East Coasters will know why Shenandoah National Park ranks #1 on our list for the second year running. Only 75 miles from Washington D.C., this stunning stretch of wilderness shows off Blue Ridge Mountain summits, babbling creeks, waterfalls, and over 500 miles of trails.

Shamrock hues of dense forest engulf the Rapidan River at Shenandoah National Park, backdropped by the surrounding Blue Ridge Mountains. A solitary road, Skyline Drive, connects the northern portion of the national park to its southern counterpart, protecting most of the tree-branching areas of the wilderness from modern development.

Fall completely transforms Shenandoah National Park, replacing usually-verdant scenery with a rust-colored horizon. Go for a meadow stroll or ascend a more strenuous mountain to fully explore Shenandoah’s magic. Dominating 360-degree views overwhelm visitors in the best way possible.

📚 Get Planning: Shenandoah National Park Website,16 Best Day Trips from DC

McKenna Mobley, Senior Travel Writer

Nothing but the crackle of a camper’s fire and the occasional coyote howl is heard after twilight in Joshua Tree National Park. The Mojave and Colorado deserts collide in this refuge, one of the densest collections of rare Joshua trees in the world.

A sea of pale-colored erratic boulders dominates the landscape at Joshua Tree National Park, neighbored by thousands upon thousands of playfully spikey Joshua trees. Only 2 hours outside of Los Angeles, this desert park is one of the greatest escape destinations in Southern California and generally draws quite a few visitors as a result.

Thousands of rock climbing routes are dispersed throughout the park, making Joshua Tree a top climbing destination. Hikers, campers, and day-trippers also enjoy a full day under the California sun; driving the scenic loop, exploring the eccentric town, or roasting weenies over a campfire.

📚 Get Planning: Joshua Tree National Park Website,Best Time to Visit Joshua Tree, Where to Stay in Joshua Tree, 26Best Things to Do in Joshua Tree

McKenna Mobley, Senior Travel Writer

Families, inexperienced hikers, and seasoned backpackers alike will adore Olympic National Park. It encompasses Washington’s wild coast, rainforests, and the Olympic mountain range.

From the wild Washington coast to the depths of the rainforests, this national park is full of enchanting sights. Romantic sunsets are a daily occurrence at its coastal beaches in the summer. In winter, the mighty Pacific Ocean pounds sea stacks as the fog rolls in, creating an otherworldly atmosphere.

Nestled against the coast are the rainforests. Trails through this wet and mossy landscape meander along rivers, to waterfalls, and even towards a remote hot spring. Panoramic views from mountain peaks are worth strenuous trips to the top.

Backpack along the coast, camp beneath the tree canopy, or book a stay at a rustic resort. This beautiful national park deserves a multi-day visit.

📚 Get Planning: Olympic National Park Website,27 Best Waterfalls in Washington,32 Best Things to Do in Washington State,32 Best Places to Visit in Washington State

Chelsea Booker, Editor

At Great Smoky Mountains National Park, lush, rolling mountain ridges explode with infinite colors that change with the seasons. This is America’s most visited national park—and entrance is free.

If you’re looking to embark on an outdoor adventure that the whole family will love, look no further than Great Smoky Mountains National Park. The Great Smoky Mountains are located on the border of Tennessee and North Carolina and are among the Appalachian Mountains. These mountains are known for their ancient blue ridge landscape, abundant wildlife, and vast array of outdoor activities.

To see the Great Smokies put on their best show, visit anytime between early summer and late fall. You’ll witness everything from blooming wildflowers and bright autumn leaves to natural attractions that’ll charm you in a way that only Southern Appalachia can.

📚 Get Planning: Great Smoky Mountains National Park Website,21 Best Day Trips from Asheville

Lea Rose Allbaugh, Editor

North Cascades National Park is one of the least visited national parks in the United States, but what it lacks in visitors it makes up in flora, fauna, and tranquility. Jagged mountain peaks, alpine lakes, turquoise blue waters, and a massive glacial system combine in this ethereal national park.

With over 300 glaciers, North Cascades National Park is the most glaciated park in the contiguous United States. Hikes to see the glaciers take trekkers through a pristine, mountainous landscape dotted with alpine lakes. This rugged wilderness is ideal for avid backpackers.

Kayak through turquoise lakes in the summer and admire golden larches in the fall. To see a bit of everything, hop in the car and drive the North Cascades Scenic Byway. It’s one of the most beautiful drives in the Pacific Northwest. Visitors can expect a deep feeling of solitude and connection with nature while here.

📚 Get Planning: North Cascades National Park Website,32 Best Things to Do in Washington State,32 Best Places to Visit in Washington State

Chelsea Booker, Editor

Grand Canyon National Park is one of the most iconic natural wonders in the USA, although summer crowds and scorching temperatures should be high on visitors’ radars. Still, with Indigenous origins and a high level of biodiversity, the Grand Canyon maintains its status as one of the most beloved geological sites in the country.

The vast geological chasm known as the Grand Canyon was carved over 6 million years ago and today, it’s the second-most visited national park in America. Millions of intrigued visitors flock to the deep fissure, defined by stratigraphic layers and carved out by the Colorado River.

Bold travelers attempt to tackle the famous Rim-to-Rim hike, a 24-mile one-way journey through the bottom of the Grand Canyon. Visitors with less time and lesser physical abilities can opt for a mule ride into the canyon or simply enjoy the view with both feet planted atop a canyon lookout.

📚 Get Planning: Grand Canyon National Park Website,Grand Canyon Packing List, 19 Best Places to Go Camping in Arizona

McKenna Mobley, Senior Travel Writer

Channel Islands National Park is the closest thing to an island paradise in California, with opportunities for whale spotting, scuba diving, and more. Sublime weather and an array of biodiversity make Channel Islands National Park feel like a trip to the tropics without leaving the West Coast.

The five Channel Islands are but a hop, skip, and ferry ride away from the mainland, but couldn’t contrast metropolitan Southern California more. The islands boom with springtime super blooms, vistas of coastal whale migrations, and other wildlife spotting opportunities.

A retreat to Channel Islands National Park brings exactly the off-grid escape you were hoping for. The islands are void of all amenities, including lodging and food services. Unleash your inner wild (wo)man with an overnight stay on the primitive islands, fending for yourself with the resources you’ve strategically stowed in your overnight pack.

📚 Get Planning: Channel Islands National Park Website,Best National Parks in California,54 Best Things to Do in California

McKenna Mobley, Senior Travel Writer

Aquatic adventure seekers, this one’s for you. Deep canyons in West Virginia have straddled a secret for eons: the wild whitewater of New River Gorge National Park.

One of the oldest rivers on the continent, New River juts and jolts whitewater rafters as they crest untamed waves down the deep canyons of New River Gorge. One of America’s most recently established national parks allures kayakers, rafters, and other water enthusiasts.

West Virginia’s most spectacular view of the raging river can often reach class 5 difficulty, the most intense level of rapids that exists for commercial rafting. Adventurous travelers feel right at home navigating the wild ride; the calm stretches of the river enable a meditative experience unparalleled by any kind of yoga class or guided meditation.

📚 Get Planning: New River Gorge National Park Website

McKenna Mobley, Senior Travel Writer

Everglades National Park is a unique and biodiverse subtropical wilderness in South Florida. The park is known for its alligator-filled wetlands, impressive marine ecosystems, rare birding opportunities, and endangered species like the leatherback sea turtle and Florida panther.

