When you think “national park,” you may think thick forests, tall mountains, or even desert landscapes. But make no mistake about it: There are plenty of national parks with ocean-front vistas. In fact, some are even largely composed of water!
If you’re ready for an out-of-the-box (but perhaps not out-of-the-boat) adventure, these ocean national parks should be on your bucket list. Below, you’ll find a brief overview of each of our eight favorite national parks with ocean access, including not only trip-planning basics like their location and best seasons for a visit, but also all the best ways to explore them once you get there.
Ready? Let’s dive in! (Pun totally intended.)
Table of contents
1. Olympic National Park
A sprawling wilderness tucked just a ferry ride and a drive away from one of the biggest urban areas on the west coast—Seattle—Olympic National Park really does have it all. In this case, that means plenty of dense forests and towering mountain peaks, but also alpine meadows, a one-of-a-kind rainforest, and, yes, craggy and scenic coastline. It’s no wonder Olympic National Park is both a UNESCO World Heritage Site and an International Biosphere Reserve.
While the Pacific Ocean is famously moody and cold—in other words, not the right vibe for swimming—there are plenty of other interesting ways to explore the coast. Set up for a beach day at Mora or Rialto—or, for a slightly quieter atmosphere, head to Second Beach just south of La Push. Along with simply sitting back and enjoying the absolutely stunning scenery, this is also an amazing place to explore intertidal life forms including sea stars, urchins, and nudibranchs. Just be sure you bring a jacket along with your normal beach gear like sunscreen!
Planning Your Trip
The best way to stay near Olympic National Park, if you ask us—surprise surprise—is to camp there. There are plenty of campgrounds inside the park itself that offer RV slots, as well as several private campgrounds in the area. (Here are the best.) If you’re willing to do some driving, you can also look around for free dispersed camping locations on the National Forest lands adjacent to the park—but since the park itself is already so large, chances are you’ll want to spring a few bucks to be closer to the action.
Travel Overview for Olympic National Park
- Best time to visit: Late June through mid-September, to enjoy long sunny days and avoid the winter’s near-constant rain.
- How to get there: From Seattle, you’ll want to take a ferry out to the peninsula. Campers and RVs can ride on the Seattle ferry system, but be sure to double-check size restrictions before your trip.
- Seasonal closures: Select roads, campgrounds, and facilities are closed or have reduced hours from October to May.
- Entry fees: $30 per vehicle for seven consecutive days of entry.
2. Acadia National Park
Now to head to the complete other corner of the country, Acadia National Park awaits travelers eager to see the most rugged part of the northeastern coast—complete with granite peaks that have been battered into their romantic shape by an endless wash of salt spray. Once you’ve had your fill of picking fresh blueberries or riding around the park in a horse-drawn carriage, you can go tide-pooling on the aptly-named Wonderland Trail, or feel the primordial power of the deep for yourself at Thunder Hole. There are also opportunities for canoeing and kayaking.
Planning Your Trip
Along with quaint Airbnbs and luxurious hotels in the nearby gateway town of Bar Harbor, Acadia National Park does offer three campgrounds with RV-friendly sites: Blackwoods, Seawall, and Schoodic Woods Campgrounds. (Of course, like any national park campground, spots can go fast, so you’ll want to make your reservations as far in advance as you can.) There are also a variety of private campgrounds in the direct vicinity, as well as nearby Lamoine State Park. Here are our top Acadia National Park campground picks, whether you’re looking for rustic or regal.
Travel Overview for Acadia National Park
- Best time to visit: Late September to mid-October offers stunning leaf-peeping opportunities along with ocean views—or come in high summer if you plan to get closer to the water in a canoe or kayak.
- How to get there: The closest airport is Boston International, and the park can also be reached along the I-95 corridor.
- Seasonal closures: While the park is open year-round, seasonal closures apply; see details here.
- Entry fees: $35 per vehicle for seven consecutive days of entry; be aware that Cadillac Summit Road requires additional timed reservations and a $6 fee.
3. Kenai Fjords National Park
For a waterfront landscape unlike any you’ve ever experienced before, head north—far north—to Kenai Fjords National Park, where nearly 40 glaciers flow toward frigid waters teeming with the kind of wildlife you can only reliably see in Alaska. While the water might be too cold for humans to swim in (at least for longer than a quick polar-bear plunge), the glacier and wildlife cruises departing from Seward Harbor give us two-legged creatures a comfortable and unforgettable way to get up close and personal with this majestic land-and-seascape. Along with calving glaciers like Holgate or Aialik, you might also spot humpback whales, orcas, porpoises, or sea otters. (You can also try your hand at sea kayaking here, if you dare!)
Planning Your Trip
This is Alaska, which means it’s not as simple as showing up and checking into a hotel room—or even pitching a tent. The only part of the park that is directly accessible to Alaska’s road system is the Exit Glacier Area. (The campground there is open to walk-up campers only.) Still, nearby Seward offers bed and breakfasts, hotels, and, of course, RV camping spots. From there, you can drive into the national park—or take a bus or train.
