Discover America's Hidden Picnic Gems: Top 125 Off-Grid Spots for Your Next Outdoor Adventure.

Discover America's Hidden Picnic Gems: Top 125 Off-Grid Spots for Your Next Outdoor Adventure.

We conducted a survey with 3,000 Americans to uncover the top 125 off-grid picnic spots across the country. These lesser-known locations, cherished for their tranquility and natural beauty, offer the perfect escape from the crowds and noise of more frequented areas. Nestled in remote mountains, hidden within dense forests, or beside scenic lakes, these top-rated spots promise a peaceful retreat where you can truly connect with nature. 

Here are the top ten off-grid picnic locations that guarantee an intimate and serene outdoor experience:

1. Leu Gardens, Orlando, Florida

Leu Gardens, a botanical garden in Orlando takes the top spot, providing tranquil picnic spots amidst its diverse plant collections. This easily accessible location is perfect for a relaxing picnic in a serene setting.

2. Shelby Farms Park, Memphis, Tennessee

In second, Shelby Farms features expansive green spaces, scenic picnic areas, walking trails, and various recreational activities. Its convenient urban location makes it an ideal spot for a day out.

3. Alafia River State Park, Lithia, Florida

Known for its rugged trails, Alafia River State Park offers secluded picnic spots along the river. The park’s distinctive terrain and peaceful atmosphere create a wonderful setting for family picnics.

4. Lake Johnson Park, Raleigh, North Carolina

Lake Johnson Park boasts picturesque picnic spots with stunning views of the lake and surrounding forest. Its natural beauty and calming environment make it an excellent city picnic destination.

5. Spring Mountain Ranch State Park, Blue Diamond, Nevada

This state park in fifth provides breathtaking picnic spots overlooking Red Rock Canyon. Its combination of natural splendor and historical significance makes it a prime location for a picnic.

6. Great Falls Park, McLean, Virginia

Great Falls Park features spectacular views of the waterfalls and serene picnic areas along its trails. Its natural beauty and closeness to the city make it an ideal picnic venue.

7. Angel Island State Park, San Francisco Bay, California

Located in San Francisco Bay, Angel Island offers stunning views of the Bay Area from unique vantage points. The park features hiking trails, picnic tables, and barbecue grills, making it an ideal destination for a day of outdoor fun and relaxation.

8. Cumberland Falls State Resort Park, Corbin, Kentucky

Famous for its impressive waterfall, Cumberland Falls also has hidden picnic areas along its trails. The park’s scenic beauty and tranquil atmosphere make it a perfect picnic spot.

9. Cunningham Falls State Park, Thurmont, Maryland

Renowned for its picturesque waterfall, Cunningham Falls includes quiet picnic areas within the surrounding forest. Its natural charm and peaceful environment make it an excellent choice for family picnics.

10. Discovery Park, Seattle, Washington

And rounding up the top ten, Discovery Park offers stunning views of Puget Sound and tranquil picnic areas along its trails. Its natural beauty and urban proximity make it a prime spot for city picnics.

