Our national parks truly are incredible! From badlands to deserts to oceans to mountains, they protect some of the most incredible natural areas in the United States. I’ve been to 61 out of the 63 national parks, and each one has something different to offer. The first US National Park was Yellowstone, established in 1872. Today, there are 63 national parks across 30 different states. Every few years, another national park is added, and the newest national park is New River Gorge, established in 2020. Whether you're a big hiker or just looking to take in the views, I highly recommend planning a national park road trip. Below you'll find many of my US national park guides, as well as tips for planning your trips. Map of all 63 US National Parks Use the map to see which US national parks I've covered so far! Carlsbad Caverns Channel Islands Cuyahoga Valley Guadalupe Mountains Hawaii Volcanoes National Park of American Samoa New River Gorge Petrified Forest Theodore Roosevelt Wrangell-St. Elias Tips for Planning a National Park Trip Heading to a national park soon? Here are some resources and tips to help you plan! Make it a priority to leave no trace while you're exploring the national parks (and anywhere outdoors). That includes packing out all of your trash, traveling on durable surfaces, never carving on rocks or trees, never approaching wildlife, following rules for campfires and more. It also means planning ahead - every park has its own rules and regulations. Some have reservations, some require bear spray, etc. Make sure to always do your research! Make it a priority to leave no trace while you're exploring the national parks (and anywhere outdoors). That includes packing out all of your trash, traveling on durable surfaces, never carving on rocks or trees, never approaching wildlife, following rules for campfires and more. It also means planning ahead - every park has its own rules and regulations. Some have reservations, some require bear spray, etc. Make sure to always do your research! Purchase the America the Beautiful Pass if you'll be visiting multiple parks throughout the year. This can save you a lot of money! The pass costs $80 for US residents and grants you access to all the national parks over the course of a year. Unfortantely, the price increased to $250 for non-US residents in 2026. Purchase the America the Beautiful Pass if you'll be visiting multiple parks throughout the year. This can save you a lot of money! The pass costs $80 for US residents and grants you access to all the national parks over the course of a year. Unfortantely, the price increased to $250 for non-US residents in 2026. Always check the national park website for current conditions and closures before you visit. Things change quickly! Always check the national park website for current conditions and closures before you visit. Things change quickly! As of 2026, Rocky Mountain National Park will require timed entry. This can vary depending on time of year, so always double check ahead of time. As of 2026, Rocky Mountain National Park will require timed entry. This can vary depending on time of year, so always double check ahead of time. If you're hiking, I recommend the AllTrails Plus Membership ! This will allow you to download offline maps and take advantage of other features that will help keep you safe. If you're hiking, I recommend the AllTrails Plus Membership ! This will allow you to download offline maps and take advantage of other features that will help keep you safe. Check out for an audio tour on the Guide Along app ! They have tours for the Utah Mighty Five, Acadia, and many more of the national parks. It's a great way to learn about the park while you're driving. Check out for an audio tour on the Guide Along app ! They have tours for the Utah Mighty Five, Acadia, and many more of the national parks. It's a great way to learn about the park while you're driving. More Tips for Visiting our National Parks: The Ultimate Guide to US National Park Reservations in 2026 9 Ways to Avoid Crowds in National Parks How to Plan a National Park Road Trip (A Step-by-Step Guide) National Park Road Trips Are you planning a national park road trip? Here are a few of my favorite road trip itineraries! The Ultimate Utah Mighty 5 Road Trip Itinerary (12 Days) An Epic West Texas and New Mexico Road Trip Itinerary (12 Days) The Best 7 Day Alaska Itinerary for a Summer Road Trip The Perfect Badlands and the Black Hills Itinerary (4 Days) US National Parks by Region Below, you'll find the national parks that I've written about, divided by region. Western National Parks The western United States makes up a huge region, and is home to some of the biggest and more beautiful natural areas. From sand dunes to mountain peaks to geothermal features, you could spend an endless amount of time exploring the west. Check out my Western US park guides to plan your trip to Yellowstone, Utah, Southern California, Alaska and more. The Perfect Glacier National Park Itinerary (Ideas for 1-6 Days!) How to Spend 2 Days at Zion National Park (Plus Helpful Tips!) The Perfect Rocky Mountain National Park Itinerary (2 Days) The Perfect Mesa Verde National Park Itinerary (2 Days) The Best Moab Itinerary: 3 Days in Arches, Canyonlands and More The Perfect Death Valley Itinerary (2 Days) The Top Things To Do in Bryce Canyon National Park How To Spend One Day in Capitol Reef National Park The Perfect Channel Islands Itinerary: 2 Days on Santa Cruz The Perfect Joshua Tree Itinerary (2 Days) How to Spend One Day in Petrified Forest National Park The Perfect Saguaro National Park Itinerary (2-3 Days) The Best Things To Do in North Cascades National Park (Perfect for Summer!) An Epic 2 Day Itinerary for Olympic National Park 50+ of the Best Things To Do in Yellowstone National Park How to Spend 2 Days in Grand Teton National Park A Guide to Visiting Denali National Park: The Best Things To Do in the Summer The Best Things To Do in Seward, Alaska: Explore by Sea, Land and Air The Best Things To Do in White Sands National Park (Sledding, Hiking & Tips) The Perfect One Day Redwood National Park Itinerary The Perfect Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Park Itinerary (3 Days) How to Take an Epic Day Trip to Katmai National Park How to Take a Day Trip to Lake Clark National Park (See Bears at Crescent Lake) 12 Epic Things To Do in Wrangell-St. Elias National Park, Alaska The Best Things To Do in Hawai’i Volcanoes National Park (Hiking, Drives & Views) The Best Things To Do in Haleakalā National Park (Hiking, Views & More) Southern National Parks The southern US is certainly underrated when it comes to outdoor adventure. But in reality, the south is home to mountains, oceans, waterfalls, bayous and more. From Florida to Texas, you'll want to have these national parks on your bucket list. A Guide to Visiting Guadalupe Mountains National Park (Hiking, Tips & More)