At 1.5 million acres, Everglades National Park completely encapsulates the southern tip of Florida. At first glance, these wetlands can be deceptively unimpressive. Yet, a closer look boasts the rarest blend of biodiversity and wildlife in the US, including American alligators, crocodiles, black bears, Florida panthers, dolphins, West Indian manatees, and an incredible variety of birds.

With access points near Miami, Homestead, Naples, and Fort Lauderdale, you can easily hop aboard an airboat ride, depart on a hike, camp on a beach, or paddle extensive waterways during a visit to Everglades National Park.

📚 Get Planning: Everglades National Park Website,33 Best Things to Do in Fort Lauderdale, 34 Best Things to Do in Orlando

Andrew Bloem, Senior Travel Writer

The California coast intersects the tallest trees on Earth at Redwood National and State Parks. Neon green ferns on the forest floor are dwarfed by giant conifer redwoods, offering crisply-clean air and a meditative atmosphere.

Redwood National Park is home to the tallest tree species on Earth: the Redwood. The creation of the national park stunted the logging industry from the decimation of what proved to be a paramount tree of the California ecosystem, and you’ll find an abundance of flora and fauna here as a result.

Shelters preserving giant sequoias stretch along the Pacific coastline, bringing an occasional sea breeze to hot summer hikers in Redwood National Park. While summer may draw a heavier crowd, it also bears ideal weather for kayaking on Stone Lagoon, horseback riding along Redwood Creek, and catching the annual summer Orick Rodeo in town.

Spring and fall bring a highway of migrating shorebirds, autumn-hued foliage, and fewer tourist crowds, making this the perfect time to camp among the big tree groves.

📚 Get Planning: Redwood National Park Website,Where to Stay Near Redwood National Park,13 California State Parks,Best California National Parks

McKenna Mobley, Senior Travel Writer

Cleveland locals and visitors are fortunate to have a vast national park just outside the city center. Cuyahoga Valley makes many question their preconceptions of the Midwest. Waterfalls spill from rocky cliffs and skiers carve snowy slopes at this unexpected gem.

Cuyahoga Valley encompasses 32,570 acres that stand out from typical Midwest views. Rolling hills, rocky cliffs, and several waterfalls are a few of its draws. Winter visitors can also ski and snow tube at Boston Mills and Brandywine Ski Areas.

Though, many would agree that the best time to visit Cuyahoga Valley is in the fall. Admire autumn foliage aboard the scenic train ride, while paddling the river, or on hiking trails. Many of these paths also grant equestrian use, as well as biking. Historic structures and the village of Boston add even more value to this free attraction.

📚 Get Planning: Cuyahoga Valley National Park Website,23 Best Places to Visit in Ohio

Abigail Bliss, Editor

What’s better than witnessing a huge saguaro cactus, an icon of the American Southwest, in person? Exploring a terrain of hundreds upon hundreds of the tallest cacti in the United States, naturally compacted in Saguaro National Park.

Hundreds of saguaro cacti dot a mischievous desertscape in southern Arizona. This symbol of the American desert is found only in the Sonoran Desert and grows at tortoise speed. In fact, it can take up to 70 years for a saguaro to sport its first Frida Kahlo flower crown and 95-100 years to grow its first cactus arm.

These rare cacti can be viewed in abundance at Saguaro National Park, giving travelers all the more reason to have a pit stop here along their Southwestern road trip. Because saguaros are only fully mature at the ripe young age of 125 and are generally done growing by age 200, witnessing a saguaro cactus is witnessing history — a wrinkle in ecological time.

📚 Get Planning: Saguaro National Park Website,30 Best Things to Do in Tucson,22 Best Day Trips from Tucson,27 Best Places to Visit in Arizona

McKenna Mobley, Senior Travel Writer

No nearby amenities, a roaring Rio Grande, and extreme summer temperatures are key features of Big Bend National Park, but the extremities and lack of human intervention are central to the charm. Thousand-foot gorge walls tower over the Rio Grande at Big Bend, Texas’s natural diamond in the rough.

Enjoy “splendid isolation” at Texas’s southernmost national park, right on the border with Chihuahua, Mexico. The shared international beauty extends beyond borders, with dramatic stretches of the Rio Grande and spiky desert flora.

The remote charisma of Big Bend National Park adds a layer of mystique to any visit. The park’s apocalyptic quality of isolation has preserved its primitive natural features, thankfully devoid of human destruction and manipulation.

📚 Get Planning: Big Bend National Park Website,22 Camping Essentials

McKenna Mobley, Senior Travel Writer

Designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, an International Biosphere Reserve, and a US national park, Volcanoes National Park comprises two of the most active volcanoes in the world – Kīlauea and Mauna Loa.

Looking for that iconic Hawai’i experience of watching lava gently slide into the Pacific Ocean? Though it doesn’t happen on any predictable schedule, Hawai’i Volcanoes National Park is the place to witness this marvel. Of course, even if your visit doesn’t coincide with this, this national park is worth a day or two on your schedule.

The park encompasses 523 square miles and rises an awe-inspiring 13,000 feet above sea level. The landscapes of this area are as diverse as they are stunning, and you’ll find smoky craters, rainforest vegetation, lava tubes, petroglyphs, deserts, and so much more. This desolate area is fascinating to walk through, so don’t skip out on the historical sites as well.

📚 Get Planning: Hawai’i Volcanoes National Park Website,22 Camping Essentials

Laura Falin, Senior Travel Writer

One of the hottest destinations on Earth is a favorite among intrepid travelers looking to experience dramatic terrain and biodiversity in relative peace. Travelers should plan their visit with care, but the barren landscape and hidden wonders of Death Valley National Park are some of the most intriguing in the country.

What do wild donkeys, an abandoned mining ghost town, rolling sand dunes, and alkaline salt flats have in common? Each random, separate feature is what makes Death Valley National Park so alluring.

A landscape of dualities, experience Badwater Basin’s below-sea-level elevation in the morning before straddling the summit of the highest peak in the national park, Telescope Peak, which stands a staggering 11,049 feet.

Death Valley also takes the cake for the hottest air temperature ever recorded in the world. It’s safe to say that the seemingly never-ending features of this national park make it one of the top parks in the U.S.

📚 Get Planning: Death Valley National Park Website,Best National Parks in California, Camping in California, 21 Best Day Trips from Las Vegas

McKenna Mobley, Senior Travel Writer

Yellowstone is one of the most wildlife-intensive and biologically-diverse national parks in the USA. Here, free-range bison have the right-of-way on roads and naturally-roaming grizzlies command the attention of all passers-by.

At Yellowstone National Park, Old Faithful Geyser spouts like clockwork, the Grand Prismatic Spring dazzles tourists, and the hydrothermal Mammoth Hot Springs spews whiffs of sulfur into the air. Yellowstone holds the title of America’s first national park and, simply put, is an iconic landscape.

Besides the famous geologic features and thousands of acres of protected forest areas and rivers, Yellowstone National Park is also a wildlife asylum. Lucky visitors may just catch a glimpse of a fleeing gray wolf, a hungry grizzly or black bear, huge elk and bison, or smaller critters like mule deer and foxes.

📚 Get Planning: Yellowstone National Park Website,Hiking with Kids, Hiking Essentials Checklist

McKenna Mobley, Senior Travel Writer

Mount Rainier National Park is home to Washington’s most iconic mountain of the same name. Wander wildflower meadows, hike to cascading waterfalls, and watch the sunrise over the majestic peaks.

