America's Most Popular National Parks
There’s a national park for everybody, whether you’re seeking a wild backcountry experience or looking to kick back in a hot spring in an urban area. America’s national parks are a travel destination for millions of us year-to-year. Let’s check out some numbers:
Did you know?
- There are currently 62 national parks in the United States. If you also count the monuments and historic properties, there are actually 419 individual units that the National Park Service (NPS) oversees.
- Since the inception of the National Park Service in 1904, over 14 billion visitshave been registered.
Cuyahoga Valley National Park
Ohio
The park is a refuge for flora and fauna, gives a sense of times past. Cuyahoga National Park, established as a national recreation area in 1974, offers very nice-looking nature with waterfalls, caves, forests, interesting rock formations, plus hiking and biking and horseback riding trails. It’s also known for its rich cultural legacy as well.
Shenandoah National Park
Virginia
Shenandoah National Park is worth visiting because of its unique backcountry camping experience in such an accessible location. The Shenandoah Valley is located in the western part of Virginia and the eastern panhandle of West Virginia, between the Blue Ridge and Allegheny Mountains. The region is best known for its natural beauty and Civil War history. There are some fantastic waterfall hikes in this park, and the Skyline Drive—a 105-mile stretch of road wending its way over the Blue Ridge Mountains—is as good a scenic drive as it gets. You can hike parts of the Appalachian Trail here, and of course there are a number of shorter, less exhausting routes too; try the trails around Rose River or South River Falls. Shenandoah was our 20th most-visited park in 2019, bringing in 1.4 million visitors.
Mount Rainier National Park
Washington
The 14,410-foot-tall active volcano for which the park is named is truly an amazing sight. Whether you're coming to tackle the mountain on a challenging hike, eager to see Paradise's wildflower meadows, or driving to Sunrise – the highest point you can get to by car – there is something to entice every visitor. Even in winter, when portions of the park are closed, exciting activities are on offer for outdoor adventurers, including skiing, snowboarding and snowshoeing. The hiking options on this 14,410-foot peak are so challenging and diverse that aspiring Everest-climbers use them for training. You can also enjoy the sites without even leaving your car with a drive up to the 6,400-foot elevation Sunrise point. Mount Rainier was America’s 18th most-visited national park, bringing in 1.5 million visitors.
Hot Springs National Park
Arkansas
Hot Springs National Park has a rich cultural past. It stands as an icon for healing and a tribute to the “American Spa” of the 20th century. The ancient thermal springs, mountain views, incredible geology, forested hikes, and abundant creeks – all in the middle of town – make Hot Springs National Park a unique and beautiful destination.
Zion National Park
Utah
Wildlife and Nature, Zion National Park's 232 square miles protect a land of canyons and plateaus with diverse plant and animal habitats including pine forests, lush riversides, and barren slickrock. Zion harbors more than 1,000 plant species that allow a wide variety of wildlife to flourish.
The slot canyons here, set off by rust-red rocks and waterfalls (don’t miss Weeping Rock), are undeniably iconic, and Angel’s Landing is one of the most universally recognized hikes in the US.
Grand Teton National Park
Wyoming
Grand Teton is an hour from Yellowstone, home to insanely beautiful mountain peaks (including the Grand Teton itself sitting at 14,000 feet), abundant wildlife, world class hiking terrain, and picturesque landscapes everywhere you turn. and for this reason it is often overshadowed.