Travel Overview for Kenai Fjords National Park
- Best time to visit: Late June through early September will allow you to enjoy Alaska’s knock-out summer—and don’t worry, it’ll still be plenty chilly, especially come nightfall.
- How to get there: After flying to Anchorage, you’ll want to navigate toward Seward. From there, you can take the one road into the park, or travel by train or bus. Charter flights and cruises can help you access areas that may not otherwise be available through terrestrial travel.
- Seasonal closures: While the park is open year-round, Alaska’s winter naturally enforces some closures—including the road to Exit Glacier, usually between October and May. The Visitor Centers stay open from Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day weekend, unless otherwise noted.
- Entry fees: Kenai Fjord National Park is free to enter—probably because you’ll have already earned it by getting there.
4. Channel Islands National Park
If you’re looking for a truly rugged and out-there ocean national park, look no further than California’s Channel Islands—a string of five rocky islands that are sometimes known as North America’s Galapagos. These windswept and wild vistas are home to wildlife including elephant seals and seabirds, and as the ocean flows, different parts of these dynamic landscapes, such as sea caves and white sand beaches, hide and reveal themselves. Along with offering ocean lovers an absolutely unmissable opportunity to see marine wildlife you just can’t find anywhere else, Channel Islands National Park is a well-known destination for snorkelers and SCUBA divers, including those skilled (and intrepid) enough to go cave diving. Tide-pooling, boating, fishing and surfing are all also popular options for those who can’t get enough of the water—and if you keep an eye on the horizon, you might just see the spray of a whale spout.
Planning Your Trip
Given the remote nature of this archipelago of islands, the only option for staying on-site is backcountry camping—the kind where you pitch a tent and bring in all of your own food and water. However, for those looking to explore the easier way, staying in an RV on the southern California mainland and taking a ferry in is a great option. There are also, of course, a wide range of hotels and vacation rentals available in the area.
Travel Overview for Channel Islands National Park
- Best time to visit: Every season has something to offer in this one-of-a-kind wilderness, from wildflowers in April and May to the gray whale migration starting in December. For the calmest seas and driest conditions, time your visit for the summer.
- How to get there: You can fly into one of southern California’s airports, such as LAX or Burbank. Visitors Centers on the mainland are located in Ventura and Santa Barbara, but the islands themselves are only accessible via boat.
- Seasonal closures: The park is open year round, though the Visitor Centers close on certain major holidays.
- Entry fees: There is no entry fee for Channel Islands National Park—though boat fare to access the islands can range from $50 and up per person.
5. Redwood National Park
When you think of Redwood National Park, you might first think of—well—redwoods. But this incredible copse of tall and ancient trees is situated directly adjacent to some of the most beautiful Pacific coastline in the country, and there are plenty of hikes that start in the forest and end near the ocean’s waves. (Just be sure to keep your eye out for roving bands of Roosevelt elk.) Tide-pooling at Enderts Beach is another popular way to enjoy this unique merging of sea and forest, and if you’re brave enough to visit during the chilly winter months, there are also excellent whale watching opportunities. A ranger-led kayak tour gets you truly up close and personal with the wild!
Planning Your Trip
If you want to stay in a brick-and-mortar building, you’ll need to find accommodations outside of the park—in nearby communities like Klamath or Crescent City. There are four developed campgrounds inside the Redwood National and State Parks that allow RVs, though some do have size restrictions—and most are booked out months in advance. Here are the best RV campgrounds to consider in the area.
Travel Overview for Redwood National Park
- Best time to visit: The summer months that stretch from May to October offer all the lush greenery the winter rains have brought. July through early September are the driest, but also the busiest, while winter months offer a moodier atmosphere.
- How to get there: The closest airport is a smaller one—Del Norte County Airport (CEC)—though you could also fly into a bigger population center, like San Francisco, and make a road trip of it. The park itself is accessible off U.S. Route 101, the famous Pacific Coast Highway.
- Seasonal closures: The park is open year-round, though some facilities may be closed. (For example, Jedediah Smith Redwood State Park visitor center is open only between Memorial Day and Labor Day.)
- Entry fees: There is no entry fee to visit Redwood National Park.
6. Dry Tortugas National Park
Talk about an ocean national park: Dry Tortugas National Park is surrounded by water and only accessible by water, lying in the middle of the ocean some 70 miles west of Key West. Getting there is already necessarily a watery adventure, and once you’re there, you’ll be able to enjoy truly one-of-a-kind snorkeling, diving, swimming and boating adventures, not to mention the unique experience of walking around historic Fort Jefferson.
