71 Bucket-List Trips to Take With Your Kids Before They Grow Up (USA)!
These are the trips to take with your kids before they grow up: the ones they'll still be talking about at Thanksgiving dinner when they're 30. From Yellowstone's geysers and the Grand Canyon to Washington, D.C., Hawaii's volcanoes and the Florida Keys, we rounded up 71 bucket-list U.S. family trips, starting with easy drives from Los Angeles and working out to once-in-a-childhood flights.
Parents like to say you only get 18 summers with your kids at home, and some trips really are magic at a certain age: Disney while they still believe, national parks when they can earn a Junior Ranger badge, big history cities when they're old enough to care. So for every destination, we list the drive or flight time from LA, the best ages, the best time to go, how many days to plan and a parent tip that makes the trip easier.
Key Takeaways
Best first big trip: San Diego (#3) for animal lovers, the Grand Canyon (#17) for nature lovers or Washington, D.C. (#59) for history buffs.
Best for little kids (under 6): Disneyland, San Diego, Catalina, Oʻahu, Walt Disney World and the Outer Banks.
Best for ages 6 to 12: Yellowstone, the Grand Canyon, Carlsbad Caverns, Kennedy Space Center, Colonial Williamsburg and the Black Hills.
Best for tweens and teens: Zion, Moab, Alaska, Universal Orlando's Epic Universe, New York City and Kauaʻi's Nāpali Coast.
No passport needed: Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands are U.S. territories, so U.S. citizens can visit with ID instead.
Money savers: Fourth graders get a free Every Kid Outdoors pass that covers their whole carload, and the America the Beautiful pass costs $80 for U.S. residents in 2026.
Book early: Haleakalā sunrise reservations, Rocky Mountain timed entry, Mesa Verde cliff dwelling tours, Alcatraz, Antelope Canyon, Hanauma Bay and the Dry Tortugas ferry.
How to Plan Your Family's Before-They-Grow-Up Bucket List
The idea behind this list is simple: some trips hit hardest at a certain age. A 4-year-old believes in Mickey with their whole heart, a 9-year-old will race you to every Junior Ranger badge, and a 15-year-old is finally ready for a long hike or a big city. Plan around those windows and every trip gets better.
Ages 2 to 5: Stick to short drives or nonstop flights, beaches, zoos, aquariums and theme parks with plenty of kiddie rides. Disneyland, San Diego, Catalina, Oʻahu and Walt Disney World are easy wins.
Ages 6 to 9: It's Junior Ranger season. National parks with short trails and big "wow" moments, like Yellowstone, the Grand Canyon and Carlsbad Caverns, land beautifully at this age, and so do space centers and living-history towns.
Ages 10 to 13: Kids can handle longer hikes, real history and bigger cities. This is the window for Washington, D.C., Boston, Philadelphia, Moab and a first trip to Alaska.
Ages 14 to 18: Go for adventure and a little independence: wading The Narrows in Zion, sea kayaking in the Channel Islands, a Nāpali Coast boat tour or Epic Universe's thrill rides. Let teens help plan, because they're all in when it's their idea.
Smart Ways to Save on Bucket-List Trips
Use the fourth-grade pass: The free Every Kid Outdoors pass gives fourth graders and everyone in their vehicle free entry to national parks and other federal lands from Sept. 1 through Aug. 31 of the school year. Read our guide to the free fourth-grade national parks pass.
Buy an annual pass: The America the Beautiful pass costs $80 for U.S. residents and covers national park entrance fees for a year, so it pays for itself on any trip with two or three parks.
Watch for fee-free days: U.S. residents had eight national park fee-free days in 2026. Check the National Park Service website for the 2027 list.
Travel in shoulder season: Spring and fall usually bring lower hotel rates, smaller crowds and better hiking weather. For more ideas, see our 21 budget-friendly family travel tips.
Easy Drives From LA: California Trips to Take With Kids
You don't have to board a plane to check off a bucket-list trip. These California classics are a few hours from home, which makes them perfect for long weekends, school breaks and families with little ones.
Where: Anaheim, CA
From LA: About 45 minutes to an hour by car
Best ages: 3 to 10, and again as teens for the thrill rides
Best time to go: Midweek, outside school breaks
Plan for: 2 to 3 days
There's a short window when the characters are completely real to your kids, and Disneyland is where LA families get to live inside it. Sleeping Beauty Castle, Dumbo, Peter Pan's Flight and Mickey's Toontown are made for little ones, while Disney California Adventure's Radiator Springs Racers and Guardians of the Galaxy – Mission: BREAKOUT! keep big kids busy.
Because it's in our backyard, it's easy to forget that families fly in from around the world for this trip. Staying a night or two at a resort hotel or a walkable Anaheim hotel turns a day trip into a real vacation, with fireworks you don't have to drive home after.
Parent Tip: Visit on a weekday and arrive before the gates open. Our Disneyland wait-time guide has more tricks for shorter lines.
Where: Avalon and Two Harbors, CA
From LA: About an hour by ferry from Long Beach, San Pedro or Dana Point
Best ages: 4 and up
Best time to go: Late spring through early fall
Plan for: 1 to 2 nights
A ferry ride, a harbor full of sailboats and golf carts instead of cars: Catalina feels like a faraway island vacation even though you can see it from the Palos Verdes bluffs. Kids love the glass-bottom boat and semi-submarine tours, where bright orange garibaldi, California's state marine fish, swim right past the windows.
Rent a golf cart to loop Avalon, snorkel at Lover's Cove or zip line through Descanso Canyon with older kids. On the island's wild side, the interior and Two Harbors are home to Catalina's famous bison herd, descendants of animals brought over for a 1920s film shoot.
Parent Tip: Ferries sell out on summer and holiday weekends, so reserve your crossing before you book a hotel, and pack motion-sickness remedies for the open-water ride.
Where: San Diego and Carlsbad, CA
From LA: About 2 hours by car
Best ages: 2 to 12
Best time to go: Year-round
Plan for: 3 to 4 days
San Diego might be the most kid-proof city in America. In one long weekend you can see giant pandas at the San Diego Zoo, ride the Africa Tram at the San Diego Zoo Safari Park, build your way through LEGOLAND California in Carlsbad and climb into fighter jet cockpits on the USS Midway Museum.
Between the big parks, the free and low-cost stops are just as memorable: the sea lions and tide pools at La Jolla Cove, the playgrounds and museums of Balboa Park and the calm, shallow water of Mission Bay.
Parent Tip: Mission Bay makes an easy home base because it's central to the zoo, SeaWorld and the beaches. See our 38 fun things to do in San Diego with kids for hotels and restaurants.
Where: Off the coast of Ventura and Santa Barbara
From LA: About 1 to 1.5 hours to Ventura Harbor, then roughly an hour by boat to Santa Cruz Island
Best ages: 6 and up
Best time to go: Spring through fall
Plan for: A full day, or one night of camping
One of the least-visited national parks in the country sits right off our coast. The boat ride with Island Packers, the park's official boat concessioner, often comes with dolphins riding the bow wave and, in season, whales. Once you land at Scorpion Anchorage on Santa Cruz Island, there are no stores, cars or crowds, just trails, sea caves and the tiny island fox, found nowhere else on Earth.
Older kids can join a guided sea cave kayak tour, while younger ones are happy exploring the cove and hiking to Cavern Point. It's about as close to the Galápagos as you can get in a day from LA.
Parent Tip: Pack everything you need, including all of your food and plenty of water, because there are no services on the islands. Keep snacks in a sealed container; the ravens and foxes are clever thieves.
