If you’ve always wanted to travel the world, but can’t due to a wide range of reasons from financial constraints to the inability to go too far from home, explore USA national parks instead.
After all, they’re probably just a bus or train ride away.
Each national park contributes to the rich tapestry of America’s natural wonders, providing visitors with unforgettable experiences and opportunities to connect with nature.
Whether you’re looking to spend time by the beach or lake, go on a casual stroll or embark in a challenging hike, or discover breathtaking landscapes, unique geological features, and opportunities for outdoor exploration… you won’t get disappointed by USA national parks.
As of 2024, the National Park System ensures these parks are clean, safe, and well-preserved for next generations to come. I advise you to visit NPS once you’ve decided which park you plan to explore – NPS has the most updated info about road closures, weather conditions, and other similar conditions that could greatly affect your trip.
Acadia National Park
Rugged coastal beauty meets dense forests and granite peaks.
Location: Bar Harbor, Maine
Top Attractions: Cadillac Mountain, Jordan Pond, Thunder Hole
Arches National Park
A surreal landscape of over 2,000 natural stone arches, fins, and balanced rocks.
Location: Moab, Utah
Top Attractions: Delicate Arch, Landscape Arch, Balanced Rock
Badlands National Park
Otherworldly terrain featuring layered rock formations and colorful canyons.
Location: Interior, South Dakota
Top Attractions: Badlands Loop Road, Notch Trail, Big Badlands Overlook
Big Bend National Park
Vast desert and mountain landscapes along the Rio Grande.
Location: Alpine, Texas
Top Attractions: Santa Elena Canyon, Lost Mine Trail, Chisos Basin
Biscayne National Park
Underwater wonderland protecting Biscayne Bay and its coral reefs.
Location: Homestead, Florida
Top Attractions: Snorkeling at Boca Chita Key, Maritime Heritage Trail, Dante Fascell Visitor Center
Black Canyon of the Gunnison
Steep, dark canyons carved by the Gunnison River.
Location: Montrose, Colorado
Top Attractions: Painted Wall, South Rim Road, Warner Point
Bryce Canyon National Park
A fairyland of red rock spires and hoodoos.
Location: Bryce, Utah
Top Attractions: Bryce Amphitheater, Navajo Loop Trail, Sunrise Point
Canyonlands National Park
A vast wilderness of deep canyons carved by the Colorado River.
Location: Moab, Utah
Top Attractions: Island in the Sky, Mesa Arch, The Needles
Capitol Reef National Park
A rugged and remote area of canyons, domes, and bridges.
Location: Torrey, Utah
Top Attractions: Scenic Drive, Capitol Gorge Trail, Hickman Bridge Trail
Carlsbad Caverns National Park
An underground wonderland of massive caves adorned with stalactites and stalagmites.
Location: Carlsbad, New Mexico
Top Attractions: Big Room, King’s Palace Tour, Natural Entrance Trail
Channel Islands National Park
A stunning archipelago with rich marine life, sea caves, and unique flora.
Location: Ventura, California
Top Attractions: Anacapa Island, Scorpion Anchorage, Inspiration Point
Congaree National Park
A floodplain forest preserving the largest tract of old growth bottomland hardwood left in the United States.
Location: Hopkins, South Carolina
Top Attractions: Boardwalk Loop Trail, Cedar Creek Canoe Trail, Weston Lake Loop Trail
Crater Lake National Park
Home to the deepest lake in the U.S., formed in the caldera of Mount Mazama.
Location: Crater Lake, Oregon
Top Attractions: Crater Lake Rim Drive, Wizard Island, Cleetwood Cove Trail
Cuyahoga Valley National Park
A scenic park along the Cuyahoga River, offering waterfalls, trails, and cultural sites.
Location: Brecksville, Ohio
Top Attractions: Brandywine Falls, Ohio & Erie Canal Towpath Trail, Ledges Overlook
Death Valley National Park
A vast desert landscape featuring the lowest point in North America and striking sand dunes.