The Best Way to Spend 3 Days in the Everglades and Big Cypress A Guide To Visiting Biscayne National Park (Snorkeling, Tips & More) How to Take an Epic Dry Tortugas Day Trip The Best Things To Do at New River Gorge: Hiking, History & More An Epic West Texas and New Mexico Road Trip Itinerary (12 Days) The Best Things To Do in Hot Springs National Park, Arkansas Midwest National Parks The midwest is another region of the US that tends to get overlooked when it comes to visiting national parks and going on outdoor adventures. I've been to all of the midwest national parks, more guides are coming soon! The Best Things To Do in Cuyahoga Valley National Park, Ohio The Perfect Badlands and the Black Hills Itinerary (4 Days) The Best Things To Do in Wind Cave National Park A Guide to Visiting Badlands National Park in October An Epic Isle Royale Itinerary for Backpacking (First-Timers Guide) How to Spend One Day in Theodore Roosevelt National Park The Best Hikes in Indiana Dunes (National Park + State Park) An Adventurous Voyageurs National Park Itinerary East Coast National Parks The east coast Appalachian Mountains are 1.2 billion years old! The west tends to get more love, but there is no shortage of hiking and adventures on the East Coast. The Best Things To Do at New River Gorge: Hiking, History & More The Best 3 Day Acadia National Park Itinerary (Perfect for Fall!) National Parks by Season While some national parks have similar conditions year round, most vary widely based on the season. For example, you should avoid visiting desert parks (such as Death Valley) in the summer due to high heat. And if you want to avoid icy conditions and ensure all roads are open, you should avoid visiting mountainous national parks (such as Yellowstone and Rocky Mountain National Park) in the winter. Here are some seasonal national park guides to aid in your planning. 20 of the Best US National Parks to Visit in the Spring 20 of the Best US National Parks to Visit in the Summer 18 of the Best US National Parks to Visit in the Fall 19 of the Best US National Parks to Visit in the Winter A Complete Guide to Visiting Acadia National Park in the Fall The Perfect Springtime Rocky Mountains Itinerary A Guide to Visiting Badlands National Park in October The Ultimate Guide to Exploring Glacier National Park in September (5-Day Itinerary) National Parks by Month All months are coming soon! 12 of the Best National Parks to Visit in March 15 of the Best National Parks to Visit in April 16 of the Best National Parks to Visit in May 11 of the Best National Parks to Visit in June 12 of the Best National Parks to Visit in July 16 of the Best National Parks to Visit in August 16 of the Best National Parks to Visit in September 14 of the Best National Parks to Visit in October 12 of the Best National Parks to Visit in November 7 of the Best National Parks to Visit in December National Park Hikes Looking for the best hikes in the national parks? Here are a few of my favorites! When it comes to finding hikes, I also recommend reading the national park website and using All Trails to read recent reviews of trails nearby. A Guide to Visiting Guadalupe Mountains National Park (Hiking, Tips & More) The 14 Best Hiking Trails in Acadia National Park (Plus Helpful Tips!) The Best Day Hikes in Bryce Canyon National Park The Best Hikes in Indiana Dunes (National Park + State Park) FAQS about Visiting US National Parks How many national parks are there in the US? There are 63 US national parks. However, there are 433 units managed by the National Park Service. Other types of units include national monuments, national lakeshores, national seashores, national battlefields, national historic sites, national preserves, and more. What are the most visited national parks in the US? The top five most visited US national parks in 2025 were the Great Smoky Mountains, Grand Canyon, Zion, Yellowstone and Yosemite. What are the least visited national parks in the US? The five least visited US national parks in 2025 were Gates of the Arctic, Katmai, Lake Clark, Kobuk Valley and Isle Royale. Which US national parks have timed entry? As of this writing, Rocky Mountain will require timed entry permits in summer 2026. Other parks require timed entry or reservations for certain trails and activities. Those include Haleakala, Acadia, Zion and Shenandoah. Each national park reevaluates the need for reservations each year. Always check the national park website for the most up to date information! Which park will you visit next? 16 of the Best National Parks to Visit in August Discover the best US national parks to visit in August! From Alaska to Montana to Michigan, there are so many amazing national parks that are great for an August trip. The Best Things To Do in Hot Springs National Park, Arkansas Learn about the best things to do in Hot Springs National Park and explore the unique history of Hot Springs, Arkansas. 12 of the Best National Parks to Visit in July Read all about the best national parks to visit in July! Discover some incredible national parks for a summer road trip. The Best Things To Do in Cuyahoga Valley National Park, Ohio Discover the best things to do in Cuyahoga Valley National Park. This park makes for an amazing weekend trip from Cleveland and is full of great hiking trails and scenic views. How to Take a Day Trip to Lake Clark National Park (See Bears at Crescent Lake) Learn how to visit Lake Clark National Park, and here my experience on a bear viewing day trip. The Best Things To Do in Wind Cave National Park Learn about the best things to do in Wind Cave, a South Dakota National Park. Read about hiking, touring the cave, and more.