Embarking on a hiking adventure with kids is not just a stroll in the woods – it’s an opportunity for unforgettable experiences and quality family time. Most of our road tripping adventures have led to us to amazing outdoor destinations and hiking has become one of our family favorites! Check out my top 12 kid-friendly hikes for 2024!
This is a preview of all the hikes I’ll be sharing!
Perrine Coulee Falls Trail – Walk behind a waterfall in Twin Falls, Idaho!
This trail is rated as easy/moderate and is only about a half mile, out and back. You can find this 200 foot waterfall as you drive towards Centennial Waterfront Park. There will be several parking spots right along the roadway at the trailhead!
Hidden Falls Trail – Find a hidden waterfall in The Grand Tetons, Wyoming!
You can either take a scenic, 4 mile out and back hike to see this spectacular 100 foot waterfall. Or you can take a boat ride across Jenny Lake and hike only a mile to find this hidden gem! We chose to take the hike, so we started at Jenny Lake and followed the trail signs.
Maquoketa Caves Loop – Explore 13 different caves in Maquoketa, Iowa
This 1.7 mile loop allows you to explore 13 caves completely on your own, without a guided tour! You can find this amazing trail at Maquoketa Caves State Park in Iowa. Be aware, the caves close for bat hibernation October through April.
Delicate Arch Trail – Hike to the infamous Delicate Arch in Moab, Utah
The hike to Delicate Arch is a moderate 3.2 mile out and back trail. It is a lot harder going up than coming back down. But trust me, the challenge is worth it! Be sure to look into the timed-entry reservation system from April through October.
Emerald Lake Trail – Explore the magic of the Rockies near Estes Park, Colorado
Enjoy all that Rocky Mountain National Park has to offer while exploring the 3.5 mile out and back trail to Emerald Lake. Park at the Bear Lake Corridor and you will easily find the trailhead. Hike past two other beautiful lakes before arriving at Emerald Lake. Timed-entry permits are required from May through October.
Pueblo Loop Trail – Climb ladders inside ancient cliff dwellings in Los Alamos, New Mexico
Discover the ancient Puebloan cliff dwellings at Bandelier National Monument. The Pueblo Loop Trail is an easy 1.5 mile loop that offers impressive views of kivas and cliff dwellings. But the best part is the ladder access to climb into the dwellings!
Munds Wagon Trail – Hike to Merry Go Round Rock in Sedona, Arizona
This was probably the toughest hike we’ve done with our boys, but they were troopers. The hike is about 7 miles out and back and the spring is a great time to visit. The red rocks in Sedona are stunning!
Stout Memorial Grove Trail – Walk amongst giants in Crescent City, California
This 0.6 mile loop through the giant Redwood trees in Jedediah Smith Redwood State Park is fun for the whole family! If you have kids, get them outdoors and on this trail. They’ll love this easy trail and climbing on fallen trees!
Carlsbad Caverns Big Room – Explore caves in Carlsbad, New Mexico
Take the Natural Entrance down into the Big Room and explore this impressive cave on your own! The hike is about 2.5 miles in total, but be sure to take the elevator back up! This is a really, really cool experience for kids!
Auger Falls Trail – Hike to an impressive waterfall in Twin Falls, Idaho
Another fun waterfall hike can also be found in Centennial Waterfront Park. You can make this hike as short or as long as you like, but if you do the full loop it’s about 4 miles. We decided to head straight up near the falls and the kids loved climbing over rocks and exploring close to the waterfall!
Witches Gulch – Walk through a mossy canyon in Wisconsin Dells, Wisconsin
This entire experience was a blast for our family! Witches Gulch is only accessible by taking an Upper Dells boat tour. The boat ride is very scenic and the walk through the canyon is very short and easy!
Forsyth Canyon Trail – Hike to the top of a waterfall near Boulder, Colorado
A fun, dog-friendly trail can found near Boulder! The Forsyth Canyon Trail was easy and only 1.6 miles out and back. We enjoyed climbing on rocks and seeing a waterfall from above! This trail kept the kids and the dog entertained!
Hiking with kids isn’t just about reaching the destination – it’s about embracing the adventure together. If you’d like to learn more about hiking with kids, read all of my tips for hiking with kids! You can also visit me on Instagram @road.trip.queen to see more of our adventures! Remember to be patient, encourage curiosity, and make the experience enjoyable for everyone. Happy hiking!
The United States, with its vast and diverse landscape, is home to a myriad of experiences from coast to coast. Whether you’re interested in exploring vibrant cities, immersing yourself in rich history, or enjoying outdoor adventures, I’ve got you covered. Check out my list of our top 52 epic road trip adventures across the United States to help you plan the road trip of a lifetime!
