Parking lots at the most popular parks fill up fast, and a car window is a poor way to see a canyon or a mountain range. Bikes let families skip the traffic, slow down, and take in the views. These family-friendly national park bike rides make that easy, with flat paths, quiet roads, and plenty of places to stop.
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Not every trail suits young riders, so the best family-friendly national park bike rides stick to flat paths or car-free roads. Many national parks have paved bike paths with great views, offering some of the most scenic riding around.
Biking with kids is easier than you might think. On two wheels, little legs can cover miles without tiring out. Younger children can ride in child bike seats or a bike trailer, which many bike shops rent.
Before you go, check the website for the park you plan to visit, since e-bike rules and road closures change. Most park websites also share a complete list of family activities.
- Grand Teton is particularly close to my heart, since I spent a solo trip in March wandering the town for my Jackson Hole travel guide. I also got to unwind for a few nights with a stay at the Rusty Parrot Lodge and Spa, which is an easy base for anyone planning to ride the Teton paths.
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So here's a look at nine national parks where families can ride together, from Maine's rocky coast to the rim of the Grand Canyon. Each stop covers the trail, what to expect, and where to rent a bike.
Family-Friendly Bike Trails in Eastern National Parks
The East may not have the giant canyons of the West, but its parks make up for it with gravel carriage paths, old canal routes, and wildlife-filled wetlands. These four rides are some of the easiest in the country.
Acadia National Park Carriage Roads
With 45 miles of car-free gravel roads, Acadia National Park may be the most bike-friendly spot in the park system. John D. Rockefeller Jr. paid for these carriage roads to keep horse-drawn carriages away from cars, and they still lead to some of the park's best views.
Acadia's ru les allow only pedal-assist Class 1 e-bikes, and bikes yield to everyone else. Nearby Bar Harbor has several bike rental shops. Families can pick a short loop around a pond or ride across much of the park in a long day, but check for mud-season closures in March and April.
Cuyahoga Valley National Park Towpath Trail
About 20 miles of the historic Ohio and Erie Canal Towpath Trail run through Cuyahoga Valley National Park. Mules once pulled canal boats along this flat, crushed-gravel path, and signs along the way share its history.
The Cuyahoga Valley Scenic Railroad runs a Bike Aboard program, so you can ride the train one way and pedal back. The towpath gets busy with hikers and horses in summer, so take it slow. E-bikes are allowed, and towns along the route offer bike rentals.
Cades Cove in Great Smoky Mountains National Park
Great Smoky Mountains is the most visited national park in the country, and Cades Cove is one of its busiest corners. On most days, cars crawl around its 11-mile one-way loop. On Wednesdays from May through September, though, the road closes to cars and opens to cyclists, walkers, and runners.
The cove is known for black bears and old settler cabins, churches, and barns. The paved loop is hilly with little shade, so pack plenty of water. Regular bikes and Class 1 and 2 e-bikes are allowed, and the campground store rents bikes on a first-come basis. You can also rent e-bikes in nearby Townsend.
Shark Valley Tram Road in Everglades National Park
Counting alligators is the favorite game for most kids on Shark Valley Tram Road, a flat, paved 15-mile loop through Everglades National Park. At the halfway point, climb the 65-foot observation tower for wide views over the wetlands.
Winter is the best time to go, when animals gather near the water and are easier to spot. There's no shade, so start early, and expect to share the road with park trams.
E-bikes are allowed, though the on-site shop rents only regular bikes. Parks like the Everglades reward riders who go slow and watch the water.
Scenic Bike Paths near Yellowstone and Grand Teton
Summer crowds can make the roads around these two famous parks feel packed. These paved routes let families enjoy the same mountains without the traffic.
Yellowstone Shortline Trail Outside the Park
Just past the park's west entrance, the Yellowstone Shortline Trail follows the South Fork of the Madison River for nearly nine miles. The paved path runs through forest and wetlands to the Montana-Idaho border, with none of the traffic you'll find within the park.
This rails-to-trails route has a gentle grade and signs about railroad history, wildlife, and geology. Deer, moose, and bears are often seen here, so carry bear spray. E-bikes are not allowed on this trail.