Summer and fall visits to Mount Rainier National Park promise postcard-worthy views of wildflower meadows and golden-red foliage. Winters are best for snowshoe treks and ski excursions. Any visit guarantees breathtaking close-ups of the tallest mountain in Washington.

At over 14,000 feet, Rainier is also the highest peak in the Cascade Mountain range. Indigenous tribes call it Tahoma, which means “Mother of Waters.” The name is more than fitting since the park has over 150 waterfalls.

Every hiker should seek out the picturesque waterfalls, especially Myrtle Falls. More advanced hikers can take steeper climbs up to historic fire lookouts or even hike parts of the Pacific Crest Trail.

📚 Get Planning: Mount Rainier National Park Website,22 Best Hikes Near Seattle,27 Best Waterfalls in Washington,32 Best Things to Do in Washington State,32 Best Places to Visit in Washington State

Chelsea Booker, Editor

No other national park mirrors the grandeur of Zion. It’s an adventurer’s playground, with landscapes that amaze both high above the canyon floor and within its narrow slots.

With 4.6 million visitors last year, Zion is one of the most popular destinations in the national park system. It’s easy to access and caters to a variety of abilities and interests. Hiking, cycling, kayaking, and rock climbing are some of its key draws. There’s also technical canyoneering, one of the most unique activities in the park.

Those unfamiliar with ropes and rappelling can also experience the park’s iconic slot canyons by navigating the Narrows. Here, the Virgin River flows and walls of Navajo sandstone protrude a thousand feet above the gorge. Angel’s Landing, another famous trail, grants panoramic views high above the canyon floor.

📚 Get Planning: Zion National Park Website,25 Best Utah National Parks & Monuments,49 Places to Visit in Utah,31 Best Hikes in Utah

Abigail Bliss, Editor

The Kenai Fjords offers visitors one of the best places to see Alaska’s aquatic wildlife. The long, narrow inlets of the ocean teem with whales, sea lions, and more. The small towns surrounding the park are well worth a visit for their cozy charm as well.

Few places in the state surpass the Kenai Fjords for wildlife viewing. The waters are home to an abundance of sea creatures, and seabirds of all kinds call this home both year-round and during migrations, too.

Kenai Fjords is great for adventure travelers and families alike. Is a cruise out of the budget? No problem! The Alaska Sea Life Center in nearby Seward offers an up-close look at a wide variety of local wildlife. Although Seward is the only town in the area with road access to the park, towns such as Soldotna and Homer are well-worth visiting, too.

📚 Get Planning:  Kenai Fjords National Park Website,27 Best Places to Visit in Alaska,17 Best Towns in Alaska

Matthew Reppond, Senior Travel Writer

Covering over 70% of the island of Maui, Haleakalā National Park preserves the Haleakalā Crater and the surrounding wilderness. Its presence is steeped in stories and legends, and a visit will be unlike anything else you see in Hawaii.

Also referred to as “House of the Sun”, the dormant Haleakalā Volcano towers over the island of Maui at 10,023 feet above sea level. Meanwhile, the encompassing national park contains the most endangered species out of any national park in the United States, features six climate zones, and its depression has some of the quietest areas on Earth.

To make your visit as special as possible, venture to the summit of Haleakalā volcano, preferably for sunrise. The striking summit is very different from the lush, verdant Hawaiian scenery most of us imagine, and watching the sun come up from the peak is bucket-list worthy.

📚 Get Planning:  Haleakalā National Park Website,27 Best Places to Visit in Alaska,17 Best Towns in Alaska

Laura Falin, Senior Travel Writer

Venture off the beaten path with a trip to a peacefully secluded Utah national park. What Capitol Reef lacks in tourist numbers, it makes up for in archaeological features.

While it may be off the popular tourist path for many, Capitol Reef National Park is only two hours outside of Moab and both Arches and Canyonlands National Parks.

Watch the tall grass sway in the dry desert wind at Capitol Reef as you hike through the Fremont River Valley to famous petroglyphs that date as far back as 300 CE. Being in Capitol Reef National Park is like spending time in a historic time capsule.

📚 Get Planning: Capitol Reef National Park Website,25 Best Utah National Parks & Monuments,49 Best Places to Visit in Utah,Camping in Utah

McKenna Mobley, Senior Travel Writer

Monumental sequoia treetops extend to the heavens and dominate the giant central Californian forest at Sequoia National Park. Temperate in cost, climate, and crowds, you’ll find woodland hikers marveling at the pine needle skyscrapers as they weave their way between the giants on the footpaths.

800-plus miles of hiking trails, the highest point in the contiguous U.S., and the tallest trees in the world define Sequoia National Park. Human history in the Sequoia area predates the establishment of the U.S. as a nation by a few thousand years.

500 brilliant, rust-colored petroglyphs and other archaeological features serve as a reminder of the rich cultural history of the California past at Hospital Rock. Sequoia National Park is less than 3 hours from Yosemite, making it a great stop on a California national park expedition.

📚 Get Planning: Sequoia National Park Website,Best National Parks in California, 23 Best California RV Parks

McKenna Mobley, Senior Travel Writer

California’s most famous national park, Yosemite is a Sierra Mountain fortress that invites campers, climbers, hikers, and tourists to marvel at its geologic wonders.

Yosemite and California are synonymous. As one of the most frequented tourist destinations in The Golden State, Yosemite never fails to deliver more than hopeful tourists could have imagined with sweeping vistas and high-quality trails.

Staple features such as Half Dome and El Capitan dominate Yosemite Valley and command the attention of most cameras in the national park. Resident black bears are habitually spotted near the campsites and along the trails, contributing to the mystique and excitement of Yosemite’s acclaim.

📚 Get Planning: Yosemite National Park Website,21 Best Yosemite Hikes, California Packing List, Best Things to Do in Northern California,Where to Stay Near Yosemite

McKenna Mobley, Senior Travel Writer

It won’t surprise Wyoming locals that Grand Teton National Park is one of the most highly lauded in the reviews. Dramatized by bold colors and jagged peaks, it’s the place to experience a calm river zigzagging its way past tall grass at the foot of the Middle Rocky Mountains.

The artist palette of Wyoming’s hand-chiseled Grand Tetons includes vibrant greens of the lush valley, bold gray hues of the high-altitude peaks, a glassy baby blue of the Snake River, and glittering white of the year-round snow perched high on the Teton peaks.

Evidence of human activity predates 11,000 years in Grand Teton National Park. The evident beauty and sacredness of the landscape have since summoned Indigenous tribes, frontier settlers, and now national park crowds to explore the 310,000 acres of dense alpine terrain.

📚 Get Planning: Grand Teton National Park Website

McKenna Mobley, Senior Travel Writer

Venture into the belly of one of the most complex cave systems in the United States. More than 119 caves are hidden beneath the surface in the Chihuahuan Desert of Carlsbad Caverns National Park, an underworld playground for unafraid adventurers.

Sublime subterranean spaces composed of speleothems define the Big Room at Carlsbad Caverns, a nearly 4,000-foot-long and 625-foot-wide cavern deep in the cave complex. In fact, judging by volume, the Big Room is the largest cave chamber in North America.

Quiet drippage from the ceiling stalactites and the occasional flap of a bat wing are among the few eerie reminders that life persists in such a hostile environment. More daring visitors can hike down into the giant compound and novice hikers have the option of taking an elevator into the deep, dark ravine.

