The USA is home to 63 national parks that showcase the country’s most stunning natural beauty, adventurous hiking trails, dramatic landscapes and unique geological formations.
You can visit national parks in 30 states and 2 US territories, and some states like Utah and California have multiple parks to explore. So with this many options, how do you choose where to go first? Well, we’ve been to most of the iconic parks and we’re here to help you make your choice.
Our favorite national parks so far include Zion, Arches, Grand Canyon, Yosemite, Yellowstone, Grand Teton and Acadia. But 63 parks is a lot, and even we (as travel bloggers!) haven’t quite seen them all yet. Read more about us.
In this guide we show you 20 unmissable US national parks to add to your bucket list, based on our own experiences. We list in alphabetical order to keep things easy, and you should stick around until the end to learn about which parks are most visited, best for hiking and our personal top 10 ranked. Let’s begin!
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National Parks Map
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Map key:
- Red – National Parks
1. Acadia National Park
- State: Maine
- Town: Bar Harbor
- Time: 2-4 days
- Season: Spring, summer, fall (best in early October)
Acadia National Park is a 50,000-acre recreation area located on Maine’s Atlantic coastline. The park is home to picturesque ponds, lakes, woodland, beaches and granite peaks including Cadillac Mountain, the tallest point along the East Coast. It’s one of the most visited USA national parks with between 3.5-4 million visitors annually, and Bar Harbor’s hotels are right on the doorstep.
We love Acadia. It’s a bit of a pain to reach initially (commonly through Boston airport), but once you arrive the park is so easy to explore. Acadia’s hiking trails are short but adventurous and they always lead to awesome summit views. Two or three days will let you see Acadia’s highlights comfortably and we recommend peak fall foliage season as the best time to visit.
Things to do:
- Watch sunrise at Cadillac Mountain
- Walk the Jordan Pond loop
- See the waves at Thunder Hole
- Drive the Acadia park loop road
- Cycle the carriage roads
- Watch sunset at Bass Harbor Head Lighthouse
Popular hikes:
2. Arches National Park
- State: Utah
- Town: Moab
- Time: 1-2 days
- Season: Year round
Arches National Park comprises 76,500-acres and contains more than 2,000 natural sandstone arches, including Delicate Arch and Landscape Arch. It receives around 1.8 million visitors annually, with higher daily visitor numbers between May and October. You’ll need a timed entry ticket from April 1 through October 31 to visit.
Our favorite hikes in Arches are the adventurous Devils Garden Trail and the stunning Delicate Arch, which is amazing at sunset. They have to be considered as two of Utah’s best trails. Arches is so easy to visit and it’s suitable for everyone, including hikers, photographers and families. And best of all, you can easily see the highlights Arches and Canyonlands in one long day if you’re in a hurry.
Things to do:
- Walk to Landscape Arch
- Hike further to Double O Arch
- Take a tour of Fiery Furnace
- Watch sunrise at The Windows
- Watch sunset at Delicate Arch
- Photograph the Milky Way
- See Balanced Rock
Popular hikes:
3. Badlands National Park
- State: South Dakota
- Town: Wall
- Time: 1 day
- Season: Year round
Badlands National Park is a 244,000-acre landscape in South Dakota. The unique Badlands topography consists of rugged canyons, spires, pinnacles, fossil beds and colorful rock layers. It’s home to many species of wildlife, fun hiking trails and a loop road with several scenic overlooks. Badlands receives around 1 million visitors each year.
We’ve been to Badlands twice and we’d be happy to call the park a hidden gem. It might not be the most attraction heavy park in America, but Badlands is always quiet, it’s very easy to visit and it has incredibly photogenic formations. We like Notch Trail, Yellow Mounds Overlook and seeing Bighorn Sheep up close. You can easily do Badlands in half a day but here are the places you can stay nearby.
