North America

National Parks in United States

The United States is home of the world's first national park as well as some of the most renowned national parks that draw people from around the world. There are over 60 protected areas designated as national parks.

Denali National Park

Denali, also called Mount McKinley, is the tallest mountain in North America and the pinnacle attraction of Denali National Park.

North America / United States / Alaska
Everglades National Park

Everglades national park is home to the slowest moving rivers in the world and an ecosystem recognized as a Wetlands of International Importance.

North America / United States / Florida
Grand Canyon National Park

The Grand Canyon is historically the world’s largest canyon. Grand Canyon National Park is the second most visited park in the United States.

North America / United States / Arizona
Great Smoky Mountains National Park

Great Smokey Mountains National Park offers one of the most scenic drives in the country and is the most visited in the United States.

North America / United States / Tennessee
Olympic National Park

Olympic National Park is home to the renowned Hurricane Ridge, Mount Olympus, Hoh Rainforest, and a spectacularly rugged coastline.

North America / United States / Washington
Redwood National Park

Redwood National Park is home to the tallest trees in the world creating one of California's greatest natural attractions.

North America / United States / California
Rocky Mountain National Park

Rocky Mountain National Park features the continental divide, longs peak, and over 60 summits that reach heights over 12,000 feet.

North America / United States / Colorado
White Sands National Park

White Sands National Park in New Mexico represents the largest collection of white gypsum sand dunes in the world.

North America / United States / New Mexico
Yellowstone National Park

Yellowstone National Park is the first national park in the world and renowned for its geothermal features, old faithful, and spectacular wildlife.

North America / United States / Wyoming
Yosemite National Park

Yosemite National Park features El Capitan, half dome, Yosemite Falls, and so much more all from within the 7 square mile Yosemite Valley.

North America / United States / California
Zion National Park

Zion National Park features the Virgin River which has carved out the spectacular Zion Canyon along with the famous Narrows.

North America / United States / Utah
Acadia National Park

Acadia National Park features a stunning coastline and Cadillac Mountain which is the place where the United States first sees the sunrise.

North America / United States / Maine
Arches National Park

Arches National Park has over 2,000 naturally created arches and sandstone rock formations as the most beautiful natural attraction of Utah.

North America / United States / Utah
Badlands National Park

Badlands National Park features some of the most surreal terrains throughout the United States and all of South Dakota.

North America / United States / South Dakota
Big Bend National Park

Big Bend National Park represents arid mountains, canyons, and desert wildlife and has a shared border with Mexico.

North America / United States / Texas
Biscayne National Park

The majority of Biscayne National Park is underwater, but that is the reason to go explore this Florida attraction off the southern tip of the state.

North America / United States / Florida
Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park

Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park deserves every bit of interest that some of its fellow Colorado parks enjoy.

North America / United States / Colorado
Bryce Canyon National Park

Bryce Canyon National Park delivers one of the most stunning Utah landscapes with the hoodoos blanketed amphitheaters.

North America / United States / Utah
Canyonlands National Park

Canyonlands National Park has an abundance of arches, mesas, buttes, and rock formations creating one of Utah's leading attractions.

North America / United States / Utah
Capitol Reef National Park

Capitol Reef National Park presents stunning buttes, canyons, monoliths, and other colorful rock formations as one of Utah's premier attractions.

North America / United States / Utah
Carlsbad Caverns National Park

Carlsbad Caverns National Park features some of the best examples of cavern geological features such as stalactites and stalagmites.

North America / United States / New Mexico
Channel Islands National Park

The Channel Islands National Park is special being home to 145 species that cannot be seen anywhere else in the world.

North America / United States / California
Congaree National Park

Congaree National Park features Champion Trees and the largest collection of bottomland hardwood forests in the US.

North America / United States / South Carolina
Crater Lake National Park

Crater Lake National Park, located in Oregon, is home to the deepest lake in the US and third deepest in the world based on average depth.

North America / United States / Oregon
Cuyahoga Valley National Park

Cuyahoga Valley National Park intertwines nature and history giving Ohio an amazing escape into nature right between major cities.

North America / United States / Ohio
Death Valley National Park

Death Valley National Park is the lowest, driest, and hottest place in the US, but it still delivers an abundance of life and vibrance.

North America / United States / California
Dry Tortugas National Park

Dry Tortugas National Park is a unique national park intersecting history with pristine marine life creating an amazing Florida attraction.

North America / United States / Florida
Gates of the Arctic National Park

Gates of the Arctic National Park is the furthest north national park in the United States and the second-largest in both Alaska and the US.

North America / United States / Alaska
Gateway Arch National Park

Gateway Arch National Park features the tallest arch as well as the tallest steel monument in the world and leading attraction for Missouri.

North America / United States / Missouri
Glacier Bay National Park

Glacier Bay National Park in Alaska is home to over 100 glaciers offering some of the best calving glacier experiences.

North America / United States / Alaska
Glacier National Park

Glacier National Park in Montana is renowned for over 700 lakes scattered across the glorious mountains and pristine wilderness.

North America / United States / Montana
Grand Teton National Park

Grand Teton National Park is home to the renowned Tetons and the magnificent Snake River providing astounding landscapes.

North America / United States / Wyoming
Great Basin National Park

Great Basin National Park features an arch, a cave, and the second tallest mountain in Nevada.

North America / United States / Nevada
Great Sand Dunes National Park

Great Sand Dunes National Park delivers the tallest sand dunes across North America and one of Colorado's popular attractions.

North America / United States / Colorado
Guadalupe Mountains National Park

Guadalupe Mountains National Park is home to Guadalupe Peak which is the tallest mountain in Texas and the iconic El Capitan.

North America / United States / Texas
Haleakala National Park

Haleakala National Park showcases one of the best sunrise views in the world from atop Haleakala mountain in Hawaii.