📚 Get Planning: Carlsbad Caverns National Park Website,25 Best New Mexico National Parks & Monuments,Camping in New Mexico

McKenna Mobley, Senior Travel Writer

Arguably just as striking as other Utah national parks, but with fewer crowds. Canyonlands lays claim to an extraterrestrial-like landscape of deep gorges and distant mountains. The brilliant landscape fans out as far as the eye can visibly reach from high viewpoints in Canyonlands, the main attraction.

Canyonlands National Park is one of Utah’s most underrated parks. The second of Moab’s national parks, Canyonlands requires travelers to commit to a remote adventure off the tourist trail but on the right path of backcountry exploration.

Overlooks like the White Rim Trail Overlook offer views of a Mars-like barren landscape, with deep gorges carved by a snaked Colorado River below — scars upon the desert landscape created by millions of years of erosion.

📚 Get Planning: Canyonlands National Park Website,25 Best Utah National Parks & Monuments, Where to Stay in Moab, 35 Best Things to Do in Moab

McKenna Mobley, Senior Travel Writer

Dry Tortugas National Park is a remote tropical paradise 70 miles west of Key West in the Florida Keys. The park is home to the most dazzling coral reefs in the continental United States, crystal clear waters, and an impressive 19th-century fort built before the Civil War.

Situated 70 miles west of Key West, Dry Tortugas National Park is a set of seven remote islands surrounded by some of the most pristine coral reefs in not only Florida, but the western Atlantic.

The park’s premier attraction is Fort Jefferson on Garden Key. Constructed in the 19th century, the former military fortification is the largest brick masonry structure in the Americas, consisting of 16 million bricks. Today, you can visit the grounds after a sailing trip from Key West or camp overnight outside the fort.

📚 Get Planning: Dry Tortugas National Park Website,33 Best Things to Do in Florida,33 Best Places to Visit in Florida

Andrew Bloem, Senior Travel Writer

Biscayne National Park is a deluxe Floridian park with all the toppings: affordable, easy to reach, and sprinkled with gorgeous weather. It’s also one of the largest marine parks in the NPS, boasting vibrant coral reefs, abundant marine life, mangrove forests, and tropical islands with a stunning view of downtown Miami as a backdrop.

Amidst the shadows of Miami’s skyline lies Biscayne National Park. With 95% of the park’s 173,000 acres submerged underwater, you can explore dazzling coral reefs, uninhabited islands, and multiple historic lighthouses through snorkeling, diving, kayaking, and sailing.

Access points to the marine park begin in Miami before stretching southward into Key Biscayne, Coral Gables, Homestead, and Key Largo. Most of the park’s amenities reside at the Homestead visitor center, where you can take a boat tour to historic islands like Boca Chita Key, Elliott Key, or Jones Lagoon.

📚 Get Planning: Biscayne National Park Website,46 Best Things to Do in Miami,27 Fun Things to Do in South Florida

Andrew Bloem, Senior Travel Writer

Lake Michigan meets rolling beige dunes and overgrown coastal grass at Indiana Dunes National Park. Escape the city and head to the dunes for a relaxing weekend getaway.

Indiana Dunes National Park comprises 15 miles of sandy Indiana coast. One of the most recent national parks established, Indiana Dunes emerges as a natural sanctuary right outside of suburbia, a sight that almost seems out of place.

Indiana Dunes National Park is a great spot for year-round activities. In the winter, the Indiana dunes can be enjoyed via snowshoes or cross-country skis, following animal tracks across the powdered landscape. Not an avid dune sledder? Indiana Dunes National Park is also a prime location for swimming and sunbathing next to the local seabirds in the summer months.

📚 Get Planning: Indiana Dunes National Park Website,Beach Packing List, Chicago Packing List

McKenna Mobley, Senior Travel Writer

Hang on tight as you sled head-first down a glistening gypsum dune in New Mexico’s Chihuahuan Desert. Maritime desert infrared waves stretch as far as the eye can see at this seemingly-barren park.

While White Sands National Park may have been late to the official national park status game, this by no means discredits its ecological importance. The expanse of white sand desert is so broad, it can be viewed from space.

For the ultimate White Sands National Park adventure, hike and camp in the remote backcountry. This will give you a daytime view of the 275-square-mile stretch of rolling bleached dunes and an opportunity to stargaze unobstructed when the sun goes down. Unlimited dunes, desert wildlife, and a rich cultural history put White Sands on the map as one of the top New Mexico national parks.

📚 Get Planning: White Sands National Park Website,25 Best New Mexico National Parks & Monuments, 47 Best Things to Do in New Mexico

McKenna Mobley, Senior Travel Writer

Pinnacles National Park in Central California is a chaparral cathedral of volcanic spires and a mecca of rock climbing routes.

The mystifying geologic formations of Pinnacles National Park originated 23 million years ago at a site 195 miles southeast of where they are today. The work of powerful tectonic forces moved the volcanic field over millions of years to its present location, now a designated protected area.

Hike among the chaparral groves and through basaltic battlefields above ground, or dare to enter the depths of the talus caves of Bear Gulch or Balconies Cave. Aching to get more hands-on? Sling on your harness and scale up the volcanic rhyolite and tuff walls.

📚 Get Planning: Pinnacles National Park Website,Best National Parks in California,Best Things to Do in Northern California

McKenna Mobley, Senior Travel Writer

Believed to be the world’s longest cave system, Mammoth Cave National Park contains more than 400 miles of caves with nearly every type of cave formation. It’s one of the few national parks in the USA that you can visit without worrying about the weather forecast, and with tour options suiting all abilities, it’s also highly accessible.

Mammoth Cave National Park in Kentucky is a vast network of underground caverns with a temperature that stays consistently between the upper 50 to lower 60-degree range. The cave’s astonishing features draw thousands of visitors each year, and it’s no wonder why — almost every type of cave formation can be found in Mammoth Cave.

With so many visitors, it’s a good idea to book a tour of the cave before you arrive at the park. There’s something for every visitor: wheelchair-accessible tours, kid-friendly tours, and even more adventurous tours that require crawling through caves.

📚 Get Planning: Mammoth Cave National Park Website

Elizabeth Demolat, Editor

Arches National Park is a fan favorite among those who love geological features. Discover thousands of naturally-forming sandstone arches as you journey through trails laden with ancient rock art, remnants of local wildlife, and soaring pinnacles.

Desert magic comes alive in Arches National Park as soft sunrise hues of pink, orange, and purple breathe life into the red sandstone landscape of the national park.

Natural arch giants can be found on nearly every hiking trail, numbering over 2,000 in total, and the park’s Entrada Sandstone walls provide perfect rock climbing routes. Bouldering and challenging trad routes attract climbers to the park’s ruby rocks year-round.

📚 Get Planning: Arches National Park Website,25 Best Utah National Parks & Monuments, Where to Stay in Moab, 35 Best Things to Do in Moab

McKenna Mobley, Senior Travel Writer

Rocky Mountain National Park is a popular destination that captures the best of Colorado: pristine lakes, dramatic peaks, and abounding wildlife. Hike at dawn to avoid the crowds and experience the park’s magic.

Rocky Mountain National Park boasts quintessential Colorado scenery. Witness its beauty by driving Trail Ridge Road, the country’s highest, continuously-paved route. Trails for every skill level also grant stunning views of alpine lakes, dramatic peaks, and mountain meadows. A variety of wildlife houses these environments, including elk, bighorn sheep, moose, and marmots.

