The United States is full of amazing outdoor adventures, so that is why we put together a list of National Parks in the US by state. With dramatic scenery in nearly all of the 50 states, and National Parks protecting those lands, you’re sure to find something that interests you in our list of National Parks in the US by state!
With 63 national parks to choose from, 32 different states and territories, underwater parks, glacier-filled lands, and parks in the hottest place on the planet… You are sure to find a park for you on our list of National Parks in the US by state!
While you are out there exploring some national parks from the list of National Parks in the US by state. Make sure to get yourself our printable list of national parks by state. You can tick off each park one by one with the free national parks checklist PDF below!
Skip the spendy fees, and go on a free national park day, buy an annual pass, or check out the NPS discount passes and see if you qualify for discounted rates!d
This post contains affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases. If you buy through one of our links, we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. Read our full disclosure policy.
Free National Park Days for 2026
Unfortunately, this year, MLK Day, Juneteenth, and a few other days were taken away from the free national park days. The second unfortunate change are the days are also only free for residents of the United States.
February 16: President’s Day
May 25: Memorial Day
June 14: Flag Day
July 3-5: Independence Day Weekend
August 25: 110th Birthday of the National Park Service
September 17: Constitution Day
October 27: Theodore Roosevelt’s Birthday
November 11: Veterans Day
National Parks in Arizona
Grand Canyon National Park | Northern Arizona | Find it here | website
There isn’t much to say about this place that you wouldn’t already know, but this place is grand… like massive! It’s also full of tourists! Head to the north rim to get a more intimate experience at the Grand Canyon! And be sure to really slow down and experience the splendor of this place. Hiking and rafting here are for the more experienced and adventurous personnel, but will surely give you more peace than staying on the top of the rims!
READ MORE | A Day at the Grand Canyon
Petrified Forest National Park | Northeast Arizona | Find it here | website
How is this place even possible?! The trees are literally turned into rocks! Stop here to find some amazing fossils, painted hills, and trees you’ve got to see to believe!
READ MORE | walking among the trees that have turned into rocks
Saguaro National Park | Southern Arizona | Find it here | website
The best national park to meet friends at and act like small children! Driving around this park, pull off and any point and try to recreate the cacti before you! With waterfalls to explore too, this park is a great place to escape the heat while enjoying the thousands of saguaros around you!
READ MORE | Tucson, Saguaros, Golf Carts, and Seven Falls
National Parks in California
Yosemite National Park | Central California | Find it here | website
Yosemite is one of the most popular national parks in the United States. Great for climbing, bouldering, and hiking for the active souls, and even great for those just looking to soak in gorgeous views too!
Yosemite has multiple campgrounds that book out well in advance, so planning a trip here isn’t for those last-minute travelers!
Lassen Volcanic National Park | Northern California | Find it here | website
When we did our road trip, we totally skipped this national park by a complete accident. Or maybe it’s because Heather has awful memories here of hiking when she was young (ya’ll, that hike was hard!). Anyways.. this park is full of hiking, boiling mud pots, and lakes!
Pinnacles National Park | Central California | find it here | website
This is California’s newest national park, being established in 2013. It’s got climbing, hiking, cave exploring, and strange “pinnacles” formed over time.
Joshua Tree National Park | Southern California | Find it here | website
This was the very last national park of our national park road trip, and it was a great one to save for the end! With awesome rocks to climb about and strange-looking trees, this park in the desert makes you feel like you’re in another world!
READ MORE | One Night in Joshua Tree National Park
Death Valley National Park | Central California | find it here | website
With over 3 million acres to explore here, you won’t be lost for a time. Though, remember the name of this place… it’s hot as all get out, it is in fact the desert in California! This is the largest national park in mainland USA and the hottest and driest place in America! The superbloom is an awesome site to see here in the springtime!
Sequoia National Park | Central California | Find it here | website
Known for its massive Sequoia trees, this California national park also offers mountain views, rivers to explore, and epic hikes too!