Where: Twentynine Palms, CA
From LA: About 2.5 to 3 hours by car
Best ages: 3 and up
Best time to go: October through April
Plan for: 2 days
Joshua Tree is a giant natural playground for kids who love to climb. The boulder piles at Hidden Valley, Jumbo Rocks and Skull Rock are perfect for scrambling, and the twisted Joshua trees look like they came straight out of a Dr. Seuss book.
Stay after sunset. Joshua Tree is an International Dark Sky Park, and on a clear, moonless night the Milky Way is easy to see. Walk the Cholla Cactus Garden at golden hour, but keep little hands close, because the "teddy bear" cholla is anything but cuddly.
Parent Tip: Summer afternoons are dangerously hot. In warm months, explore at sunrise, rest at your hotel pool midday and head back in for sunset and stars. Pick up a free Junior Ranger booklet at any visitor center.
Where: Eastern California near the Nevada border
From LA: About 4.5 to 5 hours by car
Best ages: 5 and up
Best time to go: November through March
Plan for: 2 days
Kids get to stand at the lowest point in North America at Badwater Basin, 282 feet below sea level, then run wild on the Mesquite Flat Sand Dunes. It's a park of record-breakers, and that "nowhere else on Earth" feeling is exactly why it belongs on this list.
Golden Canyon is an easy, colorful family hike, Zabriskie Point is the classic sunrise stop and Artists Drive looks painted in pastels. Winter brings perfect hiking weather and some of the darkest night skies in the country.
Parent Tip: Fill up on gas before you enter the park, carry far more water than you think you'll need and plan hikes for early morning once temperatures start climbing in spring.
Where: Three Rivers, CA
From LA: About 4 hours by car
Best ages: 3 and up
Best time to go: Late spring through fall
Plan for: 2 to 3 days
Standing at the base of the General Sherman Tree, the largest tree on Earth by volume, stops even teenagers mid-scroll. Sequoia packs giant trees, granite domes and mountain meadows into a park that's very doable with young kids.
Walk the easy Big Trees Trail around a meadow, drive through Tunnel Log, climb the 350-plus steps to the top of Moro Rock with older kids and continue into Kings Canyon to see the General Grant Tree.
Parent Tip: Check road conditions before you go, because tire chains can be required in winter, and use the seasonal park shuttles to skip the parking hunt at the Sherman Tree. Our family guide to Sequoia National Park has more tips.
Where: Mammoth Lakes, CA
From LA: About 5 hours by car up Highway 395
Best ages: 4 and up
Best time to go: Winter for snow, summer for lakes and hiking
Plan for: 3 to 4 days
Mammoth is the four-season mountain town Southern California families keep going back to. In winter, kids learn to ski or snowboard on Mammoth Mountain and go sledding and tubing; in summer, the same mountain becomes a playground for hiking, biking and lake fishing.
Ride the seasonal shuttle to Devils Postpile National Monument to see its strange columns of basalt and walk to Rainbow Falls, and stop at Mono Lake's otherworldly tufa towers on the way to or from Yosemite.
Parent Tip: Break up the drive with a stop at the Alabama Hills near Lone Pine, where kids can find the Mobius Arch on a short, easy loop trail.
Where: Yosemite Valley, CA
From LA: About 6 hours by car
Best ages: 4 and up
Best time to go: Spring for peak waterfalls, fall for fewer crowds
Plan for: 3 days
Watching your kids' faces the first time they see El Capitan, Half Dome and Bridalveil Fall from Tunnel View is worth the whole drive. In spring, the waterfalls roar, and the easy, paved loop to Lower Yosemite Fall lets you feel the mist.
Older kids can tackle the Mist Trail to Vernal Fall (expect to get soaked), and everyone can bike the Valley's flat paths or float the Merced River in summer. The Junior Ranger program and ranger talks are excellent.
Parent Tip: Yosemite didn't require vehicle reservations in 2026, but its rules have changed from year to year, so check the park website before every trip.
Where: Monterey, Carmel and Big Sur, CA
From LA: About 5 to 6 hours by car
Best ages: 2 and up
Best time to go: Year-round; early fall is often the sunniest
Plan for: 3 days
The Monterey Bay Aquarium is one of the best aquariums in the world, with a towering kelp forest, sea otter feedings and hands-on touch pools that work for toddlers and teens alike. Right outside, wild sea otters float in the kelp beds along Cannery Row and Pacific Grove.
Then drive Highway 1 through Big Sur for Bixby Bridge, McWay Falls and Pfeiffer Beach's purple-tinged sand. The highway fully reopened in January 2026 after the long Regent's Slide closure, so the whole coastal route is drivable again.
Parent Tip: Make time for Point Lobos State Natural Reserve near Carmel, where flat, easy trails lead to tide pools and coves full of seals, sea lions and otters. Check Caltrans for any new Highway 1 closures before you go.
11. San Francisco
Where: San Francisco, CA
From LA: About 6 hours by car or a 1.5-hour flight
Best ages: 5 and up
Best time to go: September and October for the warmest weather
Plan for: 3 to 4 days
Riding a cable car, walking or biking across the Golden Gate Bridge and watching the sea lions at Pier 39 are classic childhood moments. San Francisco is also home to two of the country's best science museums: the hands-on Exploratorium and the California Academy of Sciences, with a rainforest dome, aquarium and planetarium under one living roof.
Tweens and teens are fascinated by Alcatraz, the former federal prison on an island in the bay, where the cellhouse audio tour is narrated by former guards and inmates. Reward everyone afterward with sundaes at Ghirardelli Square.
Parent Tip: Pack layers even in July, when the city is often foggy and chilly, and reserve Alcatraz tickets through the official Alcatraz City Cruises site well ahead. More ideas are in our 37 fun things to do in San Francisco with kids.
12. Lake Tahoe
Where: California-Nevada border
From LA: About 7.5 to 8 hours by car, or fly into Reno
Best ages: 3 and up
Best time to go: Summer for beaches, winter for snow
Plan for: 4 days
Lake Tahoe's water is so clear you can see the rocks far below your paddleboard. In summer, families swim at sandy beaches, kayak in Emerald Bay and ride the gondola at Heavenly for views of the lake and two states at once.
In winter, Tahoe is a snow-day dream, with ski schools at resorts all around the lake, sledding hills and cozy cabins. At Emerald Bay State Park, hike down to Vikingsholm, a Scandinavian-style mansion on the shore.
Parent Tip: The lake stays cold even in August and the high-altitude sun is strong, so pack rash guards and plenty of sunscreen and save swimming for the warmest part of the afternoon.
Where: Orick and Crescent City, CA
From LA: About 11 to 12 hours by car, or fly into Arcata/Eureka or Crescent City
Best ages: 4 and up
Best time to go: Late spring through early fall
Plan for: 3 days
Walking among the tallest trees on the planet feels like stepping into a fairy tale. Easy loops like the Lady Bird Johnson Grove Trail and Stout Grove are perfect for little legs, and herds of Roosevelt elk often graze in the meadows near Orick.
Fern Canyon, with walls up to 50 feet high covered in ferns, was a filming location for "The Lost World: Jurassic Park," which is all kids need to hear. On the way, drive the Avenue of the Giants in Humboldt Redwoods State Park.
Parent Tip: From mid-May through mid-September, a free permit is required to drive to Gold Bluffs Beach and Fern Canyon, so reserve one on the parks website before you go.
Southwest Road Trips Every Kid Should Take
Red rock canyons, slot canyons, sand dunes and caves: the Southwest is the ultimate family road trip from LA. Many of these parks can be linked into one big loop.