Things to do:
- Stop at the many scenic overlooks
- Hike behind the Badlands wall
- Spot the various species of wildlife
Popular hikes:
4. Bryce Canyon National Park
- State: Utah
- Town: Bryce Canyon City
- Time: 1-2 days
- Season: Year round
Bryce Canyon National Park is a 35,835-acre recreation area located on the edge of a plateau in Utah. It’s famous for unique geology and formations including horseshoe-shaped amphitheaters, tall and thin hoodoos, and deep canyon walls. Bryce Canyon receives more than 2 million visitors each year, which is less than half of nearby Zion National Park (here’s how to see Zion and Bryce in 3 days).
We think Bryce Canyon is one of the best bang for your buck parks in the country. It’s small, easy to visit, postcard-perfect and has a couple of great hikes. Our favorite experiences so far are hiking Queens Garden Navajo Loop and photographing sunrise over Bryce Canyon amphitheater. You can see the park’s highlights in half a day or spend a full day for the best photos at sunrise and sunset.
Things to do:
- Hike into Bryce amphitheater
- Photograph sunrises and sunsets
- Drive Bryce Canyon scenic road
Popular hikes:
5. Cuyahoga Valley National Park
- State: Ohio
- Town: Peninsula
- Time: 1 day
- Season: Year round
Cuyahoga Valley National Park is a 33,000-acre park located along the Cuyahoga River between Akron and Cleveland in Ohio. Entrance to the park is free, but visitors can donate to support conservancy. You’ll find waterfall hikes, a towpath following the Ohio and Erie Canal, and a fun trail for families with older kids called Ledges. Cuyahoga Valley receives close to 3 million visits annually.
We’ll be the first to admit that Cuyahoga Valley isn’t one of the best USA national parks in terms of majestic canyons or world famous hikes. But it’s easily accessible for millions who live near the southern shores of Lake Erie. It’s not always about the landscapes, sometimes it’s about accessibility. We saw the park’s highlights in half a day and enjoyed Ledges the most.
Things to do:
- Walk to Brandywine Falls
- Explore the fun Ledges area
- See Blue Hen Falls
- Ride the Cuyahoga Valley Scenic Railroad
Popular hikes:
6. Death Valley National Park
- State: California
- Town: Furnace Creek
- Time: 2-4 days
- Season: Fall, winter, spring
Death Valley National Park is the largest national park in the contiguous United States, covering more than 3.4 million acres of hostile desert on the border between California and Nevada. The park is known for dramatic mountains, canyons, sand dunes, colorful rocks, a ghost town and Badwater Basin – the lowest point in North America. Between 1-1.5 million people visit Death Valley each year.
We’ve been to Death Valley in November and December and we have to say it’s a mightily impressive landscape. There’s so much to do, but it’s all spread out over a huge expanse. Golden Canyon is our favorite hike but driving Titus Canyon is our favorite experience to date. Day tripping from Las Vegas to Death Valley is common, but we recommend you spend at least 2 days in the park if it’s your first time.
Things to do:
- Walk the salt flats on Badwater Basin
- Hike unique desert trails
- Drive through Titus Canyon
- See Rhyolite Ghost Town
- Watch sunrise at Zabriskie Point
- Watch sunset on Mesquite Sand Dunes
- Drive to Dantes View
Popular hikes:
7. Denali National Park And Preserve
- State: Alaska
- Town: Healy
- Time: 2-3 days
- Season: Spring, summer, fall (best in summer)
Denali National Park and Preserve is a 6.1 million-acre wilderness area in Alaska. It’s centered around Denali, formerly Mount McKinley, North America’s tallest peak at 20,310 feet above sea level. Denali is home to grizzly bears, moose, caribou and wolves who live among its glaciers, forests, tundra and dramatic mountains. The park receives just 600,000 visitors annually.
We’re yet to visit Denali but it’s on our radar for the next few years, along with Kenai Fjords, Katmai and Wrangell-St Elias in Alaska. If you’re making the effort to go to Alaska, try to encompass as many parks as possible into your trip. You’d need to book internal flights and hire a car to get around, so it’s definitely an organizational nightmare, but it’d be well worth it!