It’s hard to even describe the size of these Redwoods, they are truly awe-inspiring! The hikes we took, like the trail through the Stout Memorial Grove, was very easy and had plenty of opportunities for the kids to climb on fallen logs.
3. Go dog sledding at Monarch Mountain in Colorado
Dog sledding in Monarch, Colorado
If you’re in Colorado in the wintertime, I highly suggest looking into a dog sledding adventure! The views are incredible, but we all agree that the most fun was getting to play with the dogs after our guided sledding adventure!
Start with the walk down into the cave behind the Visitor Center and then take the elevator back up! This entire 2.5 mile cave walk is absolutely amazing and a must-see if you are in New Mexico. Be sure to visit the website to purchase timed-entry tickets ahead of time.
Ouray is a stunning mountain town. It was amazing to stumble across this waterfall, just a short walk from downtown on 8th Avenue!
7. Become a Jr. Park Ranger at any National Park or National Monument
Jr. Rangers
This has become one of my youngest boy’s favorite things to do when we visit a National Park! Just head to the Visitor Center wherever you are to learn more and get the necessary booklet to complete and earn your badge.
Winter adventures are the best, especially when you live in Texas and rarely get snow. We love to snowboard together and Crested Butte is our favorite little ski town!
This stop is hilarious! If you’re near St. Roberts, Missouri I highly suggest stopping at this place for some amazing fudge, candy, and lots of laughs!
There’s nothing more that I love than adventuring with my family. It’s even better when we get to explore on our own without a guided tour. This place is fascinating and very informative. We loved climbing ladders to get a closer look at these cliff dwellings.
Seeing the Macy’s Parade has been on my bucket list for years, but I think we enjoyed walking through the parade balloons the day before even better. Here, you get an up close view of the different parade balloons as they are being inflated! Truly a unique experience. You can find this location at Columbus & 72nd St.
13. Visit a living history museum in the Historic Triangle, Virginia
Historic Jamestowne
Being a teacher, I absolutely love learning about the history of our country! The Historic Triangle is a set of three of living history museums. We explored Colonial Williamsburg, Jamestowne, and Yorktown. We enjoyed Jamestown the most!
This drive is not for the faint of heart! But, I have never seen views like this on any of our road trips. The best views can be seen from Ouray to Silverton! Use extreme caution if you’re brave enough to attempt this one!
15. Walk on the MayflowerII in Plymouth, Massachusetts
Plymouth, Massachusetts
Again, I am a huge nerd! So of course, I had to make the drive to Plymouth when we were visiting Boston last summer. Walking on the Mayflower was a dream come true. Yes, I know it’s not the original, but it’s still so cool to learn more about the journey and see a replica in person!
Orange Beach in the spring is delightful. The weather is warm and the crowds are thin! Sometimes it’s just really nice to relax on the beach and have no plans. Big waves are also super cool, especially for the kiddos!
The Preserve is a truly unique experience down in the Hill Country. We had such a fantastic day learning about elephants, giving one a bath, and ultimately helping in their conservation.
Getting to walk inside Abraham Lincoln’s home in Springfield is a must for anyone that loves history and our 16th president. We learned so much during this tour and it sparked our love of seeing other presidential homes across the US!
20. Collect sand dollars at Enderts Beach, California
Enderts Beach
I’ve always wanted to find a sand dollar at the beach and I’ve only been successful here! The views are impressive and we loved counting all the sand dollars on our walk along the beach!
21.Take a photo in the first town in the first state in Historic Lewes, Delaware
Historic Lewes
I didn’t realize that Delaware is so full of early US history! Be sure to stop for a photo if you’re near Lewes, DE. It’s the first town in the first state in the US!
If you like adventure, then I highly suggest taking a white water rafting trip! I will admit, it’s a little scary but oh so fun. My boys loved this activity on our road trip through Colorado.
The Grand Canyon is something everyone needs to see at least once! Move away from the scenic lookout points for less crowds and views like this.
24. Explore Jesse James’s hideout in Robbers Cave, OK
Robbers Cave State Park
If you enjoy camping and hiking, take a trip to Robbers Cave. You’ll find caves, slot canyons, and a super cool hideout that outlaws like Jesse James used to hide from the law.
25.Take a tram to the top of the Gateway Arch in St. Louis, Missouri
View from inside the arch
St. Louis is a really neat town to explore. If you visit, you have to go inside the Gateway Arch. The tram ride up was a little intimidating, but super cool!
26. See the birthplace of our government in Philadelphia
Inside Independence Hall
We loved our visit to Philadelphia! If you’re there, be sure to get tickets to go inside Independence Hall. It still smells like the 1700s and the relics from that time period really take you back. I might have cried when the Park Rangers showed us some actual artifacts that were George Washington’s!