Where: Las Vegas, NV
From LA: About 4 to 4.5 hours by car or a 1-hour flight
Best ages: 6 and up
Best time to go: October through April
Plan for: 3 days
Las Vegas with kids? Absolutely. Families can walk through the Shark Reef Aquarium at Mandalay Bay, watch the free Bellagio fountain shows, ride the High Roller observation wheel and catch a family-friendly show.
The real bucket-list moments are just outside town: walking across the top of Hoover Dam, one of the great engineering wonders of the 20th century, and scrambling over fiery red sandstone in Valley of Fire State Park, about an hour away.
Parent Tip: Pick a hotel with a great pool and kid-friendly extras. Our list of 20 family-friendly Las Vegas hotels can help.
Where: Springdale, UT
From LA: About 6.5 hours by car
Best ages: 5 and up
Best time to go: Spring and fall
Plan for: 2 to 3 days
Zion's towering red cliffs make kids feel tiny in the best way. A park shuttle carries visitors up Zion Canyon for most of the year, and easy trails like the Pa'rus Trail and Riverside Walk work for all ages.
At the end of the Riverside Walk, older kids can wade into the Virgin River at the start of The Narrows, one of the most famous hikes in America. Angels Landing requires a lottery permit and isn't a hike for young children.
Parent Tip: Check the river flow and flash flood forecast before wading The Narrows, and rent canyoneering shoes and walking sticks in Springdale.
Where: Bryce Canyon City, UT
From LA: About 7.5 hours by car (about 1.5 hours past Zion)
Best ages: 5 and up
Best time to go: May through October; winter for snow-dusted hoodoos
Plan for: 1 to 2 days
Bryce Canyon has the largest concentration of hoodoos on Earth, orange rock spires that look like a stone forest or an army of chess pieces. Sunrise from Sunrise Point is magical.
The Queen's Garden Trail is the easiest way to hike down among the hoodoos, and combining it with the Navajo Loop makes a classic family hike. Bryce's dark skies and astronomy programs are a highlight, too.
Parent Tip: Bryce sits between 8,000 and 9,000 feet, so nights are cold even in summer and the climb back up to the rim is harder than it looks. Take it slow with little ones.
Where: Grand Canyon Village, AZ
From LA: About 7.5 to 8 hours by car
Best ages: 5 and up
Best time to go: Spring and fall
Plan for: 2 to 3 days
Nothing prepares kids for that first look over the rim. The South Rim is open year-round and is the most family-friendly side of the park, with the paved, mostly flat Rim Trail, free shuttle buses and daily ranger programs.
Arrive in style on the Grand Canyon Railway from Williams, Arizona, a vintage train with strolling musicians and a staged train robbery on the ride home. The North Rim reopened for summer 2026, but its historic lodge was destroyed in the 2025 Dragon Bravo Fire, so overnight family trips are easier on the South Rim.
Parent Tip: Keep kids well back from the edge, because long stretches of the rim have no railings. Our Grand Canyon with kids guide covers hotels and easy hikes.
Where: Page, AZ
From LA: About 7.5 to 8 hours by car
Best ages: 6 and up
Best time to go: Spring and fall
Plan for: 2 days
Page puts three bucket-list sights within minutes of each other. A short trail leads to the Horseshoe Bend overlook, where the Colorado River makes a dramatic loop around a sandstone wall far below.
Antelope Canyon's glowing slot canyons can only be visited on a guided tour with a Navajo-authorized tour company, and the beams of light that pour in around midday in summer are unforgettable. Then cool off on Lake Powell with a boat tour, kayak rental or houseboat.
Parent Tip: Book Antelope Canyon tours well ahead, especially midday slots, and ask about age and stroller rules, since some tours include ladders and stairs.
19. Monument Valley
Where: Arizona-Utah border
From LA: About 9 to 10 hours by car
Best ages: 6 and up
Best time to go: Spring and fall
Plan for: 1 to 2 days
The giant red buttes you've seen in old Westerns look even more dramatic in person. Monument Valley Navajo Tribal Park is run by the Navajo Nation, and its 17-mile dirt loop drive passes the Mittens, Merrick Butte and John Ford's Point.
For the full experience, book a tour with a Navajo guide, who can take you into areas closed to private vehicles and share the stories behind the land.
Parent Tip: Stay overnight nearby so you can watch the sunrise behind the Mittens, and remember that you're a guest on Navajo land: stay on marked roads and ask before photographing people.
20. Sedona
Where: Sedona, AZ
From LA: About 7 hours by car
Best ages: 5 and up
Best time to go: Spring and fall; summer for Slide Rock
Plan for: 2 to 3 days
Sedona's red rocks glow at sunset, and the town is surprisingly great for kids. In summer, Slide Rock State Park has a slippery natural sandstone chute in Oak Creek that kids ride over and over.
Bumpy off-road jeep tours through the red rocks are a kid favorite, and short walks like the Bell Rock Pathway are easy for little legs. Sedona also pairs well with the Grand Canyon, about two hours away.
Parent Tip: Slide Rock gets very crowded on summer weekends and the water is cold, so arrive early and bring water shoes.
Where: Holbrook and Winslow, AZ
From LA: About 7.5 hours by car
Best ages: 5 and up
Best time to go: Spring and fall
Plan for: 1 to 2 days
At Petrified Forest National Park, kids see real trees that turned to rainbow-colored stone more than 200 million years ago, plus the pastel hills of the Painted Desert. Short, paved trails like Crystal Forest and Giant Logs make it easy to explore.
About an hour west, Meteor Crater is a nearly mile-wide hole left by an asteroid impact roughly 50,000 years ago. Add a night in a concrete teepee at Holbrook's Wigwam Motel for peak Route 66 fun.
Parent Tip: Taking petrified wood from the park is illegal, but gift shops outside the park sell pieces collected on private land, so kids can still bring one home.
Where: Moab, UT
From LA: About 10 to 11 hours by car
Best ages: 6 and up
Best time to go: Spring and fall
Plan for: 3 days
Arches has more than 2,000 natural stone arches, and some of the best are short walks from the car: the Windows, Double Arch and Balanced Rock are easy for young kids. The 3-mile round-trip hike to Delicate Arch is a rite of passage for school-age kids who can handle a steady climb.
Next door, Canyonlands' Island in the Sky district has the famous sunrise through Mesa Arch, and Dead Horse Point State Park adds one more jaw-dropping view. Moab itself is a hub for kid-friendly river floats and dinosaur track sites.
Parent Tip: Arches dropped its timed-entry reservations in 2026, but check the park website before you go, and start the Delicate Arch hike early, because there's no shade.
Where: Southwest Colorado
From LA: About 11 hours by car
Best ages: 7 and up
Best time to go: Late spring through early fall for ranger-led tours
Plan for: 1 to 2 days
Mesa Verde is where kids climb ladders into homes built into cliffs more than 700 years ago by Ancestral Pueblo people. Cliff Palace, with about 150 rooms, is the largest cliff dwelling in North America.
Ranger-guided tours of Cliff Palace and Balcony House, which includes a tall ladder and a tight tunnel, are the highlight, and the Mesa Top Loop drive is easy for everyone. Pair it with Durango and the Silverton train (#30).
Parent Tip: Ranger-led cliff dwelling tours require tickets that sell out, so reserve them on Recreation.gov as early as you can.
Where: Albuquerque, NM
From LA: About a 1.5- to 2-hour flight or an 11-hour drive
Best ages: 5 and up
Best time to go: Early October (nine days)
Plan for: 3 days
Hundreds of hot-air balloons lifting off together at sunrise is a sight kids never forget, and during the Balloon Fiesta's mass ascensions, you can walk right onto the launch field among them.
Evening balloon glows light the field like giant lanterns, and the special-shape balloons, from animals to cartoonish characters, are always a kid favorite. Round out the trip at the Explora science center and on the Sandia Peak Tramway.