Things to do:
- Photograph Denali
- Hike the trails
- Search for wildlife
- Cycle Denali’s only road
- Go flightseeing
Popular hikes:
8. Glacier National Park
- State: Montana
- Town: Whitefish
- Time: 2-4 days
- Season: Spring, summer, fall (best late June-mid September)
Glacier National Park is a 1 million-acre wilderness area in Montana’s Rocky Mountains near the border with Canada. The park is known for rugged mountain peaks, alpine lakes, wildlife, hiking trails and glacier carved valleys. Almost 3 million people visit Glacier each year, which makes it one of the most popular USA national parks. Three days is enough time to hike the major trails.
Glacier is one of two major national parks we haven’t yet had chance to visit, the other being Rocky Mountain. They’re top of our own bucket list. If you’re visiting Yellowstone and Grand Teton, we highly recommend you include Glacier into a longer road trip itinerary because it’s regarded by many as one of the most visually stunning landscapes in America.
Things to do:
- Hike the famous trails
- Drive Going-to-the-Sun road
- Boating and fishing
- Cycle through Glacier
- Photograph the landscape
Popular hikes:
9. Grand Canyon National Park
- State: Arizona
- Town: Tusayan
- Time: 1-3 days
- Season: Year round
Grand Canyon National Park comprises 1.2 million acres of the immense Grand Canyon in Arizona. The park consists of North Rim and South Rim, which are located on opposite sides of the 18-mile wide canyon and are separated by the Colorado River. Grand Canyon is typically the second most visited national park in the US each year, and it has some seriously amazing hikes.
The Grand Canyon is one of very few places that genuinely made us say wow. Our favorite experiences to date include hiking Rim-to-River, Mather Point at sunrise and Hopi Point at sunset. We love how easy it is to visit South Rim and we recommend tying it in with a visit to Sedona. You can see South Rim’s highlights in a day but you’ll need 2-3 days for the major hikes.
Things to do:
- Hiking amazing trails
- Mule rides into the canyon
- Whitewater rafting on the Colorado River
- Sunrise and sunset photography
- Drive to Desert View Watchtower
- Visit Yavapai Point Geology Museum
Popular hikes:
- Bright Angel Trail
- South Kaibab Trail
- South Rim Trail
- Rim to River Trail
- Rim to Rim Trail
10. Grand Teton National Park
- State: Wyoming
- Town: Jackson
- Time: 1-3 days
- Season: Year round (best May-October)
Grand Teton National Park is a 310,000-acre recreation area in northwest Wyoming. It’s known for lush meadows, alpine lakes, wildlife and the rugged snow capped peaks of the Teton Range. The park receives around 3 million visitors each year and is often combined with nearby Yellowstone National Park. You can see Grand Teton’s highlights in one day, but we recommend 2 days if it’s your first visit.
We think Grand Teton is one of the best overall USA national parks because it’s compact and easy to visit, has excellent hikes and opportunities to see wildlife, it’s attraction heavy and it has some of the most beautiful scenery in the country. Mormon Row and Schwabacher Landing are two of our favorite sunrise photo spots to date. Put simply, Grand Teton is unmissable.
Things to do:
- Swim and boat in Jenny Lake
- Hike the many trails
- Drive to Signal Mountain vista
- Photograph Mormon Row at sunrise
- See Schwabacher Landing at sunrise
- Visit Chapel of the Transfiguration
Popular hikes:
11. Great Smoky Mountains National Park
- State: Tennessee / North Carolina
- Town: Gatlinburg
- Time: 3-4 days
- Season: Year round (best in fall)
Great Smoky Mountains National Park is a 522,427-acre recreation area straddling the border between North Carolina and Tennessee. It’s known for hiking trails, forests, wildflowers, waterfalls and rolling hills covered in layers of dense fog. Great Smoky Mountains is the most visited USA national park by some distance, receiving almost 13 million visitors in 2022 alone.
The Smokies are easy to access for millions of Americans who live major urban areas like Nashville, Atlanta and Charlotte. We couldn’t believe how busy Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge were when we visited! There’s so many hikes and waterfalls to see, so you’ll need at least 3 days to tick off some of the highlights. Next time we’re in the Smokies, we’ll hike to Mount LeConte.