Jekyll Island is already picturesque with gorgeous beaches and moss covered trees. Driftwood Beach is a unique day trip and fun for the whole family to explore. My boys enjoyed climbing on the trees and swimming here.
28. Do all things Christmas in Santa Claus, Indiana
Santa Claus, Indiana
Did you know that there’s a town called Santa Claus in Indiana? We visited a few years and did all the Christmas activities! We had breakfast with Santa, wrote him letters at the post office, and took all the Christmas photos around town!
Michigan is beautiful any time of the year, but I loved my trip in the fall! We explored quaint, waterfront towns and did a little hiking, too! It’s a great place for a girl’s trip.
Another city full of early American history is Boston. The 2.5 mile long Freedom Trail passes by 17 different locations that are significant in our early history.
31. Hike to Ice Lake in the San Juan Mountains, Colorado
Ice Lake
This is a tough hike, but the views are totally worth it! Jereme called this lake, “the Gatorade lake.” I have never seen water so blue! It’s about an 8 mile hike, and the elevation gain is comparable to hiking over two Empire State Buildings.
I have always wanted to drive through Monument Valley and finally had the chance on our way to Moab a few years ago. We stopped for a quick photo at Forest Gump Point!
This trail is one of my most favorites to date! I love exploring caves and this place is fantastic. There are around 13 caves along the trail that you are allowed to explore on your own!
34. Learn about the early days of whaling at the Seaport Museum in Mystic, Connecticut
Seaport Museum
We enjoyed our East Coast road trip last summer. I had heard about Mystic, so we decided to stay the night there. The Seaport Museum is similar to a living history museum. We had a blast walking around and going onboard different ships.
I’ve taken the architecture tour once in Chicago and it was the highlight of the trip. I wasn’t expecting to enjoy it as much as I did. I learned a lot about the history of Chicago and the views were great!
36. Catch a game at Fenway Park in Boston, Massachusetts
Happy boys at Fenway!
My boys love all things baseball. So, when we visited Boston, we knew that we had to see a game at Fenway. It was a blast and I even caught my little one a ball from a player on his birthday!
37. Stroll along the Cliff Walk trail in Newport, Rhode Island
Cliff Walk
I cannot imagine what it must be like to live in Newport. There are mansions, and breathtaking views, and a boardwalk, and amazing seafood, and shopping! The Cliff Walk was our favorite… besides eating!
The River Walk is a fun place to explore any time of year. There’s a lot of shopping and a lot of amazing restaurants. But, it’s even more amazing at Christmas because they hang millions of lights all along the trees that line the river!
39. Experience the Wild West in Virginia City, Montana
Back in the Wild West
This little town makes for a fun day trip if you’re near Yellowstone. We enjoyed our visit and exploring the area. The town is now designated as a National Historic Landmark District and the buildings along the main street are like individual museums of the time period!
40. Explore the Cliff Palace dwellings at Mesa Verde National Park
View of Cliff Palace
I felt like a little kid again climbing ladders to access the cliff dwellings at Mesa Verde! It’s a truly unique experience and I highly recommend seeing this National Park. Be sure to get timed-entry tickets ahead of time if you plan to visit.
If you’re a movie fan or a baseball fan, this is a fun stop if you’re in Iowa! My boys watched the movie for the first time a few summers ago, so it made a great stop on our Midwest road trip. They had a blast playing baseball on the actual field and walking through the rows of corn stalks.
I’ve always been interested in learning about the Ice Age and other extinct animals. I recently heard about the Waco Mammoth National Monument that’s located in Texas. Here you can see 24 Colombian Mammoth fossils!
We had our very first bear encounter on a trail in the Grand Tetons a few summers ago! It was a little scary at first, but also a very cool experience. Make sure to bring bear spray! We saw several bears and cubs, deer, a fox, and moose on our trip.
Driving through the dramatic landscape of the Badlands should be on your road trip bucket list! There are many scenic overlooks, the chance to see wildlife, and even hiking trails to explore. It does get pretty hot there in the summer.
If you love waterfalls as much as I do, then be sure to find Upper Mesa Falls if you’re near Yellowstone. This waterfall is gorgeous and you can get so close to it.
One of my favorite adventures was walking among the giant sculptures of the Ruins of President’s Park. It was creepy, but we were fascinated. If you’re looking for something different, add this to your list!
Driving around the mountains in a convertible on a beautiful fall day is highly recommended! Snowbird is breathtaking, especially if you’re lucky enough to visit in the fall.
Another fun adventure was walking from Pennsylvania into New Jersey via the Ben Franklin Bridge. The views of Philly are awesome and it’s just fun to say we walked from one state to another. The walk was not long at all!
If you have kids that like dinosaurs, then you should definitely visit Dinosaur Valley State Park. There’s a large collection of dinosaur tracks in the river bed. It’s even better to visit at the end of a dry summer!
