flat and family-friendly trail, is great for younger kids and leads to the grand entrance of the park’s most famous hike, The Narrows. While hiking the Narrows in winter may not be possible with young kids, older kids can do it with the proper gear.
Another family favorite is the Pa’rus Trail, an easy paved path accessible for strollers and bikes. This trail offers beautiful views of the Virgin River and Zion’s red rock cliffs. For families with older kids who are up for more adventure, the lower section of the Emerald Pools Trail provides an easy yet rewarding hike leading to waterfalls and pools that look magical when partially frozen in winter.
Family Tip:
With fewer visitors, winter is an excellent time to drive the scenic Zion Canyon Scenic Drive. Because of the park’s popularity, from March to November visitors cannot drive through Zion; they must use the park’s shuttle service.
The Average Weather in the Winter:
Winter in Zion National Park is mild compared to other parts of Utah. Average daytime highs range from 50°F to 60°F, while nights can dip below freezing to around 20°F to 30°F. Snowfall is light in the canyon but can accumulate at higher elevations, making the cliffs and peaks even more picturesque.
Fun Detour:
Zion National Park is near Valley of Fire State Park in Nevada and makes for a great stop if you’re roadtripping between Zion and Las Vegas. It’s less crowded, has easy one-mile hikes, is a jungle gym for kids, and has a few slot canyon hikes.
Yellowstone National Park
Location:
Idaho, Montana, and Wyoming
Highlights:
Yellowstone in winter is the very definition of a winter wonderland. While admittedly, Yellowstone in the summer is extraordinary and not to be missed, wintertime offers a unique and serene experience with steamy snow-drenched geysers and powder-kissed bison. While independent exploration is possible, due to the extreme winter conditions and roads being closed, a guided tour is the way to go for most families.
Families can witness the park’s iconic geysers, such as Old Faithful, dramatically steaming against the cold air. Winter is also prime time for wildlife viewing, with opportunities to spot bison, wolves, elk, and other animals in their natural habitats. Guided tours that include snow coach rides make it easy for families to explore the park’s vast snowy terrain without braving it all on foot. Activities like cross-country skiing, snowshoeing, sledding, and ice skating are also available for families.
Family Tip:
For accommodations, two lodges remain open in winter: the Old Faithful Snow Lodge and the Mammoth Hot Springs Hotel. The Old Faithful Snow Lodge provides comfortable lodging near the iconic geyser, while the Mammoth Hot Springs Hotel is conveniently located near the northern entrance and offers easy access to the Lamar Valley. Staying in the park isn’t mandatory, and there are plenty of other lodging options outside the park that might be more affordable. However, staying in the park is easier since you can arrange multiple tours and experiences directly from the hotel.
The Average Weather in the Winter:
Winter temperatures in Yellowstone can be extreme, with daytime highs ranging from 0°F to 20°F and nighttime temperatures often dipping below 0°F. Proper winter gear with appropriate layers is a must!
Glacier National Park, Montana
Location:
Montana
Highlights:
Glacier National Park in winter is an off-the-beaten-path choice for outdoorsy families who relish wild and pristine nature getaways. While many parts of the park are inaccessible due to snow, the open areas, like Apgar Village and the Lake McDonald area, offer incredible snow-drenched mountain views and quiet trails for winter exploration. Families can enjoy snowshoeing, cross-country skiing, and wildlife spotting in this peaceful, snow-blanketed paradise.
One of the highlights of visiting Glacier in winter is its proximity to Whitefish, Montana, a charming town with a family-friendly vibe. Whitefish offers plenty of winter activities to keep everyone entertained, including skiing and snowboarding at Whitefish Mountain Resort, ice skating, sledding, and even dog sledding tours. Families can easily combine a day of adventuring in Glacier with a stay in Whitefish for a well-rounded winter vacation.
Family Tip:
The park offers free snowshoe programs led by rangers, which are educational and fun for kids. If a tour isn’t available, bring your own snowshoes or rent them in nearby towns like Whitefish. When we went to Glacier, I brought a sled and rope to pull my son while we hiked around. He loved it!
The Average Weather in the Winter:
Winter temperatures in Glacier National Park can range from daytime highs of 20°F to 30°F. with nighttime temperatures often falling below 0°F. Snow is abundant, and strong winds can make it feel even colder, so warm clothing and proper gear are essential.
Rocky Mountain National Park
Location:
Colorado
Highlights:
Rocky Mountain National Park is an incredible winter destination for families who want to embrace snowy fun while enjoying sky-high mountain views. While many of the higher-elevation roads in the park, like Trail Ridge Road, close for the winter, this season allows families to explore the quieter, more accessible parts of the park without the summer crowds.
The park’s lower elevation areas, like Hidden Valley, are fantastic for kids. What was once a ski area has now been converted into a designated sledding and tubing area. Bring your sleds or rent them in nearby Estes Park, and watch your kids light up with joy as they zoom down the gentle slopes.
