Summer in the Parks: Family Vacation Ideas

Even if you’re a month into summer with nothing booked, national, state, and local parks release last-minute availability, and a great park day doesn’t require months of planning. Missy from The Parks Podcast joins us on this episode to talk about how to make it happen.

Headlines this summer have been telling families the same thing: vacation is too expensive, everything’s booked, just stay home. We weren’t buying it, so we teamed up for a crossover episode on why parks, whether national, state, or the one twenty minutes from your house, are one of the smartest moves you can make this summer.

For more family vacation inspiration, check out all the podcast episodes. Adventure Awaits!

The Vacation Isn’t Canceled. It’s Changing.

A recent Priceline study found 89% of parents say they’re traveling this summer no matter what, even though about a quarter have had to adjust plans for cost. Families aren’t giving up on summer. They’re getting smarter about what it looks like.

You Don’t Need a National Park

Missy has visited 140 national park units, but her favorite finds are usually the small ones nobody knows about. “I fell in love with those parks that people usually don’t even know they’re 20 miles away from them,” she says. State and local parks offer the same core benefits as the big-name destinations: nature, disconnection from screens, and room for kids’ imaginations to run wild, minus the six-month planning window. Many even have cabins, lodges, or yurts if tent camping isn’t your thing.

A few park categories worth searching for near you:

• State parks with lodges or cabins (comfort without a tent)

• Parks with Junior Ranger programs (built-in kid activities)

• Parks near water for fishing, kayaking, or paddle boats

• Smaller, lesser-known parks that skip the weekend crowds

“What If My Kids Get Bored?”

They won’t. Give kids space to play and their imaginations take over: forts get built, bugs get discovered, fireflies get caught. Two easy ways to add a little structure:

• Junior Ranger programs, offered at most parks, come with guides and games built in

• KeeKee’s Park Activity Suggester, a cootie catcher that hands kids a fun activity with one fold and a pick. [Grab it free here.]

Research backs this up too: when kids help plan the day, the whole trip goes better for everyone.

Didn’t Plan Ahead? You’re Still Fine.

Most national and state parks hold back a portion of campsites and release them 14 to 30 days out, so last-minute plans are more doable than people think. A few ways to make it work:

• Go on a weekday instead of a weekend

• Pick a less popular park

• Travel during the off-season (in Sarasota, that’s July and August, which also means better deals)

• Stay just outside a park in an Airbnb or hotel and drive or shuttle in

• Start at the visitor center. Rangers love easing people into it

Staycation Doesn’t Mean “Just Stay Home”

Borrow the pieces of a vacation you love and recreate them closer to home: friends, a campfire, a seafood dinner you’d normally have at the beach. Same feeling, shorter drive. As Missy puts it, figure out what actually makes a vacation feel like a vacation to you, then build that in wherever you are this summer.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is it too late to plan a summer vacation? No. Many state and national parks release held-back campsites 14 to 30 days in advance, and a day trip to a local or state park requires no advance booking.

What are the best parks for families with young kids? Look for parks with Junior Ranger programs, easy trails, and water access, such as lakes or splash areas. Ranger stations and visitor centers can point you to the most family-friendly spots in any park system.

How do I keep kids from getting bored at a park? Give them unstructured time to explore. Most kids naturally build forts, hunt for bugs, or catch fireflies once they have space and permission. Activity tools like a Junior Ranger booklet or a park activity suggester can add light structure without over-scheduling the day.

Can I still get a campsite this late in the season? Often, yes. Try weekdays instead of weekends, look at less popular parks, or stay just outside the park in an Airbnb or hotel and drive in. Many parks also release reserved sites in short windows before the date.

What’s a good staycation idea for families? Recreate the parts of a vacation you love most, closer to home. A campfire with friends, a seafood dinner outdoors, or a day at a nearby state park can deliver the same reset as a bigger trip.

Where to Go From Here

Follow Missy and The Parks Podcast at theparkspodcast.com or @theparkspodcast on all social channels, including her summer challenge, My Hammock Summer (#MyHammockSummer): 30 minutes a day outside, no rules, running Memorial Day through Labor Day.

Grab the KeeKee Park Activity Suggester to get your kids excited about planning your next park day. 

Watch for KeeKee’s upcoming vacation planning kit (and join the waitlist), to help with all your planning AND get the whole family involved. 

There’s still time, still parks to explore, and it doesn’t have to end when summer does.

For more family vacation inspiration, tune in to all the podcast episodes. Adventure Awaits!