Redwood National Park | Northern California | find it here | website
We’ve been to the Redwoods more than we can count. Cycling through, driving through, camping and just day trips.. this place has got it all! Right on the coast of California and butting up again the Oregon border, this national park makes you feel tiny as you walk amongst the giants!!
Channel Islands National Park | Central California | find it here | website
Channel Islands is well a national park on an island off the coast of California. Home to 150 species of plants and animals that are not found anywhere else on earth, this place is a real treat!
Kings Canyon National Park | Central California | Find it here | website
Said to be home to America’s deepest canyon, Kings Canyon National Park sits right next to Sequoia National Park, offering a bit different scenery. While you’ll find sequoia trees and other massive trees towering around you, you’ll also find great views and horseback riding trails, and even spelunking!
National Parks in Colorado
Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park | Central Colorado | Find it here | website
Hike down the canyon here for an unforgettable experience. Rock climb if you’ve climbed in the past, or simply enjoy a drive down soaking in the scenery and awesome views of the canyon!
READ MORE | They Saw Me Naked, a night in Black Canyon
Great Sand Dunes National Park | south central Colorado | Find it here | website
Great Sand Dunes National Park is an adult’s sandbox. With rolling mounds of sand creating perfect sledding areas or hills to just run down at full speed, this national park with bring out the inner child in everyone.
READ MORE | Hiking the Highest Dune
Mesa Verde National Park | Southwest Colorado | find it here | website
Found in the southwest corner of Colorado, this national park protects some of the best-preserved habitats built into rocks! Explore homes made in the Cliffside, and learn about how tough life was back when this area was inhabited.
READ MORE |Cliffside Villages of Mesa Verde
Rocky Mountain National Park | Northern Colorado | find it here | website
Hiking trails. All sorts of wildlife. Gorgeous lakes and meadows… Rocky Mountain National Park has got it all. Visited by more than 3 million people every year, Rocky Mountain National Park in Colorado is one of the United States’ most visited parks!
READ MORE | Our Time in Rocky Mountain National Park
National Parks in Idaho
Yellowstone National Park | Idaho |find it here | website
Only a very small portion of Yellowstone actually lies within Idaho, but hey, it counts! Yellowstone is full of colorful hot springs (most of which you can’t actually get in), hikes over boardwalks, and geysers!
National Parks in Montana
Glacier National Park | Northern Montana | find it here | website
This park might not be around much longer with how quickly the glacier is melting, so if you’ve ever wanted to visit Glacier National Park in Montana, now is the time. Expect some epic hikes, pristine lakes, and great flora and fauna to meet you at the gates of Glacier National Park.
Yellowstone National Park | Southern Montana | find it here | website
One of the top visited national parks in the United States, Yellowstone offers amazing wildlife… bears, bison, moose, and more! With the wildlife, hot springs, and even geysers, too, Yellowstone is a national park not to miss! This national park in Wyoming/Montana/Idaho is the first national park in the world, established in 1872, and still remains amongst the top ten national parks in the United States!
National Parks in Nevada
Great Basin National Park | Western Nevada | Find it here | website
Boasting about the darkest skies in mainland USA, Great Basin National Park is an astrology lovers’ dream! Don’t worry if you’re not into stars, there are great hikes and even caves to explore here too!
READ MORE | Hiking to the top of Wheeler Peak and Exploring Down Deep in Lehman Caves
National Parks in New Mexico
Carlsbad Caverns National Park | Southeast New Mexico | Find it here | website
Home to a stinky yet beautiful natural phenomenon, the bats will bring you to Carlsbad Caverns. With daily cave tours, and the bats all flying out of the caves at dusk, this place is a cave lovers’ paradise!
READ MORE | Stalactites, Stalagmites, and Bats
White Sands National Park | south-central New Mexico | find it here | website
No longer America’s newest national park. However, White Sands National Park is the 62nd US National Park thanks to President Trump signing the bill on December 20th, 2019! This 275-square mile desert boasts wave-like features and silky smooth gypsum white sand!
National Parks in Oregon
Crater Lake National Park | South-Central Oregon | Find it here | website
Established in 1909, this Oregon National Park is home to the deepest lake in the United States. Crater Lake is considered to be the cleanest lake, or rather water in the world! Crater Lake offers great winter activities like snowshoeing and snowmobiling, but is also a gorgeous place to visit in the warmer months too!