For families looking to explore the park’s snowy trails, head to popular routes like Bear Lake and Sprague Lake. Both offer relatively flat and scenic trails where kids can experience the thrill of snowshoeing or walking through pristine snow-covered landscapes. You can also opt for ranger-led snowshoe walks explicitly made for kids if you want more guidance.
One of the biggest draws of visiting Rocky Mountain National Park is staying at the gateway town of Estes Park. This “Hallmark” town sits in the pocket of the towering mountains and exudes warmth with its twinkling lights and the ever-present scent of pine and woodsmoke. Families can enjoy ice skating, sipping hot cocoa by a fire, or spotting elk that roam freely through town.
Family Tip:
Visit the Estes Park Winter Festival if your trip coincides with January. The festival includes sledding, live music, hot chili tasting, local craft brews, and more.
The Average Weather in the Winter:
Winter weather in Rocky Mountain National Park is cold and snowy, with daytime highs ranging from 20°F to 40°F. At higher elevations, temperatures can drop below zero, and snowfall is frequent.. Lower elevations see milder conditions, making them ideal for family-friendly adventures.
Joshua Tree National Park
Location:
California
Highlights:
Joshua Tree is a paradise for kids, offering endless opportunities for adventure and play. Towering rock formations invite little explorers to jump, climb, and scramble to their hearts’ content, while massive boulders provide a fun challenge for budding climbers. The park’s whimsical, otherworldly landscape sparks the imagination, turning every trail into a gateway to a magical world.
Jumbo Rocks is a great spot for families as the rock formations are accessible and easy for children to climb. Skull Rock, a giant boulder shaped like a skull, is another favorite destination that sparks curiosity and adventure. Trails like the Barker Dam Loop and Hidden Valley Nature Trail are perfect for families, offering short and manageable hikes through stunning desert scenery. Don’t miss the Cholla Cactus Garden, where these unique plants light up with a magical glow in the golden hues of the winter afternoon sun.
Winter is also the perfect time for stargazing in Joshua Tree. As an International Dark Sky Park, it offers exceptionally clear skies, providing open views of constellations in their full brilliance.
Family Tip:
Joshua Tree’s proximity to Palm Springs adds another layer of adventure to a family trip. Palm Springs, just a short drive away, offers many family-friendly attractions and vibrant desert-town charm.
The Average Weather in the Winter:
Winter in Joshua Tree National Park is marked by mild days with average highs ranging from 60°F to 70°F, making it a comfortable time to explore. Nights, however, can get cold, often dropping to around 35°F, so bundling up is essential if you stay late to stargaze or camp overnight. I will say we visited in winter, and the area was having a cold spell, and it snowed the day we visited! So be prepared with layers.
Death Valley National Park
Location:
California
Highlights:
Known as the hottest place on Earth, Death Valley becomes a family-friendly destination in winter when the temperatures drop, and you can comfortably explore its dramatic canyons, towering sand dunes, and colorful badlands. Kids will love climbing and running down the Mesquite Flat Sand Dunes, where the golden sand makes a natural sandbox.
A visit to Badwater Basin, the lowest point in North America, is another must-do. The expansive salt flats look like a snow-covered desert and are fun for kids to explore while learning about the area’s unique geography. Encourage little adventurers to take photos, look for the salt formations up close, and marvel at the vast, white landscape stretching for miles.
Golden Canyon and the nearby Zabriskie Point offer remarkable badlands scenery for families interested in short hikes and jaw-dropping views. Golden Canyon is a great family-friendly hike with plenty of rock formations and small passages for kids to explore, while Zabriskie Point provides an easy overlook with panoramic views for sunrise or sunset.
Death Valley’s stark beauty extends to its colorful canyons, like Artist’s Drive, a scenic 9-mile route that takes families through hills splashed with vibrant shades of pink, green, and purple—naturally created by mineral deposits. Kids will be amazed at the “painted” desert, and it’s a great opportunity for parents to talk about the natural forces that shape our world.
Family Tip:
Families will enjoy basing themselves at The Ranch at Death Valley, a resort that offers comfortable lodging, a swimming pool fed by natural springs, a playground, bike rentals, and more.
The Average Weather in the Winter:
Winter temperatures in Death Valley are pleasantly mild, with daytime highs ranging from 65°F to 75°F and cooler evenings dropping to around 40°F to 50°F. While snowfall is rare on the desert floor, you might spot snow on the nearby Panamint Range.
Carlsbad Caverns National Park
Location:
New Mexico
Highlights:
The main draw of Carlsbad Caverns is undoubtedly the self-guided tour of the main cavern, which allows families to walk through the Big Room, a massive underground chamber. This awe-inspiring space is more than a mile long and houses jaw-dropping features, including rock formations that look like frozen waterfalls, delicate draperies, and massive columns. The tour is suitable for families with kids, and there are shorter paths and overlooks if younger children need breaks along the way.
If you’re looking for more hands-on guidance, you can sign up for the King’s Palace Tour, a guided walk through some of the most ornate chambers in the caverns. This tour is suitable for kids aged six and up, making it an accessible and awe-inspiring experience for most families.
