If you’re wondering which US national parks are best for summer, I have you covered! Many of the high altitude US national parks are best visited during the summer if you’d like to enjoy hiking without snow and ice.
Several US national parks receive a lot of snow during the winter, which means road closures and a lot of extra preparation. In order to experience the top sights of a park like Glacier, summer is your best time.
Keep reading for my top picks on the best national parks to visit in summer, and my top tips for each one.
A Few Important Hiking Tips
- It’s important to understand the leave no trace principles before heading out into the outdoors. Pack out all of your trash, do not feed or approach wildlife, follow rules of campfires, stay on the trails and leave what you find.
- Some of the most visited national parks require timed reservations to enter the park. This includes Rocky Mountain, Yosemite, Arches and Glacier. Check the park website before you visit.
- Purchase an America the Beautiful pass if you’ll be visiting multiple national parks over the course of a year. It will save you money!
- Check if there is a Guide Along tour for the park you’re visiting. It’s a fun audio tour that will teach you about the park and recommend stops!
Rocky Mountain National Park, Colorado
Rocky Mountain National Park is a stunning park home to alpine lakes, lots of wildlife and endless mountain views. Summer tends to be the best time to visit if you’d like to avoid hiking on snow in the higher elevation areas of the park. June can still be snowy, so it’s best to visit in July, August or September for the best chances of clear trails and roads.
The Best Things To Do in Rocky Mountain National Park:
- Drive Trail Ridge Road, the highest continuous paved road in the US.
- Go hiking in the Bear Lake Corridor. One of the most famous hikes is the trail to Emerald Lake.
- Hike in other areas of the park. One trail I love is the hike to Gem Lake.
Pro Tip: Reservations are required to enter the park at certain times during the summer. You’ll need to know if you’re visiting the Bear Lake Corridor or another area of the park, as the reservations are separate.
Read my summer itinerary for Rocky Mountain National Park
Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming
Yellowstone is easily one of the most iconic national parks in the US. From bubbling mud to spitting geysers to rainbow springs, this park is sure to leave you in awe.
Yellowstone receives a ton of snow in the winter, and most roads close to vehicle traffic. Typically, the roads are open between mid-March and early-November, but you’ll have the best chance to avoid snow and cold temperatures if you visit during the summer months.
The Best Things To Do in Yellowstone National Park:
- Visit the iconic hot springs and geysers around the park. Don't miss Old Faithful, Biscuit Basin, Grand Prismatic Spring, the Mud Volcanoes, the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone or Mammoth Hot Springs.
- Escape the crowds by heading out on a hiking trail. A couple I love are the Hellroaring River Suspension Bridge Trail and the Bunsen Peak Trail.
- Use the Guide Along Audio tour to learn more about the park as you drive.
Pro Tip: Stay inside of the park to minimize your driving time around the park. But book early, as the hotels can sell out way in advance.
Read my 3-day itinerary for visiting Yellowstone National Park
Grand Teton National Park, Wyoming
Grand Teton National Park is known for its incredible mountain range that seems to rise out of nowhere. Like most of the parks on this list, the park experiences heavy snow during the winter months. So if you’re hoping to hike without snow, it’s best to visit during the summer months.
The Best Things To Do in Grand Teton National Park:
- Stop at the many scenic overlooks around the park, such as Oxbow Bend, Snake River Overlook and Signal Mountain.
- Head out on a hike. A few amazing trails include Delta Lake and the Cascade Canyon trail.
- Take the boat across Jenny Lake and then hike to Hidden Falls or Inspiration Point.
- Go whitewater rafting on the Snake River.
Pro Tip: Grand Teton is very close to Yellowstone, so I recommend visiting both on the same trip. If you’ll be visiting at least one other national park over the course of the year, purchase the America the Beautiful pass to save money.
Read my itinerary for visiting Grand Teton National Park
Glacier National Park, Montana
In my opinion, Glacier National Park is one of the most beautiful places in the United States. It’s an epic park for hikers, and also has one of the best scenic drives in the country. You can enjoy alpine lakes, waterfalls, glaciers and stunning mountain views throughout the park.
The higher elevation areas are closed due to snow during much of the year, so your best bet is to visit between July and September. The exact opening of the famous Going-to-the-Sun Road varies year to year, but typically it opens sometime in June and closes in October.
The Best Things To Do in Glacier National Park:
- Drive the Going-to-the-Sun road, which has many incredible views.
- Go hiking. There are so many trails throughout the park for all difficulties. A few trails off the Going-to-the-Sun road include Avalanche Lake, the Highline Trail and the Hidden Lake Overlook.
- Take a boat tour or rent a kayak to explore one of the lakes around the park. The most famous is Lake McDonald.
