Top 25 National Parks in the USA

Top 25 National Parks in the USA

America has some of the unique parks in the world right in its backyard. From snowcapped mountain peaks and glaciers to the world’s oldest, largest, and tallest trees, America’s national parks are home to global treasures.

These natural areas are perfect places for hiking, camping, sightseeing, learning about cultures and natural history, or simply contemplating the universe’s wonders.

The national parks in the United States are, for the most part, easily accessible and well set up for visitors. Many are just a few hours drive from major cities. Informative visitor centers help you learn about the features, and park staff are there to make your visit easy and enjoyable.

Many parks, especially the most well-known, have become increasingly popular over the past few years and are now seeing increased visitors. In some cases, the gardens have instituted daily visitor limits, with online bookings for admittance required in advance.

Many parks have closed roads once open to private vehicles and implemented a shuttle bus system to deal with the influx of visitors in high season. Although it may seem like a hassle and diminish the experience of visiting the park, it has the opposite effect by eliminating miles-long traffic jams and total parking lots.

Pack up the car for a day trip, weekend getaway, or weeks-long adventure, and check with the National Park Service website for possible closures or book camping reservations.

Hit the road with our list of the best national parks in the USA.

1. Grand Canyon National Park, AZ

As one of the world’s top natural wonders, this is also one of the most visited parks in America. No matter how often you visit the Grand Canyon, it’s impossible not to be amazed.

The sheer size and complexity of the canyon defy description. The multicolored rocks, exposed by the mighty Colorado River raging over a mile below, are a photographer’s dream. The canyon is immense, measuring over one million acres in size, and it follows the river for an impressive 277 miles.

Viewpoints along the South Rim of the Grand Canyon allow you to get the best views and pictures. The colors of the canyon change throughout the day, but early morning or late afternoon are the best times to visit.

If you are in good shape and want to drop down into the canyon, the Bright Angel Trail is one of the best hikes in the park. It winds its way down to the river. This hike or any portion of it should not be undertaken lightly.

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2. Yosemite National Park, CA

Yosemite contains some of the most iconic natural sites in America. From Half Dome and El Capitan to Yosemite Falls, these landmarks, incredible drives to stunning viewpoints, hiking trails leading to plunging waterfalls, and giant sequoia trees will forever cement Yosemite in your mind.

Yosemite National Park is spread over 1,200 square miles, but most of the main sights are in the Yosemite Valley. With four million annual visitors, this can lead to congestion and crowds, so be sure to plan your day and start early.

If you want to make the trip memorable, try camping in Yosemite. But, be sure to book well in advance.

3. Zion National Park, UT

The sheer cliff walls, narrow canyons, enormous waterfalls, and Virgin River flowing along the canyon floor create a diverse landscape that makes Zion stand out among Utah’s parks.

One of the most popular activities in Zion National Park is hiking. Some of the most famous trails in the USA are located here, including the frighteningly spectacular Angel’s Landing hike. If you’re scared of heights, stay away from this one. You can find fabulous hiking trails to suit all abilities throughout the park.

Other things include canyoning, horseback riding, birding, and rock climbing. Keep an eye out for climbers perched precariously on the stone walls as you ride the shuttle along the main road through the park.

Auto touring is fantastic here. The access road leading into the park from the East is a switchback descent that includes the narrow and historic Zion Mt. Carmel tunnel, hacked right out of the sandstone and virtually unchanged from when it was completed in 1930.

Note that vehicle size limitations are in effect, and a permit is required for motor homes to go through the tunnel; these need to be obtained at the park entrance before arriving at the tunnel.

4. Yellowstone National Park

Yellowstone is known for its unique geological features. Some main attractions include bubbling mud pots, colorful pools, steaming vents, geysers, and Old Faithful. Yellowstone National Park has one of the world’s largest collections of geysers and thermal features.

Covering more than two million acres, Yellowstone offers more than just thermal activity. The park is home to herds of bison, and these massive, shaggy beasts can easily be seen from the park roadways. While camping in Yellowstone, you may hear the eerie sounds of the wolves howling at night.

Most Yellowstone National Park is within Wyoming, but sections also extend into Montana and Idaho.

5. Sequoia & Kings Canyon National Park, CA

These two parks protect some of the oldest and largest trees on the planet. Other parks may be more famous for their hiking and camping, but standing in front of a 3,200-year-old giant sequoia tree is an experience like none other. Here, it’s easy to imagine a time when nature ruled the Earth and humanity was not an influence.

