11 National Parks that are perfect for a spring road trip
Eager to plan your next wanderlust adventure? How does a spring road trip destined for fresh mountain air and endless views of the wilderness sound?
From Yellowstone to the Great Smoky Mountains, we’ve picked out the top 11 road-trip worthy national parks you need to head to ASAP.
Plus this April for National Park Week, you can visit for free as the U.S. National Park Service will offer free admission!
1 Yosemite National Park – California
Being one of the most famous national parks in the U.S., Yosemite does not disappoint with gorgeous views for hikers and campers. Pro tip: If you’re coming to camp, be sure to make a reservation stat! Their 13 campgrounds fill up fast.
2 Shenandoah National Park – Virginia
When driving to this Virginia getaway, you can view plenty of flowers and wild animals along Skyline Drive. See more on foot when hiking, biking or taking a relaxing nature walk through its meadows and forests.
3 Joshua Tree National Park – California
Usually a dry spot of land, Joshua Tree bursts into bloom with cacti showing some serious flower power in the spring.
4 Canaveral National Seashore – Florida
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As the longest stretch of untouched beach on the East Coast, there’s plenty of room for fishing in lagoons, camping out and, of course, hitting the waves.
5 Great Smoky Mountains National Park – Tennessee/North Carolina
With over 800 miles of trails, this park is perfect for adventure-seekers. There’s also over 1,600 wildflowers that burst into bloom during spring – the most of any national park in North America.
6 Grand Canyon National Park – Arizona
Climb to the top of the stone Watchtower (unless you’re afraid of heights, it’s 70 feet tall) to view an incredible panoramic view spanning over 100 miles.
7 Redwood National Park – California
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Come to see the country’s tallest trees, bunches of wildflowers, and whales. Yup. Whales. In early spring, you and friends can spot migrating gray whales along the coast!
8 Wind Cave National Park – South Dakota
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Road trip to Wind Cave National Park to check out over 28,000 acres of forest and prairies plus the world’s longest collection of caves.
9 Arches National Park – Utah
A visitor favorite is the round-trip, 3-mile trek to Delicate Arch and the Fiery Furnace Walks.
10 Yellowstone National Park – Wyoming
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Geysers galore! Yellowstone has one-half of the world’s hydrothermal features, including over 300 geysers. Along with insane waterworks, the park has plenty of animals to spot, including the largest amount of bison in the country.
11 Carlsbad Caverns – New Mexico
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Go 700 feet below the Earth’s surface to explore over 116 caves filled with tunnels, fissures and some really weird noises. Oh also? These caves have 17 species of bats, including Mexican Free-tailed Bats who like to fly counter-clockwise for 3 hours.
