7 Best National Parks for Visitors Who Don’t Want to Hike—With Scenic Drives, Trains, and Boat Tours

I plan most of my national park adventures around exploring nature on foot, but this year, pregnancy forced me to switch up my travel style, particularly during the trickier first and third trimesters. I didn't give up national parks , though; instead, I tweaked how I experience them.

I decreased my trail mileage and sought more non-hiking adventures, like wildlife tours, scenic drives , and picnics with a view. What I found was a host of ways to explore our public lands that don't require multi-hour hikes or sunrise jaunts. And I never felt like I missed a beat.

Ready to explore the country's incredible wide-open spaces without hitting the trails? Here are seven of the best national parks for travelers who don't hike.

01 of 07

Rocky Mountain National Park, Colorado

I visited Rocky Mountain National Park around the start of my third trimester, when my oversized belly made hiking more than a few high-elevation miles feel uncomfortable. Instead of the treks I'd dreamed about, my husband and I plotted a non-hiking trip that was just as mind-blowing. We joined a wildlife-watching safari with Green Jeep Tours to see autumn's elk rut—the mating season when bull elk compete and call out for their mates with a sound known as bugling. We also took the scenic drive up Trail Ridge Road through the golden tundra to sky-high lookouts at over 12,000 feet.

Another nice thing about Rocky Mountain National Park is its proximity to gateway town Estes Park . I typically use park towns as a base camp between national park adventures, but Estes Park offers a variety of culinary experiences that complement park outings—especially if you're seeking a break from the Rocky Mountain crowds. We made our own custom chocolate bars at the Stanley Chocolate Factory , then sampled pinecone syrups (like maple syrup, but made of pinecones) with Rocky Mountain Mugolio . If you're a scare-seeker, don't miss a ghost tour up at The Stanley Hotel as well.

02 of 07

Great Smoky Mountains National Park, North Carolina and Tennessee

While I've backpacked through Great Smoky Mountains National Park in the past, my spring 2026 visit looked quite different. Instead of hitting the park's over 800 trail miles, I sought its beauty in other forms, like the scenic drive along the 33-mile Newfound Gap Road, which runs from Gatlinburg to Cherokee, North Carolina . This route weaves through the park's verdant woodlands, climbing up to high-elevation lookout points, including the Newfound Gap Overlook. Visit Morton Overlook along the road at sunset to watch the orange orb sink beneath the pine-dotted peaks.

Cades Cove Loop Road is another unbeatable scenic drive, especially for wildlife lovers. The 11-mile loop weaves right through bear country, and we saw at least half a dozen black bears, including a mom and three cubs, over the course of a few hours. It's also a great spot to watch for deer and turkeys. A word to the wise: arrive early. Major traffic jams build up as the day goes on, and wildlife sightings are especially prevalent in the morning hours.

03 of 07

Acadia National Park, Maine

Acadia is a crown jewel of New England hiking, but I recently learned the non-trekking experience is equally enjoyable. For starters, try auto-touring. Scenic drives abound in the park, including the popular route up Cadillac Mountain, where you'll meander to the park's 1,530-foot summit for sweeping views of the coast and adjacent islands. (Note: Those who visit in the peak seasons may need a vehicle reservation to drive the route.) Once you're up there, stroll around the rocks and soak up the view, or, better yet, pack lunch for a scenic picnic. And speaking of food: head to Jordan Pond House, a restaurant with delectable Maine popovers (a baked pudding made with fluffy eggs) and scenic views across the mirror-still pond.

A trip to Maine isn't complete without time on the water, so try a seasonal whale-watching or scenic boat cruise to see the area's quintessentially New England sights: lighthouses, seals, porpoises, and lobsters, to name a few.

04 of 07

Cuyahoga Valley National Park, Ohio

One of the easiest ways to see the best of Cuyahoga Valley National Park without hiking is a trip aboard the Cuyahoga Valley Scenic Railroad . This 26-mile train route weaves along thick woodlands and sweeping meadows, with glimpses of the winding Cuyahoga throughout the roughly 3.5-hour ride. The railroad hosts festive events throughout the year, including murder mystery nights, happy-hour outings, and the family-friendly North Pole Adventure in winter.

Train riding isn't the sole way to experience Ohio's only national park without a long hike. I always recommend the scenic Beaver Marsh, where a short boardwalk leads to a wildlife-watching area to see turtles, herons, and beavers. Cuyahoga Valley is also home to working farms; you can visit some, such as Greenfield Berry Farm, for pick-your-own fruit and flower days. During my non-pregnancy visits, I'm especially fond of Sarah's Vineyard, a local winery and art gallery with delicious wood-fired pizza right within the park.

05 of 07

Biscayne National Park, Florida

In 2024, I visited Biscayne National Park to complete my advanced scuba-diving certification. That trip was nothing like the park outings I'd planned in the past—and that's because I spent about 99 percent of my time beneath the sea. Biscayne National Park, located off the coast of Miami, is all about the ocean. In fact, the vast majority of it is underwater. Park-goers can experience it with scuba-diving tours to see wildlife like sea turtles and sharks or explore intricate shipwrecks along the Maritime Heritage Trail.

It's not just for scuba divers, though. You can admire the getaway's marine wonders via half- or full-day snorkeling trips along the reef, bay, and wrecks. Paddling and stand-up paddleboarding tours weave you through the labyrinthine mangroves that fish, snakes, crabs, and myriad birds call home. For a scenic boat trip, take a sunset cruise on Biscayne Bay complete with snacks, drinks, and top-notch golden-hour scenery.

06 of 07

Crater Lake National Park, Oregon

Crater Lake 's deep, cobalt-blue hue is enchanting, so it should come as no surprise that the park experience is built around admiring the water. Yes, I've enjoyed Crater Lake's scenery via trail, but many of the best views require little physical effort—particularly along the scenic Rim Drive . The 33-mile loop around the caldera shows the vivid blue beauty from all angles, with 30 overlooks in total, though most the route closes seasonally each year, typically between late October and mid-June or early July, depending on snow conditions. In season, dedicate around two to three hours to make the full circle around this lake, which is actually the basin of the former Mount Mazama volcano. Or, ditch the car and hop on the two-hour Crater Lake Trolley for a guided park tour that includes background on the region's natural history. Note that the lake itself and the Cleetwood Cove Trail are closed until 2029 due to construction.

For a heart-pumping outing, head around 30 minutes south of the park to Crater Lake Zipline , an adventure hub with zip lining, paddling, off-roading, and even axe throwing. The kayaking trips get especially enchanting with sunset or after-dark tours where the moonlight and on-boat LEDs illuminate your way.

07 of 07

Lake Clark National Park, Alaska

Sure, hiking is an option in Alaska's Lake Clark National Park & Preserve , but it's not the main attraction. Bear-watching is the premier experience, and like nearby Katmai National Park, Lake Clark has its bounty of bruins. I visited in 2023 as part of a five-night bear-watching trip with outfitter Natural Habitat Adventures. The journey to Nat Hab's Alaska Bear Camp includes glamping in an electric-fence-protected site on a Chinitna Bay homestead within the park, where guests can admire bears as they graze for sedge and dig for clams and bask in the midnight sun at all hours.

You don't have to sleep here to enjoy it, though. Many operators run day tours from Homer and Anchorage that include mind-blowing mountain and volcano views via flightseeing followed by on-the-ground bear-watching throughout the park. Other non-hiking adventures in this south-central Alaska getaway include boating , remote fly-fishing , and rafting .

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