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Grand Teton National Park Pathway from Jenny Lake
The mountain views in Grand Teton National Park make it easy to forget that this paved path runs beside the road for much of its length. It starts at Jenny Lake, passes the Moose entrance, and keeps going all the way to the town of Jackson.
Pedal-assist e-bikes are allowed, and rental shops sit in Jackson and in Moose, less than a mile from the park entrance. Bike racks at the busiest trailheads save you from hunting for parking. The area also has a great bike network, including a path to Teton Village.
If you're planning a few extra days in town, my Jackson Hole travel guide covers where to eat, stay, and play.
Canyon Bike Rides in Utah and Arizona
Utah's five national parks and the Grand Canyon are known for red rock and steep drops, which might not sound like biking country. Some of the easiest national park bike paths in the West sit right here, though, with plenty of spots to stop and look.
Zion National Park Pa'rus Trail and Canyon Road
The Pa'rus Trail is a paved path of just under two miles that starts near the Zion Canyon Visitor Center. It crosses the Virgin River several times and is perfect for kids on their own bikes.
Want to go farther? Ride Zion Canyon Scenic Drive nearly eight miles up to the Temple of Sinawava. The road is closed to private cars while shuttles run, and cyclists pull over to let the buses pass. E-bikes are allowed, and rentals are easy to find in Springdale.
Bryce Canyon National Park Shared-Use Path
The Bryce Canyon bike path is a paved route about five miles long. It links the shuttle stop in nearby Bryce Canyon City with the visitor center and the Sunrise, Sunset, and Inspiration Point overlooks. Ride the shuttle up and coast back down for an easier trip.
For a longer ride, the Red Canyon Bike Trail heads west for about 12 miles to the Thunder Mountain Trailhead, running beside Highway 12. You can rent bikes and e-bikes in Bryce Canyon City and inside the park.
Grand Canyon National Park Hermit Road
Riding near the edge of the Grand Canyon shows off the size of this bucket-list park in a way a quick overlook stop can't. Paved greenways link the visitor center with the village and the nearby town of Tusayan. Bikes are not allowed between Mather Point and the Bright Angel Trailhead, so check the park's bicycling page first.
More Stunning National Parks for a Scenic Bike Ride
Car-free days and quiet bike paths in national parks aren't limited to this list, and family-friendly national park bike rides turn up in many parks.
For starters, biking in Yosemite Valley is a favorite, since Yosemite National Park has about 12 miles of paved paths on the valley floor. Then in spring, Glacier National Park and Lassen Volcanic National Park open parts of their main roads to bike riders before cars return.
Farther north, Olympic National Park has the paved Spruce Railroad Trail along Lake Crescent. Up in Alaska, Denali National Park also allows bikes on the Denali Park Road.
Along the California coast, Redwood National and State Parks have bike trails under giant trees. However, Big Bend National Park and the White Rim Trail in Canyonlands National Park are better saved for older kids, because of the heat and rough roads.
Tips to Bike with Kids in the National Parks
A little planning goes a long way when your riders are six or eight. The most family-friendly trails are flat, paved, and short, so pick a ride shorter than you think the kids can handle.
What to Pack for Family Biking
Helmets come first, and Tennessee law requires them for riders under 16, including at Cades Cove. Pack extra water, snacks, sunscreen, and a small repair kit with a spare tube and pump. If you might be out near dusk, clip bike lights onto every bike.
Timing Your Ride and Booking Gear
If your kids can ride a bike on their own, let them ride at their own pace and stop often. Summer rentals go fast, so book child seats or trailers early. Trains and shuttles that carry bikes let you ride one way and skip the long climb back.
Plan Your Family Bike Adventure
Every national park offers something different, but the best national parks for riding share quiet roads, easy paths, and plenty of reasons to stop.
Pick one of these family-friendly national park bike rides for your next trip, and you'll skip the traffic and soak up the views together. Start small, pack extra snacks, and let the kids set the pace.
The slower you go, the more you'll notice, from a moose by the river to an alligator in the grass. The kids will likely talk about it for weeks, and that kind of memorable family time is hard to beat.
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