America is home to some of the most breathtaking and diverse landscapes in the world, and the best way to experience them is by visiting the national parks. With 63 designated national parks across the country, it can be overwhelming to decide which ones to visit. To help you plan your next outdoor adventure, we have compiled a list of the top 46 most visited national parks in America.
1. Great Smoky Mountains National Park – Located on the border of North Carolina and Tennessee, this park is known for its stunning mountain views, diverse wildlife, and historic homesteads. It attracts over 12 million visitors annually, making it the most visited national park in America.
2. Grand Canyon National Park – One of the most iconic national parks, the Grand Canyon is a must-visit for any nature lover. With its breathtaking views, hiking trails, and unique rock formations, it welcomes over 5 million visitors each year.
3. Rocky Mountain National Park – This park in Colorado offers a variety of outdoor activities, including hiking, camping, and wildlife watching. It receives over 4 million visitors annually, with the most popular time being summer and fall.
4. Zion National Park – Located in Utah, Zion National Park is known for its towering red cliffs, narrow canyons, and scenic hiking trails. It attracts over 4 million visitors every year.
5. Yellowstone National Park – America’s first national park, Yellowstone is a true gem with its geothermal features, diverse wildlife, and beautiful landscapes. It welcomes over 4 million visitors annually.
6. Yosemite National Park – This California park is famous for its granite cliffs, waterfalls, and giant sequoia trees. It receives over 3 million visitors each year, with summer being the busiest season.
7. Acadia National Park – Located in Maine, Acadia National Park offers a unique coastal experience with its rocky shores, pristine lakes, and scenic hiking trails. It attracts over 3 million visitors annually.
8. Grand Teton National Park – Adjacent to Yellowstone, this park in Wyoming is known for its stunning mountain views, crystal clear lakes, and abundant wildlife. It receives over 3 million visitors annually.
9. Olympic National Park – This park in Washington showcases a diverse range of ecosystems, including temperate rainforests, coastlines, and alpine meadows. It attracts over 3 million visitors each year.
10. Cuyahoga Valley National Park – Located in Ohio, this park offers a peaceful escape with its scenic biking and hiking trails, waterfalls, and historic sites. It receives over 2 million visitors annually.
11. Glacier National Park – With its towering peaks, pristine lakes, and abundant wildlife, this Montana park is a must-visit for any outdoor enthusiast. It welcomes over 2 million visitors each year.
12. Joshua Tree National Park – Located in California, this park is known for its unique desert landscapes, rock formations, and diverse plant life. It attracts over 2 million visitors annually.
13. Bryce Canyon National Park – This Utah park is famous for its otherworldly rock formations known as hoodoos. It receives over 2 million visitors annually.
14. Hot Springs National Park – America’s smallest national park, Hot Springs in Arkansas is known for its natural hot springs, historic bathhouses, and outdoor recreational activities. It attracts over 1.5 million visitors annually.
15. Shenandoah National Park – This Virginia park offers breathtaking views of the Blue Ridge Mountains, scenic drives, and hiking trails. It receives over 1.4 million visitors each year.
16. Everglades National Park – The largest subtropical wilderness in the United States, Everglades in Florida is home to a diverse range of wildlife, including alligators, manatees, and panthers. It attracts over 1.3 million visitors annually.
17. Arches National Park – With over 2,000 natural sandstone arches, this Utah park is a photographer’s dream. It welcomes over 1.3 million visitors each year.
18. Haleakalā National Park – Located in Hawaii, Haleakalā National Park is known for its stunning volcanic landscapes, scenic drives, and hiking trails. It receives over 1.2 million visitors annually.
19. Mesa Verde National Park – This Colorado park is home to over 5,000 archaeological sites, including ancient cliff dwellings of the Ancestral Pueblo people. It attracts over 700,000 visitors annually.
20. Badlands National Park – This South Dakota park offers a unique landscape with its rugged rock formations, canyons, and prairies. It receives over 900,000 visitors each year.
21. Capitol Reef National Park – Located in Utah, this park showcases a stunning landscape of colorful cliffs, canyons, and natural bridges. It welcomes over 800,000 visitors annually.