Parent Tip: Book hotels as soon as the next year's dates are posted on the official website, and plan to be up before dawn, because traffic and park-and-ride buses start early.
Where: Northern New Mexico
From LA: About 12 hours by car, or fly into Albuquerque or Santa Fe
Best ages: 6 and up
Best time to go: September and October, or December for luminarias
Plan for: 3 days
Santa Fe mixes adobe architecture, chile-smothered food and one of the most kid-loved art experiences anywhere: Meow Wolf's House of Eternal Return, an explore-anything art world where you can step through a fireplace or a refrigerator into other dimensions.
Take the scenic High Road to Taos to visit Taos Pueblo, a UNESCO World Heritage Site that has been lived in for more than 1,000 years, and walk out onto the Rio Grande Gorge Bridge, about 650 feet above the river.
Parent Tip: Santa Fe sits at about 7,000 feet, so drink extra water and take the first day easy. Check Taos Pueblo's hours before you go, as it closes to visitors for ceremonies.
Where: Near Alamogordo, NM
From LA: About 11 hours by car, or fly into El Paso
Best ages: 3 and up
Best time to go: Fall through spring
Plan for: 1 day
White Sands looks like a snowy wonderland, but those brilliant white dunes are gypsum sand, and kids can sled down them all day long. It's the largest gypsum dunefield in the world.
The Interdune Boardwalk is an easy, accessible walk, and sunset is spectacular when the sand glows pink and gold. Ranger-led sunset strolls are offered on many evenings.
Parent Tip: Buy a waxed plastic sled at the visitor center gift shop. The park and nearby Highway 70 can close for a few hours during missile tests at neighboring White Sands Missile Range, so check closures before you drive.
Where: Southeast New Mexico
From LA: About 11.5 hours by car, or fly into El Paso
Best ages: 5 and up
Best time to go: Late May through October for the bat flights
Plan for: 1 to 2 days
Kids walk deep into the earth at Carlsbad Caverns. The Big Room is one of the largest cave chambers in North America, and a mostly flat 1.25-mile trail loops past stalactites, stalagmites and formations with names like the Doll's Theater.
From late spring into October, hundreds of thousands of Brazilian free-tailed bats spiral out of the cave's natural entrance at dusk, and you can watch from an amphitheater during the free evening Bat Flight program.
Parent Tip: Check whether a timed-entry reservation is needed for your dates, and bring a light jacket, because the cave stays around 56 degrees year-round. Phones and cameras must be off during the bat flight.
Rockies, Great Plains and Pacific Northwest Adventures
Geysers, glaciers, giant dunes and rainforests: these are the big-wildlife, big-scenery trips most kids only see in documentaries. Most are a short flight from LAX plus a scenic drive.
Where: Southern Colorado
From LA: Fly into Denver, then about 3.5 hours by car
Best ages: 3 and up
Best time to go: Late May and June for Medano Creek
Plan for: 1 to 2 days
The tallest dunes in North America rise against snowy mountain peaks, and kids can sandboard or sled right down them. In late spring and early summer, snowmelt creates Medano Creek, a shallow beach-like stream with little surge waves at the foot of the dunes.
Hiking to the top of High Dune is a big achievement for school-age kids, and the night skies here are extraordinary.
Parent Tip: The sand gets scorching on summer afternoons, so go early or late, wear closed-toe shoes and rent sandboards or sleds from shops outside the park.
Where: Estes Park, CO
From LA: About a 2.5-hour flight to Denver, then about 1.5 hours by car
Best ages: 4 and up
Best time to go: June through September; fall for the elk rut
Plan for: 3 days
Trail Ridge Road climbs above 12,000 feet, making it the highest continuous paved road in the country. Kids can have a snowball fight in July and spot elk, bighorn sheep and marmots along the way.
Bear Lake and the short walks to Nymph and Dream lakes are perfect for families, and in September and October, the bugling of elk echoes through the meadows around Estes Park.
Parent Tip: Timed-entry reservations were required during the 2026 summer and early fall season. Check the park website for the dates and book as soon as reservations open.
Where: Durango, CO
From LA: About 11 hours by car, or fly into Durango
Best ages: 5 and up
Best time to go: Summer and fall color season; holiday trains in winter
Plan for: A full day
A coal-fired steam train has chugged through the San Juan Mountains between Durango and Silverton since 1882. The ride clings to cliffs above the Animas River, with whistles, cinders and mountain views straight out of a storybook.
The full round trip takes most of a day, with a stop in the old mining town of Silverton. With younger kids, look at the railroad's shorter excursions and seasonal family trains.
Parent Tip: Choose an open-air car for the best views, and bring sunglasses, because cinders fly.
Where: Wyoming, Montana and Idaho
From LA: Fly into Bozeman, Jackson or Idaho Falls
Best ages: 5 and up
Best time to go: June and September
Plan for: 4 to 5 days
America's first national park is a real-life science lesson. Old Faithful erupts on a predictable schedule, the rainbow-colored Grand Prismatic Spring steams below a short overlook trail and bubbling mud pots line the boardwalks.
Wildlife is the other star. Bison roam the Hayden and Lamar valleys, and with binoculars you might spot elk, pronghorn, bears or wolves. The Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone, with its thundering Lower Falls, is a must.
Parent Tip: Stay on the boardwalks near thermal features, where the ground can be a thin crust over scalding water, and keep at least 25 yards from bison and elk and 100 yards from bears and wolves.
Where: Jackson, WY
From LA: Fly into Jackson Hole
Best ages: 4 and up
Best time to go: June through September; winter for sleigh rides
Plan for: 3 days
The jagged Tetons rise straight up from the valley floor with no foothills, and the scenery is almost unreal. Take the boat shuttle across Jenny Lake and hike a short way to Hidden Falls and Inspiration Point.
Jackson's Town Square, with its elk-antler arches, is fun to explore, and in winter, horse-drawn sleigh rides carry families among thousands of elk at the National Elk Refuge. Grand Teton sits right next to Yellowstone, so it's easy to combine the two.
Parent Tip: Moose often browse near Oxbow Bend and along Moose-Wilson Road around dawn and dusk. Bring binoculars and give them lots of space.
Where: Northwest Montana
From LA: Fly into Glacier Park International Airport in Kalispell
Best ages: 5 and up
Best time to go: July through mid-September
Plan for: 3 to 4 days
Going-to-the-Sun Road is one of the most beautiful drives in the world, climbing over Logan Pass past waterfalls and wildflower meadows. Glacier's vintage red "Jammer" buses with roll-back tops are a fun way to ride it.
Trail of the Cedars is a flat boardwalk loop that's great for little ones, and the hike to Avalanche Lake is a favorite with school-age kids. On the east side, Many Glacier is the best area for spotting bears, moose and mountain goats.
Parent Tip: Glacier dropped its parkwide vehicle reservations in 2026, but the park may temporarily limit traffic on Going-to-the-Sun Road on busy days, so start early.
Where: Western South Dakota
From LA: Fly into Rapid City
Best ages: 5 and up
Best time to go: June through September
Plan for: 4 days
The Black Hills pack more kid-friendly sights into a small area than almost anywhere in the West. See the presidents at Mount Rushmore, including the evening lighting ceremony in summer, then visit the Crazy Horse Memorial.
In Custer State Park, the Wildlife Loop Road brings bison right up to your car, and friendly burros may poke their heads in the window. Badlands National Park, about an hour away, looks like another planet, and Wind Cave National Park offers tours of one of the longest caves in the world.
Parent Tip: Spend a night near the Badlands for incredible stargazing, and stop at Wall Drug on the way for its giant jackalope and free ice water.
