Utah is one big playground for outdoor lovers! Utah has 44 state parks and 5 national parks, ranking 14th in the nation for its State and National parks coverage. With over 119,000 acres of state parks it can be hard to know which areas are best for children. Here is our list of the best Utah State Parks for children.
Each State Park on this list is one that has multiple things to do/explore. Although children are able to visit any one of the 44 state parks these are the parks that are the best for children!
Goblin Valley State Park
Goblin Valley State Park has always been at the top of our list as one of the best state parks in Utah for kids. The valley of the Goblins is filled with endless rock formations that you can climb on and explore. That is what makes this one of the best for children. They are allowed to be children!
Located just 48 miles southwest of Green River. Goblin Valley is a great stop while heading to Moab or Capitol Reef National Park. There is a campground at the park as well as 2 yurts that you can rent! We plan to rent one in the fall and will tell you about it when we do.
Read more from the Goblin Valley State Park website here.
Coral Pink Sand Dunes State Park
Coral Pink Sand Dunes is a massive sand box! Children love playing in the sand. Whether it is sand sledding, rolling down the hills, making sand angels, or simply playing. It is sure to be a day that they will never forget.
For more specific information about our time at Coral Pink Sand Dunes State Park click here.
Located near Kanab, there is just so much to do with children in mind. Read our post on Kid friendly places near Kanab that you can get to in a sedan.
Snow Canyon State Park
Snow Canyon State Park is perfect in that it has a little bit of everything any child would dream of! They can get a taste of what a slot canyon feels like in Jenny Canyon. There is a big sand box to play in. They can explore the inside of lava tubes. Just outside the park they can even climb to the top of a dormant volcano!
With so much for your little ones to explore, Snow Canyon is a great place for kids.
Utah Field House of Natural History State Park Museum
We may forget that even some museums are State Parks. A State Park that children love is the Utah Field House of Natural History Museum. Located in the heart of Dinosaurland, children LOVE seeing and learning about all the dinosaurs and prehistoric animals.
The museum walks you through time and the history of the dinosaurs. There is a mammoth sized mammoth and walls of fossils. Your children will love this museum as you are visiting the epicenter of Dinosaurs.
The Utah Fieldhouse of Natural History State Park museum is located in the heart of Vernal, Utah. You can learn more at their website here.
Red Fleet State Park
While visiting Dinosaurland, Red Fleet State Park is another must for kids! Children love to search for the dinosaur footprints around the reservoir.
Then when you are done looking for dinosaur tracks, jump into the water from one of many places to jump from small cliffs.
You can even rent kayaks and paddle boards to explore the many crevices’ of the reservoir. You are sure to find your own little private jumping area!
Red Fleet State Park is located 12 miles northeast of Vernal, Utah.
You can learn more from their website here.
Happpy Trails
It can get overwhelming with so many options for Utah State Parks. Especially, when trying to find kid friendly places. Goblin Valley, Coral Pink Sand Dunes, Snow Canyon, the Utah Field House of Natural History Museum, and Red Fleet are our top 5 best state parks in Utah for kids!
Happy trails to the state parks until we meet again!