If you’re a cyclist, cycle around the entire rim of the lake, a whole 33 miles, or if you’d rather enjoy it by car, there’s a rim road circumnavigating the entirety of Crater Lake!
National Parks in Utah
Arches National Park | Eastern Utah | find it here | website
With more sandstone arches than we can count, that are fun for both kids and adults alike, Arches National Park is a great national park in Utah for families to explore.
Most trails are very easy, some not even one-mile round trip to different arches throughout the park, while others take a bit longer to hike to, but then reward you with fewer tourists around!
This park is great for a one night adventure – just be sure to grab your free backcountry camping permit before finding your little slice of paradise surrounded by red and orange sandstone!
READ MORE | Our Time Visiting Arches National Park | Stories and Photos
Zion National Park | Southwest Utah | Find it here | website
Zion National Park is probably Utah’s most famous national park. One of the top visited National Parks in the United States, Zion’s dramatic scenery brings in crowds from all over the world. With hikes full of views found nowhere else, trips through canyons where you literally walk through the river upstream, and amazing stargazing it’s easy to see why this iconic place in Utah is visited by so many!
READ MORE | Zion National Park | Camping, Hiking, and Pinch Me Moments
READ MORE | Driving From Zion National Park to Bryce Canyon
Canyonlands National Park | Eastern Utah | Find it here | website
Canyonlands National Park is skipped over by many visitors. Without the jaw-dropping views like Zion, or the multiple sandstone formations of Arches, Canyonlands doesn’t ping on the radar of Utah visitors. But, that’s not to say there isn’t much to explore. Canyonlands National Park has some great hikes down the canyon, offers killer mountain biking trails, and stargazing unlike any other place in the states!
READ MORE | gorgeous canyon views scared off by a massive storm
Bryce Canyon National Park | Southern Utah | find it here | website
Hoodoos, basically just pillars of rocks, are found here more densely populated than anywhere else on Earth. And let us tell you, it’s a gorgeous site to see! Hike amongst the hoodoos, getting down on the trail and feeling like an ant as they tower around you, or just drive along the scenic road stopping at all the pullouts possible!
READ MORE | Two Nights in Bryce Canyon National Park
READ MORE | Driving Between Bryce and Zion Things to Know
LEARN MORE | 13 Photography Tips for Bryce Canyon National Park
Capitol Reef National Park | south-central Utah | find it here | website
Rock Formation, cliffs, and driving through flood zones.. Capitol Reef National Park is the least visited national park in Utah. Originally starting as a national monument in Utah in 1937, by August of 1971, Capitol Reef was established as a national park.
READ MORE | two quick hours in Capitol Reef, beating the storm and chasing the sunset
National Parks in Washington
Mount Rainier National Park | west-central Washington | find it here | website
14,410 feet above sea level, Mt. Rainier can be seen for miles and miles in all directions. This volcano in Washington is perfect for hikers and home to training mountaineers’, but is also a place full of beautiful hikes for those looking for an easy trip in nature. With multiple campgrounds throughout the park, the park is great to visit in the summer, though it also boasts great winter sports activities for those looking to explore this national park in a less crowded season!
North Cascades National Park | Northern Washington | find it here | website
Established in 1958, this national park in Washington is home to hundreds of glaciers, hikes to pristine lakes, numerous waterfalls, and boasts an awesome array of wildlife in the park. Only 3 hours north of Seattle, and right on the border of Canada, North Cascades National Park in Washington was referred to as the “American Alps” by National Geographic!
Olympic National Park | Northwest Washington | Find it here | website
Olympic National Park takes up the majority of a small peninsula area of Washington. Relatively close to Seattle with a ferry, Olympic National Park is the perfect place to explore if you’re in Seattle! With access to the Pacific Coast, glaciers in the mountains and even hot springs, Olympic National Park has something for everyone!