Where: Washington's Olympic Peninsula
From LA: About a 3-hour flight to Seattle
Best ages: 5 and up
Best time to go: July through September
Plan for: 4 to 5 days
Start in Seattle with the Space Needle, the fish throwers at Pike Place Market and Chihuly Garden and Glass, then catch a ferry across Puget Sound. Olympic National Park is like three parks in one: snowy mountains, an ancient temperate rainforest and a wild coastline.
Walk the moss-draped Hall of Mosses in the Hoh Rain Forest, explore tide pools full of sea stars at Rialto Beach or Ruby Beach and drive up to Hurricane Ridge for mountain views.
Parent Tip: Check a tide chart before beach days. Tide pooling is best at low tide, and some beach routes get cut off when the tide comes in.
36. The Oregon Coast
Where: Cannon Beach to Newport and beyond
From LA: About a 2-hour flight to Portland, then about 1.5 hours to Cannon Beach
Best ages: 3 and up
Best time to go: July through September
Plan for: 4 days
The Oregon Coast is one long road trip of tide pools, lighthouses and sea lions. At low tide, the base of Haystack Rock in Cannon Beach reveals sea stars and anemones, and tufted puffins nest on the rock in spring and summer.
Visit Sea Lion Caves near Florence, explore the Oregon Coast Aquarium in Newport and stop at the Tillamook Creamery for cheese samples and ice cream.
Parent Tip: Oregon's beaches are cold and powerful. Watch out for sneaker waves, and keep kids off big logs at the water's edge.
Where: Southern Oregon
From LA: About 11.5 hours by car, or fly into Medford
Best ages: 5 and up
Best time to go: July through September
Plan for: 1 to 2 days
The deepest lake in the United States fills the collapsed crater of an ancient volcano, and its blue is so intense that kids will swear it's fake. Drive Rim Drive and stop at the overlooks for views of Wizard Island.
Short hikes like the Watchman Peak Trail and Plaikni Falls work well for families, and the Junior Ranger program is a great way to learn how the lake formed.
Parent Tip: Boat tours on the lake won't run in 2026 or 2027 because of major rehabilitation work on the Cleetwood Trail and lakeshore, so plan to enjoy the lake from the rim. Snow can linger on Rim Drive into July.
Alaska and Hawaii: Once-in-a-Childhood Trips
Whales, glaciers, volcanoes and sea turtles, all without a passport. These are splurge trips for many families, which is exactly why they're worth planning while the kids still want to vacation with you.
Where: Seward, AK
From LA: About a 5.5-hour flight to Anchorage, then about 2.5 hours by car or train
Best ages: 6 and up
Best time to go: June through August
Plan for: 3 days
A day cruise into Kenai Fjords National Park can bring humpback whales, orcas, sea otters, puffins and the thunder of a tidewater glacier calving into the sea, all in one trip.
On land, the trail to Exit Glacier passes signs marking where the ice reached in past years, a powerful lesson for kids. The Alaska SeaLife Center in Seward is a hands-on aquarium with sea lions and puffins, and the Alaska Railroad from Anchorage is a scenic way to arrive.
Parent Tip: Bring motion-sickness remedies and warm layers for the boat, because it's chilly on the water even in July.
Where: Interior Alaska
From LA: Fly into Anchorage or Fairbanks; Denali is about 4 hours by car from Anchorage or a scenic Alaska Railroad ride
Best ages: 7 and up
Best time to go: June through mid-September
Plan for: 3 days
North America's tallest peak rises above a wild landscape of tundra, caribou, moose, Dall sheep and grizzly bears. Denali is also home to the only sled dog kennels in the National Park Service, where kids can meet the working huskies and watch demonstrations in summer.
Most of the park road is closed to private cars, so visitors ride tour and transit buses. With the new Pretty Rocks bridge now open, buses are expected to travel deep into the park again in summer 2027, reaching Wonder Lake and Kantishna for the first time since a 2021 landslide.
Parent Tip: Bus rides into the park can last many hours, so pack snacks, binoculars and activities, and choose a shorter route with younger kids.
Where: Juneau, Skagway, Ketchikan and Glacier Bay, AK
From LA: Fly into Seattle or Vancouver for most round-trip cruises
Best ages: 4 and up
Best time to go: May through September
Plan for: 7 days
A cruise is the easiest way to see Alaska with young kids: your hotel moves, meals are taken care of and the scenery changes every morning. Many itineraries sail into Glacier Bay National Park, where park rangers come aboard and narrate as the ship floats past towering tidewater glaciers.
In port, families can walk to the Mendenhall Glacier in Juneau, ride the White Pass & Yukon Route Railroad from Skagway and see totem poles in Ketchikan. Whale-watching tours from Juneau are a highlight of many trips.
Parent Tip: Cruises from Vancouver, Canada, require passports. Round-trip cruises from Seattle may allow U.S. citizens to travel with a birth certificate and ID, but check your cruise line's rules before booking.
41. Oʻahu
Where: Honolulu and the North Shore, HI
From LA: About a 5.5- to 6-hour flight
Best ages: 3 and up
Best time to go: Year-round; spring and fall for fewer crowds
Plan for: 5 to 7 days
Oʻahu has the most for families to do in Hawaii. Take a surf lesson on Waikīkī's gentle waves, snorkel with tropical fish at Hanauma Bay and hike up Diamond Head for a view over Honolulu.
Pearl Harbor National Memorial is a powerful history lesson for older kids, and the Polynesian Cultural Center, Kualoa Ranch (a filming location for "Jurassic Park") and the sea turtles on the North Shore easily fill a week.
Parent Tip: Hanauma Bay requires advance reservations and is closed on some days of the week, and USS Arizona Memorial program tickets go quickly on Recreation.gov, so book both as soon as your dates are set. See our 25 family-friendly resorts in Hawaii for places to stay.
42. Maui
Where: Maui, HI
From LA: About a 5.5-hour flight
Best ages: 4 and up
Best time to go: December through April for whales; year-round for beaches
Plan for: 5 to 7 days
Watching the sunrise from the summit of Haleakalā, 10,023 feet above the sea, is a bucket-list moment for the whole family. Back at sea level, Maui's calm west-side beaches in Kāʻanapali and Wailea are made for snorkeling.
In winter, humpback whales gather in the waters off Maui, and you can often see them breach from shore. The Maui Ocean Center is a great rainy-day stop, and the Road to Hāna is an adventure for kids who handle winding roads well.
Parent Tip: A Haleakalā Summit Sunrise Reservation is required for every vehicle entering between 3 and 7 a.m. Book it on Recreation.gov and bring winter jackets, because it's often near freezing at the top. Be a respectful visitor in West Maui, where Lahaina is still rebuilding after the 2023 wildfire.
Where: Hawaiʻi Island, HI
From LA: About a 5.5- to 6-hour flight to Kona or Hilo
Best ages: 5 and up
Best time to go: Year-round
Plan for: 6 to 7 days
Where else can kids see a living volcano? Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park is home to Kīlauea, one of the most active volcanoes in the world, along with a walk-through lava tube, steaming vents and an excellent Junior Ranger program.
Watch green sea turtles nap on the black sand at Punaluʻu Beach, take a nighttime boat or snorkel tour in Kona to see manta rays glide below and stargaze under some of the clearest skies on Earth.
Parent Tip: Eruption activity changes constantly, so check the park's current conditions page before you go. On active days, the glow can be seen from overlooks after dark.