For those with older kids or teens, the Lower Cave Tour adds a thrilling, hands-on element to your visit. Designed for adventurers aged 16 and older, this tour involves climbing ladders, using ropes, and navigating uneven terrain, making it ideal for families seeking a more daring excursion.
While the cavern remains a stead 56°F year-round, winter months see fewer crowds, making it a peaceful time to explore the cavern and enjoy the park’s desert beauty without the rush of summer visitors.
Family Tip:
If you have extra time, drive to Roswell, just an hour and a half away from Carlsbad Caverns. Roswell is home to the International UFO Museum and Research Center, a fun stop for families interested in history and mystery. The exhibits on UFOs and aliens and the town’s quirky atmosphere make for an enjoyable day trip.
The Average Weather in Winter:
Winter at Carlsbad Caverns is mild and comfortable, with daytime temperatures ranging from 50°F to 60°F.
Everglades National Park
Location:
Florida
Highlights:
Everglades National Park is one of the best national parks to visit in winter with kids, offering an exciting and educational family experience that feels like an adventure from a nature documentary. Winter brings ideal conditions for exploring as wildlife congregates around shrinking water sources, making it the best time to spot iconic creatures like alligators, turtles, flamingos, and other wading birds. Kids will be thrilled to see these animals in their natural habitat, and the park’s many boardwalks and trails provide safe, easy ways for families to explore the wetlands.
One of the most family-friendly activities in the Everglades is taking an airboat tour. Families can glide over the water through sawgrass marshes and mangroves while keeping their eyes peeled for alligators and exotic birds. Boat tours are another great way to explore, offering a slower pace and opportunities to spot manatees, dolphins, and fish.
For families who enjoy hiking, the Anhinga Trail is a must. This short, easy boardwalk trail winds through a sawgrass marsh where wildlife is abundant. It’s one of the best places in the park to spot alligators, turtles, and herons. Little ones will be thrilled to be so close to these fascinating creatures while staying safe on the elevated path. The Gumbo Limbo Trail is another easy option, taking families through a shaded tropical hardwood forest with educational signs about the unique plant life.
The nearby Shark Valley area is incredibly family-friendly and offers a tram tour that provides an informative overview of the park’s ecosystem. For adventurous families, renting bikes to ride the 15-mile paved loop is a great way to explore Shark Valley at your own pace, with plenty of opportunities to stop and watch for wildlife.
If you want to take the adventure further, consider kayaking or canoeing in the Nine Mile Pond area, where calm waters and a tunnel of trees provide a peaceful way to explore the mangroves.
Family Tip:
Go on an evening airboat ride for a spooky way to tour the Everglades. Looking out for the red eyes of the alligators will be an adventure to remember.
The Average Weather in the Winter:
Winter in the Everglades is mild and comfortable, with daytime temperatures ranging between 70°F and 80°F and cooler evenings in the 50s°F. The dry season also means less humidity and fewer mosquitoes!
Virgin Islands National Park
Location:
US Virgin Islands
Highlights:
Virgin Islands National Park on St. John is a tropical paradise that offers an unforgettable winter escape for families. Unlike the cold weather experienced in many parts of the United States, winter on St. John is warm and sunny, making it a blissful spot for my fellow heat seekers. The national park spans two-thirds of the island and boasts crystal-clear waters, soft white sand beaches, and abundant wildlife, creating a haven for families who love outdoor adventures.
The park’s beaches are its biggest draw, with Trunk Bay and Cinnamon Bay being the most family-friendly. Trunk Bay, often regarded as one of the most beautiful beaches in the world, features an underwater snorkeling trail that’s easy to navigate and filled with colorful coral and fish, making it an exciting activity for kids. Cinnamon Bay offers calm waters ideal for swimming and paddleboarding and shaded picnic areas where families can enjoy lunch.
For adventurous families, hiking trails provide a chance to explore the island’s lush interior. The Reef Bay Trail is a popular option, leading to ancient petroglyphs and a secluded beach. While the hike may be challenging for young children, older kids will enjoy the sense of discovery and the opportunity to spot tropical birds and other wildlife. The Lind Point Trail, on the other hand, is shorter and more accessible, offering picture-perfect views of Cruz Bay and leading to the serene Honeymoon Beach.
Winter is the peak season for visiting the island, but it still feels far from crowded, offering a peaceful getaway with plenty of space to explore.
Family Tip:
Bring snorkeling gear for the kids, as the waters around the park are calm and full of marine life. If your kids don’t know how to snorkel, the warm, shallow waters make it an excellent place for them to learn. It’s where we introduced our son to snorkeling!
The Average Weather in the Winter:
Winter in Virgin Islands National Park is wonderfully warm, with average highs of 82°F to 85°F and lows around 72°F. The water temperature is also comfortable for swimming, averaging 79°F.
Whether you’re seeking snow-covered trails or mild desert adventures, these destinations are among the best national parks to visit in winter with kids. Are you ready to explore?
Happy Adventures!
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