The area has a wide range of activities for visitors. For example, many people come to the Dales for walking or other exercise. Several long-distance routes cross the park, including the Pennine Way, the Dales Way, the Coast to Coast Walk and the Pennine Bridleway. Cycling is also popular and there are several cycleways.
The Dales Countryside Museum is housed in the converted Hawes railway station in Wensleydale in the north of the area. The park also has five visitor centres. These are at:
- Aysgarth Falls
- Grassington
- Hawes
- Malham
- Reeth
Other places and sights within the National Park include:
- Bolton Castle
- Clapham
- Cautley Spout waterfall
- Firbank Fell
- Gaping Gill
- Gayle Mill
- Hardraw Force
- Horton in Ribblesdale
- Howgill Fells
- Kisdon Force (waterfall) in Swaledale
- Leck Fell
- Malham Cove, Gordale Scar, Janet's Foss and Malham Tarn
- Orton Fells
- River Lune
- Sedbergh
- Settle
- Settle and Carlisle Railway including the Ribblehead Viaduct
- Wild Boar Fell
- The Yorkshire Three Peaks