Recently updated on September 4th, 2024 at 11:38 am
Narrowing down the best National Parks in the USA is no easy task. Did you know there are 63 National Parks scattered across the States? That makes it awfully difficult to choose the very best.
Luckily we’re here with the top 14 best National Parks in the USA for every occasion, whether you’re after wildlife spotting, scenic hikes, climbing, or even geothermal activity.
Denali National Park
The best National Park in USA for wildlife spotting, Denali National Park in Alaska is home to big creatures including grizzly and black bears, wolves, moose, caribou and Dall’s sheep. Expect to see incredible birdlife plus arctic ground and red squirrels, foxes and Hoary marmots.
“We were able to see an amazing number of wildlife on this trip. Every stop was well planned for us to play tourist with no worries” – Trafalgar Guest on National Park Wonders
Yellowstone National Park
While magnificent Yellowstone was elected the world’s first National Park in 1872, the 2.2 million acres with unique hydrothermal and geological features. Head to Yellowstone you’ll experience active geysers and hot springs, climb mountains and valleys, plus hopefully spot bears, wolves, bison, elk and more.
Yosemite National Park
Jutting out of the landscape like huge granite skyscrapers, mega stone monoliths (including El Capitan, the tallest at 2,308 metres) define the brilliant and scenic landscapes of Yosemite National Park. One of the best National Parks in the USA for climbers, on some Trafalgar trips lucky guests even get to stay the night in a cosy lodge just a stone’s throw from Yosemite Falls. The next morning join a guided hike, passing under giant, ancient sequoia trees and learning about the natural history, flora and fauna.
Grand Teton National Park
Grand Teton National Park, Wyoming, is quieter than Yellowstone (which is just a three-hour drive away) though it’s no less dramatic. The dramatic, mountain skyline of the “Tetons” touches the sky at 4,199 metres high. Standing tall compared to the flat plains, this contrasting scenery draws visitors to the park. Here you can enjoy a float trip down the Snake River in spring and see elk rutting in September.
Grand Canyon National Park
You’ve probably seen countless photos of the awe-inspiring Grand Canyon, but its natural beauty has to be seen in person. The vast 18-by-277-mile UNESCO World Heritage Site is a dream for hikers, though you can also see the park from the waters of the Colorado River. On tour with Trafalgar you’ll get to peel back the layers of this diverse landscape, from seeing it with a geology expert to discovering how native people live on the land as you head to the Desert View Intertribal Cultural Heritage Site to hear stories, family histories and cultural demonstrations by tribal members on another MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® Experience.
Utah National Park
It’s hard to beat the pulling power of Utah’s great National Parks. Orange-tinted Bryce Canyon can be part moonscape at times. The Utah National Park is filled with unusual desert scenery including natural amphitheatres and spire-shaped rocks. In winter the contrast of bright white snow and orange rock is so unique. It’s no surprise this park draws around 1.5 million visitors a year.
“We loved the itinerary and saw some incredible landscapes and took some amazing photos. I would encourage anyone who wants to see unbelievable natural beauty and canyons and eerie landscapes to take this particular trip.” – Trafalgar Guest on Utah’s Mighty Five National Parks
Joshua Tree National Park
America’s 10th most visited National Park, Joshua Tree isn’t one to skip. Here you can view impressive rock faces, hike a few trails and see the namesake twisted trees. Scattered throughout the desert park are more than 500 archaeological sites plus quirky points-of-interest like UFO-shaped homes and ghost towns.
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Rocky Mountain National Park
In Colorado, keep an eye out for porcupines, pikas, moose and the odd mountain lion on a hike through Rocky Mountain National Park. There’s a good chance you’ll pass by a few of the 150 lakes on one of 359 trails that snake through the park. There’s two sides – the west is lush, green and vibrant, while the east is more arid. Take your pick and experience 60 epic peaks.
Zion National Park
It seems like Utah is a favourite for its National Parks, and Zion National Park is the best for hiking. Zion, the third most visited American National Park with 3.6 million visitors, is a clear fan favourite with epic canyons, rust-red rockface, waterfalls and miles of hiking trails. A favourite hike is the Angel’s Landing, a precarious and narrow hike up a ridge, but there are dozens of stunning, less dangerous hikes to embark on and experience the beauty of the park. Though it’s not a national park, Antelope Canyon is part of the Navajo Nation Parks, and is just over a 2-hour drive from Zion. With its famed slot canyons and mesmerizing rock formations, it’s well worth a visit if you’re over that way.
“This itinerary is absolutely not to be missed. We went to all 5 National Parks in Utah which includes Arches, Canyonlands National Park, Capitol Reef, Bryce and Zion. We hiked some amazing trails and saw Bighorn Sheep grazing in a pasture, a unique and rare sight. We were treated to an aeroplane ride over Lake Powell which gave us a perspective we wouldn’t have had on land and was well worth it. We went to places we would have missed had we tried to do this on our own.” – Trafalgar Guest on Utah’s Mighty Five National Parks
Hawaii Volcanoes National Park
This UNESCO listed park and designated International Biosphere Reserve protects some of the most unique geological, biological and cherished cultural environments in the world, from lush landscapes to active volcanoes. You can even summit two of the world’s most active volcanoes, Kīlauea and Mauna Loa, or view the steam vents from the safety of the Kīlauea Visitor Center, where you can feel the heat from the volcano itself.
Great Smoky Mountains National Park
Affectionately known as the Smokies after to the ever-present morning fog, this national park holds within it a mountain range, renowned for its incredible flora and fauna, magnificent mountains, and historic southern Appalachian culture. The Great Smoky Mountains National Park holds the title of the most-visited national park in the United States, but you’ll never be short of things to discover here – with hundreds of different species of trees and over 850 miles of hiking trails to get lost in. The cherry on top? It’s also one of the few national parks that’s free to enter.
Canyonlands National Park
There are canyons beyond the Grand Canyon, and Canyonlands National Park is here to prove it. Often considered the little sibling of the Grand Canyon, Canyonlands is distinctly different in that it’s one of Utah’s least-visited national parks (while also being one of the largest). Covering 330,000 acres, you’ll be stunned by the park’s countless arches, canyons, buttes, mesas, and vistas.
Acadia National Park
Spread across nearly 50,000 acres along the coast of Maine, Acadia National Park is one of the most popular parks in the country thanks to its history and unbounded diversity. Rocky coastlines, cobblestone beaches, granite mountains, lakes and ponds, and wildlife sit alongside harbor villages on the park’s borders. You can climb Cadillac Mountain or take a scenic drive along Park Loop Road as you try and spot some of the park’s 40 different mammal species, such as chipmunks, white-tailed deer, moose, beaver, porcupine, muskrats, foxes, coyote, bobcats, and even black bears. The lack of light pollution in the area means that it’s one of the best places to gaze under the night skies where you can clearly spot millions of stars, including the Milky Way.
River Gorge National Park
One of the newer national parks, River Gorge has only been officially classified by the NPS as a National Park since 2020. Set in the heart of the Appalachian mountains, the New River Gorge at the heart of the park spent thousands of years eroding and carving this 1,000 foot canyon. A mix of wild forest, cascading rivers, and sheer cliffs, explore the rugged beauty of River Gorge from some of its 1,500 climbing routs, along its hundred of hiking trails, or even from the river itself as you raft along its rapids.
What do you think are the best National Parks in the USA? Let us know in the comments…