Horseback riding, fishing, cycling, climbing, and camping round out the park’s summertime activities. In the winter, the snowy terrain offers snowshoeing and cross-country skiing, along with far fewer crowds.

📚 Get Planning: Rocky Mountain National Park Website,13 Epic Colorado National Parks & Monuments,22 Best Things to Do in Estes Park,15 Best Hikes in Colorado

Abigail Bliss, Editor

A key feature of western South Dakota, Badlands National Park is beloved by hikers, historical fanatics, and geology-appreciators alike. Buttes of rainbow sediment layers rise from the ground and distort the view for thousands of miles in South Dakota’s Badlands.

An area that was once submerged under the ocean is now exposed as hundreds of wind-carved pinnacles in Badlands National Park. First named by the Lakota people as maco sika, or badlands, this geological wonder of a national park exposes rugged terrain and harsh temperatures.

Fossils of the sabertooth cat have been uncovered in the historical national park and the grasslands of today’s badlands environment are home to bison, prairie dogs, and black-footed ferrets.

📚 Get Planning: Badlands National Park Website

McKenna Mobley, Senior Travel Writer

The Everglades of the East Coast, Congaree National Park houses the largest expanse of old-growth Harwoods in America. The floodplain forest of this boggy park sports an eerie, bald cypress landscape that’s seemingly deserted but is actually bustling with wildlife.

When you think of a swampland, an ogre-like entanglement of damp, mossy overgrowth probably comes to mind — a possible exact representation of Congaree National Park.

Nights in the national park are spent listening for the harmonizing call of nocturnal fowl. Don’t forget to bring mosquito repellent for daytime adventures, as these aerial critters thrive in swamp environments.

📚 Get Planning: Congaree National Park Website

McKenna Mobley, Senior Travel Writer

Kings Canyon National Park is an alpine citadel of towering sequoias and neighboring snow-capped granitic giants. Where undeniably beautiful meets easy-on-the-wallet, camp under a canopy of some of the largest trees in the world at a majestic Sierra Nevada Mountain campsite.

The land of wooded giants dwarfs even the noblest visitor to Kings Canyon National Park. Meander through a maze of the world’s largest trees and marvel at the unfathomable sheer size of the sequoia grove.

Camping under the timber skyscrapers provides the ultimate escape from metropolitan mayhem. There are 14 campgrounds between the two neighboring Kings Canyon and Sequoia National Parks, two of which are open year-round.

As exciting as it is to witness a resident black bear, be sure to keep your distance and store all food in bear lockers to prevent unwarranted encounters.

📚 Get Planning: Kings Canyon National Park Website,Best National Parks in California,23 Best California RV Parks

McKenna Mobley, Senior Travel Writer

Witness Alaska’s massive rivers of ice flowing into the ocean at Glacier Bay National Park. Glacier Bay also makes a great destination for whale watchers in the summer months.

One of the best places to see Alaska’s impressive ice rivers is Glacier Bay National Park. Cruises bring you up close to the glaciers, and it’s not uncommon to see icebergs “calve” off of them with thunderous rumblings.

The best way to see the highlights of the park is via a cruise ship from southeastern Alaska. There are many other options (such as kayak tours) for those looking for something a little more adventurous, too. Glacier Bay is great for families and any traveler who loves outdoor activities. You also have good chances of seeing whales during the summer months here.

📚 Get Planning: Glacier Bay National Park and Preserve Website,27 Best Places to Visit in Alaska

Matthew Reppond, Senior Travel Writer

An isolated sweep of northern California country accommodates four different types of volcanoes in Lassen Volcanic National Park, a landscape composed of basaltic meadows and steaming fumaroles.

Yellowstone meets the Eastern Sierras at the volcanic panorama of Lassen Volcanic National Park. A quiet landscape since its last eruption more than a century ago, Lassen Volcanic still bears remnants of a destroyed environment, beautified throughout the wind-sculpted years.

Incomplete jagged mountaintops, a devastated land, and bubbling vats of mud remind national park visitors of the once-active volcanic landscape. Hikers with stamina are encouraged to try their luck on Lassen Peak, a 5-mile round trip hike to 10,457 feet, a summit that once stood taller in a bygone era before the eruption.

📚 Get Planning: Lassen Volcanic National Park Website,43 Things to Do in California with Kids, Best National Parks in California, California Road Trip

McKenna Mobley, Senior Travel Writer

Bryce Canyon may not be the place to escape the crowds, but the whimsical formations will be sure to excite your imagination. A high plateau gives way to endless vistas of red rock spires and cutting-edge ecological features.

An orange empire of cartoonish hoodoo spires takes the stage at Bryce Canyon National Park. Hiking throughout the shire of towering sandstone spires truly gives adventurers a hobbit-like experience.

While a significant amount of adventurers tend to visit when the summer weather is at its most blistering, Bryce Canyon National Park is even more impressive and comfortable during the winter months. Layers of fresh snow strikingly contrast the bold, orange environment. This is the most popular time for photography at Bryce Canyon, which is perhaps the most photographed winter site in Utah.

📚 Get Planning: Bryce Canyon National Park Website,25 Best Utah National Parks & Monuments,49 Best Places to Visit in Utah, Camping in Utah, 31 Best Hikes in Utah

McKenna Mobley, Senior Travel Writer

Coastal Maine is easily one of the most photogenic sites on the East Coast, and there’s no place to bring out your camera like Acadia National Park. Dense pine forests meet the wild Atlantic at this beloved destination, a New England enclave of historic sites and hiking trails.

Summer on America’s East Coast means thawed landscapes and warmer weather, making this the perfect time to explore Acadia National Park, one of the most visited national parks in the USA.

Start by exploring a Victorian-era fishing village, Bar Harbor, the main tourist destination and a hub for whale watching and sailing tours. The Smithsonian-affiliated Abbe Museum is the perfect place to learn about the park’s Indigenous past and the Dorr Museum educates the masses about the natural history of the area.

📚 Get Planning: Acadia National Park Website

McKenna Mobley, Senior Travel Writer

If you’re wondering if Crater Lake is worth the hype, the answer is a hundred times yes. Deep blue lake waters frozen in time inhabit the inside of a sleeping volcano, completely submerged in dense forest scenery.

Crater Lake is the deepest lake in the USA and was formed 7,700 years ago after a violent volcanic eruption. The site has since become an established tourist site and is one of only six national parks and monuments in Oregon.

The Cascade Mountains surround the dormant caldera at Crater Lake National Park, adding to its status as one of the most scenic national parks in the USA. Board the summer boat tour to the crater’s sole treasure island, Wizard Island, the remains of a volcanic cinder cone. Aspiring buccaneers can climb to the cone’s 750-foot summit before walking the plank back to the mainland.

📚 Get Planning: Crater Lake National Park Website,Best Weekend Getaways from Seattle

McKenna Mobley, Senior Travel Writer

Reached via charter flights from Anchorage and other towns in the surrounding area, Katmai National Park is one of the best places to indulge in the volcanic side of Alaska while spotting brown bears in the wild.

Anyone wanting to get an up-close look (within reason!) at Alaska’s famous brown bears should add Katmai National Park to their bucket list. One of the largest land mammals of North America, the bears are everywhere here. They feed off the abundant salmon in the rivers, and the fishing attracts anglers from across the world.