Things to do:
- Drive Newfound Gap Road
- Try some of the many hiking trails
- Sunrise photography with misty hills
- Enjoy vibrant fall foliage colors
Popular hikes:
12. Hawaii Volcanoes National Park
- State: Hawaii
- Town: Volcano
- Time: 1-2 days
- Season: Year round (best in winter)
Hawaii Volcanoes National Park is a 345,000-acre recreation area located on the Big Island of Hawaii. It contains two active volcanoes, Mauna Loa and Kilauea, which are just 25 miles apart. More than 1.5 million tourists visited Hawaii Volcanoes in 2022. The park’s highlights can be seen in one day, but we recommend two full days so you can explore further.
Hawaii’s two national parks, Haleakala and Hawaii Volcanoes, are high on our list of priorities. We can’t wait to hike Kilauea Iki Trail and see lava glow as it bubbles against a dark night sky. Maui is the more popular tourist destination, and that’s where you’ll visit Haleakala. But we recommend you also fly into Hilo to see Hawaii Volcanoes if you have time.
Things to do:
- Walk around the Crater Rim
- See lava bubbling and spewing
- Visit Thurston Lava Tube (Nahuku)
- Photograph Holei Sea Arch
- See the Steam Vents
- Drive Chain of Craters Road
Popular hikes:
13. Joshua Tree National Park
- State: California
- Town: Joshua Tree
- Time: 1-2 days
- Season: Year round (best spring and fall)
Joshua Tree National Park is a 794,000-acre desert landscape in southern California. It’s known for stargazing, cacti, large boulders, sunsets and twisting Joshua trees. The park receives over 3 million visitors each year and can be visited in one or two days. It’s easy to reach from San Diego, Los Angeles, Las Vegas and Phoenix.
We spent a fantastic full day exploring Joshua Tree National Park in November 2019. Hiking Hidden Valley, Ryan Mountain and Lost Horse Mine, along with driving to Keys View and Cholla Cactus Garden were our favorite experiences. We recommend visiting Joshua Tree in spring when wildflowers are in bloom and temperatures are comfortable.
Things to do:
- Walk the many easy trails
- Climb up to Ryan Mountain
- Walk to Barker Dam
- Drive to Keys View
- See the cacti in Cholla Cactus Garden
- See Skull Rock
Popular hikes:
14. Mount Rainier National Park
- State: Washington
- Town: Paradise
- Time: 3-4 days
- Season: Spring-fall (best July-September)
Mount Rainier National Park is a 236,000-acre wilderness area located to the southeast of Seattle in Washington State. It’s known for lush meadows, wildflowers, glaciers, hiking trails, waterfalls and wildlife. The park is centered around 14,410 ft tall Mount Rainier, the highest volcanic peak in the lower 48 states. More than 2 million tourists visited Mt Rainier in 2022.
We lived in Washington for 6 months in 2021 and we spent many weekends hiking in Mt Rainier. It’s Kristen’s favorite national park because of its immense natural beauty, amazing hikes and spectacular views. We recommend visiting between mid-July and the end of September when trails are snow free. It isn’t the easiest to explore thanks to 5 different regions, but it’s certainly an unmissable landscape.
Things to do:
- Tick off hiking trails
- See vibrant wildflowers
- Photograph Mt Rainier
- Visit waterfalls
Popular hikes:
15. Olympic National Park
- State: Washington
- Town: Port Angeles
- Time: 3-5 days
- Season: Year round
Olympic National Park is a 923,000-acre recreation area located on the Olympic Peninsula in northwest Washington. It’s known for dramatic mountains, old-growth forests, temperate rainforests, beaches on the Pacific coastline and hiking trails. The park receives around 2.5 million visitors annually. You’ll need 3 or 4 days to see the highlights because Olympic’s top attractions are scattered across the peninsula.