Location: Furnace Creek, California/Nevada
Top Attractions: Badwater Basin, Dante’s View, Zabriskie Point
Denali National Park
Home to North America’s highest peak, Denali, and diverse wildlife in a wilderness setting.
Location: Denali Park, Alaska
Top Attractions: Denali (Mount McKinley), Savage River Loop Trail, Eielson Visitor Center
Dry Tortugas National Park
A remote collection of islands known for Fort Jefferson and vibrant marine life.
Location: Key West, Florida
Top Attractions: Fort Jefferson, Garden Key, Snorkeling at Loggerhead Key
Everglades National Park
A unique ecosystem of wetlands, mangroves, and sawgrass prairies, rich in biodiversity.
Location: Homestead, Florida
Top Attractions: Anhinga Trail, Shark Valley Tram Tour, Flamingo Visitor Center
Gates of the Arctic National Park & Preserve
A remote wilderness with no roads, preserving Arctic landscapes and ecosystems.
Location: Bettles, Alaska
Top Attractions: Brooks Range, Alatna River, Anaktuvuk Pass
Gateway Arch National Park
Home to the iconic Gateway Arch, symbolizing westward expansion in the United States.
Location: St. Louis, Missouri
Top Attractions: Gateway Arch, Old Courthouse, Museum at the Gateway Arch
Glacier Bay National Park
A stunning marine wilderness with tidewater glaciers, fjords, and diverse wildlife.
Location: Gustavus, Alaska
Top Attractions: Margerie Glacier, Johns Hopkins Glacier, Glacier Bay Lodge
Glacier National Park
Known as the “Crown of the Continent,” featuring glaciers, alpine meadows, and pristine lakes.
Location: West Glacier, Montana
Top Attractions: Going-to-the-Sun Road, Grinnell Glacier, Lake McDonald
Grand Canyon National Park
Home to the iconic Grand Canyon, showcasing breathtaking rock formations and the Colorado River.
Location: Grand Canyon, Arizona
Top Attractions: South Rim, Bright Angel Trail, Grand Canyon Skywalk
Grand Teton National Park
Majestic mountain scenery with the Teton Range, pristine lakes, and abundant wildlife.
Location: Moose, Wyoming
Top Attractions: Jenny Lake, Teton Range, Cascade Canyon Trail
Great Basin National Park
A diverse park featuring ancient bristlecone pines, limestone caves, and Wheeler Peak.
Location: Baker, Nevada
Top Attractions: Lehman Caves, Wheeler Peak, Bristlecone Pine Trail
Great Sand Dunes National Park
Home to the tallest sand dunes in North America, surrounded by diverse ecosystems.
Location: Mosca, Colorado
Top Attractions: High Dune, Medano Creek, Star Dune
Great Smoky Mountains National Park
A biodiversity hotspot with lush forests, waterfalls, and the iconic Blue Ridge Mountains
Location: Gatlinburg, Tennessee/North Carolina
Top Attractions: Clingmans Dome, Cades Cove, Roaring Fork Motor Nature Trail
Guadalupe Mountains National Park
Preserving the world’s most extensive Permian fossil reef and diverse desert landscapes.
Location: Salt Flat, Texas
Top Attractions: Guadalupe Peak, McKittrick Canyon, Devil’s Hall Trail
Haleakalā National Park
Home to the dormant Haleakalā volcano, showcasing a unique crater landscape and diverse ecosystems.
Location: Kula, Hawaii
Top Attractions: Haleakalā Crater, Pipiwai Trail, Summit District
Hawai’i Volcanoes National Park
A dynamic landscape with active volcanoes, lava flows, and unique geological features.
Location: Hawaii National Park, Hawaii
Top Attractions: Kīlauea Caldera, Thurston Lava Tube, Chain of Craters Road
Hot Springs National Park
Preserving natural thermal springs and historic bathhouses, offering relaxation in an urban setting.