Besides bears, Katmai also offers a glimpse at Alaska’s volcanic history. For instance, the volcanic landscape of the Valley of 10,000 Smokes transports visitors to what seems like another planet.

📚 Get Planning: Katmai National Park and Preserve Website,27 Best Places to Visit in Alaska

Matthew Reppond, Senior Travel Writer

Experience the grandeur of North America’s tallest mountain. Denali National Park offers the best glimpse of the epic beauty and iconic wildlife that make Alaska famous.

Alaska’s most well-known national park is a must for any Alaska itinerary. A massive peak, Denali looms on the horizon for miles around, but nothing compares to seeing it up close or climbing it. The tundra surrounding the mountain teems with famous Alaskan flora and fauna. You can also visit Alaska’s most famous domestic animals, sled dogs, at the Denali Kennels.

Lodges offer luxurious suites and cabins. For those who prefer more rugged accommodations, campsites abound. By road, the Denali Highway connects Denali with Anchorage and Fairbanks. The Alaska Railroad offers the most adventurous connection to the park, though.

📚 Get Planning: Denali National Park and Preserve Website,Where to Stay in Alaska

Matthew Reppond, Freelance Travel Writer

A sprawl of badlands colors Petrified Forest National Park in eastern Arizona. This misnomer national park bears no trees but instead petrified residue of the once-wooded giants.

Forests frozen in time are exhibited as a stone gallery in Petrified Forest National Park. Once swampy terrain millions of years ago, the barren land of the forest is now littered with trees-turned-stone, a true natural art anomaly.

A close-up look at the ancient trees reveals a magnificent luster of inlaid semi-precious gems like amethyst, jasper, and quartz. Most of the region is only accessible by foot, prompting national park goers to have an interactive relationship with nature as opposed to a drive-up, snap-a-photo, and skedaddle type of experience.

📚 Get Planning: Petrified Forest National Park Website,27 Best Places to Visit in Arizona

McKenna Mobley, Senior Travel Writer

High on the Montana-Canada border sits an enchanted national park, a figment of the imagination manifested as Glacier National Park. Enjoy access to glaciers, pristine meadows, behemoth peaks, and over 700 miles of trails.

Feel like an explorer of the old frontier as you meander through the primordial forest landscape of “grizzly country USA.” Glacier National Park boasts apex American scenery, often coined as “God’s Country,” and is home to over 1 million acres of protected land.

Your chances of spotting a grizzly bear are higher in Glacier National Park than in most other lower 48 parks, not to mention the possibility of catching a majestic white mountain goat on camera.

📚 Get Planning: Glacier National Park Website

McKenna Mobley, Senior Travel Writer

A most unusual national park, Gateway Arch curbs the traditional nature aspect of U.S. parks and instead focuses on architecture in Missouri’s major city. This national park will have your knees shaking as you view St. Louis from 630 feet in the air.

A reminder of the country’s Western expansion, Gateway Arch National Park pays homage to Thomas Jefferson’s role in paving the way for hopeful pioneers and frontier folk venturing into regions unknown.

The most popular activity at Gateway Arch is riding to the top of the platinum archway via aerial tram, a butterflies-in-the-stomach wrenching activity for visitors of all ages. Soar 630 feet into the air and land atop America’s tallest monument for an aerial perspective of the whole of St. Louis below.

A free museum explaining Missouri’s pivotal role in westward expansion is on display at the visitor center for tenderfoot visitors.

📚 Get Planning: Gateway Arch National Park Website

McKenna Mobley, Senior Travel Writer

You’ll find a unique, land-locked beach and miles of silky sand at Great Sand Dunes National Park in Colorado. Plus, this ethereal park boasts the tallest sand dunes in all of North America.

With golden sand dunes set against a striking mountain range, Great Sand Dunes National Park is a truly unique Colorado spot. Starting your adventure in the nearby town of Alamosa, the path to the park takes you past grass and shrubs until suddenly, the dunes arise as if out of nowhere, beautifully silhouetted against the Sangre de Cristo Mountains.

There are experiences here for everyone. Families can most easily navigate the dunes closest to the parking lot, accessed by crossing the seasonal Medano Creek. Conversely, avid hikers love the trek to Star Dune, the tallest of the bunch.

📚 Get Planning: Great Sand Dunes National Park and Preserve Website,13 Epic Colorado National Parks & Monuments

Laura Falin, Senior Travel Writer

More than forty natural hot springs emerge from Hot Springs Mountain in the heart of Arkansas. Hot Springs National Park invites park goers to lounge in a wild creek or let their troubles melt away on Bathhouse Row.

Originally preserved for the natural bubbling mineral water’s mystifying healing properties, Hot Springs National Park offers an eclectic array of wild springs and resort-style bathhouses.

Nestled between the Arkansas trees exists Bathhouse Row, a community of centuries-old bathhouses that have held many’a big-time American figure like Babe Ruth and Al Capone. Visiting Bathhouse Row awakens a timeless nostalgia, as the grand architecture predates the late 1800s and has no resemblance to modern society.

📚 Get Planning: Hot Springs National Park Website

McKenna Mobley, Senior Travel Writer

Soaring, ancient cliffs confine the mighty Gunnison River at the lesser-visited Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park. Its rugged terrain attracts daring adventurers, and its remote location grants incredible stargazing.

Deep in the Colorado Rockies, this International Dark Sky Park isn’t particularly easy to reach, but its remote location grants visitors incredible star-gazing opportunities.

Camping is available at the North and South Rim, as are scenic drives and trails. The most ambitious adventures seek out wilderness use permits to explore the inner canyon. Here, expert hikers, climbers, and kayakers witness unique views of the Gunnison River and the Painted Wall, the tallest cliff in Colorado.

📚 Get Planning: Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park Website,13 Epic Colorado National Parks & Monuments,41 Best Places to Visit in Colorado,9 Best Colorado Road Trips

Abigail Bliss, Editor

A popular retreat for water enthusiasts and dark sky seekers, Voyageurs National Park entices visitors to paddle to their own private island, dare to cliff dive, or rent a houseboat and call a lake home for a day or five.

A designated Dark Sky Park, Voyageurs National Park is one of the best places to stargaze in Minnesota, with the occasional rare occurrence to see the northern lights (aurora borealis) from its lake shores.

Voyageurs National Park shares a border with Canada, giving visitors the option of making their Minnesota road trip international. Since stargazing in this International Dark Sky Park is the top attraction, camping is strongly encouraged.

📚 Get Planning: Voyageurs National Park Website

McKenna Mobley, Senior Travel Writer

Surrounded by the dominating Chihuahuan Desert, Guadalupe Mountains National Park is home to the tallest peak in Texas. Plus, with a shared New Mexican border, you’ll get double the wild, primitive experience in this striking landscape.

A Monument Valley of Texas, Guadalupe Mountains National Park has birthed dramatic canyons, towering craggy knolls, and an isolated sense of allurement. Four of the state’s highest peaks are found within the national park boundaries, including Guadalupe Peak, the highest point in Texas at 8,749 feet.

Reminders of a rich human history were uncovered in the Guadalupes, including spear points, pottery, and baskets, some of which date to 12,000 years ago. Besides deep Grand Canyon-like gorges and desert hiking trails, Guadalupe Mountains National Park also offers visitors a chance to sled down white gypsum and crimson-red quartzose sand dunes.

📚 Get Planning: Guadalupe Mountains National Park Website

McKenna Mobley, Senior Travel Writer

Masterful construction by the Ancestral Pueblo makes Mesa Verde National Park an iconic destination. Tour North America’s largest cliff dwelling and many more historic sites.

