We have had the good fortune of visiting the best national parks in the USA from the south of the Equator to the Arctic Circle. We haven’t been to them all, but we have seen a lot of the best national parks in America. There are 63 national parks in the United States and we’re rounding up the best and most beautiful that you should add to your bucket list. From the most visited national park to the most famous national parks, you’ll be armed with a list of beautiful places to visit in the United States for your summer holidays.
The Best National Parks in the USA
Besides the 63 specifically designated national parks in the USA, there are a total of 423 National Parks Sites. This designation includes places like national historic sites, national memorials, national historic parks, national battlefields, or a national historic landmark. A list of 423 places would make for a very long read, so today, we are going to focus on the best-protected areas of land that are officially dedicated as National Parks in America.
We can thank early settlers of the United States for having the foresight to protect these beautiful lands. The first National Park in the world was in the United States. Yellowstone National Park was dedicated by President Ulysses S. Grant on March 1, 1872. It was the birthplace of the national park system and after that, many countries and states followed suit.
The Best National Parks in America
The above Mesa Verde National Park is one of the coolest national parks in America that is famous for its ancient ancestral Puebloan cliff dwellings and protected archaeological sights. Located in Colorado, this is one of the best places to visit in Colorado.
We have spent a lot of time in America visiting its national parks. Be it on an Alaskan cruise, going to Everglades in Florida, or popping into Smoky Mountains National Park on our way to Florida. It’s not hard to see a national park in the US, the national parks system covers 84.6 million acres of land. So chances are, no matter where you may be, you’ll be close to a protected area.
So, let’s get on with our list of the most beautiful and best national parks in the USA.
1. Yellowstone National Park – Wyoming
Yellowstone National Park was made for tourists. It’s no wonder Yellowstone was the first national park in the world. With the greatest concentration of geysers on earth, mud pools, waterfalls, and an abundance of wildlife, you’ll fall in love with Yellowstone. With herds of bison roaming free, this national park is one of the best national parks in America for wildlife spotting.
There is a reason it was named the first on earth and the designation of Yellowstone National Park also sparked the creation of the National Park Service in 1916. Today, the National Park Service oversees 84 million acres of America’s national parks and Yellowstone is one of the most visited national parks of them all. Check out Best Hikes in Yellowstone
Things to do in Yellowstone
Most of the attractions of Yellowstone National Park are located directly off Grand Loop Road with the stars being the Grand Prismatic Spring, and Upper Geyser Basin featuring Old Faithful and Morning Glory Pool. Make your way to the visitor center to find out when Old Faithful is going to erupt and then once you’ve seen the spectacle, take a hike to see all the geysers of the upper geyser basin. Read our guide to visiting Grand Prismatic Spring: The Essential Guide to Grand Prismatic Spring, Yellowstone
Many springs and geysers are accessible and easy to walk to but there are several hiking trails throughout the park. There is spectacular wildlife viewing in Hayden Valley and Lamar Valley and there are glorious lookouts throughout the park. Read more: Things to do in Yellowstone
Where to Stay in Yellowstone National Park
Yellowstone national park attracts nearly 5 million visitors each year making it one of the most visited of America’s national parks so to really take it all in, we suggest spending 3 days at Yellowstone.
There are several lodges within Yellowstone National Park and in the surrounding communities of Cody, West Yellowstone, Gardiner, Cook City, and Big Sky. Our picks to get you started are:
2. Grand Canyon National Park – Arizona
Grand Canyon National Park is the most famous of all the national parks in the USA, and it lives up to the hype. I didn’t expect it to take my breath away but the Grand Canyon truly did. Standing at the south rim overlooking the Colorado River felt like we were staring into a huge photograph.
A UNESCO World Heritage Site, Grand Canyon National Park encompasses 1,218,375 acres and the Grand Canyon is 6000 feet deep at its deepest point. It is massive. With the Colorado River cut through the landscape millions of years ago creating one of the largest canyons on earth. Read more: Facts about the Grand Canyon
Things to do in the Grand Canyon
Grand Canyon national park is a mecca for whitewater rafting down the Colorado River But there is also hiking, horseback riding, waterfalls, and the Grand Canyon Skywalk for panoramic views.
The Grand Canyon visitor center is located on the south rim and park rangers are on hand to answer any questions. There are three main sections of the South Rim to explore, The Rim Trail, Hermit Road and Desert View Drive. They are all easily accessible for taking scenic drives and shuttle busses are on hand to transport visitors from the Visitor Center to the trailheads. Read more about Grand Canyon National Park The Absolute Best Things to do in The Grand Canyon
Where to Stay in Grand Canyon National Park
Even though one can get a glimpse of the Grand Canyon’s beauty in one day, staying there for a few days lets you make the most out of your trip by allowing you the time to experience its beautiful sunrises, its hiking trails, and extraordinary viewpoints.