We spent 4 days looping around the Olympic Peninsula, stopping in at the top attractions like Staircase, Hurricane Ridge, the beaches near Forks, Lake Quinault and the Hoh Rainforest. It’s such a fun and diverse place to explore, but it takes time and requires effective planning. Our favorite hike is Mount Storm King, but we loved walking through moss clad trees in Staircase and Hoh Rainforest.
Things to do:
- Visit each region of the park
- Watch sunset from Rialto Beach
- Walk through Hoh Rainforest
- Hike the wide range of landscapes
Popular hikes:
16. Rocky Mountain National Park
- State: Colorado
- Town: Estes Park
- Time: 3-4 days
- Season: June-September
Rocky Mountain National Park comprises 266,000 acres of spectacular scenery in northeast Colorado. It’s known for lakes, forests, hiking trails and mountains over 12,000 feet high. The park received 4.3 million visitors in 2022, making it one of the most visited USA national parks. You’ll need at least 3 or 4 days to see the highlights, hike the best trails and drive the scenic roads.
We’re desperate to go to Rocky Mountain! It has everything we enjoy most about national parks in the USA, including amazing hikes, striking landscape photography opportunities, wildlife and scenic drives. If you want to combine Rocky Mountain with other Colorado parks, remember that Black Canyon of the Gunnison and Great Sand Dunes aren’t too far away.
Things to do:
- Hike awesome trails
- Drive Trail Ridge Road
- Drive Old Fall River Road
- Look for wildlife
- See lakes and waterfalls
Popular hikes:
17. Shenandoah National Park
- State: Virginia
- Town: Front Royal
- Time: 2-3 days
- Season: Spring, summer, fall
Shenandoah National Park is a 197,000-acre recreation area in Virginia’s Blue Ridge Mountains. It’s known for expansive forests, rocky peaks, fall foliage colors, the Skyline Drive and the Appalachian Trail. The park receives around 1.5 million visitors annually. You’ll need 2 or 3 days to see the highlights depending on how many trails you want to hike and fall is the best time to visit because of vibrant foliage.
Shenandoah is one of the parks that surprised us the most, in a good way. We spent 4 full days hiking fun trails like Bearfence Mountain, Hawksbill Loop, Stony Man and of course Old Rag, which is by far the best hike in Shenandoah. You have to get a permit to hike Old Rag and it’s a pain to reach the trailhead, but it’s well worth the effort if you enjoy adventure hikes.
Things to do:
- Drive the Skyline Drive
- Hike scenic trails
- Spend a day hiking Old Rag
- Stay in a park lodge
- Photograph sunrises and sunsets
- Walk through Luray Caverns
Popular hikes:
18. Yellowstone National Park
- State: Wyoming
- Town: West Yellowstone
- Time: 3-4 days
- Season: Year round (best May-October)
Yellowstone National Park encompasses 2.2 million acres in Wyoming, Montana and Idaho. It’s known for geysers, hot springs, mud pots, rivers, forests, canyons, waterfalls and an abundance of wildlife. The park received around 4 million visitors in 2023. You’ll need 3 or 4 days to see the highlights like Old Faithful, Grand Prismatic Spring, Lamar Valley and Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone if it’s your first visit.
We’ve spent 8 full days in Yellowstone across visits in April and October. It’s one of our favorite USA national parks because it’s a completely unique experience. Where else can you see such a display of geothermal features with wildlife, hikes and waterfalls? You can’t, Yellowstone is one of a kind. We recommend Yellowstone as a top 5 landscape for your bucket list.
Things to do:
- Watch Old Faithful erupt
- Walk around astounding geyser basins
- See Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone
- Photograph Lower Falls
- Spot wildlife in Lamar Valley or Hayden Valley
- See the terraces at Mammoth Hot Springs
Popular hikes:
19. Yosemite National Park
- State: California
- Town: Yosemite Valley
- Time: 3-4 days
- Season: Year round (best May-October)
Yosemite National Park is a 748,000-acre wilderness area in the Sierra Nevada Mountains of east-central California. It’s known for granite cliffs and domes, lush valleys, waterfalls and giant sequoias. The park receives around 4 million visitors each year and you’ll need 3 days to see the highlights if it’s your first visit. Apply in advance for a permit if you want to hike Half Dome.