44. Kauaʻi
Where: Kauaʻi, HI
From LA: About a 5.5- to 6-hour flight
Best ages: 5 and up
Best time to go: Summer for calmer north shore water
Plan for: 5 to 7 days
Kauaʻi is Hawaii's wildest, greenest island. Waimea Canyon, often called the Grand Canyon of the Pacific, is an easy drive with overlooks of red cliffs and waterfalls, and a boat or raft tour along the Nāpali Coast reveals sea caves, dolphins and cliffs you can't reach by road.
Poʻipū Beach on the sunny south shore has a calm, protected area for little swimmers, and Hawaiian monk seals sometimes haul out on the sand for a nap.
Parent Tip: Visiting Hāʻena State Park and Keʻe Beach requires advance reservations, so book them early. Keep at least 50 feet from monk seals and 10 feet from sea turtles.
Heartland and Southern Trips for Families
Space centers, steamboats, the Smoky Mountains and a giant climb-on-everything museum: these trips mix big-city fun with real American history and are a short flight from LAX.
Where: Houston, TX
From LA: About a 3.5-hour flight
Best ages: 5 and up
Best time to go: Fall through spring
Plan for: 1 day
As the official visitor center of NASA's Johnson Space Center, Space Center Houston lets kids walk inside a full-size space shuttle replica mounted on top of a real shuttle carrier aircraft, and see moon rocks, spacesuits and spacecraft up close.
The tram tour heads into Johnson Space Center to visit historic Mission Control and Rocket Park, where an enormous Saturn V rocket lies on its side inside a hangar.
Parent Tip: Arrive when the doors open and do the tram tour first, before the lines build. Galveston's beaches are about an hour away if you want to add a beach day.
46. San Antonio
Where: San Antonio, TX
From LA: About a 3-hour flight
Best ages: 4 and up
Best time to go: Spring and fall; December for River Walk lights
Plan for: 3 to 4 days
San Antonio is a history lesson wrapped in a party. Ride a river barge along the River Walk, then visit the Alamo, the 1836 battle site at the heart of Texas history.
San Antonio Missions National Historical Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is easy to explore by bike, and SeaWorld San Antonio, Six Flags Fiesta Texas and Morgan's Wonderland, a theme park designed for guests of all abilities, make it easy to fill a week.
Parent Tip: Admission to the Alamo church is free. Visit early in the day to beat crowds and the Texas heat.
47. New Orleans
Where: New Orleans, LA
From LA: About a 4-hour flight
Best ages: 6 and up
Best time to go: Fall and spring
Plan for: 3 to 4 days
New Orleans is far more kid-friendly than its reputation suggests. Ride the historic St. Charles streetcar under giant oak trees, cruise the Mississippi on a steamboat and share a plate of powdered-sugar beignets at Café du Monde.
The Audubon Zoo and the Audubon Aquarium and Insectarium (bug tasting, anyone?) are kid favorites, and a swamp tour outside the city brings alligators up close. During Mardi Gras, families line St. Charles Avenue Uptown with ladders and picnic blankets for the parades.
Parent Tip: Skip Bourbon Street at night with kids, and plan outdoor sightseeing for mornings in summer, when afternoons are hot and humid.
Where: Tennessee and North Carolina
From LA: Fly into Knoxville
Best ages: 3 and up
Best time to go: Spring wildflowers and fall color
Plan for: 4 days
America's most visited national park has gentle trails, rushing streams and black bears, elk and wild turkeys. Kids love splashing in mountain creeks, spotting wildlife on the Cades Cove Loop and climbing the observation tower at Kuwohi (formerly Clingmans Dome), the park's highest point.
In Pigeon Forge, Dollywood is a theme park with Smoky Mountain charm, coasters and over-the-top holiday lights, and Gatlinburg adds Ripley's Aquarium of the Smokies and mountain coasters.
Parent Tip: There's no entrance fee, but you'll need a parking tag to park for more than 15 minutes anywhere in the park. Buy one online or at a visitor center.
Where: St. Louis, MO
From LA: About a 3.5- to 4-hour flight
Best ages: 4 and up
Best time to go: Spring and fall
Plan for: 2 to 3 days
Riding the tiny tram pods to the top of the 630-foot Gateway Arch is quirky, thrilling and unforgettable, and the museum underneath tells the story of westward expansion.
Then there's City Museum, a jaw-dropping, climb-on-everything playground built from salvaged architectural pieces, with tunnels, a 10-story slide and a school bus hanging off the roof. The Saint Louis Zoo is free.
Parent Tip: Buy Arch tram tickets ahead for a specific time, and dress everyone in comfortable clothes and sturdy shoes for City Museum, because grown-ups crawl too.
50. Chicago
Where: Chicago, IL
From LA: About a 4-hour flight
Best ages: 4 and up
Best time to go: June through September
Plan for: 3 to 4 days
Chicago is an easy, walkable big city for kids. See your reflection in Cloud Gate ("The Bean") at Millennium Park, splash in the Crown Fountain and ride the Ferris wheel at Navy Pier.
The museums are world-class: SUE the T. rex at the Field Museum, the Shedd Aquarium and a real German U-boat inside the Museum of Science and Industry. Lincoln Park Zoo is free, and an architecture boat tour on the Chicago River is surprisingly fun for kids.
Parent Tip: Visit in summer to add Lake Michigan beach days, and compare museum bundle passes against individual tickets if you plan to see several big museums.
51. Wisconsin Dells
Where: Wisconsin Dells, WI
From LA: Fly into Madison or Milwaukee
Best ages: 3 to 12
Best time to go: Summer for outdoor parks; year-round indoors
Plan for: 3 days
Wisconsin Dells calls itself the Waterpark Capital of the World, and it earns the title. Resorts like Kalahari and Great Wolf Lodge have giant indoor waterparks that stay warm in January, and Noah's Ark is a classic outdoor park in summer.
Beyond the slides, boat tours glide past the sandstone cliffs of the Wisconsin River, and the town is packed with mini golf, go-karts and old-school roadside fun.
Parent Tip: Many resorts include waterpark access with your room, so compare packages, and look at midweek stays for lower rates.
52. Mackinac Island
Where: Northern Michigan
From LA: Fly into Pellston or Traverse City, then take a ferry from Mackinaw City or St. Ignace
Best ages: 4 and up
Best time to go: June through August
Plan for: 2 to 3 days
Cars have been banned on Mackinac Island for more than a century, so families get around by bike, horse-drawn carriage and on foot. Biking the flat, roughly 8-mile road around the island is a perfect family adventure.
Kids love the costumed soldiers and cannon firings at historic Fort Mackinac, the view through Arch Rock and, of course, the fudge shops on Main Street.
Parent Tip: Rent bikes with trailers or tag-alongs for little ones, and book ferries and hotels early for summer.
Florida Family Vacations Before They Grow Up
Florida delivers theme parks, rocket launches, alligators and coral reefs in one state. Plan for at least a week if you want to combine Orlando with the coast.
Where: Lake Buena Vista, FL
From LA: About a 5-hour flight to Orlando
Best ages: 3 to 10, and again as teens
Best time to go: Late January to early February, and fall outside holidays
Plan for: 5 to 7 days
Disneyland is wonderful, but Walt Disney World is a different scale entirely: four theme parks (Magic Kingdom, EPCOT, Disney's Hollywood Studios and Disney's Animal Kingdom), two water parks and dozens of resort hotels. For many families, this is the trip.
You'll find experiences Disneyland doesn't have, like Kilimanjaro Safaris and Pandora – The World of Avatar at Animal Kingdom, EPCOT's World Showcase and Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind.
Parent Tip: Kids under 3 get in free, and Disney resort hotel guests get early theme park entry, the easiest way to ride a few headliners before lines build.