Grand Canyon National Park is divided into 4 major areas: The South Rim, North Rim, Grand Canyon East, and West Grand Canyon. Each area is unique and provides its guests with diverse experiences so it is good to stay in one of these areas or the nearby villages of Valles, Williams, and Tusayan. Read our complete article Where to Stay At The Grand Canyon: Best Hotels And Areas For Every Budget
3. Yosemite National Park – California
Oh Yosemite National Park, what can say about this mother of all US national parks? Yosemite was first put on our radar in college when we bought an Ansel Adams print and said “I want to go there one day.” His black and white images of Yosemite Valley and Sequoia Tress inspired Dave’s photography and when we finally did visit, Dave recreated many of his favorite scenes by Ansel Adams.
Things to do in Yosemite
With iconic rock faces like El Capitan and Half Dome, impressive waterfalls, backcountry hikes, and gorgeous lookouts, Yosemite national park is one of the best national parks to visit in America. One of the most iconic scenes in Yosemite is the view from Tunnel View Lookout which showcases the famous panoramic view of Yosemite Valley. It is worth spending a few days hiking and exploring this beauty. Read more: Things to do in Yosemite
Location 3 hours east of San Francisco, Yosemite National Park is one of the most famous parks in the united states and is known as a rock climber’s mecca.
Where to stay near Yosemite National Park
Yosemite national park is one of the most beautiful national parks in the USA. With 1,200 square miles of heaven on earth you’ll need some time to really enjoy its beauty so make sure to select a hotel nearby so you can easily explore all of the corners of one of the best national parks in the USA.
4. Zion National Park – Utah
Zion National Park is the star of Utah’s National Parks. It was the first of Utah’s national parks and one of the most beautiful national parks in America thanks to its incredible rock formations. It’s no wonder it is the second most visited national park in the USA.
There are five national parks in the state known as the Mighty Five and we are going to cover a few more in this post. The others are Bryce Canyon National Park, Arches National Park, Capitol Reef National Park, and Canyonlands National Park.
Things to do in Zion
If you only have a short time in Zion National Park, take the free shuttle bus to stops along the Zion Canyon Scenic Drive. But this is a national park that requires time. From canyoneering to rock climbing and horseback riding to hiking, Zion National Park has plenty to keep the adventurous busy so we suggest staying overnight nearby.
Some of the main attractions to see in Zion National Park are the Weeping Rock and the Lower Emerald Pools. Be sure to take a scenic drive along the hair-raising Zion-Mount Carmel Highway. Read more: 12 Best Hikes in Zion National Park, Utah
Where to Stay in Zion National Park
There are a lot of areas to choose from that cater to different styles and needs, and there are plenty of hotels for every type of budget level. Here’s a breakdown of where to stay in Zion National Park. Zion National Park Lodge is the closest lodge to Zion National Park and you can also stay at the nearby communities of Springdale, Hildale, Hurricane, St. George or Cedar City. Read our complete guide to where to stay in Zion National Park: Where to Stay in Zion National Park – The Complete Guide
5. Denali National Park – Alaska
Alaska is the final frontier of the United States and the place to really be able to experience Alaska with ease is in Denali National Park. This is one national park for the bucket list. We have had the luxury of visiting Denali National Park three times and each time it surprises us with something new.
From incredible grizzly bear spottings to Denali sheep looking on from high mountains and taking a scenic flight over Mount Denali to see the mammoth 6190 meter high (20,310 feet) mountain from above.
With a whopping 6 million acres of preserved wilderness, Denali National Park houses the highest peak in the Americas. Believe it or not, Denali isn’t the largest park in the entire National Park System, that trophy goes to another Alaskan national park, Wrangell-St. Elias National Park & Preserve.
You can stay right in the national park and take day trips and organized tours to see its beauty. We visited Denali as part of a land tour on our Alaskan Cruises. Read more Things to do in Alaska
6. Glacier Bay National Park – Alaska
Glacier Bay is a spectacular national park spanning 3.3 million acres of untamed wilderness, massive glaciers, and temperate rainforest. Seeing this beauty by ship is something everyone should add to their bucket list. With an abundance of wildlife, whale and bald eagle spotting is a daily occurrence.
And being surrounded by fjords and mountains as grizzly bears walk along the shore is truly a once-in-a-lifetime experience. Read more: The Ultimate Alaskan Cruise Through Glacier Country
Best Way to See Glacier Bay
If you want to even go more remote in Alaska, you can visit the Gates of the Arctic National Park & Preserve. It is the least visited national park in the USA and for good reason. It’s located way up in Northern Alaska and the only way in is by flying. We haven’t visited this yet, but we’ve come close at Innuvik National Park in Canada.
The only way to see this spectacular park is on a cruise. We have visited this bay on three different occasions with a Princess Cruise, Holland America Cruise, and a small ship cruise with UnCruise. Each time we see it, it never disappoints.
