27 Best Sights in USA

There is a picnic table and restrooms not far from the 65-foot Brandywine Falls.

This big picnic area, spectacularly located right on the beach at Jackson Lake, gets crowded in July and August but is lovely nonetheless. It's close to flush toilets and stores.

Drinking water, restrooms, and a picnic area are available at this central campground with sweeping mountain views. Shade, however, can be sparse and summer heat intense. You can walk off that hearty lunch along one of the several nearby hiking trails.

This picnic area is near two popular day hikes. There are tables, restrooms, and drinking water, and shuttle transfers are available in summer.

This large forested picnic area has lots of parking, as well as restrooms and plenty of picnic tables. It's set back from Skyline Drive and nestled in between Big Meadows Lodge and Big Meadows Campground. It's also steps from an amphitheater for seasonal ranger-led programs, as well as the trailhead for the waterfall hike to Lewis Falls. Pack a picnic lunch or stop in Big Meadows Wayside, an in-season food stop for sandwiches, salads and drinks. You'll also find restrooms and a small two-pump gas station at Big Meadows Wayside.

On the northeast edge of the park, this picnic area has 35 tables in well-tended grassy areas under large poplar trees. Cosby Creek runs through the grounds. A wheelchair-accessible pavilion seats 55 and can be reserved for $25. There's a ranger station, restrooms, trailheads, and horse trails. Cosby has easy access from Interstate 40 via the Foothills Parkway and Tennessee State Route 32.

There is a picnic table under the shady cottonwoods off the Dugout Wells Trail loop, plus a vault toilet.

This forested picnic area is situated adjacent to the Appalachian Trail, which rubs up against the east side of the picnic area. There are picnic tables, restrooms, and water spigots. From here, it's an easy hike to Blackrock Summit.

In a forested area adjacent to Lake McDonald, this picnic area has tables, drinking water, and restrooms. Nearby there's a swimming area and several trailheads.

This peaceful covered picnic area between the Persimmon Gap and Panther Junction visitor centers is beside the parking lot for the Fossil Discovery Exhibits. There's a pit toilet.

It's not very secluded, but Frijole sports attractive picnic shelters near the parking area, which also has restrooms. Two picnic tables are also set up under tall trees near Frijole Ranch History Museum.

Shaded and pine-scented, this picnic site adjacent to the Jenny Lake shuttle boat dock is a great place to have lunch before catching a shuttle boat across the lake for some hiking.

The only campground in the North Unit has restrooms, grills, drinking water, and 28 tables (eight with shelter). The two group campsites require reservations.  

Kendall Lake Shelter has 10 picnic tables (two are wheelchair-accessible), an outdoor grill, bathrooms, and a water fountain. The rustic shelter, designed by Akron architect Albert Good, is beautifully set at the base of a hill that fronts the man-made Virginia Kendall Lake, and surrounded by rolling hills. The lake and the shelter were both built in 1933 by men working with FDR’s Civilian Conservation Corps, established during the Great Depression to help alleviate nationwide unemployment. The layout was carefully conceived so that it blended with the natural landscape.

This picnic area is located on the north side of Lewis Mountain Campground, the smallest of the park's four campgrounds. Enjoy a picnic lunch, then hop over to a spur trail on the east side of the picnic grounds that connects with the south-to-north Appalachian Trail. Restrooms are located in the middle of the picnic area. A small camp store in the campground sells ice, firewood, supplies, and snacks.

This shelter, which accommodates up to 50 people, is one of two shelters in the park that must be reserved. It has seven indoor picnic tables, two fireplaces, an outside grill, and limited electricity. It's fully accessible, and it's one of several buildings in the park built by the Depression-era work program, the Civilian Conservation Corps, in 1933. It's made of American chestnut and locally quarried sandstone, and blends in with its natural surroundings. The walls of the shelter are removed from mid-May to mid-October. Drinking water is available at a drinking fountain from May to mid-September. Near the shelter, visitors will find the Ledges, several hiking trails, and a large field. The cost to rent this shelter is $110 weekends and holidays and $80 on weekdays.

This area has eight covered tables, drinking water, restrooms, and a spectacular view.

This forested picnic area has picnic tables, fire grates, and water fountains. There is also a first-come, first-served open-air pavilion with picnic tables. After lunch, enjoy a short hike on the Appalachian Trail on the north side of the picnic grounds.

Half a dozen picnic tables are scattered under cottonwoods south of the convenience store. Half a mile away at Daniels Ranch there are two tables and a grill. Wood fires aren't allowed (charcoal and propane are).

In a cottonwood grove adjacent to St. Mary Lake, this area has tables, restrooms, and drinking water in the summer.

Two tables sit in the shade—with views toward the canyon—next to the parking lot at the trailhead. There is a vault toilet.

A small picnic area with two tables is available at Sloan's Crossing Pond. Accessible.

This picnic site on Lake McDonald's eastern shore has tables, restrooms, and drinking water in summer.