In conclusion, embarking on adventures in the USA offers a diverse array of experiences that anyone can enjoy. Whether it’s hiking in national parks or immersing oneself in the historical significance of landmarks, the USA beckons travelers with open arms. Each adventure leaves its mark, creating memories that resonate long after the journey concludes!
If you want to explore more of the United States, check out these six bucket list road trip destinations for 2024! We traveled to each of these destinations over the past year or so, and these are the top places that I would recommend to anyone needing a little road trip inspiration.
Ouray might be my favorite destination in Colorado! My first visit was this past August. I truly fell in love with the landscape and the vibe of this entire mountain town.
Stay in Durango for more dining and nightlife options
Lake Haiyaha is a stunning lake in Rocky Mountain National Park near Estes Park, Colorado. You can access this trail in the Bear Lake Corridor of the Park. This is a moderate to challenging hike because it is uphill for a bit and then there’s a rock scramble to the lake. It was so much fun… and so much easier to hike down!
Be sure to get Bear Lake Corridor permits from May – October
Driftwood Beach is a unique little gem found in Jekyll Island, Georgia. I traveled there last summer and knew I had to explore the driftwood along the beach before returning home. This is not the best beach for swimming, but it’s amazing for exploring, climbing, and photographing!
The entire Oregon coast is a dreamy road trip adventure! We made the trip from the Redwoods in California up to Cannon Beach, Oregon. That is one of my favorite trips to date. We stopped at the Natural Bridges Viewpoint off the Samual H. Boardman Scenic Corridor in Brookings, OR. This was a great place to stop and stretch our legs. You can view the natural bridges from the viewing area near the parking lot. But we went ahead and did the hike down to the bridges and walked over them! It was tough coming back up, but easy enough for my boys to do it with us and they were only 7 and 10 at the time!
Stay on the marked trails if you want to get a closer look
Watch for wildlife – we saw a seal swimming in the water
The Grand Tetons are indeed grand! If you want a fun place to explore, you can make the Grand Tetons a stop on your road trip to Yellowstone or you can make it an entire vacation destination. What I loved about our road trip to the Tetons was that the views on the drive through Wyoming were stunning and we saw so much wildlife!
Ice Lake near Silverton, Colorado is the most outrageous lake I have ever seen. The views up to the lake were amazing. We encountered streams, waterfalls, and wildflowers along the trek. It was extremely tough for us flatlanders, but we made it. The views are one hundred percent worth the effort!
Stay in Durango for more dining and nightlife options
Today I want to tell you all about Glen Rose, Texas! This place has been a favorite of ours for years. The first time I went to Glen Rose, I was a little kid on an adventure with our church. However, the memories lasted forever and Jereme and I visited this area several times before we even had kids. What can I say, I am a huge nerd and love all things DINOSAURS! I know that we haven’t done it all, but we have camped here, tubed the river, saw real dinosaur tracks, experienced Dinosaur World, fed animals at Fossil Rim, and more!
I have combined years worth of fun in this blog post to show you what an amazing destination Glen Rose is!
Dinosaur Valley State Park
This park is one of my all time favorites because you can actually see real dinosaur tracks from millions of years ago! Throw on your swimsuit and rain boots and head to the river to explore, swim, fish, and picnic! The rocks are slippery, so be sure to leave your phone behind or put it in a waterproof case. And don’t forget to check out the preserved dinosaur footprints! At this time, you need reservations to enter the park. You can find more information by clicking here!
Fossil Rim
Your family will love this drive through animal adventure! There are so many animals freely roaming in the park, many of them endangered. Roll down your windows, unbuckle those seat belts, and enjoying feeding animals right from your hand! You can find out more information by clicking here!
Dinosaur World
If you love dinosaurs, this is the place to be! There are hundreds of life-size dinosaurs located around this outdoor park. The trails are fun to explore and there are many opportunities to learn about the different types of dinosaurs and several hands-on experiences. There’s also a museum, gift shop, and playground on site. To learn more, click here!
Big Rocks Park
This is such a neat area, right in the middle of Glen Rose, and it’s FREE to enter. There are a lot of “big rocks” to explore and the Paluxy River runs right through this park. It’s not very deep and it is very slippery, but we really enjoyed the day here. Parking is tricky, there are not a lot of spots, so I would suggest getting here early. There’s also a campground across the street that we have camped at before that is really nice! Pack a picnic lunch and bring a swimsuit and good shoes to explore this area. For more information, click here!
As you can see, Glen Rose is a fun destination for adults and kids of all ages! Be sure to add this to your travel list. We’ve visited Glen Rose for the day, we’ve camped and stayed at a hotel in town! Below is a list of hotels and campgrounds in the area.
Road Trip Queen 