These massive trees grow to this size only in a few specific areas worldwide, and the USA is lucky to have the largest and best collection. Sequoia & Kings Canyon National Parks are about four hours away from San Francisco or Los Angeles.

Both parks offer hiking trails, some just short strolls past these ancient giants. Others are long hikes that will take you back into remote areas.

In 2020 and 2021, the KNP Complex, Windy, and Castle wildfires tore through parts of the park. It is estimated that anywhere from 13 to 19 percent of the giant sequoias were killed. Be prepared to see evidence of fire damage when you visit.

You can find camping in Sequoia N.P. and Kings Canyon N.P. Road closures in winter limit access to some of the campgrounds and a large section of Kings Canyon.

6. Hawai’i Volcanoes National Park, HI

Located on the Big Island of Hawaii, Hawai’i Volcanoes National Park is a designated International Biosphere Reserve and UNESCO World Heritage Site offering a fantastic glimpse into a geological wonder. Sulfurous steam, orange bubbling lava, and impossibly black landscapes are an assault on your senses. The world here is alive under your feet, and the scene is ever-changing.

At the park, you can enjoy a scenic drive or hike on the extensive network of trails. For the best experience possible, consider staying at the caldera’s rim at Volcano House. This is the only accommodation in Hawaii Volcanoes National Park.

Many of the park’s attractions were closed for an extended period after the 2018 eruption. However, the park is now fully open. Remember that the volcano is unpredictable, and the park can close anytime due to safety concerns.

7. Death Valley National Park, CA

The lowest point in North America is Death Valley, but that’s just the beginning of fantastic things to explore here. This heat-blasted valley is full of great hikes, expansive viewpoints, drifting dunes, and scenic drives.

The extreme harshness of Death Valley is part of what makes it so intriguing for visitors. Unique and beautiful sights are found sprinkled around the park. The spring wildflower display is one of the most unexpected delights in this seemingly desolate place. Catch it at the right time and see a rocky desert floor transformed into a riot of color.

Death Valley is a popular day trip from Las Vegas, only a two-hour drive away.

8. Denali National Park, AK

If you thought the mountains in Colorado or Montana were big, you’d be amazed when you get to Denali National Park. Denali Mountain towers an incredible 20,304 feet high over the surrounding countryside and is visible from most areas of the park.

Denali National Park is one of the top attractions in Alaska. This wild country offers excellent opportunities for backpacking trips, camping expeditions, mountaineering adventures, river rafting, and wildlife viewing. For many visitors, it’s the highlight of the state.

Note that private vehicles are not allowed on the single park road. However, a variety of bus options are available.

9. Mesa Verde National Park, CO

Mesa Verde National Park offers a close-up look at some of America’s most spectacular cliff dwellings. These structures, some more than 700 years old, are precipitously perched in the hollows of a massive canyon wall. To get a genuine appreciation, take a tour of the White Cliff Palace or the Balcony House.

In addition to the cliff dwellings, the park protects an additional 5,000 ancient archaeological sites. Some of the largest and best are located within the main park road.

Mesa Verde is set on a high plateau in the far southwest corner of Colorado. It can be visited on a day from the famous tourist town of Durango or nearby Cortez.

10. Olympic National Park, WA

Olympic National Park comprises rugged coastlines, mountains, and old-growth forests. Whatever the adventure you have planned, you can probably do it in Olympic National Park. You’ll find ocean adventures along the coast, like beach walking and tide pool exploring. Just inland, the old-growth forests beckon with hiking trails winding among moss-draped trees, and beyond, the mountains start, and climbing opportunities begin.

Olympic National Park is a popular day trip from Seattle, just over two hours from the city center.

11. Canyonlands National Park, UT

This is an excellent alternative if you want the Grand Canyon without the crowds. Just down the road from Arches National Park near Moab, Canyonlands National Park offers an incredible landscape of huge pinnacles, buttes, arches, and deep canyons.

The park has several sections for canyons and spectacular views, head to the Island in the Sky district, the park’s most popular area.

The Needles area, which is a little more remote, is where you’ll find buttes, hoodoos, and unique rock formations. This is an excellent place for hiking and camping around Moab.

Four-wheel driving is a popular pastime in the park, particularly in The Maze. This section lies to the west of the other two and is genuinely for off-grid explorers. If you crave solitude, this is the place to come.

If you are on your way to the Islands in the Sky area, be sure to also stop in at Dead Horse State Park along the way.