Pro Tip: Glacier has a complicated reservation system and you’ll need different reservations for different areas of the park during peak months. Be sure to make your reservations and rent your accommodation and rental car well ahead of time, as things sell out.
Read my itinerary for Glacier National Park
North Cascades National Park, Washington
North Cascades is another one of my favorite US national parks. It offers incredible hiking trails that lead to brilliant blue-green lakes and epic mountain peaks. The park has a bit of a short season, with the main road only staying open between late April to the end of November. The exact times vary depending on the year.
To hike the trails without snow, you’ll want to visit during the summer. However, wildfires are also very common here, so be sure to check current conditions before arriving.
The Best Things To Do in North Cascades National Park:
- Stop at the overlooks along the North Cascades Highway. The most famous is the Diablo Lake Overlook.
- Enjoy the many hikes around the park. I especially love the Maple Pass Trail.
Pro Tip: The North Cascade range includes other areas of federal lands, including recreation areas and national forests. Often, you may be parking in a national forest and hiking into the national park. A parking fee is required, but you can also use your America the Beautiful pass if you have one.
Read my itinerary for North Cascades National Park
Denali National Park, Alaska
Denali is a stunning Alaskan national park that is known for its vast wilderness. It’s a place that is incredible for remote backpacking, spotting wildlife (including grizzly bears and moose) and adventurous trails.
The park receives a lot of snow in the winter, which means that the only road through the park is only open during warmer months.
The Best Things To Do in Denali National Park:
- Hike one of the maintained trails near the entrance of the park, such as Mount Healy Overlook.
- Take a transit or tour bus to explore deeper into the park.
- Embark on an off-trail hike, but be sure to properly prepare and discuss your plans with a ranger ahead of time.
- Take a flightseeing tour to see the Denali from above.
- Visit the sled dog kennels.
Pro Tip: You are encouraged to hike off-trail in most of the park and can do this by utilizing the transit buses. Make sure you carry bear spray and are prepared to use it.
Read my guide to visiting Denali National Park
Kenai Fjords National Park, Alaska
Kenai Fjords is an Alaskan National Park that is mostly water-based. The park is home to about 40 different glaciers and home to wildlife such as bears, whales, sea lions and many other animals. There are a couple of incredible hiking trails, but most visitors explore the park via boat.
The Best Things To Do in Kenai Fjords National Park:
- Take a boat tour into the fjords of the park. I enjoyed a tour with Major Marine.
- Go on a guided kayaking journey to get closer to the glaciers.
- Hike to Exit Glacier, or continue up to the Harding IceField for more of a challenge.
Pro Tip: Early summer is the best time to see whales in Kenai Fjords. However, you’ll still have a chance of seeing them all summer long.
Read my guide to Seward and Kenai Fjords
Mount Rainier National Park, Washington
Mount Rainier is an active volcano and the most glaciated peak in the lower 48. The park has many beautiful hiking trails where you can enjoy lakes, forests and mountain views. If you’d like to avoid hiking on snow and enjoy the park blanketed in wildflowers, the best time to visit is between mid-July and mid-August.
The Best Things To Do in Mount Rainier National Park:
- Go on a hike to enjoy the best views of the park. One of the most popular trails is the Skyline loop.
- Admire the colorful wildflowers during the summer months.
- Go rock climbing if this is something you have experience with.
Pro Tip: In 2024, a timed reservation was required to enter the main areas of the park during peak times. As of this writing, details have not yet been announced for 2025.
Olympic National Park, Washington
Olympic National Park has an amazing amount of variety, as it offers coastline, rainforest and mountains. If you want to visit Hurricane Ridge and hike in the mountainous part of the park, it’s best to visit during the summer. The road typically stays open through the winter, but closes from time to time based on conditions.
The Best Things To Do in Olympic National Park:
- Explore the beautiful beaches along the coastline, such as Ruby Beach and Second Beach.
- Take a short hike through the marvelous Hoh Rainforest.
- Chase waterfalls, such as Marymere Falls and Sol Duc Falls.
- Explore Hurricane Ridge and hike to Hurricane Hill.
Pro Tip: You may have to wait in long lines of cars to get into the Hoh Rainforest and Hurricane Ridge. Ideally, visit early in the morning and on weekdays.
Acadia National Park, Maine
Acadia is a beautiful park known for its mountain peaks, oceanside cliffs and fun trails. The park receives a lot of snow in the winter and most of the businesses in town close for the season. Typically, only a couple roads inside the park are open between December and mid-April. In order to experience the best of the park, you’ll need to visit between May and October.
The Best Things To Do in Acadia National Park:
- Watch the sunrise from Cadillac Mountain (a reservation is required).
- Rent bikes and explore the Carriage Roads.
- Go hiking! A few of my favorite trails include the Beehive Trail, the Beech Mountain South Ridge Loop and the Precipice Trail.