Where: Merritt Island, FL
From LA: Fly into Orlando, then about 1 hour by car
Best ages: 5 and up
Best time to go: Any time; check the launch schedule
Plan for: 1 to 2 days
At Kennedy Space Center, kids stand beneath the real space shuttle Atlantis, walk the length of a massive Saturn V moon rocket and explore the Rocket Garden.
The bus tour heads out toward the launch areas, and with today's busy launch schedule, there's a real chance of watching a rocket lift off from Florida's Space Coast during your trip. Nearby Cocoa Beach makes it an easy beach-and-space combo.
Parent Tip: Check the visitor complex's launch schedule before you book, since some launches offer special viewing tickets.
Where: Orlando, FL
From LA: About a 5-hour flight
Best ages: 7 and up
Best time to go: Weekdays outside school breaks
Plan for: 3 to 4 days
For Harry Potter fans, Universal Orlando is pure magic. Ride the Hogwarts Express between Diagon Alley at Universal Studios Florida and Hogsmeade at Islands of Adventure, and, since Epic Universe opened in 2025, visit the Ministry of Magic, too.
Epic Universe also brought SUPER NINTENDO WORLD, How to Train Your Dragon – Isle of Berk and Dark Universe, while Volcano Bay is a fantastic water park. LA kids may know Universal Studios Hollywood, but Orlando is a much bigger, multi-day trip.
Parent Tip: Many big rides have height requirements, so check them before you go so younger siblings aren't surprised, and use Universal's Child Swap so parents can take turns.
Where: South Florida
From LA: Fly into Miami
Best ages: 4 and up
Best time to go: December through April (dry season)
Plan for: 1 to 2 days
The Everglades is the largest subtropical wilderness in the United States, and alligators are the stars. The short, accessible Anhinga Trail boardwalk nearly always has gators, turtles and wading birds.
At Shark Valley, a tram tour or bike ride along a flat 15-mile loop leads to an observation tower, often with gators lounging beside the road. Airboat rides from outfitters near the park are a thrill for kids.
Parent Tip: Visit in the dry winter season, when wildlife gathers near water and mosquitoes are fewer, and bring strong bug spray any time of year.
Where: Key Largo to Key West, FL
From LA: Fly into Miami and drive the Overseas Highway, or fly into Key West
Best ages: 5 and up
Best time to go: Winter and spring
Plan for: 5 days
Driving the Overseas Highway from island to island is an adventure in itself. Kids can snorkel coral reefs at John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park, meet rescued sea turtles at The Turtle Hospital in Marathon and swim at Bahia Honda State Park.
The grand finale is Dry Tortugas National Park, about 70 miles west of Key West and reachable only by boat or seaplane. Kids explore the massive six-sided Fort Jefferson and snorkel right off the beach.
Parent Tip: The Yankee Freedom ferry to Dry Tortugas sells out weeks ahead in peak season, so book early and bring motion-sickness remedies for the ride of more than two hours each way.
58. St. Augustine
Where: St. Augustine, FL
From LA: Fly into Jacksonville
Best ages: 5 and up
Best time to go: Fall through spring
Plan for: 2 to 3 days
Founded in 1565, St. Augustine is the oldest continuously inhabited European-founded city in the continental United States. Kids can walk the walls of Castillo de San Marcos, a 17th-century Spanish fort with cannon-firing demonstrations.
Climb the 219 steps of the St. Augustine Lighthouse, see alligators and crocodiles at the St. Augustine Alligator Farm Zoological Park and play on wide Atlantic beaches.
Parent Tip: Park once and explore the pedestrian-friendly historic district on foot or by sightseeing trolley.
East Coast History and City Trips With Kids
This is where kids see the places from their history books: the Liberty Bell, the Freedom Trail, colonial towns and the National Mall. Ages 8 to 13 hit the sweet spot for these trips.
59. Washington, D.C.
Where: Washington, D.C.
From LA: About a 5-hour flight
Best ages: 7 and up
Best time to go: Spring and fall
Plan for: 4 days
Washington, D.C. might be the best-value bucket-list city in America, because most of its museums and monuments are free. The Smithsonian's National Air and Space Museum, National Museum of Natural History (home to the Hope Diamond and the Nation's T. rex) and National Museum of African American History and Culture are just the start.
Walk the National Mall from the Lincoln Memorial to the U.S. Capitol, ride to the top of the Washington Monument and tour the Capitol. Kids ages 7 to 12 hit the sweet spot: old enough to understand what they're seeing and still young enough to be thrilled by it.
Parent Tip: Some sites, like the Washington Monument, require timed tickets through Recreation.gov. Contact your member of Congress months ahead to request Capitol and White House tours.
Where: Williamsburg, VA
From LA: Fly into Richmond or Norfolk
Best ages: 6 and up
Best time to go: Spring and fall
Plan for: 3 days
In Colonial Williamsburg, kids step into the 1700s, where costumed interpreters work as blacksmiths, coopers and wigmakers and talk to visitors as if the American Revolution is just getting started.
Nearby, Jamestown Settlement has re-created ships like the ones that carried English colonists in 1607, and Yorktown's battlefield and American Revolution Museum tell the story of the war's final major battle. Busch Gardens Williamsburg is a short drive away.
Parent Tip: Look for a combination ticket if you plan to visit both Jamestown Settlement and the American Revolution Museum at Yorktown, and let kids pick a trade shop to visit each day.
61. The Outer Banks
Where: North Carolina's barrier islands
From LA: Fly into Norfolk, VA, then about 1.5 to 2 hours by car
Best ages: 4 and up
Best time to go: June through September
Plan for: 5 to 7 days
Families have been renting beach houses on the Outer Banks for generations. Kids can see where the Wright brothers made the first powered flight at Wright Brothers National Memorial, then run down the tallest living sand dune system on the East Coast at Jockey's Ridge State Park.
Wild horses, believed to descend from Spanish mustangs, roam the beaches near Corolla, and the Cape Hatteras Lighthouse is the tallest brick lighthouse in the country.
Parent Tip: A guided off-road tour is the best way to see the Corolla wild horses. Never feed or approach them; local law requires staying at least 50 feet away.
62. Philadelphia
Where: Philadelphia, PA
From LA: About a 5-hour flight
Best ages: 6 and up
Best time to go: Spring and fall
Plan for: 3 days
In Philadelphia, kids can see the Liberty Bell and stand inside Independence Hall, where the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution were debated and signed. After the nation's 250th birthday celebrations in 2026, the history here feels especially alive.
The Franklin Institute's giant walk-through heart, the Please Touch Museum for little ones and the Philadelphia Zoo round out the trip, and no visit is complete without a cheesesteak and a soft pretzel.
Parent Tip: Independence Hall requires free timed tickets for much of the year, so reserve them online before you go.
63. Hershey
Where: Hershey, PA
From LA: Fly into Harrisburg, or into Philadelphia (about 2 hours away)
Best ages: 3 to 12
Best time to go: Summer; November and December for the holiday lights
Plan for: 2 days
A town where the streetlights are shaped like Hershey's Kisses is basically a kid's dream. Hershey's Chocolate World has a free chocolate-making tour ride, and you can design your own candy bar for an extra fee.
Hersheypark has more than a dozen roller coasters, plenty of kiddie rides, a water park and ZooAmerica, a small zoo of North American animals.
Parent Tip: Hersheypark groups rides by height, so measure your kids before you go to know which rides each child can try.
64. New York City
Where: New York, NY
From LA: About a 5.5-hour flight
Best ages: 5 and up
Best time to go: Spring, fall and the holiday season
Plan for: 4 to 5 days
Seeing Lady Liberty from the ferry, the dinosaurs at the American Museum of Natural History and the lights of Times Square are childhood memories in the making. Central Park has a zoo, a carousel and rowboats, and a Broadway show might just be the highlight of the trip.