READ MORE | Best Hikes in Olympic National Park
READ MORE | 3 Waterfalls in Olympic National Park
READ MORE | The Olympic National Park Hot Springs
Are You Enjoying This List of National Parks in the US By State? Pin it!
National Parks in Wyoming
Grand Teton National Park | Northwest Wyoming | Find it here | website
Grand Tetons National Park in Wyoming is one of those places that just makes your jaw drop! With dramatic landscapes and crystal clear lakes, Grand Tetons is a perfect place to camp and spend time beneath the giant mountains!
It’s close to Yellowstone National Park too – so you can double dip here and drive less than an hour north (with amazing views) to see Yellowstone too!
Yellowstone National Park | Northwest Wyoming | Find it here | website
One of the top visited national parks in the United States, Yellowstone offers amazing wildlife… think multiple kinds of bears, bison, moose, and more! With the wildlife and all the hot springs and even geysers too, Yellowstone is a national park not to miss!
This national park in Wyoming is the first national park in the world, established in 1872, and still remains amongst the top ten national parks in the United States!
National Parks on Hawaii
Haleakala National Park | Maui | find it here | website
Known for amazing sunrises and sunsets, this mountain is the highest point on Maui. With waterfalls, gorgeous views and the famous drive, “the road to Hana”, there are loads of reasons to visit Hawaii’s national park on Maui!
Hawaii Volcanoes National Park | The Big Island | Find it here | website
Found on the Big Island of Hawaii, this national park is a place you can see a very active volcano! In fact, it’s the most visited volcano in the world! Head here to see actual lava and explore lava tubes, and learn more about the eruptions of the past!
National Parks in Alaska
Denali National Park | Central Alaska | Find it here | website
Denali National Park in Alaska is a park you’ll need a couple of days to explore. Having wildlife that most aren’t used to, scenery that will take your breath away, and hop on hop off bus tours through the park, this is a great taste of what Alaska has to offer.
Gates of the Arctic National Park | Northern Alaska | find it here | website
With over 145 species of birds at Gates of the Arctic, this Alaskan national park is made for bird lovers. It’s extremely remote in the northern bit of Alaska, making it quite a quiet national park to visit!
Glacier Bay National Park | Southern Alaska | Find it here | website
In the southern bit of Alaska, amongst the fjords, you’ll find Glacier Bay. Jay has seen this national park from afar, but we’ve yet to truly explore any of Alaska’s national parks. As you could have guessed by the name, you’ll find glaciers here, but also great wildlife and amazing mountain views!
Katmai National Park | Southern Alaska | Find it here | website
Bears. Bears. And more Bears. There are more than 2,000 bears that roam this area of Alaska, making it a great place to go bear-watching! What was once a volcano with many smokestacks seeping through the ground, is now a protected wilderness area allowing Alaska’s wildlife to roam freely in undeveloped land!
Kenai Fjords National Park | Southern Alaska | Find it here | website
Just south of Anchorage, the Kenai peninsula awaits those wanting to dive into the fjords of Alaska. Kenai Fjords is the smallest of all Alaskan national parks, but still offers dramatic scenery and great wildlife.. covered mainly by snow and ice!
Kobuk Valley National Park | Northern Alaska | Find it here | website
Dunes in Alaska?! Yep, you bet. The Kobuk Valley National Park isn’t covered in snow like many of the other national parks in Alaska, but is instead a big sand dune!
Lake Clark National Park | Southern Alaska | Find it here | website
With no access by road, this national park in Alaska is oddly still easily accessible – for Alaskan standards. No roads mean you’ll be gifted with some peace as you escape into nature just steps away from Anchorage.
Wrangell – St Elias National Park | Southern Alaska | find it here | website
The largest national park in the United States, Wrangell – St Elias is home to 13 million acres of protected land! You’ll find one of the tallest peaks in America here, glaciers, and gorgeous mountains, and people who have lived off the land for decades!
National Parks in Maine
Acadia National Park | Southeast Maine | Find it here | website
Open year-round, offering great activities in all seasons, Acadia National Park is one of the top-visited national parks in the United States. Great for capturing fall foliage, skiing in the winter, hiking in the summer, and beautiful views in the spring, any time of the year if you can get to this park, do so!
