Things to do

Picnicking in national parks

The National Park Service lists 78 things to do tagged “Picnicking” in 56 parks and sites. Lake Mead National Recreation Area has the most (15). Each listing links to the NPS page with details. Data is from the NPS snapshot of Oct 28, 2026.

Updated · NPS Data API

Showing 78 of 78 listings.

ListingParkTime neededSeasonNotes
Drop By Fort Nonsense in MorristownMorristown National Historical Park15-30 MinutesYear-round—
Eat Lunch at Aztec Ruin's Picnic AreaAztec Ruins National Monument30-60 MinutesYear-round—
Eat Lunch at the Devils Tower Picnic AreaDevils Tower National Monument1-2 HoursYear-round—
Enjoy a PicnicHagerman Fossil Beds National Monument—Year-round—
Enjoy a Picnic at Booker T. Washington National MonumentBooker T. Washington National Monument30-120 MinutesYear-round—
Enjoy a Picnic at Scotts BluffScotts Bluff National Monument30-60 MinutesSpring, Summer, Fall—
Explore Bard RockVanderbilt Mansion National Historic Site1-3 HoursYear-round—
Hanford: Explore Howard Amon ParkManhattan Project National Historical Park2 HoursYear-round—
Hanford: Picnic and Play in Rodney Block ParkManhattan Project National Historical Park1-2 HoursYear-round—
Hanford: Picnic at Kurtzman ParkManhattan Project National Historical Park0-1 HoursYear-round—
Have lunch at the picnic areaJohnstown Flood National Memorial———
Los Alamos: Picnic at Ashley PondManhattan Project National Historical Park30-90 MinutesSpring, Summer, Fall—
Oak Ridge: Explore A.K. Bissell ParkManhattan Project National Historical Park—Year-round—
Pack a PicnicGeorge Washington Carver National Monument30-120 MinutesYear-round—
Pack a Picnic and Make a Day of itRussell Cave National Monument—Year-round—
PicnicCapitol Reef National Park—Year-roundFee
Picnic Among the GiantsSequoia & Kings Canyon National Parks———
Picnic AreasCatoctin Mountain Park—Spring, Summer, Fall—
Picnic at 33 Hole OverlookLake Mead National Recreation Area—Year-roundFee
Picnic at Anacostia ParkAnacostia Park1-4 HoursYear-round—
Picnic at Blue Point SpringLake Mead National Recreation Area—Year-roundFee
Picnic at Boulder BeachLake Mead National Recreation Area—Year-roundFee
Picnic at Callville BayLake Mead National Recreation Area—Year-roundFee
Picnic at Cottonwood CoveLake Mead National Recreation Area—Year-roundFee
Picnic at Echo BayLake Mead National Recreation Area—Year-roundFee
Picnic at Fort DupontFort Dupont Park1-4 HoursYear-roundReservation
Picnic at Fort LarnedFort Larned National Historic Site—Spring, Summer, Fall—
Picnic at Jordan PondAcadia National Park—Year-round—
Picnic at Katherine LandingLake Mead National Recreation Area—Year-roundFee
Picnic at KenilworthKenilworth Park & Aquatic Gardens1-2 HoursYear-round—
Picnic at Las Vegas BayLake Mead National Recreation Area—Year-roundFee
Picnic at Longview OverlookLake Mead National Recreation Area—Year-roundFee
Picnic at Lunksoos Boat LaunchKatahdin Woods and Waters National Monument—Spring, Summer, Fall—
Picnic at Pole CanyonGreat Basin National Park5-120 MinutesSpring, Summer, Fall—
Picnic at Princess CoveLake Mead National Recreation Area—Year-roundFee
Picnic at RedstoneLake Mead National Recreation Area—Year-roundFee
Picnic at Rogers SpringLake Mead National Recreation Area—Year-roundReservation, Fee
Picnic at South Arizona Telepone CoveLake Mead National Recreation Area—Year-roundFee
Picnic at Temple BarLake Mead National Recreation Area—Year-roundFee
Picnic at the Abraham Lincoln BirthplaceAbraham Lincoln Birthplace National Historical Park———