RankingLocationState
11 Lincoln Woods State Park, Lincoln Rhode Island
12 Papago Park, Phoenix Arizona
13 Curt Gowdy State Park, Cheyenne Wyoming
14 Davis Bayou Area, Ocean Springs Mississippi
15 Ho'omaluhia Botanical Garden, Kaneohe Hawaii
16 Marsh-Billings-Rockefeller National Historical Park, Woodstock Vermont
17 Anza-Borrego Desert State Park, Borrego Springs California
18 Duke Farms, Hillsborough New Jersey
19 Point Reyes National Seashore, Marin County California
20 Halibut Point State Park, Rockport Massachusetts
21 Palmetto Island State Park, Abbeville Louisiana
22 Antelope Island State Park, Syracuse Utah
23 LeFleur's Bluff State Park, Jackson Mississippi
24 Waimea Valley, Oahu Hawaii
25 Harpers Ferry National Historical Park, Harpers Ferry West Virginia
26 Petit Jean State Park, Morrilton Arkansas
27 Schoenbrunn Village, New Philadelphia Ohio
28 Staunton State Park, Pine Colorado
29 Botanical Gardens at Asheville, Asheville North Carolina
30 Greenbrier State Park, Boonsboro Maryland
31 Storm King Art Center, New Windsor New York
32 Devil’s Lake State Park, Baraboo Wisconsin
33 El Rancho de las Golondrinas, Santa Fe New Mexico
34 Spearfish Canyon, Spearfish South Dakota
35 Babcock State Park, Clifftop West Virginia
36 Ha Ha Tonka State Park, Camdenton Missouri
37 Shades State Park, Waveland Indiana
38 Lake Lurleen State Park, Coker Alabama
39 Pikes Peak State Park, McGregor Iowa
40 Hays Nature Preserve, Huntsville Alabama
41 Swan Lake Iris Gardens, Sumter South Carolina
42 Ledges State Park, Madrid Iowa
43 Redwood Regional Park, Oakland California
44 Starved Rock State Park, Oglesby Illinois
45 Bok Tower Gardens, Lake Wales Florida
46 First Landing State Park, Virginia Beach Virginia
47 McKinney Falls State Park Texas
48 Hells Gate State Park Idaho
49 Floyd Lamb Park, Las Vegas Nevada
50 Kincaid Park, Anchorage Alaska
51 Maymont, Richmond Virginia
52 Morris Arboretum, Philadelphia Pennsylvania
53 Overland Park Arboretum and Botanical Gardens, Overland Park Kansas
54 Pokagon State Park, Angola Indiana
55 Quiet Waters Park, Annapolis Maryland
56 Big Cottonwood Canyon, Salt Lake City Utah
57 Branch Brook Park, Newark New Jersey
58 Coopers Rock State Forest, Bruceton Mills West Virginia
59 Sarah P. Duke Gardens, Durham North Carolina
60 Inwood Hill Park, Manhattan New York
61 Elizabeth Park, West Hartford Connecticut
62 Giant Springs State Park, Great Falls Montana
63 Sweetwater Creek State Park, Lithia Springs Georgia
64 Wekiwa Springs State Park, Apopka Florida
65 Colt State Park, Bristol Rhode Island
66 Falls Park on the Reedy, Greenville South Carolina
67 Illinois Beach State Park, Zion Illinois
68 Providence Canyon State Park, Lumpkin Georgia
69 Brandywine Creek State Park, Wilmington Delaware
70 Finger Lake State Recreation Area, Wasilla Alaska
71 Hot Springs State Park, Thermopolis Wyoming
72 Martin Park Nature Center, Oklahoma City Oklahoma
73 Riverside State Park, Spokane Washington
74 Cibolo Nature Center, Boerne Texas
75 Forest Park, St. Louis Missouri
76 Granite Basin Lake, Prescott Arizona
77 Highbanks Metro Park, Lewis Center Ohio
78 Rio Grande Nature Center State Park, Albuquerque New Mexico
79 Catalina State Park, Tucson Arizona
80 Roxborough State Park, Littleton Colorado
81 Washington Park, Portland Oregon
82 Elk City State Park, Independence Kansas
83 Enders State Forest, Granby Connecticut
84 Galena Creek Recreation Area, Reno Nevada
85 Mason Recreation Area, Mason New Hampshire
86 Oakland Cemetery, Atlanta Georgia
87 Reid State Park, Georgetown Maine
88 Watchung Reservation, Mountainside New Jersey
89 Forest Park, Portland Oregon
90 Morton Arboretum, Lisle Illinois
91 Nichols Arboretum, Ann Arbor Michigan
92 Powell Gardens, Kingsville Missouri
93 Woolly Hollow State Park, Greenbrier Arkansas
94 Cape Perpetua Scenic Area, Yachats Oregon
95 Farragut State Park, Athol Idaho
96 Gray’s Lake Park, Des Moines Iowa
97 Holliday Park, Indianapolis Indiana
98 Hyde Memorial State Park, Santa Fe New Mexico
99 Kettle Moraine State Forest, Eagle Wisconsin
100 Kubota Garden, Seattle Washington
101 Minnehaha Falls Regional Park, Minneapolis Minnesota
102 Red Butte Garden, Salt Lake City Utah
103 Roan Mountain State Park, Roan Mountain Tennessee
104 Swords Rimrock Park, Billings Montana
105 Killens Pond State Park, Felton Delaware
106 Middlesex Fells Reservation, Medford Massachusetts
107 Ridley Creek State Park, Media Pennsylvania
108 Sylvan Lake State Park, Eagle Colorado
109 Tickfaw State Park, Springfield Louisiana
110 Turtle River State Park, Arvilla North Dakota
111 Cape Henlopen State Park, Lewes Delaware
112 Chahinkapa Park, Wahpeton North Dakota
113 Fontenelle Forest, Bellevue Nebraska
114 Miller State Park, Peterborough New Hampshire
115 Odiorne Point State Park, Rye New Hampshire
116 Rangeley Lake State Park, Rangeley Maine
117 Red Rock Canyon Adventure Park, Hinton Oklahoma
118 Ricketts Glen State Park, Benton Pennsylvania
119 Woodward Park, Tulsa Oklahoma
120 Indian Cave State Park, Shubert Nebraska
121 Mount Magazine State Park, Paris Arkansas
122 Newton Hills State Park, Canton South Dakota
123 Chalco Hills Recreation Area, Omaha Nebraska
124 Tishomingo State Park, Tishomingo Mississippi
125 Tuttle Creek State Park, Manhattan Kansas