12. Redwood National and State Parks, CA

While sequoia trees claim the title as the world’s most significant, the redwood trees claim the title of the world’s tallest. The most fantastic collection of tall trees in the world is contained within the patchwork of Redwood National and State Parks.

These trees rise to more than 300 feet, the height of a 28-story building. Quiet trails wind through coastal forests, with giant trees around each bend. Giant ferns and other strange plants cover the forest floor while clear streams burble their way to the coast.

Redwood National and State Parks are, as the name implies, a series of parks spread out along U.S. Highway 101. Many giant trees are found on hiking trails and often only a short walk off the highway.

13. Arches National Park, UT

For a glimpse into what Mother Nature can do to sandstone with wind and water, head to Arches National Park. Located just outside Moab, Utah, and set up high on a rocky plateau above the Colorado River, this park is a fantasy land of rock formations. The latest arch count came in over 2,000 arches of various shapes and sizes.

Some of the most impressive formations include the Delicate Arch, North Window, South Window, and the Park Avenue area of sandstone monoliths.

This is an accessible park to explore, as most of the main sights are right along the main road, following the well-marked and generally easy walks. Base yourself in the nearby town of Moab, an area with countless things to see and do.

14. Acadia National Park, ME

Located on the Maine seashore, Acadia National Park preserves the rugged beauty of the Atlantic coastline. This park’s 47,000 acres also include granite outcroppings and pine forests bordering clear lakes.

Hiking here is spectacular. Trails lead to high, rocky headlands, and the views over the North Atlantic are incredible. Other popular activities in Acadia National Park include camping, biking, and horseback riding.

The park is home to a diverse and exciting assortment of wildlife. Watch out for the harbor seals sunning themselves on the rocks, falcons, hawks soaring overhead, and deer and other small creatures in the forest.

The main town in the vicinity of the park is Bar Harbor. This makes a good base for exploring the park.

15. Joshua Tree National Park, CA

Like something from a Dr. Seuss book, strange furry trees grow out of the rolling desert landscape, punctuated by bizarre rock formations. Scenic drives throughout the park take you to impressive overlooks and past fields of cholla cactus glowing in the late sun.

Joshua Tree National Park is a hot spot for climbers. You’ll frequently see them attempting to scramble up the underside of massive boulders. Hiking is also popular; trails range from short and easy to long and demanding.

Camping here among the rocks and trees under a desert sky filled with a million stars has to be experienced to be understood. Several campgrounds are located in the park.

The park is just outside the town of Twenty nine Palms and less than an hour’s drive from Palm Springs.

16. Bryce Canyon National Park, UT

Bryce Canyon National Park features the world’s most extensive collection of hoodoos. The best vistas are from viewpoints along an 18-mile stretch of scenic highway.

The best way to truly experience the park is to venture off the road and wander through the maze of hoodoos on one of the hiking trails. Trails wind down through strange formations, looping around and through the vast hoodoos on either side.

Camping at Bryce Canyon is fantastic. Owing to the high elevation, the night skies are clear and perfect for star gazing. The height can also mean cool nights, even on hot days.

17. Rocky Mountain National Park, CO

For mountain scenery, this is the place to come to in Colorado. Rocky Mountain National Park is home to 100 peaks over 10,000 feet high, including the highest, Longs Peak, capping out at an impressive 14,259 feet.

Visitors visit this park to see the alpine scenery, spot wildlife, and enjoy outdoor activities. Wildlife is plentiful here, with bighorn sheep, moose, elk, and other smaller animals like yellow-bellied marmots and pikas. Black bears and mountain lions also reside in the park but are a bit more elusive.

Rocky Mountain National Park is located only 1.5 hours from downtown Denver, and the access road makes getting here fast and easy.

18. Glacier National Park, MT

Glacier National Park, located in northern Montana, is a land of towering mountain peaks, shimmering blue lakes, and expansive green forests. This UNESCO World Heritage Site extends to the Canadian border and is jointly managed with Canada’s Waterton Lakes National Park.

Glacier National Park has one of the most spectacular scenic drives in the United States: the Going-to-the-Sun Road. Built throughout the 1920s, the road opened in 1933 and has been an engineering marvel ever since. The road’s 51 miles traverse the Continental Divide and provide stunning viewpoints at almost every turn.

Off the road are impressive hiking trails that will take you to glaciers, waterfalls, alpine plateaus, lakes, and other beautiful sights. Nature lovers may also enjoy spending a night or two camping in Glacier National Park.

