I don’t know about where you live, but Indiana State Parks are crazy busy right now. Last weekend, two of them were at capacity at 11:00 in the morning! I do get it though. We are all tired of being cooped up inside, and a state park is a terrific option. They are inexpensive, fun to explore and it’s fairly easy to keep a safe social distance. But, how do you make the most of your visit to a State Park?
Pick the right state park
The first step to making the most of your visit to a state park is picking the right park. Most state parks offer hiking trails, but some offer other amenities such as a swimming pool, horseback riding, a nature center, playgrounds, and even Inns. So a simple visit to a state park could easily turn into a weekend adventure!
Before you decide which park to visit, think about what you want to do. If a little bit of hiking is all you are after, perhaps visiting a less popular park or one with fewer amenities is a better choice. You’ll enjoy your day with fewer crowds.
However, if your goal is a full day of activity, pick one with many things to do (although call ahead to make sure the amenities you are interested in are open). Although hiking is typically our main goal when visiting a state park, we’ve learned some pretty cool stuff at the various nature centers too!
Figure out food
A few of the Indiana state parks have an Inn with a restaurant, but in general, state parks aren’t known for their food. Therefore, planning ahead for what you’ll eat is important.
Definitely pack a small cooler with drinks, and maybe throw a few snacks in your car as well. After that, there are two options – pack a picnic or look for a nearby town with a restaurant. Both can be fun – you could even do carry-out at a local restaurant and bring it into the park for a different adventure!
The easiest way to decide is to do a little research to see what towns are near where you are headed. Then hop on Yelp and look for local restaurants with at least a 4-star rating. If you don’t see any, you know to make a few sandwiches at home and plan on a picnic at the park.
Make sure that you have enough time
There is nothing worse than heading out for the day and realizing you have to rush back home midway through your fun. So be sure to map out how long it will take you to get to your destination, add in some time for whatever activities you plan to do and make sure you allow yourself the time you need.
We always try to pad our time too as you just never know what you’ll find on the way there or back. You might run across a cute little winery and wish you had an extra half an hour to stop and check it out. Or a quaint little town perfect for an hour of strolling and window shopping. If you’ve given yourself a bit of wiggle room you can take full advantage of these extra finds.
Pack the right stuff
In addition to being hungry or running out of time, there is nothing that will ruin your day at a state park more than not having the right equipment. No one wants blisters so make sure you all have shoes that are good for hiking yet don’t hurt your feet. If you think you’ll want to play in the streams or creeks at the park, pack some water shoes too. Having a clean pair of shoes to change into is also key – if the park is muddy the last thing you want to do is drive home in dirty, muddy shoes. Plus, forget stopping anywhere else if that is the case.
Planning on swimming or taking advantage of any other activities? Double-check that you have everything you need for whatever you plan to do. Also, don’t forget bug spray and sunblock! These two items can be lifesavers if the bugs are out or it’s a sunny day.
Do you need ideas for other things to have on hand? Check out my post on Everyday Adventure Essentials for a complete list as well as a downloadable .pdf. You’ll be prepared for this trip as well as any others you enjoy!
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Great tips for check out your state parks. We bring a small towel as well for drying feet off it we wade into streams.
Excellent idea! We usually have an old beach towel in the car for that same reason!
We love visiting State Parks too – it’s great to get out and explore nature a bit, especially these days. You share some great tips too, thanks!
Thanks! I think they are such a great way to spend a day.
I’m so thankful that our parks have opened again. We will definitely be exploring more of them this summer.
I think we will be doing a lot of parks too!
My family and I love visiting different parks and hiking. This is a great list and great tips when out in nature.
Thanks!
These are great outdoor tip! My family I plan to visit more state parks this year.
I’ve heard so many people say the same thing – I think it’ll be the summer of state parks!
We love visiting state parks! These are great tips. It’s best to be prepared. In general, I’m a planner, so I would definitely call ahead and see what’s open, just to be sure.
So smart – I know things are opening up for us here in Indiana, but not everything and I wouldn’t want to be disappointed!
We are going to a state park this weekend. It should be really fun!
Yay! Sounds like a terrific way to enjoy the weekend.
State parks are a great way to spend time in nature. Excellent tips for enjoying them.
Thanks!
Good tips. I tend to take my food, as it can be hard to find something that fits within my health food plan.
Unless you scout ahead to make sure there is something right for your diet, that’s the smartest move – least expensive too!
Ours are just starting to open. We have one right near our house that we visit weekly in the summer.
Fun! Our closest one is about half an hour, but there are in total about five within an hours drive.
Great tips! I’m working on visiting more state parks as Minnesota has 75 of them (including recreational areas) and I’ve only been to 8. So lots of hiking adventures coming this summer.
Whew! You’ve got a lot of visits to plan!
Great tips! We always like to get sandwiches from a local grocery store or Jersey Mike’s or whatever is like that in the area to have as our lunch when we go out to parks for a day trip. We definitely always bring lots of water and some snacks like chips or protein bars. I hope some parks in southern California start opening back up soon!
So fun! I love packing easy sandwiches like that.
We enjoy visiting the Arizona state parks. Looking forward to visiting them again soon.
I bet!
State parks are the best! So fun. Great tips!
Thanks!
Great post that pertains to everyone! Each state has so many beautiful state parks to choose from! We’re big fans of the Indiana Dunes State Park.
I haven’t been to that one in years, but I do love it!
I am so happy the parks are opening back up. I totally agree with packing the right stuff. I will never forget being at the Everglades National Park and only having one bottle of water…in June. Hard lesson. Great tips!
Ugh! That is a hard lesson – but I bet you never forget extra water now!
Great suggestions for sure and I can smell the park as I read through your post. And taking the pizza didn’t hurt either. That looked pretty amazing. Thanks for your post.
Thanks! We’ve had some great visits to state parks – one of favorite things to do when the weather is nice.
This is such great advice! The fact is that so many state parks are underutilized but have great sites and amenities. I am sharing this with others so that more can experience what is right in their own backyards. Adventuring doesn’t have to take you halfway around the world!!
Thanks! I love our State Parks and I totally agree – adventuring can be local!