Anonymous
Post 07/14/2025 09:01     Subject: National park trip for total newb that is clueless
Another vote for Zion and Bryce. We did this trip for spring break and didn’t find the parks too busy. And agree an overnight at Bryce is enough. However we stayed in properties—all really nice and that likely made things feel less crowded.
Anonymous
Post 07/14/2025 08:49     Subject: National park trip for total newb that is clueless
Zion (a few days, stay in Springdale), Moab, and Bryce (only need 1 day at Bryce). Moab has jeep tours, river tours, and mountain biking. Rent a car.
Anonymous
Post 07/14/2025 08:45     Subject: National park trip for total newb that is clueless
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:I’m going to deviate from the suggestions here and recommend Acadia in Maine. There are lots of lodging options near the park. Although the park is very large, the popular areas are easily accessible by car. The hiking is mostly amateur, although there are some tricky trails.

My feeling is you want to see the national parks without the whole REI experience, 😂.


Acadia is great but not in March.

As a counterpoint Great Smoky Mountains will have better weather in March and there are endless luxury cabins to rent. Pigeon Forge and Gatlinburg are tourist traps and tacky by DCUM standards, though.
Anonymous
Post 07/14/2025 08:28     Subject: National park trip for total newb that is clueless
Anonymous wrote:Based on what you've said, I'm going to make a different recommendation.

I think you should consider staying at a resort in or near Santa Fe. From there you can do a day trip to Bandelier National Monument and Manhattan Project National Historic Park.

In addition to the two NPS sites, there is lots to see in the Santa Fe area.

It seems like you're choosing a national park, but a national park vacation just isn't your ideal way to use money and time. New Mexico still gives you what you like in a trip while getting some of the American historic/nature stuff.


This is a solid recommendation, though I would not choose for March for outdoor stuff in NM (could snow, but is typically warming up).
Anonymous
Post 07/14/2025 08:25     Subject: National park trip for total newb that is clueless
Anonymous wrote:I’m going to deviate from the suggestions here and recommend Acadia in Maine. There are lots of lodging options near the park. Although the park is very large, the popular areas are easily accessible by car. The hiking is mostly amateur, although there are some tricky trails.

My feeling is you want to see the national parks without the whole REI experience, 😂.


Acadia is great but not in March.
Anonymous
Post 07/14/2025 08:21     Subject: National park trip for total newb that is clueless
I’m going to deviate from the suggestions here and recommend Acadia in Maine. There are lots of lodging options near the park. Although the park is very large, the popular areas are easily accessible by car. The hiking is mostly amateur, although there are some tricky trails.

My feeling is you want to see the national parks without the whole REI experience, 😂.
Anonymous
Post 07/14/2025 08:00     Subject: National park trip for total newb that is clueless
I agree with others who suggested the Utah parks. Those parks are all very instagram-friendly, so they really appeal to tweens/teens. Skip Zion because it is just too busy. You could stay in Moab and spend time in Arches and Canyonlands. The town of Moab has pretty good shopping. Plenty of activities other than hiking - white water rafting, jeep tour, zip lining mountain biking. If you are up for a bit of a drive, Mesa Verde and Capitol Reef are both 2-3 hours from Moab. Bryce is a bit further, I think 4 hours, but so incredibly worth it if you have the time.
Anonymous
Post 07/14/2025 06:57     Subject: National park trip for total newb that is clueless
I dont know what the hotel options are, but you could look at Everglades NP in Florida. Lots of boating options to break up your hikes.

Unless you go with a tour, I don't think you can see a NP without renting a car. Most are large and not close to cities. The few I can think of (Yosemite doesn't require a car once you're there; Tetons is really close to Jackson Hole) are snowed over in March.
Anonymous
Post 07/14/2025 06:43     Subject: National park trip for total newb that is clueless
Anonymous wrote:Based on what you've said, I'm going to make a different recommendation.

I think you should consider staying at a resort in or near Santa Fe. From there you can do a day trip to Bandelier National Monument and Manhattan Project National Historic Park.