The well-preserved cliff dwellings at Mesa Verde draw thousands to the far southwest corner of Colorado. Many of these structures are set along Mesa Top Loop Road, as are even more ancient sites and the Petroglyph Point Trail. An audio tour maximizes this self-guided experience by sharing each stop’s historical significance.

Those that plan ahead can book a ranger-led tour to see the most iconic cliff dwellings up close. Climb ladders and navigate steep cliffs to reach Square Tower House, the park’s tallest structure. Those less brazen can visit the stunning Cliff Palace, famed as the largest cliff dwelling in North America.

📚 Get Planning: Mesa Verde National Park Website,13 Epic Colorado National Parks & Monuments,34 Fun Things to Do in Colorado,23 Best Things to Do in Durango

Abigail Bliss, Editor

A foray to Great Basin National Park means experiencing a more lush side of the desert-associated state of Nevada. For a fraction of the cost of some of the more popular national parks, explore the alpine lakes and high crags in this land of diversity that spans multiple ecosystems.

From subterranean passages to sky-high ridges, a trip through Great Basin National Park is varied, to say the least. Book a tour and take a guided journey into the underworld and explore the many diverse earthen cavities, from caves that require climbing on ropes to enter to ones with perennial ice and streams running through them.

After spending some time in the dark, adjust your eyes to the high-altitude UV rays on the highest peak in the national park, the 13,065-foot Wheeler Peak. A birds-eye view from the top (or wherever you choose to stop) puts the magnitude of the huge national park into perspective.

📚 Get Planning: Great Basin National Park Website

McKenna Mobley, Senior Travel Writer

Wrangell-St. Elias contains 7 of the 10 highest peaks in the United States. America’s largest national park also contains endless acres of forests, glaciers, lava fields, and even Alaska’s most famous ghost town.

Spanning a whopping 13.2 million acres, Wrangell-St. Elias could keep you exploring for an entire lifetime. Here, some of the tallest mountains in America pierce the sky. Endless forests, rolling hills, and gigantic glaciers fill the spaces between the mountains.

In contrast to its remote feeling, Wrangell-St. Elias is not hard to get to. A 5-hour drive east from Anchorage brings you to the park’s western edge. Of course, even if you’re not up for epic backcountry expeditions, the park has you covered. Visit the abandoned Kennicott Mines ghost town to learn all about Alaska’s copper boom.

📚 Get Planning: Wrangell-St. Elias National Park and Preserve Website,27 Best Places to Visit in Alaska

Matthew Reppond, Senior Travel Writer

Lake Clark National Park offers one of the best tastes of southcentral Alaska’s landscapes. A wilderness full of towering mountains, evergreen forests, and glistening lakes lies an hour away from Alaska’s largest city.

For those who want to experience Alaska’s wilderness but not go too far afield, head to Lake Clark National Park. Situated an hour’s flight southwest of Anchorage, it’s easy to get to, but you’ll feel worlds away from modernity. Mountains surround the numberless lakes and rivers here, which are all ideal for kayaking, rafting, and salmon fishing.

One unique attraction here is the Proenneke Cabin. In the late 1960s, one man, Richard Proenneke, built the cabin on-site using hand tools and materials harvested from local nature. Watch his documentary Alone in the Wilderness to whet your appetite for adventures in Lake Clark.

📚 Get Planning: Lake Clark National Park and Preserve Website,27 Best Places to Visit in Alaska

Matthew Reppond, Freelance Travel Writer

Looking to escape the crowds? Then don’t skip out on Isle Royale National Park. This isolated Lake Tahoe-like island is surrounded by Lake Superior and beckons visitors to find refuge in the remote wilderness.

Tucked up against the Canadian border on Lake Superior, a remote vacation is the name of the game for people visiting Isle Royale National Park. Moose are often the only other hikers on the Isle Royale trails and the occasional cry of a nearby swallow is the only sound accompanying the silence.

Mirror lakes make for the perfect fishing expedition at Isle Royale; reel up trout and whitefish among other scaly swimmers. Enjoy the rugged scenery on a multi-day backpacking adventure or as a long day trip, as both options satisfy the appetite for adventure.

📚 Get Planning: Isle Royale National Park Website

McKenna Mobley, Senior Travel Writer

Relive the legacy of one of America’s most famous presidents, and the man who spearheaded preserving the country’s most fragile wilderness areas, Theodore Roosevelt. The park is an expanse of sprawling prairie and badlands and is the home of commanding wildlife such as bison, elk, and wild horses.

Roosevelt’s legacy lives on in his namesake park, a no-man’s-land in North Dakota. First drawn to the Dakota countryside to hunt bison, Roosevelt eventually fell in love with the enchanting prairie countryside and would later return to this area amid bouts of grieving.

The solace that Theodore Roosevelt found in this national park is certainly felt by travelers of all backgrounds. The vast open land of Theodore Roosevelt National Park evokes emotion and the solitude of the remote park leaves one alone to sit with their thoughts.

📚 Get Planning: Theodore Roosevelt National Park Website

McKenna Mobley, Senior Travel Writer

Virgin Islands National Park is one of the only Caribbean destinations within the National Park Service. Its white-sand beaches, sparkling blue waters, and vibrant coral reef system are all set against lush tropical forests and historic ruins.

Located in the beautiful US Virgin Islands on St. John, Virgin Islands National Park is a serene paradise where mountainsides of lush tropical forest descend onto stunning beaches before spilling into turquoise bays carpeted with colorful coral reefs.

Perfect for adventurers and beach lovers alike, the park offers a unique combination of exploration and relaxation, with ruins of former sugar plantations dotting the island’s trails and beaches.

📚 Get Planning: Virgin Islands National Park Website,Ultimate Guide to Virgin Islands National Park,15 Epic Hikes on St. John

Andrew Bloem, Senior Travel Writer

An extensive cave system exists in earthen cavities quietly hidden below one of the largest prairies in the USA at Wind Cave National Park. The park is the ideal pit stop on an ultimate tour of South Dakota, in between both Mount Rushmore and Badlands National Park.

The Northern Great Plains meet the Black Hills of South Dakota at Wind Cave National Park. Elevator repairs will limit cave access this year but when available, sign up for a tour at the visitor center to venture into the underworld, deep into the depths of the cavernous cavity.

The national park thrives underground as the seventh-largest cave system in the world, but the above-ground prairie is one of the largest in the USA. The rolling expanse is home to fauna of all shapes and sizes from buffalo and elk to prairie dogs and coyotes.

📚 Get Planning: Wind Cave National Park Website

McKenna Mobley, Senior Travel Writer

Journey to the heart of the South Pacific to visit America’s only national park in the southern hemisphere. American Samoa National Park ignites the senses through an island sea breeze, lush tropical scenery, and tasty local seafood.

Employ a tropical expedition through American Samoa’s rainforest, tropical beach, and vibrant coral reefs. This U.S. territory is made up of ten volcanic islands and is home to Polynesia’s oldest culture.

Both native Samoans and the National Park Service collaborate on preserving the pristine environment and hundreds of plant species. For a local experience, travel to Tutuila, American Samoa’s largest island with ridge views of the deep blue Pago Pago Harbor and dramatic coastline from everywhere on land.