The holiday season adds the Rockefeller Center tree, ice skating and dazzling window displays, while summer brings Coney Island and free outdoor fun all over the city.
Parent Tip: Statue of Liberty pedestal and crown tickets are limited, so reserve them through Statue City Cruises, the official ferry, well ahead of your trip.
65. Niagara Falls
Where: Niagara Falls, NY
From LA: Fly into Buffalo, then about 30 minutes by car
Best ages: 4 and up
Best time to go: June through September
Plan for: 2 days
Feeling the spray of Niagara Falls from the deck of the Maid of the Mist is pure, soaking-wet joy. Niagara Falls State Park on the U.S. side is the oldest state park in the country.
At the Cave of the Winds, wooden walkways lead to the base of Bridal Veil Falls, where the Hurricane Deck lives up to its name. Bring passports if you want to cross the Rainbow Bridge for the view from Canada.
Parent Tip: Ponchos are provided on the boat and at the Cave of the Winds, but pack a change of clothes and shoes for everyone.
66. Cooperstown
Where: Cooperstown, NY
From LA: Fly into Albany, then about 1.5 hours by car
Best ages: 7 and up
Best time to go: Summer
Plan for: 2 days
For baseball-loving kids, a visit to the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum is a dream come true. They'll see the plaques of legends, World Series trophies and gear from today's stars.
The village itself is charming and slow-paced, with historic Doubleday Field, ice cream shops and summer youth baseball tournaments that draw young players from across the country.
Parent Tip: Visit on a weekday in summer to avoid the busiest tournament crowds.
67. Boston
Where: Boston, MA
From LA: About a 5.5-hour flight
Best ages: 6 and up
Best time to go: Late spring through fall
Plan for: 3 to 4 days
Following the red-brick line of the 2.5-mile Freedom Trail past 16 historic sites is a fun way to learn about the American Revolution. Kids can toss tea overboard at the Boston Tea Party Ships & Museum and climb aboard USS Constitution, the oldest commissioned warship afloat.
Ride the Swan Boats in the Public Garden, find the "Make Way for Ducklings" statues, catch a game at Fenway Park and visit the New England Aquarium and the Museum of Science.
Parent Tip: Join a tour with a costumed guide on the Freedom Trail; kids love the 18th-century storytellers.
68. Cape Cod
Where: Cape Cod, MA
From LA: Fly into Boston, then about 1.5 to 2.5 hours by car
Best ages: 3 and up
Best time to go: June through September
Plan for: 5 to 7 days
Cape Cod is the classic New England summer: lighthouses, clam shacks, bike trails and miles of beaches in Cape Cod National Seashore. Little kids love the calm bay beaches, while older kids can ride the waves on the ocean side.
Whale-watching cruises from Provincetown head to Stellwagen Bank, one of the best whale-watching areas in the world, where humpbacks often breach near the boats. Bike the Cape Cod Rail Trail and stop for ice cream along the way.
Parent Tip: Weekend bridge traffic onto the Cape can be heavy in summer, so arrive midweek or early in the morning.
Where: Bar Harbor, ME
From LA: Fly into Bangor or Portland, Maine
Best ages: 4 and up
Best time to go: June through early October
Plan for: 3 days
Acadia mixes rocky coastline, tide pools and granite mountains, and Cadillac Mountain is one of the first places in the country to see the sunrise for much of the year.
Kids love tide pooling at low tide, biking the car-free carriage roads and eating the famous popovers at Jordan Pond House. The free seasonal Island Explorer shuttle makes getting around easy.
Parent Tip: A vehicle reservation is required to drive Cadillac Summit Road during the busy season, so book it on Recreation.gov ahead of time.
No-Passport Island Escapes
Want the Caribbean without the passport paperwork? U.S. citizens can visit these two U.S. territories with ID, which makes them easy wins for families.
70. Puerto Rico
Where: San Juan, El Yunque and Vieques, PR
From LA: Usually 6 to 9 hours of travel, depending on connections
Best ages: 4 and up
Best time to go: December through April
Plan for: 5 to 7 days
U.S. citizens don't need a passport to visit Puerto Rico, which makes it one of the easiest Caribbean islands for families. Explore the colorful streets of Old San Juan and the 16th-century fortress of El Morro, part of San Juan National Historic Site.
El Yunque National Forest, the only tropical rainforest in the U.S. National Forest System, has waterfalls and tiny coquí frogs whose calls fill the night. Kayaking a bioluminescent bay, where the water glows with every paddle stroke, is unforgettable, and Mosquito Bay on Vieques is one of the brightest in the world.
Parent Tip: El Yunque's main recreation area requires a timed-entry reservation on Recreation.gov, and bio bay tours are best on dark, moonless nights, so check the moon phase before booking.
Where: St. Thomas, St. John and St. Croix
From LA: Flights usually connect through Miami or another East Coast hub
Best ages: 4 and up
Best time to go: December through April
Plan for: 5 to 7 days
About 60 percent of St. John is protected as Virgin Islands National Park, so families get white-sand beaches, sea turtles and easy snorkeling. Trunk Bay has an underwater snorkel trail with signs that describe the coral and fish.
On St. Thomas, Coral World Ocean Park lets kids get close to sharks, sea turtles and stingrays, and the ferry to St. John is a fun mini-adventure. Fun fact for kids: it's the only place in the U.S. where cars drive on the left.
Parent Tip: U.S. citizens don't need a passport, but you'll need proof of citizenship and ID for the trip home, so check the latest requirements before you fly.
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Takeaway
The best trips to take with your kids before they grow up aren't always the farthest. Start with a California drive like Joshua Tree, Sequoia or the Channel Islands, then build toward the big ones, like Yellowstone, Washington, D.C., Hawaii and Alaska, as your kids reach the ages when each trip clicks.
Pick one or two bucket-list trips a year, book reservations and permits early and always check official websites for the latest hours, fees and conditions before you go. The suitcases get bigger and the kids get taller, but the memories last.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the best trips to take with your kids before they grow up?
Top U.S. bucket-list trips include the Grand Canyon, Yellowstone, Washington, D.C., Walt Disney World, Hawaii, Alaska and New York City. For LA families, Joshua Tree, Sequoia, Yosemite, the Channel Islands and San Diego are easy, memorable places to start. Choose trips that match your kids' ages and interests.
What is the best age to take kids to national parks?
Ages 6 to 12 are the sweet spot. Kids can hike a few miles, earn Junior Ranger badges and remember the trip, but they're still wowed by geysers, giant trees and wildlife. Younger kids enjoy short, paved trails, while teens are ready for bigger hikes like Zion's Narrows or Delicate Arch.
What is the best family vacation in the USA for little kids?
For toddlers and preschoolers, Disneyland, San Diego, Walt Disney World, Oʻahu and the Outer Banks are the easiest choices, with lots to do in a small area, kid-friendly hotels and plenty of pool and beach time. Short travel times matter most at this age, so a drive from LA is often best.
Can you visit Puerto Rico or the U.S. Virgin Islands without a passport?
Yes. U.S. citizens don't need a passport to visit Puerto Rico or the U.S. Virgin Islands because they are U.S. territories. Adults still need a valid ID to fly, and in the Virgin Islands you should carry proof of citizenship for the trip home. Check current requirements before you travel.
How can families save money on national park trips?
Fourth graders can get a free Every Kid Outdoors pass that covers everyone in their vehicle, and the America the Beautiful annual pass costs $80 for U.S. residents in 2026. Visiting in spring or fall, staying in nearby gateway towns and packing picnic lunches also cut costs.
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