In addition to the two NPS sites, there is lots to see in the Santa Fe area.

It seems like you're choosing a national park, but a national park vacation just isn't your ideal way to use money and time. New Mexico still gives you what you like in a trip while getting some of the American historic/nature stuff.


I agree with this, but a shorter variation might be Palm Springs with a couple nights right outside Joshua Tree.
Palm Springs at spring break time is lovely, although it's a smaller city and a week there is a stretch. The drive to Joshua Tree is too long to let you enjoy mornings in the park which is why I'd stay right outside (or rent an RV and camp inside) for a couple days.
Anonymous
Post 07/14/2025 06:31     Subject: National park trip for total newb that is clueless
Anonymous wrote:Based on what you've said, I'm going to make a different recommendation.

I think you should consider staying at a resort in or near Santa Fe. From there you can do a day trip to Bandelier National Monument and Manhattan Project National Historic Park.

In addition to the two NPS sites, there is lots to see in the Santa Fe area.

It seems like you're choosing a national park, but a national park vacation just isn't your ideal way to use money and time. New Mexico still gives you what you like in a trip while getting some of the American historic/nature stuff.

+1

Based on OPs questions (do they even need to rent a car?) one town/city with other amenities besides parks seems to be key.

Las Vegas is another option. They offer a lot of day trips to the surrounding areas.

Sedona if you want to cross Grand Canyon off your bucket list, but don’t want to compromise on luxury.
Anonymous
Post 07/13/2025 19:39     Subject: National park trip for total newb that is clueless
I wouldn't start at Zion for a first timer. It's super busy with queuing and buses.

We stayed in Moab and went to Arches and Canyonlands one April. Colorado National Monument in Grand Junction is pretty spectacular too, and not busy.

When we went, people needed timed passes for Arches, so check on that wherever you choose to go. Also these parks are $25-35 a day, so consider buying an annual America the Beautiful the pass which you can use for the rest of the year at Great Falls, Shenandoah, Harpers Ferry etc. I believe 4th graders get a free pass for a year.
Anonymous
Post 07/13/2025 13:41     Subject: Re:National park trip for total newb that is clueless
Would you consider an organized tour? We did a family tour through Austin Adventures and had a great experience. They take care of all the lodging, meals, driving and activities so you don't have to plan anything. You can also use their itineraries as example if you want to do your own thing.
Anonymous
Post 07/13/2025 13:36     Subject: Re:National park trip for total newb that is clueless
If you'd like someone else to organize this for you, consider something like this (they have many options for the national parks): https://www.tauck.com/tours/colorado-utah-family-vacation?tcd=zw2026
Anonymous
Post 07/13/2025 13:09     Subject: National park trip for total newb that is clueless
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:I think a great trip is to do a trip flying into Vegas and out of Phoenix and seeing some parks in between (yes renting a car and staying 1-3 nights at different spots). Here are is a list of parks/sites you could see but you can’t really see all of them so you need to decide how to spend your time. If you can get lodging inside a national park it’s always worth imo.

Hoover Dam
Valley of Fire (state park)
Zion NP
Bryce NP
Page AZ (Lake Powell, Horseshoe Bend, slot canyons)
Grand Canyon
Sedona


Yes to this, but consider adding antelope canyon and monument valley (both run by Indian tribes, not a NP). Antelope Canyon was a highlight of a recent trip.


Agree with this (and adding antelope canyon). This was a great trip for us, although we did it in the summer vs spring break. This might be a bit too much to accomplish over spring break, unless you are good with moving locations every day.
Anonymous
Post 07/13/2025 12:37     Subject: National park trip for total newb that is clueless
Based on what you've said, I'm going to make a different recommendation.

I think you should consider staying at a resort in or near Santa Fe. From there you can do a day trip to Bandelier National Monument and Manhattan Project National Historic Park.

In addition to the two NPS sites, there is lots to see in the Santa Fe area.

It seems like you're choosing a national park, but a national park vacation just isn't your ideal way to use money and time. New Mexico still gives you what you like in a trip while getting some of the American historic/nature stuff.