National Parks in the US Virgin Islands
Virgin Islands National Park | Virgin Islands | Find it here | website
You’ll have to travel a bit to reach the Virgin Islands, but once you get there, this place is full of beaches and island life. The U.S. Virgin Islands National Park is near Puerto Rico, in the midst of the island cluster south of Florida.
National Parks in American Samoa
American Samoa National Park | in the Samoa Islands near Australia | Find it here | website
Located in the South Pacific, that’s near Australia, this US national park is a far one to get to! Offering all the feels of island life and dramatic coastal scenery, American Samoa National Park would be a great one to explore, if you’re ever in the area!
National parks in Arkansas
Hot Springs National Park | Central Arkansas | Find it here | website
Hot Springs National Park isn’t your typical national park in the United States. The waters here are known by the locals as the most pristine water you can get, even bringing travelers from far away to fill up water from the natural springs. But, unlike other hot springs, these ones aren’t open to the public to dip in unless you go into the hot spring bathhouse.
READ MORE | feeling refreshed at the hot springs.. and delicious cupcakes too!
National Parks in Florida
Biscayne National Park | South Florida | find it here | website
Actually an island off the coast of Florida, near Miami, this national park is for water enthusiasts. 95% of the park is actually underwater! Talk about some great snorkeling and scuba diving experiences!
Dry Tortugas National Park | South Florida | find it here | website
Home to Fort Jefferson, a prison during the Civil War, this national park in Florida offers not just sea life, but a slice of history as well!
Everglades National Park | South Florida | Find it here | website
Everglades… Florida’s swampland! Occupied by alligators, mosquitos, and humidity filling the air! Access mainly by boat, there are also walking paths to wander.. just pay attention to the time of year you go! Don’t get caught in the super-hot weather!
National parks in Kentucky
Mammoth Cave National Park | Central Kentucky | Find it here | website
Mammoth Cave, yes just one cave, is the largest cave in the world. It has over 400 miles of cave that has been explored, only leading us to believe there’s more to find! Cave tours are offered daily here to get into the world’s largest cave system!
READ MORE | Exploring Mammoth Caves and a Can’t Miss Restaurant Nearby
National Parks in North Carolina
Great Smoky Mountains National Park | Western North Carolina | Find it here | website
One of our top favorite national parks and the top-visited national park in the United States, Great Smoky Mountains offers stunning views, amazing hikes, and so much greenery and blooming flowers year-round, you won’t want to leave!
READ MORE | over 11 million visitors in one year, our experience at Great Smoky Mountains National Park
National Parks in South Carolina
Congaree National Park | Central South Carolina | Find it here | website
Home to some of the tallest trees around, this national park is one we’d recommend visiting if it’s on the way to your destination. Otherwise, unless you have a canoe to paddle the waters, or enjoy getting eaten alive by mosquitos, this national park in South Carolina isn’t for you!
READ MORE | The Mosquito Meter Read Ruthless
National parks in Tennessee
Great Smoky Mountains National Park | East Tennessee | Find it here | website
One of our favorite parks with views as far as the eye can see… Great Smoky Mountains National Park bordering both Tennessee and North Carolina is full of beautiful hikes with loads of greenery all around! Be sure to get to the park early, as this is one of the most popular national parks in the United States!
READ MORE | The Most Visited National Park in the United States
National parks in Texas
Big Bend National Park | Southwest Texas | Find it here | website
Bordering Mexico, this national park in the southwest corner of Texas is a true desert-like escape! With rattlesnakes, massive spiders, and even bigger insects, Big Bend makes you feel like a cowboy in the outback! Be prepared for some hikes with great views here!
READ MORE | A Day in Big Bend… did we really just run over a rattlesnake?
Guadalupe Mountains National Park | West Texas | find it here | website
Guadalupe Mountains National Park contains the four highest peaks in all of Texas. With both short hikes and long extensive hikes to the peaks, the Guadalupe Mountains are a great place to get some exercise in. This national park is a protected area for its fossil reef, the largest of its kind in the world!