Another recent survey revealed that potato salad reigns supreme as America's favorite picnic food, celebrated for its versatility and international varieties. Alongside potato salad, other popular choices include chips and salsa, fruit salad, cookies, deviled eggs, and sub sandwiches. These foods are not only delicious but also convenient and easy to prepare, making them ideal for a relaxing day outdoors.

When considering the best times for family picnics, certain national holidays stand out. The 4th of July and Memorial Day are particularly cherished for outdoor gatherings, often featuring traditional foods like grilled meats and various salads. These holidays bring families together to celebrate with festive picnics in picturesque settings. 

Creating the perfect picnic menu involves a blend of easy-to-transport, delicious, and crowd-pleasing dishes that cater to a variety of tastes. For a perfect picnic, preparation is key: choose dishes that can be made ahead of time and are easy to transport. To ensure perishable items stay fresh, use insulated coolers and ice packs. Don’t forget eco-friendly disposable utensils, napkins, and trash bags to make clean-up a breeze and keep the picnic area tidy.

Finally, cleaning up after yourself when having a picnic in the beautiful outdoors is essential to preserving the natural beauty and health of our environment. Leaving trash behind not only mars the scenic landscape but also poses significant threats to wildlife, who may ingest or become entangled in litter. Additionally, leftover food and waste can attract pests and contribute to the spread of diseases. By taking the time to properly dispose of all waste, recycle when possible, and leave no trace, we ensure that these pristine areas remain enjoyable for future visitors. Practicing responsible picnicking helps maintain the ecological balance, supports conservation efforts, and fosters a deeper respect for nature. Remember, the simple act of cleaning up can have a profound impact on the environment, safeguarding these outdoor havens for generations to come.

Methodology: Online panel survey of 3,000 adults based on age, gender, and geography. Internal data sources are used to obtain population data sets. We used a two-step process to ensure representativeness through stratified sampling and post-stratification weighting. July 2024.

Image Credits:

Header Image: Image by garetsvisual on Freepik 

1. Leu Gardens, Orlando, Florida: By Boldpotato - Own work, CC BY 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=6330973

2. Shelby Farms Park, Memphis, Tennessee: By Ceptember - Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=103326941

3. Alafia River State Park, Lithia, Florida: By Mwanner at English Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=17877024

4. Lake Johnson Park, Raleigh, North Carolina: Photo by Aaron Burden on Unsplash

5. Spring Mountain Ranch State Park, Blue Diamond, Nevada: By ZooFari - Own work, CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=8530954

6. Great Falls Park, McLean, Virginia: By MamaGeek at English Wikipedia, CC BY 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=5489041

7. Angel Island State Park, San Francisco Bay, California: By Taras Bobrovytsky - Own work, CC0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=90880987

8. Cumberland Falls State Resort Park, Corbin, Kentucky: By J654567 - Own work, CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=9485949

9. Cunningham Falls State Park, Thurmont, Maryland: By Jarek Tuszyński - Own work, CC BY 4.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=43096657

10. Discovery Park, Seattle, Washington: By Joe Mabel, CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=2811637

Potato Salad: Image by KamranAydinov on Freepik

Picnic Food: Photo by Svetlana Kuznetsova on Unsplash

Clean Up: Photo by Arthur Poulin on Unsplash

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