As winter fades away and the weather starts to warm up, it’s the perfect time to plan a springtime adventure. If you’re looking for an exciting way to spend your spring break, consider exploring one of the United States’ beautiful national parks. With blooming wildflowers, fewer crowds, and mild temperatures, spring is an ideal time to visit some of the country’s most stunning natural wonders.
Our top picks for national parks to visit during the spring are…
1. Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Tennessee and North Carolina
Great Smoky Mountains National Park is the most visited national park in the US and for good reason. In the spring, the park comes alive with beautiful wildflowers including trillium, lady slippers, and violets.
The mild weather is perfect for hiking the park’s more than 800 miles of trails. The park is also home to an abundance of wildlife like black bears, deer, and elk.
A fun fact to share with the kids is that the elk had been extinct from the area for almost two-hundred years before their reintroduction to the park in 2001!
Since this is a mountainous region, it is important to understand that spring time still has transitional weather patters in this park.
While our family visited two years ago in mid-March, and the highs were in the 60s, when we return during the same spring week this year, we are looking at the possibility of snow. Consider April and May in this park, but be sure you do daily, full-body tick checks.
Although, in my house, we consider summer as any time between Memorial Day and Labor Day, it is worth noting that the Great Smoky Mountain National Park annual Synchronous Firefly event does occur between mid-May and mid-June, annually. If this transitional season is during your vacation window, we highly suggest attempting your luck in the firefly lottery. Read our Synchronous Firefly article for more details!
2. Zion National Park, Utah
Spring is the perfect time to visit Zion National Park. The park’s famous red rock formations look even more stunning when contrasted with the vibrant greenery and wildflowers that bloom during the spring. Temperatures are mild, and the crowds are slightly smaller than during the peak summer season making it an ideal time to explore the park’s trails and take in the breathtaking views.
Zion has some high elevation areas, so expect that some portions of the park may be closed due to snow and ice. If the famous hike, Angel’s Landing, is on your wish list, you will want to check the weather and conditions prior to your trip.
The park’s other famous hike, “The Narrows,” may not be open for recreation during the spring. Due to high water levels and possible bacteria counts, be sure that your heart is not set on this hike if you visit during the first half of the year.
3. Grand Teton National Park, Wyoming
Snow skiing, anyone? Grand Teton National Park is a must-visit destination for any nature lover. In the spring, the snow-capped peaks of the Teton Range are set against a backdrop of green as the park’s forests and meadows come to life.
The park is home to an abundance of wildlife, including grizzly bears, elk, and moose. During the early spring, visitors can enjoy skiing and snowshoeing in the park.
The park roads become fully plowed and accessible in mid-to-late April.
If you’re looking to escape peak crowds, you may consider visiting this majestic park in April or May.
4. Arches National Park, Utah
Arches National Park is known for its stunning natural rock formations including more than 2,000 natural sandstone arches. In the late spring, the park’s red rock formations are complemented by the blooming desert wildflowers. Visitors can explore the park’s many hiking trails and take in the breathtaking views of the surrounding landscape.
While Arches will forever be a favorite spring destination for this Texas family, it is important to note that early spring can still bring snow flurries. Additionally, the changing weather patterns of spring can cause high winds which is important to be aware of when camping.
Beginning in 2023, Arches National Park has instituted a timed-entry system. All visitors must pre-register for entry to this park any time between April and October.
5. Joshua Tree National Park, California
Joshua Tree National Park can feel like a toaster over during the summer months, yet it is still prone to snow in the winter. Spring can be the perfect time to visit this desert park. The weather is more temperate for hiking, though the crowds can be thick.
Spring brings the most beautiful blooms to our desert parks. It can be the peak season for spectacular photography.
Joshua Tree National Park is home to my daughter’s all-time-favorite campground: Jumbo Rocks. It is perfectly peaceful and pleasant during the cool, spring months! We highly suggest it for adventurous kids!
Be sure to secure your camping or lodging accommodations early, and enjoy this very special park!
6. Death Valley National Park, California
Death Valley National Park is located below sea level. The summer months are harsh, so visitors prioritize this park during winter and spring seasons.
Spring visitors are gifted with warm afternoons and cool nights. Another perk of visiting Death Valley this time of year is the opportunity to view it’s endangered yet beautiful pup fish.
If you are able to visit during a spring “super bloom,” you will be rewarded with the most magnificent floral displays the desert can offer!
For families visiting in the spring months and staying inside the park, the accommodations at Furnace Creek do offer access to pools – a strong selling point for my young daughter!
While I prefer to visit Death Valley in the winter, it can be the perfect “Oasis” for spring!
7. Grand Canyon National Park, Arizona
The Grand Canyon is one of the most awe-inspiring natural wonders in the world, and spring is a great time to visit. The temperatures are mild, and the crowds are smaller than during the peak summer season, making it an ideal time to explore the park’s many hiking trails and take in the breathtaking views of the canyon.
Remember, however, that there are different entrances to the park. The North Rim is over 8000 feet in elevation. It is often under snow and ice until summer. The services do not return to that section of the park until May 15th.
The South Rim will also have some variable temperatures, often with the occasional snow flurries into April. However, the broad temperature swings of the desert climate often offer more favorable temperatures if you wait a few hours.
Read our top picks for exploring the Grand Canyon with kids!
8. Big Bend National Park
Big Bend is at its prime during winter and spring. You can enjoy the Chisos Mountains, the canyons, the river, and the desert fields. There are historic sites, offroading opportunities, and nightly displays of galaxies far away. Spring evenings are cool, and days are warm. It doesn’t rain often, so the weather is more reliable than some other parks.
It is important to know that there are a lot of Texans, and many hold a deep reverence to this national park. The campgrounds sell out on opening day, and the park regions often hit capacity during March when Texas schools enjoy spring break.
However, if you can find a place to stay and visit in early April, you will enjoy a lovely time during spring in Big Bend. Pro tip for April in Big Bend: beware of the rattlesnakes! Read our post on my husband’s recent, unfriendly encounter with these stubborn slitherers.
9. Capitol Reef National Park
Capitol Reef does not get enough attention. You will be rewarded to make time for this stunning park, especially in the spring.
Several years ago, we visited in May and found the most beautiful and endless display of flowers that I have ever seen! They were breathtaking and in every color of the rainbow.
We camped in flawless weather, hiked during cool, sunny days, and roamed areas of the park that would be congested in any more highly trafficked location. The human and geological histories of the region are also fascinating to explore with kids. Read about them HERE.
If you are looking for a place to relax and enjoy off-grid, outdoor time with the family, Capitol Reef is a gem of an answer!
Honorable Mentions
Carlsbad Caverns, Mammoth Cave, White Sands, Canyonlands, Congaree, and Hot Springs.
These are just a few of the many national parks that are wonderful to visit during the spring. Spring is a great time to consider the southern parks, especially the desert parks where precipitation is rare. Just don’t forget that most of our national parks can be enjoyed any time of the year. It all depends on how your family prefers to have its fun!