We love Yosemite’s outstanding natural beauty, challenging hikes and spectacular landscapes. We visited in fall when the water levels were low but the colors were stunning. We’ll go back again when we get a Half Dome permit, but so far it’s 5 years and counting without a win! Ideally, our next visit to Yosemite will be in May when the park is quieter and the water volume is high.
Things to do:
- Photograph Yosemite Valley from Tunnel View
- Hike Mist Trail to Vernal and Nevada Falls
- Hike to Half Dome if you get a permit
- Explore Giant Sequoia Groves
- Drive to Glacier Point
- Drive along Tioga Pass Road
Popular hikes:
20. Zion National Park
- State: Utah
- Town: Springdale
- Time: 1-4 days
- Season: Year round
Zion National Park is a 149,000-acre wilderness area in southwest Utah. It’s known for steep red cliffs, deep canyons, dramatic scenery and adventure hikes. The park receives 4-5 million visitors each year. You can see Zion in one day if you’re not a big hiker or you’re visiting with younger kids. But avid hikers should plan for 3-4 days to tick off bucket list trails like Angels Landing, The Narrows and The Subway.
We’ve spent 8 memorable days in the park so far. It’s unquestionably one of our favorites because Zion’s hiking trails are so unique, adventurous and thrilling. We hiked to Angels Landing for sunrise and had it to ourselves, we day hiked The Narrows all the way to Big Springs and we hiked to The Subway. Zion is all about hiking, so put it in the top slot of your bucket list if you love to hike!
Things to do:
- Hike Zion Canyon’s adventure trails
- Visit the quieter Kolob Canyons area
- Photograph sunrises and sunsets
- Watch sunset at Canyon Overlook
Popular hikes:
Top 10’s
What Are The Most Visited US National Parks?
According to World Atlas, the 10 most visited national parks in the USA in 2022 were as follows (with number of visitors in millions):
- Great Smoky Mountains (12.94)
- Grand Canyon (4.73)
- Zion (4.69)
- Rocky Mountain (4.30)
- Acadia (3.97)
- Yosemite (3.67)
- Yellowstone (3.29)
- Joshua Tree (3.06)
- Cuyahoga Valley (2.91)
- Glacier (2.91)
What Are The Best US National Parks For Hiking?
According to users of AllTrails, the 10 top rated national parks in the USA for hiking are as follows:
- Zion
- Bryce Canyon
- Rocky Mountain
- Mount Rainier
- Yosemite
- Glacier
- Arches
- Great Smoky Mountains
- Acadia
- Shenandoah
Our Personal Top 10
It’s almost impossible for us to tell you what the best USA national parks are because it’s just too subjective. Our favorite might be your 8th favorite or 19th favorite. But for arguments sake, we’re going to show you our personal top 10 favorite US national parks ranked in order.
- Mount Rainier
- Yosemite
- Grand Canyon
- Zion
- Yellowstone
- Acadia
- Grand Teton
- Arches
- Olympic
- Shenandoah
(We’re sure that Rocky Mountain and Glacier will disrupt our current rankings once we finally get around to ticking them off our own bucket list.)
Don’t agree? Let us know your favorite national parks in America in the comments below!
We hope our take on the best USA national parks helps with planning your upcoming travels!
Please let us know if you have any questions in the comments below.
Happy Travels,
Mark and Kristen
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Mark and Kristen spent 6 years traveling the world, visiting over 40 countries across 4 continents and more than 30 US states. They created Where Are Those Morgans in 2018 to help others plan the best possible vacations by writing authentic travel and hiking guides based on their real experiences.
Since the arrival of baby Maya in late 2024, Mark and Kristen’s extensive travels have slowed down but they still take plenty of trips. Where Are Those Morgans now helps millions of travelers each year to visit new places and hike new trails through information-packed blog posts and expert travel guidebooks. Read more about Mark and Kristen.