Top family-friendly national and state parks in the Southwest

Note from the editor: This post is updated regularly with fresh insights.

The United States is home to hundreds of national and state parks, providing endless adventures for your family. While many parks faced temporary closures or limited access due to the novel coronavirus, more are now reopening, allowing you to experience their beauty up close. Always check with the park before you go to ensure that your desired sights are open and available.

When exploring national and state parks in the Southwest USA, most travelers fly into Phoenix, Las Vegas, or Salt Lake City. During our visit last year, we used miles from our Chase Sapphire Reserve® to book a flight into Las Vegas McCarran International Airport. We arrived late at night and used Hilton Honors points for our stay at the DoubleTree by Hilton Las Vegas Airport.

Among hotel chains, Best Western is the only one with a property near each park we visited. While they don't have transfer partners, Best Western occasionally has appealing promotions and offers status matches from other hotel loyalty programs.

Park entrance fees vary between $3 and $35 per vehicle. Since we visited three of the 413 parks included in the America the Beautiful annual pass, we opted for that instead. It costs $80 for unlimited access for a year (for the pass holder plus three adults and any children aged 16 and under). During our one-week trip, we saved $25. If you have a fourth grader, you can obtain a pass for free through the Every Kid in a Park program. (See tips to visit America's national parks for less.)

Here are some top Southwest parks that are great for families and suggestions on activities there.

Zion National Park

Located in Utah, Zion National Park is about three hours from Las Vegas and 4.5 hours from Salt Lake City. The entrance fee is $35 per vehicle (valid for up to 15 passengers) for seven days. The park offers family programs from Memorial Day through Labor Day, and occasionally in March and April. Kids aged 6–12 can also take part in Zion's Junior Ranger Program.

To truly appreciate the stunning beauty of Zion, you'll need to hit the trails. Don’t worry—there are plenty of family-friendly hikes to choose from, including:

• Archeology Trail: 0.4 miles
• Riverside Walk: 2.2 miles and stroller-friendly
• The Grotto Trail: 1 mile
• Pa'rus Trail: miles and stroller-friendly
• Weeping Rock Trail: 0.4 miles
• Lower Emerald Pools Trail: 1.2 miles

If hiking isn't for you, consider taking a scenic drive through the park. However, be aware that this option offers a much less immersive experience, and the drive is only available from October 27 to the end of May, excluding weekends in November.

Zion National Park Hotel Points

• Hampton Inn & Suites Springdale/Zion National Park — 39k–60k Hilton Honors points
• SpringHill Suites by Marriott Springdale Zion National Park — starting from 50k Marriott points (standard dates)
• Best Western Plus Zion Canyon Inn & Suites — starting from 40k Best Western Rewards points
• La Quinta Inns & Suites by Wyndham at Zion Park/Springdale — 30k Wyndham Rewards points

Bryce Canyon National Park

Also located in Utah, Bryce Canyon National Park is just 1.5 hours from Zion National Park and about four hours from Las Vegas and Salt Lake City airports. The entrance fee is $35 per vehicle. Here, children aged 3 and older can join Bryce Canyon's Junior Ranger program.

Unlike Zion, you can enjoy much of Bryce Canyon's stunning scenery without hiking. You can use the park shuttle (available from April 12 to October 21) or park close to each viewpoint. During our visit last year, when our daughters were 2 and 4 years old, we explored the following viewpoints.

• Sunset Point
• Sunrise Point
• Inspiration Point
• Bryce Point

Additionally, the Rim Trail spans seven-tenths of a mile, linking Sunset Point to Sunrise Point. It is flat and suitable for strollers.

If you're interested in hiking down into the canyon for a closer experience, here are the top family-friendly routes:

• The Navajo Loop: 1.3 miles
• Queens Garden Loop: 1.8 miles
• Mossy Cave: 0.8 miles
• Bristlecone Loop: 1 mile

Bryce Canyon National Park Hotel Points

• Best Western Plus Ruby's Inn — 28k Best Western Rewards points
• Best Western Plus Bryce Canyon Grand Hotel — 40k Best Western Rewards points

Antelope Canyon

While Antelope Canyon isn't officially a national or state park, it's part of the Navajo Nation Parks within the Navajo Nation Reservation. However, if you're exploring the Southwest, this stunning site between Bryce Canyon and the Grand Canyon is a must-see. Antelope Canyon consists of Upper Antelope Canyon and Lower Antelope Canyon. We opted for Upper Antelope Canyon since Lower Antelope requires descending a steep ladder, which wasn’t suitable for our kids.