Picnic at the Katahdin Loop Road OverlookKatahdin Woods and Waters National Monument—Spring, Summer, Fall—
Picnic at the Lehman Caves Picnic AreaGreat Basin National Park5-120 MinutesYear-round—
Picnic at the OxbowKatahdin Woods and Waters National Monument—Year-round—
Picnic at the ParkFort Stanwix National Monument—Spring, Summer, Fall—
Picnic at the Three MaidensPipestone National Monument0 MinutesSpring, Summer, Fall—
Picnic at Upper Lehman CampgroundGreat Basin National Park5-60 MinutesYear-round—
Picnic at Whitman MissionWhitman Mission National Historic Site———
Picnic at Willow BeachLake Mead National Recreation Area—Year-roundFee
Picnic at Wind CaveWind Cave National Park—Spring, Summer, Fall—
Picnic by the BayouBig Thicket National Preserve—Year-round—
Picnic in the PreserveTimucuan Ecological & Historic Preserve10-60 MinutesYear-round—
Picnic Where the President PicnickedHerbert Hoover National Historic Site—Year-roundReservation
Picnicing in RMNPRocky Mountain National Park——Reservation
PicnickingChiricahua National Park—Year-round—
Picnicking along the Natchez Trace ParkwayNatchez Trace Parkway10-480 MinutesYear-round—
Picnicking at BandelierBandelier National Monument1-3 HoursYear-roundFee
Picnicking at Cane River CreoleCane River Creole National Historical Park30-60 MinutesYear-round—
Picnicking at Chamizal National MemorialChamizal National Memorial—Year-round—
Picnicking at Fort McHenryFort McHenry National Monument and Historic Shrine—Year-round—
Picnicking at Fort Vancouver National Historic SiteFort Vancouver National Historic Site1-2 HoursSpring, Summer, Fall—
Picnicking at HamptonHampton National Historic Site—Year-round—
Picnicking at Kaloko FishpondKaloko-Honokōhau National Historical Park—Year-round—
Picnicking At MonocacyMonocacy National Battlefield—Year-round—
Picnicking at NicodemusNicodemus National Historic Site—Year-round—
Picnicking at Petroglyph National MonumentPetroglyph National Monument1-3 HoursYear-round—
Picnicking at the BirthplaceGeorge Washington Birthplace National Monument10-90 MinutesYear-round—
Picnicking at White SandsWhite Sands National Park—Year-round—
Picnicking in DinosaurDinosaur National Monument—Year-round—
Picnicking in Pinnacles National ParkPinnacles National Park—Year-round—
Picnicking on San Juan IslandSan Juan Island National Historical Park—Year-round—
Plan a PicnicBryce Canyon National Park———
Plan Your Event at Cuyahoga ValleyCuyahoga Valley National Park—Year-roundReservation, Fee
Rattlesnake Springs Picnic AreaCarlsbad Caverns National Park—Year-round—
Reflect at Wilson's CreekWilson's Creek National Battlefield1-8 MinutesSpringFee
Relax in the Picnic Area!Puʻuhonua o Hōnaunau National Historical Park—Year-round—
See Fort RosalieNatchez National Historical Park30 MinutesYear-round—
The picnic areaAllegheny Portage Railroad National Historic Site———
View Wildlife at the Prairie PlazaHomestead National Historical Park———

Parks with the most picnicking listings

Other activities

HikingSelf-Guided Tours - WalkingMuseum ExhibitsFront-Country HikingGuided ToursJunior Ranger ProgramScenic DrivingWildlife WatchingBirdwatchingPaddlingBikingBackcountry HikingBackcountry CampingPark FilmHands-OnArts and CultureSelf-Guided Tours - AutoStargazing

Sources

  • National Park Service Data API — things to do (developer.nps.gov), snapshot of Oct 28, 2026. Listings, seasons and fees can change; confirm on nps.gov. The NPS does not endorse this site.