📚 Get Planning: American Samoa National Park Website

McKenna Mobley, Senior Travel Writer

Few places on Earth rival the vast feeling of Gates of the Arctic National Park, a slice of magic in the far north. It’s the ultimate escape for uncultivated wilderness treks with few other people around.

Alaska is untamed. Still, nowhere else in the Last Frontier feels so wild as Gates of the Arctic National Park. If you come here, you’ll feel like you’ve stepped into some forgotten world out of a fantasy novel. Jagged mountains tower skyward. Winding rivers flow towards the distant Arctic Ocean. Tundra stretches for miles upon miles around.

The park is a must for anyone who loves multi-day wilderness treks. Day trips from Fairbanks offer a more accommodating alternative. Either way, the sights awaiting visitors here are well worth the effort!

📚 Get Planning: Gates of the Arctic National Park and Preserve Website,27 Best Places to Visit in Alaska

Matthew Reppond, Freelance Travel Writer

America’s northernmost sand dunes interrupt the tundra in the Kobuk Valley. The Kobuk Valley also offers a glimpse of human life in harmony with the nature of the Far North.

Just when you think you’ve seen everything Alaska has to offer, the state throws you a curveball. In the extreme northwest of the most northwestern state, a sandy desert stretches for 25 square miles. Aside from the surprising sand dunes, the area of the park abounds with caribou and other sub-Arctic wildlife.

The local Inupiat people have lived in harmony with nature here for millennia, harvesting the caribou and salmon. The nearby village of Kotzebue serves as the gateway to this park. Kotzebue’s Northwest Arctic Heritage Center is a great place to get acquainted with the flora, fauna, and folklore of the region.

📚 Get Planning: Kobuk Valley National Park Website,27 Best Places to Visit in Alaska

Matthew Reppond, Freelance Travel Writer

There you have it – the best national parks in the USA, ranked according to data! For more travel inspiration, check our list of the best places to travel in 2024. And for outdoor lovers, don’t miss our hands-on test of the best backpacking backpacks.

This project was a collaborative effort of the Travel Lemming team. We spent weeks building upon our efforts from last year, using the most up-to-date available data to refresh our rankings, and adding new data sources to best represent the true visitor experience at the parks.

In the interest of transparency, below is a detailed breakdown of our methodology for ranking the best national parks in the USA. Overall rankings were calculated based on each park’s average ranking across 7 categories: crowds, reviews, weather, affordability, jobs, accessibility, and biodiversity.  

We intend to continue updating and re-releasing this ranking in the future. If you know of additional or better data sources to include in future rankings, or if you are a journalist who would like more information, please contact us.

Crowds

How we Calculated: Total recreation visits in 2023 (according to the NPS), divided by number of acres ( source: Wikipedia).

Notes & Disclaimers: Our goal was to understand the density of visits per park because larger parks obviously can accommodate more visitors. Note that the number of acres reflects the total size of the park, not just the area actually accessible to visitors.  

Reviews

How we Calculated: Average of user ratings (out of 5) among Google Maps, Yelp, and TripAdvisor, updated to reflect all available reviews.

Notes & Disclaimers: Where multiple parks were tied in a numerical slot, the next numerical ranking down was skipped. For a few parks, a specific TripAdvisor review score was not found. For several parks, an attraction review score was substituted where that attraction’s reviews offer a reasonable proxy for the park as a whole (example: “Mount Rainier” was used as a proxy for “Mount Rainier National Park”). No TripAdvisor score was found for Gates of the Arctic National Park or Virgin Islands National Park, and no proxy was identified, so the average scores for those parks were calculated based on Google Maps and Yelp reviews. 

Weather

How we Calculated:  The average monthly temperature and precipitation were determined based on the nearest NOAA ground station ( NOAA US Climate Normals). Seasonal humidity averages were pulled for each park, predominantly from Current Results but supplemented by data from Wanderlog and Climate Top where necessary. “Comfort Points” were assigned for each park by month using both average temperature and humidity (Fig. 1) based on researched human comfort at various temperature and humidity combinations. The points were summed for a yearly score.

Next, the weather score was adjusted further based on average precipitation, where 5 additional points were subtracted for every month a park fell in the top 10% of National Parks in terms of average amount of precipitation.

Finally, to adjust for the risk of severe weather in addition to mere comfort, a ranking of cloud to ground lightning strikes at the National Parks (combined with supplemented data when necessary from the Lightning Safety Council and the CDC) was used to adjust the score further. The methodology was as follows: if a park was ranked in the top 15 parks with the most cloud to ground lightning strikes, it got a deduction equal to 30 minus its rank. If it scored in the top fifteen (least afflicted) parks, it got an addition of rank minus 32.

Notes & Disclaimers: The weather data had the most extensive methodology change from 2023 to 2024 to better capture the nuances of when guests tend to feel comfortable or uncomfortable outdoors. 

Not every park has a station within it, so we sought to select the closest station to the park containing a complete set of average temperature data from 1991-2020. In addition, lightning and humidity data occasionally required the use of another source, introducing slight potential variability in methods. National parks are large and weather can vary within a park, so this measure is necessarily limited in that respect. 

Affordability

How we Calculated: Affordability was calculated by dividing total visitor spending per park, as reported by the National Park Service, divided by the total number of recreational visits to estimate spending per visitor at each park.

Notes & Disclaimers: Although we feel that our 2024 methodology for Affordability represents a more accurate and specific value for visitor spending, the Visitor Spending Effects data provided by the National Park Service has not been updated since 2022.

Jobs

How we Calculated: This new category added to our 2024 rankings looked at the number of jobs created by each park to capture the overall community and economic impact of each park.

Notes & Disclaimers: It can be difficult to capture some of the abstract value that certain parks hold by being iconic (such as Yellowstone) or by bringing traffic and stability to an otherwise rural or less-visited part of the country. Last year’s rankings did not have any way to estimate this community value, whereas 2024 introduces jobs as a proxy for influence on the community.

Accessibility

How we Calculated: Average of driving distance from each national park to the closest hub airport (source: Wikipedia hub airport list) and driving distance to closest FAA primary airport.

Notes & Disclaimers: By averaging the distance to the nearest primary and hub airport, we get a ranking reflective of how easy it is for visitors around the country to access that park. Parks get a higher ranking for being closer to any FAA primary airport, but also get a higher ranking the closer they are to major airports that are likely to have more and better connections. 

Note that for some parks, the closest primary and hub airport were the same.

Virgin Islands National Park and Channel Islands National Park each require a ferry to access, though the ferry rides are short and are reasonably close to airports. To reflect this, we added a number of miles equal to the number of minutes required for the ferry. 

Four US national parks can be accessed via a primary airport, but cannot be directly accessed from a hub airport: American Samoa National Park, Glacier Bay National Park and Preserve, Hawai’i Volcanoes National Park, and Virgin Islands National Park. These four parks were thus ranked tied in 57th place.

The final three national parks are all in Alaska: Katmai National Park and Preserve, Kobuk Valley National Park, and Lake Clark National Park and Preserve. These national parks cannot be reached at all without special effort like charter aircraft, and thus were ranked tied in 61st place. 

Biodiversity

How we Calculated: Total number of species present or probably present in park, according to the National Park Service Species List.

Notes & Disclaimers: Species data gives us a proxy for the conservation value of a park. Species data was not available for three US national parks: Gateway Arch National Park, Kings Canyon National Park, and Sequoia National Park. These parks were excluded from the Biodiversity rankings, and this subcategory was not used when calculating their overall ranking.

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