19. Big Bend National Park, TX

One of the lesser visited national parks; Big Bend is a haven for those with an adventurous spirit. Mountains, gorges, historic structures, archaeological sites, and the Rio Grande River come together in this area of West Texas.

One of the most exciting things to see in the park is the incredible Santa Elena Canyon, carved by the Rio Grande. Wade up the river along the shallow bottom or paddle through the canyon to fully appreciate the setting.

Big Bend has numerous hiking trails, including one through Santa Elena Canyon. Up near the Chisos Basin Visitor Center, take an adventurous hike along the Window Trail to a cut in the cliff wall for expansive views out over the desert.

Camping at Big Bend is a unique experience – big hills surround the Chisos Basin campground, and the skies are filled with a billion stars at night. If you are set up for dry camping, take a dusty road to find your perfect patch of sand in the wide-open desert.

20. Great Smoky Mountains National Park

Great Smoky Mountains National Park is the most visited in the United States. The park encompasses the ancient Appalachian mountain range along the border of North Carolina and Tennessee. It is home to clear mountain streams, tumbling waterfalls, and a riot of biodiversity.

Some of the most popular activities in the park are hiking, camping, fishing, horseback riding, and cycling. Sections of the renowned Appalachian Trail fall within the park.

One of the most beautiful times to visit the Great Smoky Mountains is in the fall when the hills turn a fantastic mixture of orange, yellow, and red.

21. Shenandoah National Park, VA

Shenandoah National Park in Virginia is another beautiful natural area to explore in the East. Enjoy views over the Blue Ridge Mountains from stops along Skyline Drive. Alternatively, get out on the hiking trails in the park to enjoy the vistas and waterfalls.

The waterfalls are roaring in the spring, and the hills turn to vibrant shades in the fall as the leaves change colors. Summer is always beautiful and a good time for camping in the mountains.

Shenandoah National Park is easily accessible from major population centers like Washington, Baltimore, and Philadelphia, and as a result, it can be hectic on the weekend.

22. Everglades National Park, FL

Everglades National Park is the state’s most famous and popular park in the far southwest of Florida. This UNESCO World Heritage Site is a river of grass and water known for a substantial diversity of flora and fauna. Most notably, the everglades are home to alligators and American crocodiles.

The best time to visit the park is in the dry season, November through April. At this time, you’ll have the best chance of seeing animals as they visit reliable water holes.

While most visitors drive to the visitor center near Homestead, the park is not limited to the land-based area. Offshore are countless mangrove islands and shallow water, and the fishing here is legendary.

23. Mammoth Cave National Park, KY

Mammoth Cave National Park has the world’s most extended explored cave system. The best sections of the 400 miles of the cave system are open to the public, allowing you to drop deep underground into a maze of incredible sights. One of the most notable areas in the cave is called Frozen Niagara. This formation of rock looks eerily like its namesake.

Tours to suit all abilities are available, and it’s best to book ahead when possible. Since the cave is the same temperature all year, consider a trip in the winter when the crowds are smaller.

Other things to do in the park include camping, horseback riding, canoeing, and hiking. Admission to Mammoth Cave National Park is free, but there is a cost to tour the cave.

24. Crater Lake National Park, OR

A drive up to Crater Lake National Park (at an elevation of 7,000 to 8,000 feet) will reward you with views of the impossibly blue waters, a small island in the middle, and surrounding steep crater walls. If you come in the spring, you can often find winter-like conditions due to the elevation.

One of the most popular things to do at Crater Lake in summer is to take a boat tour. The tour passes by Wizard Island and offers views from lake level to the crater rim above. It’s hard to believe that the lake is nearly 2,000 feet deep.

Come winter, the park transforms. The area receives an incredible 43 feet of snow per year. Buildings are covered in snow, and access is restricted to only the south entrance.

25. Voyageurs National Park, MN

This immense area of pristine lakes, old-growth forests, ancient rocks, and Indian legends draws those with an adventurous spirit. Black bears, deer, moose, beaver, wolves, foxes, and other critters thrive here. Spread over nearly 220,000 acres, the park has four large lakes and 26 smaller ones, all interconnected via portages.

The most popular activity here is canoeing, and generations of families have followed in the footsteps of the excellent Voyageurs who traversed this area in the 17th century. Beautiful campsites are located throughout the park, allowing for multi-day canoe camping trips. After a day’s paddle, sit around the campfire and gaze up at the stars or trade stories while the loons call eerily across the calm waters.

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