- Eat popovers at Jordan Pond House.
Pro Tip: The Precipice Trail closes each year for peregrine falcon nesting, so be sure to check ahead of time if it will be open. It’s also not a good trail if you’re afraid of heights.
Read my itinerary for Acadia National Park
Isle Royale National Park, Michigan
Isle Royale is an island on Lake Superior that offers incredible backpacking, hiking and scenery. It’s another park with a short season, and completely closes during the winter months. It is typically open between April and October, but most visitors go during the summer months. You can only reach this park via seaplane or ferry, and the ferries sell out early, so be sure to plan ahead.
The Best Things To Do in Isle Royale National Park:
- Spend a few nights backpacking. There are several campgrounds and you can string your trip together in multiple ways. You can camp along the shore and next to many interior lakes.
- Take a day trip and enjoy day hikes, such as the Scoville Point Trail on the Rock Harbor Side of the island.
Pro Tip: You’ll need to decide if you want to arrive on the Rock Harbor or Windigo side of the island. I chose the Rock Harbor side because I felt like it had more hiking and activities available.
Read my guide to visiting Isle Royale National Park
Theodore Roosevelt National Park, North Dakota
Theodore Roosevelt National Park is open year round, but typically receives a lot of snow in the winter. In order to experience warmer temperatures, you’ll want to visit during the spring, summer or fall. If you want to see the iconic Medora Musical right outside the park, you’ll need to visit during the summer.
The Best Things To Do in Theodore Roosevelt National Park:
- Visit both the North and South units of the park and enjoy the scenic drives and short trails. In the North Unit, don’t miss the Riverbend Overlook or the Cannonball Concretions Pullout. In the South Unit, don’t miss the Wind Canyon Trail, the Boicourt Overlook Trail or Buck Hill.
- Go on a longer hike, such as the Caprock Coulee Loop or the Painted Canyon Trail.
- Go horseback riding with Medora Trail Rides.
- Watch the Medora Musical and/or enjoy the dining in Medora.
- Watch the sunset at the Painted Hills Overlook.
Pro Tip: The North Unit and South Unit of Theodore Roosevelt are in different time zones (the North Unit is in central while the South Unit is in mountain).
Read my itinerary for Theodore Roosevelt National Park
Voyageurs National Park, Minnesota
Voyageurs is another water-based park, and is great for exploring via houseboat, camping and fishing. Located in Northern Minnesota, the park receives a lot of snow in the winter. In fact, Rainy Lake typically freezes completely between December and the end of April. If you want to enjoy the warm summer temperatures but avoid the worst of the mosquitoes, the best time to visit is the end of July into mid-August.
The Best Things To Do in Voyageurs National Park:
- Take a boat tour with the national park service, such as the ‘Grand Tour’ or the ‘Life on the Lake’ tour.
- Take a day trip or stay overnight at the historic Kettle Falls Hotel, which can only be reached by boat.
- Rent a houseboat to explore and camp along the shore.
- Go backpacking or canoe camping. The park service leaves some canoes in backcountry lakes for you to reach remote campsites.
Pro Tip: Be prepared for the mosquitoes if you visit during June or early July. Head nets and good insect repellent are a must.
Indiana Dunes National Park, Indiana
With its white sand beaches, Indiana Dunes makes for a wonderful summer escape. It’s a beautiful park to relax on the beach or hike. The park is open year round, but has frigid temperatures during the winter.
The Best Things To Do in Indiana Dunes National Park:
- Go hiking! A few great trails include the Cowles Bog Trail, the Mount Baldy Beach Trail and the West Beach Loop Trail.
- Bring a picnic and relax on the beach.
- Paddle on the Little Calumet River.
Pro Tip: There is Indiana Dunes National Park, and there is also a state park right next to it. Both require separate fees, but it’s worth also visiting the state park during your visit. The 3 Dunes Challenge in the state park is a lot of fun!
Read my guide to Indiana Dunes National Park
Other national parks that are great for summer (that I haven’t visited yet!):
Yosemite, Sequoia, Kings Canyon, Lassen Volcano, Great Basin and all of the other Alaskan national parks.
Final Thoughts
I hope this guide gives you some ideas for exploring national parks during the summer! From alpine lakes to sand dunes to island parks, summer is one of the best times to enjoy outdoor recreation in many of our incredible US national parks.
For more USA hiking guides, check out these blogs:
- The Best Hiking near Cincinnati
- The Best Hiking near Ithaca, NY
- The Best Hikes in Salt Lake City
- The Best Minnesota North Shore Hiking Trails
- The Best Hikes in Acadia National Park
- The Best Hikes in Arkansas
- The Best Hikes near Dallas, TX
- The Best Hikes in the New Hampshire White Mountains
Thanks for Reading!
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