National Park Service Sites near Silverwood
We love exploring National Park sites with our kids, and visiting one is a great way to extend your family’s Silverwood vacation.
We found over a dozen national park sites within a day’s drive (8 hours or less) of Silverwood Theme Park. Check out the overviews of each one, then choose one or two to book-end your next Silverwood getaway.
Junior Ranger Program
Many of the National Parks, Monuments, Historic Sites and Trails have Junior Ranger programs. These programs provide fun learning opportunities to children of all ages. Our kids love earning their commemorative badge for each site they visit.
We recommend starting at a Visitor Center and getting your kids set up with the Junior Ranger program for that park before visiting other areas. The activities in the Junior Ranger booklets are designed to help your kids interact with the park information at their age level.
Short on time? Most rangers are happy to supply the badges to parents ahead of time. Then you can give it to your child when the Junior Ranger booklet is completed.
Note: if you have a child in 4th grade, your entire family can receive free admission to most of the National Park sites through the Every Kid Outdoors program. Sign up online before your visit and enjoy exploring more of our amazing country!
National Park Sites that are 4 hours or less from Silverwood
Nez Perce National Historical Park (Lapwai, ID)
Nez Perce National Historical Park is a collection of over 30 sites spread out over Idaho, Montana, Oregon and Washington. The main Visitor Center is 2.5 hours from Silverwood, and from there you can continue exploring the other cultural and historical sites to learn more about the Indigenous Nimiipuu (Nez Perce) people.
Manhattan Project National Historic Site (Richland, WA)
The Manhattan Project NHS tells the story of the United States’ rush to build the first atomic bomb during World War II. There are dozens of sites throughout the Tri-Cities area of Washington (Kennewick, Pasco and Richland.
Reactor B is the top attraction, but also the hardest to get into, with reservations filling up months in advance. If you aren’t able to book a B reactor tour, the Hanford Visitor Center is a great place to get a feel for the scale and impact of the Manhattan Project. Our kids enjoyed the hands-on activities and other exhibits available here.
Whitman Mission National Historic Site (Walla Walla, WA)
The Whitman Mission was established by American missionaries amongst the Cayuse Nation. Unfortunately, due to cultural misunderstandings, the Mission ended in the death of most of the American missionaries.
Whitman Mission NHS has an excellent Visitor Center and Jr. Ranger program. We walked the trails that led to the Great Grave, then hiked to the Memorial at the top of the hill – panoramic views for miles! A covered wagon rests upon the Oregon Trail only yards away from the visitor center.
Glacier National Park (Montana)
Glacier is the perfect place for wildlife viewing, hiking, camping, and more in an alpine setting. The naturalist John Muir recommended at least a month to truly appreciate Glacier’s beauty, but even if you just have a few days, it’s well worth spending them at Glacier NP. There are multiple visitor centers to begin your visit, and some are as close as 4 hours from Silverwood.
National Park Sites that are about 5 hours from Silverwood
Mt. Rainier National Park (Washington)
Mt. Rainier has more glaciers than any other peak in the contiguous United States, and is still an active volcano! We enjoyed a beautiful hike amongst the wildflowers at the Sunrise area, and we’re hoping to try stargazing on our next visit. Mt. Rainier is such a popular destination that timed reservations are required during the summer.
North Cascades National Park (Washington)
North Cascades National Park is an unknown treasure. It’s a great destination for outdoor recreation enthusiasts who enjoy backcountry camping, fishing, boating, and hiking. The North Cascades Highway is a gorgeous scenic drive for those who want to experience the park without an overnight stay.
National Historic Oregon Trail Interpretive Museum (Baker City, OR)
This museum just reopened after an extensive remodel and it’s one of the most family-friendly national park experiences available. You and your kids will learn all about the Oregon Trail migration through exhibits, living history demonstrations and hands-on activities. Outside the museum are miles of interpretive trails, a wagon encampment and even original Oregon Trail ruts (called swales)!
National Park sites that are 6-8 hours’ drive from Silverwood
Fort Vancouver National Historic Site (Vancouver, WA)
Fort Vancouver is one of our favorite places to visit! The reconstructed fort and daily living history demonstrations allow kids and adults to get a feel for what life looked like in a Hudson Bay Company fort in the 1800s. Other sites include a historic air museum, historic homes, and military barracks.
Mt. St. Helens National Volcanic Monument (Toutle, WA)
Mt. St. Helens National Volcanic Monument showcases the eruption and recovery of the Mt. St. Helens area. Johnston Ridge Observatory was recently blocked by a landslide, but the Coldwater Ridge Visitor Center and the Mt. St. Helens Forest Learning Center are both excellent places to learn about the volcano. You can even tour the Ape Cave Interpretive Site lava tube!
Olympic National Park (Port Angeles, WA)
Olympic National Park is known for its ecological diversity, ranging from glacial mountains, to temperate rainforests, to coastal environments. Hiking, camping, and wildlife watching are all popular activities, and there’s a guided bus tour from Port Angeles as well.
Craters of the Moon National Monument (Arco, ID)
If you’ve ever wished you could go to the Moon, this is a close second! Our family loved exploring the volcanic landscapes of Craters of the Moon, and it’s the only park to offer the coveted Lunar Junior Ranger Badge. We recommend touring one of the caves if available at the time of your visit.
Yellowstone National Park
Yellowstone hardly needs introduction! If you’ve yet to visit the geysers, hot springs, and other fascinating geologic features of this park, it’s well worth taking several days to explore either before or after your Silverwood trip. Just remember to keep your distance from the many large wild animals!
Meet Your Conductor
Hiya! I’m Jenn Warren, business owner and content creator. Along with my husband Brian and our six children, I love to explore new places and have fun adventures at places like Silverwood! I’m passionate about supporting parents of neurodivergent kids (ADHD, autism, cPTSD, gifted and more) and helping families build strong relationships. I share our family’s travels and stories at the DinkumTribe blog as well as on TikTok and YouTube (@dinkumtribe ).
DON’T FORGET TO ENTER TO WIN TICKETS!
Silverwood Express Giveaway
Add comment