Self-guided tours of Antelope Canyon are not permitted. Guided tours can often sell out up to six months in advance, so be sure to book a reservation as soon as possible, especially during peak season. Although the canyon tours don’t have specific activities for kids, both of my daughters were captivated by the stunning rock formations and enjoyed spotting shapes resembling animals and other objects in the canyon walls.

Antelope Canyon Hotel Points

• Hyatt Place Page/Lake Powell — starting from 12k World of Hyatt points
• Courtyard by Marriott Page at Lake Powell — starting from 35k Marriott points per night (for standard dates)
• Hampton Inn & Suites Page - Lake Powell — 36k–50k Hilton Honors points
• Holiday Inn & Suites Page - Lake Powell Area — starting from 30k IHG Rewards Club points
• Best Western Plus at Lake Powell — 40k Best Western Rewards points
• Best Western View of Lake Powell Hotel — 32k Best Western Rewards points

Grand Canyon South Rim

The highlight of our Southwest adventure was the Grand Canyon, located four hours from Las Vegas and hours from Phoenix. We chose to visit the South Rim for its accessibility, especially since the North Rim is closed in winter. The park entrance fee is $35 per vehicle, valid for seven days.

Similar to Bryce Canyon, you can enjoy the stunning vistas of the Grand Canyon without any hiking, making it perfect for families with young kids. Simply pull up to any viewpoint and take in the breathtaking sights. The Grand Canyon also features a Junior Ranger Program for children aged 4 and up. My 2-year-old participated with a bit of help from her older sister.

If you’re looking to hike with kids, the Rim Trail features a paved path that's perfect for strollers. A great perk of this trail is that if anyone gets tired, you can easily hop on one of the many shuttles circulating around the park.

Other exciting activities for kids:

• Ride the Grand Canyon Railway
• Enjoy a helicopter tour over the Grand Canyon
• Experience the SkyWalk
• Embark on a mule trip into the canyon (for kids aged 9 and up)

Grand Canyon South Rim Hotel Points

• Best Western Premier Grand Canyon Squire Inn — 56k Best Western Rewards points
• Holiday Inn Express & Suites Grand Canyon — starting from 40k IHG Rewards Club points per night

Here are some additional tips for visiting the Grand Canyon:

• Family visits to the Grand Canyon: Where to camp, stay, and have fun
• Optimal times to visit the Grand Canyon
• New zip line experience at the Grand Canyon

Red Rock State Park

Our final destination on the road trip was Red Rock State Park in Sedona, Arizona, located just two hours from the Grand Canyon and slightly under two hours from Phoenix International Airport. Entrance is included with the America the Beautiful annual pass; otherwise, the fee is $7 for visitors aged 14 and up, $4 for children aged 7–13, and free for kids 6 and under. In Red Rock State Park, the top family-friendly hikes include:

• Eagles Nest Loop
• Apache Fire Loop
• Coyote Ridge Trail

My daughters absolutely adored our Pink Jeep Tour in Sedona. They enjoyed every moment of the thrilling ride to remote areas that can only be accessed by four-wheel drive. As a parent, I appreciated that the tour company provided car seats for children. You can book Pink Jeep Tours through the Ultimate Rewards portal.

Red Rock State Park Hotel Points

• Holiday Inn Express Sedona - Oak Creek — starting from 25k IHG Rewards Club points
• Hilton Sedona Resort at Bell Rock — 56k–60k Hilton Honors points
• Hampton Inn Sedona — 59k–70k Hilton Honors points
• Best Western Inn Plus of Sedona — 32k Best Western Rewards points

Exploring America's national and state parks is truly special. Although we couldn't visit all the places we wanted, such as Arches, Canyonlands, Capitol Reef, and the North Rim of the Grand Canyon, we look forward to returning one day.