READ MORE | Getting Lost on the Trails in Guadalupe Mountains
National parks in Virginia
Shenandoah National Park | in the Blue Ridge Mountains | Find it here | website
One of our all-time favorite national parks, Shenandoah National Park in Virginia is an absolute must on any United States road trip! Stunning to visit in the fall, we recommend visiting this park as the leaves are changing and the summer tourist crowds slim down! With gorgeous drives 105 miles long, easy-to-access back country camping, and super fun scramble-up mountain-type hikes, you’ve got to visit this national park in Virginia!
READ MORE | Our Time Visiting Shenandoah National Park + Loads of Pictures too!
National Parks in West Virginia
New River Gorge National Park | in the Appalachian Mountains | Find it here | website
Now, this park is the newest park to the NPS! Congress voted on and designated the New River Gorge Bridge a National protected area–West Virginia’s first national park! This park boasts the deepest river gorge east of the Mississippi, thrilling white water rafting, and an extensive list of climbing routes! Make sure to get here as this is sure to keep your outdoorsy self busy and entertained!
National Parks in Indiana
Indiana Dunes National Park | Northern Indiana | Find it here | website
Indiana Dunes National Park was America’s newest national park a couple of years back, but no longer. This park is located in the north of Indiana. It offers a bit of everything. Right on the waters of Lake Michigan, you’ll find access to water sports, beach life, and hiking here too!
National Parks in Michigan
Isle Royale National Park | Islands north of Michigan | Find it here | website
With a cluster of one large island and over 200 small islands on Lake Superior… Isle Royale National Park in Michigan is for those looking for complete solitude. Additionally, its only accessible by floatplanes and boats. Which doesn’t allow any vehicles or pets on the islands! With miles and miles of trails to hike, you’ll be busy enjoying nature one step at a time!
National Parks in Minnesota
Voyageurs National Park | Northern Minnesota | Find it here | website
Voyageurs National Park is covered nearly 50% by water! So this is a park for those who love water sports! Bring your own watercraft or rent one at the park to truly understand this national park in Minnesota!
National Parks in Missouri
Gateway Arch National Park | St. Louis Missouri | Find it here | website
Gateway Arch National Park is the country’s smallest national park of the 63 national parks designated by Congress. Despite its small footprint, it holds a lot of meaning. This is near the location where Lewis and Clark started their expedition westward in 1803. The arch itself is a 630-foot structure, which is the tallest structure in the state of Missouri. If you wish to brave this journey, you may go up and get a spectacular view of the city and surrounding areas!
National Parks in North Dakota
Theodore Roosevelt National Park | Western North Dakota | Find it here | website
Bison, painted hills, and scenic byways are all encapsulated by the Theodore Roosevelt National Park in North Dakota. Established as a national park in 1978 to honor Teddy Roosevelt, this park also boasts great night photography and stargazing!
National Parks in Ohio
Cuyahoga Valley National Park | Northern Ohio | Find it here | website
Just outside of Cleveland, Cuyahoga Valley National Park offers those visiting Ohio a gorgeous nature escape from the city. This park even has a train running through the park with beer and wine tours!
National Parks in South Dakota
Badlands National Park | Central South Dakota | Find it here | website
Badlands National Park boasts views of painted hills. Fossils of saber tooth cats. And scenic drives that are unlike anywhere else on Earth!
Wind Cave National Park | Southwest South Dakota | Find it here | website
This national park in South Dakota hosts box work formations within the cave, something that is not found in many other places across the globe. Walking above the caves you’ll find bison and other wildlife. While beneath the surface, there are cave tours with the wind howling through the entrance!
Bottom Line
We hope you enjoyed this List of National Parks in the US by state and that you took advantage of the free national parks PDF download above. If you didn’t, make sure to jump back up to the top to get it!
US national parks are some of our favorite things about the US. And we believe it to be one of the best ways of going about exploring the beautiful lands. So please get out there and explore some of America’s beauty!
Below in the comment section… Let us know which park on the list of National Parks in the US by State is your favorite or the one you are most excited to see.
Pin it for later!
