Ready to make your April travel plans? We’ve rounded up the most incredible national parks that put on their best display during this time of year.
With fewer crowds than peak summer months, you’ll get those iconic views (mostly) to yourself!
The world’s most famous canyon awaits in Arizona, drawing visitors from across the globe with its mind-blowing views and stunning panoramas.
Keep your eyes peeled for the local wildlife – you might spot deer, elk, coyotes, condors, and bighorn sheep, all more active during this time.
If you’re hiking the popular Bright Angel Trail, watch for ice on the first three miles, while South Kaibab Trail typically only has ice on the first third of a mile at the Chimney section.
Where to Stay: The Grand Hotel is the only 3-diamond hotel in the region, featuring an indoor heated swimming pool and hot tub.
Pinnacles National Park puts on a spectacular show with hundreds of wildflower species painting the landscape in vibrant colors.
It’s prime time for bird watching during nesting season, and you can explore unique trails, caves, and peaks while potentially spotting Townsend’s big-eared bats!
Insider Tip: When hiking the Balconies Cave Trail, pack a flashlight or headlamp and be ready for knee-deep water pools in spring.
Where to Stay: The Inn at the Pinnacles is a Mediterranean-style bed-and-breakfast set amid 160 acres of hilltop vineyards.
At Badlands National Park, the dramatic landscape shifts surprisingly from one section to the next.
Wildlife enthusiasts should cruise along Sage Creek Rim Road, a prime spot for bison watching.
The park teems with diverse wildlife, including elk, mountain lions, pronghorn, rattlesnakes, and numerous bird species.
Insider Tip: Check out the Door and Window Trails – they’re wheelchair-accessible and lead to gorgeous Badlands views.
Where to Stay: The Badlands Hotel & Campground offers large rooms, conveniently located just 2 miles from the park.
Bryce Canyon National Park is where bizarre views and baroque rock formations create a flaming panorama of different hues.
You’ll find the world’s largest collection of hoodoos here – those strange limestone sentinels standing guard by the thousands.
The park’s 13 overlooks along the scenic drive offer endless photo opportunities, with Sunrise and Sunset points near the lodge providing spectacular views of Bryce Amphitheater’s dense pinnacles.
Where to Stay: The Best Western Plus Bryce Canyon Grand Hotel offers the newest luxurious accommodations near the park.
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April visitors to Capitol Reef get a special treat as the park’s historic orchards burst into full bloom.
The red rock landscapes, dramatic cliffs, and narrow canyons create stunning contrasts against spring wildflowers.
With fewer visitors than other Utah parks, Capitol Reef offers a peaceful, uncrowded atmosphere in one of the American West’s most beautiful corners.
Insider Tip: Don’t miss the Pioneer Register on the Capitol Gorge Trail, where you can see carved names and dates from 1800s settlers.
Where to Stay: Capitol Reef Resort offers unique lodging options ranging from luxury cabins to Conestoga wagons and teepees.
Desert magic awaits at this Joshua Tree National Park where giant boulder piles and twisted Joshua trees create a otherworldly landscape.
The weather is absolutely perfect, with pleasant temperatures between 50-80°F and refreshing breezes making it ideal for outdoor adventures.
Catch the stunning wildflower blooms painting the desert in vibrant colors – but don’t wait too long, as these beauties only stick around for a few weeks!
Where to Stay: The Joshua Tree Inn is a charming 1950s hacienda-style inn that sits just six miles from the park entrance.
Death Valley National Park offers the most dramatic desert landscape in North America.
Spring brings comfortable temperatures and even some clouds, with daytime temps hover between 82-100°F, and nights stay cozy at 55-73°F.
Where to Stay: The Inn at Death Valley is a stunning historic hideaway since 1927, featuring natural springs running through the property, flowering bougainvillea, and a spring-fed pool.
Nature puts on an incredible show in Yosemite during April. As warmer days arrive, snowmelt cascades down through granite basins and tumbles over massive cliffs in spectacular rushing waterfalls.
April is a simply remarkable time to visit – you’ll find fewer crowds during weekdays and can score some excellent lodging deals.
Insider Tip: Head to Tunnel View at sunrise for the most spectacular colors and popular views of Yosemite, including El Capitan and Half Dome.
Where to Stay: The Ahwahnee, constructed in 1929 of sugar pine logs and rough-cut granite, showcases magnificent public spaces with beamed ceilings and colossal stone fireplaces filled with Native American artworks.
Canyonlands National Park shows off its best colors in spring! The Needles district trails become springtime favorites as wildflowers sprinkle the canyons and gullies.
Over at Island in the Sky, you’ll get vast views of iconic arches and rock formations, while the snowcapped La Sal Mountains create a dazzling backdrop against the red rocks.
Insider Tip: If you’re planning an overnight backcountry adventure, secure your permit early – you can make reservations up to four months in advance.
Where to Stay: The Hoodoo Moab is the only upscale 4-diamond hotel in the region, offers excursions and features an onsite spa.
Unlike most national parks, Mesa Verde trades mountain peaks for fascinating history – it’s America’s largest archaeological preserve, featuring over 600 cliff dwellings and about 5,000 archaeological sites across its mesas.
At 7,000 feet elevation, April brings variable conditions with daytime temperatures in the upper 50s, plus some wind and rain.
Insider Tip: Bring good hiking boots, layers, sunscreen, water, and a windbreaker – trails can get muddy in spring.
Where to Stay: Far View Lodge, the only lodging inside the park, offers a peaceful retreat with wildlife watching and incredible stargazing opportunities.
Yellowstone National Park puts on an incredible show in April when bears emerge from their winter snooze.
Bison calves arrive by the hundreds in late-April through May, particularly in the Northern Range and along the Madison River. The park feels wonderfully peaceful with fewer crowds.
Insider Tip: Pack layers and be prepared for any weather – Mother Nature loves to keep visitors on their toes in April!
Where to Stay: Old Faithful Snow Lodge & Cabins offers cozy accommodations right next to the park’s most famous geyser.
The Great Smoky Mountains National Park, nicknamed “the wildflower national park,” is home to 1,500 varieties of flowering plants and boasts more flower diversity any other park in North America.
Visiting the Smoky Mountains during April is the perfect time to see this wondrous diversity of life vividly displayed.
Where to Stay: LeConte Lodge is the only lodging inside the park, offering a unique mountaintop experience with rustic charm.
There are many benefits of visiting Olympic National Park in the spring; the wildlife is spectacular!
Yes, it can get rainy, but good gear will negate any reasons to not get out there to enjoy the lush greens and fresh air.
Where to Stay: Olympic Lodge offers the best accommodations in Port Angeles, featuring floor-to-ceiling windows and stunning views.
April usually provides the best hiking weather in Arches and the Moab area. With the sun still not fully overhead, even at high noon, you can still see good shadows and contrast on the rock features for spectacular photos.
The snow-capped LaSal peaks in the distance offer a beautiful contrast with the red rock. April often displays the best scenes of the desert in bloom, with cactus wildflowers dotting the landscape.
Where to Stay: SpringHill Suites by Marriott Moab stands out as the closest hotel to the park entrance, offering stunning mountain views.