You might not think it, but April is one of the best times to visit national parks. The weather has started heating up in many places, and those crazy summer crowds haven’t yet arrived. National Park Week also kicks off in April, when many national parks have free admission for the first day.
No matter what part of the country you live in, there’s usually a beautiful national park within a day’s drive from your location. If you’re driving cross country or just looking for a spring getaway, here are some of my favorite parks this time of year:
Great Smoky Mountains National Park
Sometimes referred to as “Wildflower National Park”, April is a fantastic time to visit the Smokey’s due to the blooming wildflowers. Located on the border between North Carolina and Tennessee, the park features over 1,500 kinds of wildflowers that transform the landscape in spring.
On top of the stunning scenery, this is also a great month to visit as you can beat the heat and see the park before the humid summer months roll in.
Yosemite National Park, California
While there are reasons to love Yosemite in every season, April is particularly spectacular as the snow melting from the Sierra Nevada peaks feeds the waterfalls, creating stunning and powerful views across the park.
During some of the crazier winters, the peak runoff can occasionally be later in the season, but you could still see some fantastic falls in April. Plus, the temperatures in the Yosemite Valley are usually pleasant for hiking and camping.
Zion National Park, Utah
The first time I visited Zion was during the sweltering summer months, and when I returned for a second time last April, it felt like an entirely different park. It is still warm enough to be able to explore the Narrows, but you’ll also be able to enjoy some of the parks other hikes without feeling like you’re going to pass out!
Spring also brings a beautiful green foliage to the area, and there is also a lower risk of flash floods in the slot canyons so you should have your pick at whichever trails you want to explore.
Joshua Tree National Park, California
April is one of the best times to visit this park due to moderate temperatures that are ideal for hiking and rock climbing. Similar to Zion, it can get extremely hot here in the summer months, so I love going in the spring when the days are hot, but the nights remain cool. Spring bloom is sometimes also visible, with cacti and desert wildflowers adding splashes of color to the already stunning landscape.
Just be aware that the nearby Coachella Valley hosts three back-to-back weekends of music festivals in April, so flights and accommodations may be a bit pricier! If you stay in the park or nearby in the town of Joshua Tree, you should be far enough from the crowds and may even find it less crowded here as everyone else flocks to the valley. Just be sure to avoid the festival traffic if you’re planning to drive from the Los Angeles area.
Death Valley National Park, California
This park by far has the most extreme summer temperatures, making the spring a great time to explore it before the summer heat creeps in. If the winter brings enough rain there is also a great chance to see wildflower blooms.
I camped here just a week ago, and found the temperatures to be perfect for camping and hiking but we were still able to bundle up by a fire at night. If you visit this April, you may also catch the last of the rare Lake Manly which has formed in Badwater Basin before it dries up.
Grand Canyon National Park, Arizona
One of the most popular attractions in Arizona, April is a great time to visit for the mild temperatures. My personal motivation for exploring this park in the shoulder season is to avoid the crowds. As one of the most visited parks in the country, the summer months can get extremely packed making vantage points almost unenjoyable at times.
Especially if you enjoy photography like myself, April is the perfect time to visit where you will be able to find outlooks to yourself and get some amazing shots of the stunning views.
Big Bend National Park, Texas
In the spring, you’ll find warm days and cool nights in this Texas National Park, ideal for hiking through its diverse landscapes of desert, mountains, and rivers. The Rio Grande is also typically accessible for canoeing or kayaking by this time of year.
Like many of the other parks, this park also sees a bloom of desert flora in spring, including various cactus species, adding splashes of color against the rugged terrain. This park is fairly remote and sees fewer crowds even in the summer months, so you’ll find April to be a particularly relaxing oasis.
Everglades National Park, Florida
If you’ve ever visited Florida in the summertime you know how bad the mosquitos and humidity can get, which is why spring is a great time to visit the Everglades.
Just on the tail end of the dry season you’ll find less bugs, lower humidity and an overall more comfortable visit. For anyone interested in birdwatching, this is also a great time of year as you’ll find many migrating birds present in the area.
Shenandoah National Park, Virginia
Obvously there is trend here in chasing the wildflowers, and this Virgina’s Shenandoah National Park is one of the most renowned for its display of spring bloom.
The stunning 105-mile long Skyline Drive will take you through many of the most beautiful stretches of wildflowers, and the weather is perfect this time of year for hiking and camping so you can see it up close. Given the parks elevation, the average highs are only in about the 60s making it a nice cool retreat to soak up the fresh spring air.
Pinnacles National Park, California
The unique volcanic landscape of this California park is fun to visit year round, but spring offers a unique chance to spot some of the local species that reside here like the California condor. They tend to be more active during the spring, and with less crowds you’ll have a better chance at birdwatching without anyone scaring them off!
Saguaro National Park, Arizona
Of all the spring blooms I have seen, I think the bloom of the giant Saguaro cacti is one of the most unique and striking to witness. They tend to bloom at the end of April, and with sweltering desert heat in the summer months, this is also a great time to visit the park in general.
Make sure to visit the Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum in Tucson before you head into the park. It’s a world-renowned zoo, natural history museum, and botanical garden and one of the coolest museums I have visited!
Congaree National Park, South Carolina
Known for having some of the tallest trees in the Eastern United States, Congaree’s floodplain forest is best explored by canoe or kayak. April is the best month to visit when the water levels are typically higher, and you can explore all over the park. It’s also less humid during the spring and has far fewer bugs!
Canyonlands National Park, Utah
One of my favorite parks in the entire country, Canyonlands is a slightly less visited destination than Zion but offers similar stunning canyons and terrain. April is one of the best times to visit when it’s not as hot, and you can really venture into the park and stay for a few nights.
The stargazing here is unmatched if you can get a backcountry permit and enjoy the beautiful land. Several other parks are nearby, as is the cool town of Moab, making it a great destination for a multi-day or week trip.