Location: Hot Springs, Arkansas
Top Attractions: Bathhouse Row, Hot Springs Mountain, Gulpha Gorge Trail
Indiana Dunes National Park
Boasting sandy shores along Lake Michigan, diverse habitats, and over 350 species of birds.
Location: Porter, Indiana
Top Attractions: Indiana Dunes State Park, Mount Baldy, West Beach
Isle Royale National Park
An isolated island wilderness in Lake Superior, known for its wildlife and shipwrecks.
Location: Houghton, Michigan
Top Attractions: Rock Harbor, Isle Royale Queen IV Ferry, Greenstone Ridge Trail
Joshua Tree National Park
A desert landscape with iconic Joshua trees, rugged rock formations, and stargazing opportunities.
Location: Twentynine Palms, California
Top Attractions: Keys View, Barker Dam, Skull Rock
Katmai National Park
Famous for its brown bear population and the Valley of Ten Thousand Smokes, a volcanic landscape.
Location: King Salmon, Alaska
Top Attractions: Brooks Falls, Valley of Ten Thousand Smokes, Naknek Lake
Kenai Fjords National Park
Glaciers, fjords, and abundant marine life, showcasing the dynamic forces of ice and water.
Location: Seward, Alaska
Top Attractions: Exit Glacier, Harding Icefield, Kenai Fjords Tours
Kings Canyon National Park
Known for its deep canyons, giant sequoias, and diverse ecosystems in the Sierra Nevada.
Location: Three Rivers, California
Top Attractions: General Grant Grove, Kings Canyon Scenic Byway, Zumwalt Meadow
Kobuk Valley National Park
Remote park with sand dunes, caribou migration, and vast wilderness in the Arctic Circle.
Location: Kotzebue, Alaska
Top Attractions: Great Kobuk Sand Dunes, Kobuk River, Onion Portage
Lake Clark National Park
A diverse landscape with mountains, glaciers, and coastal areas, offering outdoor adventures.
Location: Port Alsworth, Alaska
Top Attractions: Redoubt Bay, Lake Clark Pass, Tanalian Falls
Lassen Volcanic National Park
Showcasing a variety of geothermal features, including boiling springs, fumaroles, and the active Lassen Peak.
Location: Mineral, California
Top Attractions: Bumpass Hell, Lassen Peak, Manzanita Lake
Mammoth Cave National Park
Home to the world’s longest known cave system, with intricate underground passageways.
Location: Mammoth Cave, Kentucky
Top Attractions: Mammoth Cave Tours, Historic Entrance, Frozen Niagara
Mesa Verde National Park
Preserving ancient Puebloan cliff dwellings and archaeological sites.
Location: Cortez, Colorado
Top Attractions: Cliff Palace, Balcony House, Spruce Tree House
Mount Rainier National Park
Dominated by the iconic Mount Rainier, showcasing glaciers, meadows, and old-growth forests.
Location: Ashford, Washington
Top Attractions: Paradise, Skyline Trail, Nisqually Vista Loop
National Park of American Samoa
This park is the only U.S. national park in the Southern Hemisphere, preserving the unique Samoan culture, vibrant coral reefs, and lush rainforests.
Location: Pago Pago, American Samoa
Top Attractions: Ofu Beach, Ta’u Island, Pola Island
New River Gorge National Park & Preserve
Known for the New River Gorge, it boasts one of the oldest rivers globally, offering rugged terrain, dense forests, and exceptional outdoor recreation.
Location: Lansing, West Virginia
Top Attractions: New River Gorge Bridge, Endless Wall Trail, Thurmond Ghost Town
North Cascades National Park
Known for its rugged mountain landscapes, glaciers, and diverse ecosystems.