7. American Samoa National Park – American Samoa
Well, American Samoa may not be in the United States proper, but we must include it in our round up because it is the second least visited national park in America. It is the exact opposite of the Gates of the Arctic National Park & Preserve. Located way down in the South Pacific, we had the chance to visit this national park while on a South Pacific Cruise.
Here’s a cool fact, it is the only American national park service site located south of the equator. If you have the chance to visit this national park do it! Read more: What to Expect on a South Pacific Cruise
8. Great Smoky Mountains National Park – Tennessee and North Carolina
Going from the least visited of US National Parks, it is fitting to go to the most visited national park in the US. One would think that Yellowstone National Park would be the most visited National Park in the USA, but surprisingly the Great Smoky Mountains National Park is the most visited national park in America. It seems that Yosemite or even Grand Canyon National Park would have more visitors, but when you think about it, The Great Smoky Mountains National Park makes sense.
In fact, it was the first national park in America that I ever visited. Many a snowbird makes their way to Florida crossing through the Appalachian Mountains of Tennessee and North Carolina. It was during our annual pilgrimage from Canada to Florida that my family stopped to see Great Smoky Mountain National Park and millions of others have done the same.
9. Isle Royale National Park – Michigan
Before we move on to more traditional US national parks, I have one more of the least visited national parks in the USA to share with you. Isle Royal is located way up north near Canada in the middle of Lake Superior. Dave and I have had a lot of chances to explore the shores of the largest of the Great Lakes and going out to the islands of Lake Superior is a very special experience. Read: Lake Superior Circle Tour – Ultimate Two Week Itinerary
It is one of the most remote national parks in the USA offering a true wilderness experience for visitors. It has an array of wildlife that includes moose, wolves and beavers.
Isle Royal National Park is known for its dense forests, crystal-clear lakes, and rugged cliffs. Visitors can enjoy scenic hiking trails, paddling trips, and boat tours that offer breathtaking views of the Lake Superior coastline and pristine waters. Read more: 21 Best Places to Visit in Michigan
10. Dry Tortugas National Park – Florida
While we are on the subject of remote national parks in the United States, Dry Tortugas in Florida, just might be the most isolated. Located (113km) 70 miles from Key West in the middle of the Gulf of Mexico, The Dry Tortugas can only be reached by boat or sea plane. It is an easy day trip from Key West with tours leaving daily.
It was used as a fort between 1845 and 1876 to defend during the Spanish American War. You can take a day trip out to explore the island and beautiful sandy beaches and you can even camp overnight on Garden Key. Read more: Things to do in Key West
11. Haleakala National Park – Maui
Moving from one remote American destination in Alaska to the center of the Pacific Ocean, we take you to Haleakala National Park on Maui. Meaning, the House of the Sun in Hawaiian, Haleakala National Park is only 47 sq miles, but is a little slice of heaven.
From hiking to the top of the Haleakala crater for sunrise to hiking to the bamboo forest and high waterfalls on the Pipiwai Trail, this national park is one of the main reasons to visit Maui. Read more: 17 of the Best Road To Hana Stops – With Video
12. Grand Teton National Park – Wyoming
When visiting Yellowstone National Park, you can see Grand Teton National Park in the distance. Grand Teton is another one of the best national parks in America. Grand Teton National Park is easily combined with a trip to Yellowstone so make sure to add it to your list of the best national parks in the USA.
In fact, I think this national park is in the top 10 most visited national parks because of its close proximity to Yellowstone. Many people come from around the world to see Old Faithful, so why not check off another state and national park during your trip? Read more: 15 Best Hikes in Grand Teton National Park
13. Joshua Tree National Park – California
Joshua Tree National Park is the coolest of the cool. Located 2 hours East of Los Angeles, Joshua Tree NP is where the Mojave and Colorado Deserts meet. The park came by its name from the early settlers in the 1800s who named the strange-looking trees that graced the landscape after a bible story.
The trees reminded them of Joshua raising his hands to the sky in prayer. These slow growing trees are hundreds of years old and fascinating to look at. But there is a lot more to do in the park with some fantastic hikes, scrambling through rock formations and climbing and bouldering. See more about this national park at 11 Best Hikes in Joshua Tree National Park
14. Death Valley National Park – Nevada and California
Death Valley National Park is the hottest and driest national park on earth. In fact it is the hottest and driest place on earth period. With an elevation of 282 feet below sea level, it is also the lowest point in all of North America. Death Valley National Park is beautiful, but man it is hot!
Make sure you have plenty of water and stay covered when visiting this national park where 110 degrees is the norm. But it certainly goes higher reaching 127 degrees. With a lunar landscape spanning 3000 square miles (7800km) Death Valley National Park can be deadly.
How Death Valley Got its Name