Planning Your Trip
Getting to the Dry Tortugas takes dedication and commitment. While there is a campground at Garden Key, it is remote and rugged—and unless you’ve invented an RV that can sail the high seas, you’re not going to be able to drive there. However, many visitors choose to stay in Key West and take a watery day-trip to the Dry Tortugas. If that’s your choice, here are the best campgrounds in the area to choose from.
Travel Overview for Dry Tortugas National Park
- Best time to visit: Surprising, but true: The best time to visit the Florida Keys (and surrounding locales like the Dry Tortugas) is actually December through April. Even in winter, it’s nice and warm, and you’ll stay a lot dryer than you would if you came during the stormy summer season.
- How to get there: Dry Tortugas National Park is only accessible by boat or seaplane. Most visitors fly to the Florida mainland—Miami is the closest major airport—and then drive to Key West and venture from there.
- Seasonal closures: While the park as a whole is open 24 hours a day year round, certain islands are closed to the public to support nesting wildlife—and Bush Key is seasonally closed during the sooty tern nesting season.
- Entry fees: The entry fee of $15 per person is good for seven consecutive days.
7. Biscayne National Park
Ocean national park lovers, look no further—because fully 95% of Biscayne National Park is actually underwater! That’s over 173,000 acres of coral reefs, seagrass beds, and a wild underwater world ready for exploring. Along the stunning coastlines topside, you’ll find mangroves, coconuts, and sunsets. It’s obvious that a national park like this one is a world-class site for snorkeling and SCUBA diving, but you can stay dry and still enjoy the sights by canoeing or kayaking along the water’s surface. Additionally, the Biscayne Maritime Heritage Trail offers interactive, 3D depictions of the park’s shipwrecks, and if you’re properly licensed, you can also fish up dinner—whether it’s snapper or lobster.
Planning Your Trip
Encompassing both the spit of Elliott Key that extends into the ocean and the watery expanse of Biscayne Bay itself that separates it from the Florida mainland, the best way to stay near Biscayne National Park, for many, is to moor a private boat at once of its buoys. Short of that, you can also check out the various hotels and bed and breakfasts available in nearby terrestrial communities like North Key Largo or Homestead, Florida—or consider these top-of-their-class RV campgrounds.
Travel Overview for Biscayne National Park
- Best time to visit: Once again, you’ll want to head to Biscayne Bay during the northern hemisphere’s winter in order to enjoy the dryer of the two main Florida seasons—though it’s always worth being ready to get wet when you’re traveling here.
- How to get there: Visitors might fly into Miami or Fort Lauderdale and then drive out to Elliott Key. Drivers will access the park via the U.S. 1 Highway or the Florida Turnpike.
- Seasonal closures: Some parts of the park may seasonally close to support local wildlife nesting habits.
- Entry fees: While there’s no park entry fee, you may need to pay for parking, a shuttle, or a ferry to access the parts of the park you’re interested in.
8. Glacier Bay National Park
To round out our round-up, we’ll go back to the opposite end of the country again—this time to Alaska’s Glacier Bay National Park, tucked just north of the Alexander Archipelago alongside the Gulf of Alaska. As its name suggests, Glacier Bay National Park offers the unique experience of a frigid, northerly landscape immediately alongside the salty sweep of an ocean bay. It’s one of the only places in the world where you can go hiking in a temperate rainforest and explore a fjord on the very same day. Sea kayaking through the craggy calves of glaciers and watching whale calves leap into the air are two of the primary draws for ocean lovers. Guided boat and ship cruises make the wild accessible even for landlubbers—and give you the chance to sit back and relax while you spot harbor seals, sea otters, and Steller sea lions.
Planning Your Trip
Unlike many of the other national parks on this list, Glacier Bay National Park does offer an on-site lodge—though as is true of all the national parks in the system, rooms fill up fast, so you’ll want to be planning well ahead of time. The park’s Bartlett Cove Campground is walk-up only, but there are other RV camping options in the greater Glacier Bay area.
Travel Overview for Glacier Bay National Park
- Best time to visit: Given its far northerly locale, you won’t be surprised to learn that the summer is the best time to visit this national park—with June through August being the peak season (and the best time to spot calving glaciers).
- How to get there: Alaska’s national parks are known for their remote nature, and Glacier Bay is no exception. The best way to access the park is by plane or boat, and the nearest large community is Juneau.
- Seasonal closures: Because the weather in this part of the world can be both harsh and unpredictable, it’s best to check with the National Park Service to see which areas of the park may be closed. Generally speaking, services are very limited during the winter months.
- Entry fees: No entry fee is required to visit Glacier Bay National Park—though again, you may find you’ll need to pay for transportation and other peripheral costs.
As you can see, there are endless opportunities out there for national park lovers who also enjoy ocean vistas—and they go far beyond the sunshine-and-palm-trees vibe we think of when we think of a beach day. Add one of these incredible destinations—or all of them!—to your next RV road trip itinerary, along with these bucket list national forests and absolutely un-missable national park roads that beg to be driven at least once.