Location: Sedro-Woolley, Washington
Top Attractions: Diablo Lake, Cascade Pass, Maple Pass Loop
Olympic National Park
Encompassing diverse ecosystems from rainforests to alpine peaks and coastal beaches.
Location: Port Angeles, Washington
Top Attractions: Hurricane Ridge, Hoh Rainforest, Ruby Beach
Petrified Forest National Park
Protecting one of the largest and most colorful concentrations of petrified wood.
Location: Holbrook, Arizona
Top Attractions: Painted Desert, Petrified Forest Loop, Blue Mesa
Pinnacles National Park
Home to unique rock formations and talus caves, formed by volcanic activity.
Location: Paicines, California
Top Attractions: Bear Gulch Caves, High Peaks Trail, Balconies Cave
Redwood National Park
Preserving the tallest trees on Earth, the coastal redwoods, and diverse ecosystems.
Location: Crescent City, California
Top Attractions: Lady Bird Johnson Grove, Tall Trees Grove, Fern Canyon
Rocky Mountain National Park
Featuring majestic mountain landscapes, alpine lakes, and a variety of wildlife.
Location: Estes Park, Colorado
Top Attractions: Trail Ridge Road, Bear Lake, Longs Peak
Saguaro National Park
Showcasing the iconic saguaro cactus in the Sonoran Desert landscape.
Location: Tucson, Arizona
Top Attractions: Cactus Forest Drive, Signal Hill Trail, Rincon Mountain District
Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Park
Home to giant sequoia trees, including General Sherman, the world’s largest tree by volume.
Location: Three Rivers, California
Top Attractions: General Sherman Tree, Moro Rock, Crescent Meadow
Shenandoah National Park
Spanning the crest of the Blue Ridge Mountains, known for Skyline Drive and diverse flora and fauna.
Location: Luray, Virginia
Top Attractions: Skyline Drive, Old Rag Mountain, Dark Hollow Falls
Theodore Roosevelt National Park
Preserving the rugged badlands that inspired President Theodore Roosevelt’s conservation efforts.
Location: Medora, North Dakota
Top Attractions: Scenic Loop Drive, Painted Canyon, Petrified Forest Loop
Virgin Islands National Park
Encompassing tropical forests, coral reefs, and historic sites in the Caribbean.
Location: St. John, U.S. Virgin Islands
Top Attractions: Trunk Bay, Annaberg Plantation, Reef Bay Trail
Voyageurs National Park
A water-based park with interconnected lakes, forests, and historic sites.
Location: International Falls, Minnesota
Top Attractions: Kabetogama Lake, Rainy Lake, Ellsworth Rock Gardens
White Sands National Park
The world’s largest gypsum dunefield, White Sands showcases mesmerizing white sand dunes that create a unique and ever-changing desert landscape.
Location: Alamogordo, New Mexico
Top Attractions: Dunes Drive, Playa Trail, Sunset Stroll
Wind Cave National Park
Home to one of the world’s longest caves, with unique boxwork formations.
Location: Hot Springs, South Dakota
Top Attractions: Cave Tours, Wind Cave Canyon, Elk Mountain Campground
Wrangell-St. Elias National Park
The largest national park, featuring immense glaciers, towering peaks, and diverse wildlife.
Location: Copper Center, Alaska
Top Attractions: Kennecott Mines, Nabesna Road, Root Glacier
Yellowstone National Park
The first national park, famous for geothermal features, wildlife, and the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone.
Location: Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming/Montana/Idaho
Top Attractions: Old Faithful, Grand Prismatic Spring, Yellowstone Lake
Yosemite National Park
Renowned for its iconic granite cliffs, waterfalls, and diverse ecosystems.
Location: Yosemite National Park, California
Top Attractions: Yosemite Valley, Half Dome, El Capitan
Zion National Park
Characterized by towering sandstone cliffs, slot canyons, and the Virgin River.
Location: Springdale, Utah
Top Attractions: Angels Landing, The Narrows, Zion Canyon Scenic Drive