Discovering the Top 46 Most Visited National Parks in America
22. Theodore Roosevelt National Park – Named after the 26th president of the United States, this North Dakota park offers scenic drives, hiking trails, and a chance to spot bison, elk, and other wildlife. It attracts over 700,000 visitors annually.
23. Great Sand Dunes National Park – This Colorado park is home to the tallest sand dunes in North America, making it a unique destination for sandboarding and hiking. It receives over 500,000 visitors annually.
24. Congaree National Park – Located in South Carolina, this park is home to one of the largest intact expanses of old-growth bottomland hardwood forest in the Southeast. It attracts over 150,000 visitors annually.
25. Mammoth Cave National Park – With over 400 miles of explored caves, this Kentucky park is a popular destination for cave tours and exploring the underground world. It receives over 500,000 visitors each year.
26. Redwood National and State Parks – These California parks are home to some of the tallest and oldest trees in the world, making it a must-visit for any nature lover. They attract over 450,000 visitors annually.
27. Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park – Located in Colorado, this park offers spectacular views of the steep, narrow canyon carved by the Gunnison River. It receives over 400,000 visitors each year.
28. Carlsbad Caverns National Park – This New Mexico park is known for its massive underground chambers and unique limestone formations. It welcomes over 400,000 visitors annually.
29. Wind Cave National Park – With over 140 miles of explored caves, this South Dakota park is home to the world’s largest concentration of rare boxwork formations. It attracts over 150,000 visitors annually.
30. Pinnacles National Park – Located in California, this park is known for its unique rock formations, caves, and diverse wildlife. It receives over 200,000 visitors each year.
31. Great Basin National Park – This Nevada park offers a chance to explore the underground world with its limestone caves and a chance to spot bighorn sheep and other wildlife. It attracts over 150,000 visitors annually.
32. Dry Tortugas National Park – Located in Florida, this park is only accessible by boat or seaplane and offers a chance to explore historic forts, snorkel in crystal clear waters, and spot marine life. It welcomes over 80,000 visitors annually.
33. Isle Royale National Park – Located in Michigan, this park is a remote island in Lake Superior and offers a unique wilderness experience with its rugged landscape, wildlife, and hiking trails. It attracts over 25,000 visitors annually.
34. Channel Islands National Park – These California islands offer a chance to explore sea caves, spot wildlife such as dolphins and sea lions, and hike scenic trails. They receive over 400,000 visitors annually.
35. Indiana Dunes National Park – This Indiana park is a popular destination for its sandy beaches, dunes, and diverse wildlife. It attracts over 2 million visitors annually.
36. Biscayne National Park – Located in Florida, this park is home to a diverse marine ecosystem, making it a popular destination for snorkeling, diving, and fishing. It welcomes over 500,000 visitors annually.
37. Petrified Forest National Park – This Arizona park is known for its colorful petrified wood, ancient petroglyphs, and scenic driving routes. It attracts over 600,000 visitors each year.
38. Kenai Fjords National Park – With its stunning glaciers, fjords, and diverse wildlife, this Alaska park offers a unique outdoor experience. It receives over 300,000 visitors annually.
39. Katmai National Park – Located in Alaska, this park is home to the Valley of Ten Thousand Smokes, a valley created by a volcanic eruption. It welcomes over 35,000 visitors annually.
40. North Cascades National Park – This Washington park offers stunning mountain views, glaciers, and a chance to spot wildlife such as bears, elk, and mountain goats. It attracts over 30,000 visitors annually.
41. Voyageurs National Park – With its pristine lakes, forests, and waterways, this Minnesota park is a popular destination for boating, fishing, and wildlife viewing. It receives over 230,000 visitors annually.
42. Lassen Volcanic National Park – This California park is home to the largest plug dome volcano in the world and offers a unique landscape of geothermal features, lakes, and hiking trails. It attracts over 500,000 visitors annually.
43. Guadalupe Mountains National Park – Located in Texas, this park is home to the highest peak in Texas and offers scenic hiking trails, diverse wildlife, and a chance to explore a historic stagecoach station. It receives over 200,000 visitors annually.
44. Wrangell-St. Elias National Park – With over 13 million acres, this Alaska park is the largest national park in America and offers a chance to explore glaciers, mountains, and wildlife. It attracts over