North America / United States / Hawaii
Hawai'i Volcanoes National Park

Hawaii Volcanoes National Park is home to the largest and most active volcanoes in the world and a leading attraction.

North America / United States / Hawaii
Hot Springs National Park

Hot Springs National Park is renowned for the therapeutic heated baths and is the only Arkansas national park.

North America / United States / Arkansas
Indiana Dunes National Park

Indiana Dunes National Park celebrates Indian's coastal uniqueness along the magnificent Lake Michigan.

North America / United States / Indiana
Isle Royale National Park

Isle Royale National Park is one of the most remote national parks in the US and a natural attraction for Michigan.

North America / United States / Michigan
Joshua Tree National Park

Joshua Tree National Park in California is home to two unique desert ecosystems and the endemic Joshua Trees.

North America / United States / California
Katmai National Park

Katmai National Park is home to the largest population of grizzly bears in the world and one of the best bear viewing spots in Alaska.

North America / United States / Alaska
Kenai Fjords National Park

Kenai Fjords National Park is renowned for Exit Glacier and the abundant fjords that shared the rugged Alaskan coastline.

North America / United States / Alaska
Kings Canyon National Park

Kings Canyon National Park features giant sequoias, a massive canyon, waterfalls, and so much more.

North America / United States / California
Kobuk Valley National Park

Kobuk Valley National Park is the furthest northwest national park in the US and is complete remoteness.

North America / United States / Alaska
Lake Clark National Park

Lake Clark National Park is renowned for the diverse ecosystems and abundance of Alaskan wildlife.

North America / United States / Alaska
Lassen Volcanic National Park

Lassen Volcanic National Park of California is home to Mount Lassen which is the largest plug dome volcano in the world.

North America / United States / California
Mammoth Cave National Park

Mammoth Cave National Park in Kentucky is home to the longest cave system in the world.

North America / United States / Kentucky
Mesa Verde National Park

Mesa Verde National Park features Cliff Palace which is the largest historical cliff dwelling in the United States.

North America / United States / Colorado
Mount Rainier National Park

Mount Rainier National Park features the most glaciated mountain in the lower 48 states and one of the most stunning mountains.

North America / United States / Washington
New River Gorge National Park

New River Gorge National Park in West Virginia features one of the deepest gorge rivers in the Appalachian Mountains.

North America / United States / West Virginia
North Cascades National Park

North Cascades National Park in Washington is often referred to as the "American Alps."

North America / United States / Washington
Petrified Forest National Park

Petrified Forest National Park is home to the largest collection of petrified tree fossils in the US and a leading nature attraction for Arizona.

North America / United States / Arizona
Pinnacles National Park

Pinnacles National Park is home to some of the most unique rock formations in the country and a stellar attraction for California.

North America / United States / California
Saguaro National Park

Saguaro National Park is renowned for the tallest cactus in the United States adding another unique nature attraction for Arizona.

North America / United States / Arizona
Sequoia National Park

Sequoia National Park is home to the largest trees in the world & the tallest mountain in the lower 48 states.

North America / United States / California
Shenandoah National Park

Shenandoah National Park showcases the Blue Ridge Mountains with at least 10 Virginia waterfalls.

North America / United States / Virginia
Theodore Roosevelt National Park

Theodore Roosevelt National Park is the only national park named directly after a person.

North America / United States / North Dakota
Virgin Islands National Park

Virgin Islands National Park delivers pristine beaches, stunning coral reefs, and lush rainforests.

North America / United States
Voyageurs National Park

Voyageurs National Park in Minnesota protects one of the greatest bodies of water in the national park system.

North America / United States / Minnesota
Wind Cave National Park

Wind Cave National Park in South Dakota is the first cave in the world to ever be designated a national park.

North America / United States / South Dakota
Wrangell-St. Elias National Park

Wrangell-St. Elias National Park is the largest national park in the United States as well as the single largest wilderness area.

North America / United States / Alaska

United States National Park FAQs

How many national parks are there in the United States?

There are 62 national parks that are part of the National Park Service.  Two of these national parks are outside the borders of the 50 states.  These two national parks include:

  • American Samoa National Park
  • Virgin Islands National Park

Which state has the most national parks?

California has the most national parks of any state in the country.  California has nine national parksAlaska is second with eight national parks.

What is the largest national park in the United States?

Wrangell-St. Elias National Park in Alaska is the largest national park in the United States. It covers an area of 20,587 square miles (53,321 sq km).  Alaska is home to 7 of the top 10 largest national parks in the United States.  The top 10 largest national parks include:

What is the smallest national park in the United States?

Gateway Arch National Park is the smallest national park in the United States.  It only has an area of .14 square miles (.36 sq km).

What is the most visited national park in the United States?

According to the National Park Service, the Great Smokey Mountains National Park (GSMNP) is the most visited with approximately 12.5 million annual visitors. This is a mostly true statement.  The GSMNP lies between cities and near other popular tourist attractions.  The GSMNP features a major thoroughfare that serves as a transportation route increasing the number of visitors to or through the park.  It can easily be argued that the numbers are inflated to the actual popularity, particularly if you are identifying a national park as a destination.

The Great Smokey Mountains are the most visited national park, and visitors who explore the area will not be disappointed by the natural beauty and splendid escape into nature. The GSMP should not be penalized for its easily accessible location, and it receives the recognition as the most visited national park within the United States.

The Grand Canyon National Park is possibly the most renowned and popular destination in the United States for a national park.  There are almost six million visitors to the Grand Canyon annually.  The majority of these visitors actually select the Grand Canyon as a destination versus visiting passing through a convenient location.

Which state has the greatest percentage of protected federal land?

Utah with its 5 national parks and other federally protected areas protects almost 85% of the land within the state.