Check out our guide to the US National Park System, offering useful information covering the best parks to visit, road trip itineraries, and travel tips.

Intro to USA National Parks

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Stretching from the Pacific Ocean to the Atlantic, the United States is home to some incredibly diverse landscapes. Towering arches, lively swamps, and parched deserts dot the country. Luckily for us, some of the most stunningly beautiful places in the country are located within the United States National Park System. Covering more than 85 million acres of land, America’s national parks are truly a sight to behold.

Started in 1916, the National Parks System currently encompasses 63 national parks and hundreds of historic sites, battlefields, memorials, reserves, forests, and rivers. The first park created was Yellowstone National Park, which is still one of the most popular parks in the country. Visitors from around the world come to hike, camp, bike, or simply relax in the parks, soaking up the beautiful nature.

USA National Parks - Western Mountains & Forests

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The northwestern corner of the United States is famous for its thick forests, picture-perfect mountains, and geothermal oddities. And there is no better place to see this rugged scenery than in the region’s most famous national parks. From the Old Faithful Geyser in Yellowstone to the dramatic cliffs of Yosemite, there is something for everyone in this neck of the woods, and you can easily see why these Western US parks are considered to be some of the best national parks in the USA.

Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming

Perched on top of a giant volcanic hot spot, Yellowstone certainly knows how to turn up the heat. This geothermal wonderland is one of the best national parks in the USA, boasting geysers, unique wildlife, and its very own grand canyon. It can be reached by flying into Bozeman, Montana or Jackson Hole Airport in Wyoming, followed by a 1.5-hour drive.

Yosemite National Park, California

Famous for its waterfalls, granite cliffs, and giant trees, Yosemite National Park is located in the Sierra Nevada Mountains of California. This place is heaven for mountain climbers and hikers, and it officially became a World Heritage Site in 1984 due to its incredible biodiversity. You can visit Yosemite by flying into San Francisco. The park lies about 2.5 hours from the airport, so you’ll either need to rent a car or you can take public transport.

Glacier National Park, Montana

Lying right on the southern edge of Canada, Montana’s Glacier National Park is a bit of a trek to get to, but it’s well worth the effort. This landscape is dotted with glaciers, alpine meadows, and crystal clear lakes. You can explore the park by going on one of the many alpine hikes or by taking a spin around the Going-to-the-Sun road, a 52-mile-long scenic highway that weaves you through some of the park’s best scenery.

You can reach Glacier National Park by flying into the charming town of Bozeman. From there, it’s about a 5-hour drive to the park. Alternatively, you can fly into Glacier Park International Airport in Kalispell, Montana. It’s around a 40-minute drive to the park from there. Another great way to reach Glacier is by taking Amtrak’s Empire Builder train, which runs between Portland or Seattle and Chicago.

Crater Lake National Park, Oregon

Some national parks have volcanoes, others have lakes. Crater Lake National Park has a lake inside of a volcano. And if that isn’t cool enough, this lake also happens to be the deepest lake in the United States. The lake is surrounded by steep cliffs covered in thick forests, making it a picturesque spot for hiking and biking. The park is located about five hours south of Portland and around seven hours north of San Francisco.

Denali National Park, Alaska

Located within Alaska’s rugged interior, Denali National Park is home to the tallest mountain in North America. The mountain is surrounded by hiking trails as well as the scenic Park Road, and the wildlife spotting is incomparable. It’s about a 4.5-hour drive from Anchorage to Denali, and the park is enormous, so you should plan on spending at least a few days there to make the most of your time. Once you arrive, you can ditch your car and hop on one of the free Denali shuttle buses that will take you deep into the park, allowing you to see some of the park’s most beautiful landscapes.

USA National Parks - Deserts & Canyons

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While the Western District holds many of the country's highest mountains and tallest trees, the southwest region of the United States has some of the deepest canyons and lowest points. This is where you can find some insanely dramatic scenery that makes you feel like you're on another planet.

Most of the Southwest USA parks below are located within a four-hour drive from Las Vegas, Salt Lake City, or Phoenix. It’s really easy to combine many parks into one unforgettable road trip. One of the most popular trips is the southwest parks loop, which includes Las Vegas → Zion → Bryce → Grand Canyon → Monument Valley. If you have time, you can even continue from there all the way to Arches National Park, just a three-hour drive away! Although the drives between these parks can be long, they are also extremely beautiful and driving between them is certainly one of the best ways to see this breathtaking region of North America.

Grand Canyon National Park, Arizona

Stretching 277 miles long, the Grand Canyon is one of the longest and deepest canyons in the world. Outdoor enthusiasts can hike down to the bottom of the canyon, or they can view its jagged opening and technicolour rocks from various viewing platforms along the canyon rim. The Grand Canyon is roughly a four-hour drive from both Las Vegas and Phoenix. Otherwise, Grand Canyon tours depart frequently from Las Vegas. These are a great way to visit this spectacular site without having to do all the driving yourself!

Zion National Park, Utah

With sweeping red rock views, hundreds of miles of trails, and natural wonders galore, Zion National Park has a lot to offer visitors. For many visitors, the highlight of the park is The Narrows, a fittingly-named hiking trail that leads you along the floor of the canyon and is one of the most popular Zion hikes. The trail follows the path of the Virgin River, so be prepared to have some very wet feet by the end of it! Another must-see attraction is the Kolob Arch, the second-tallest freestanding arch in the world! Zion National Park is located just 3 hours away from Las Vegas in the southwestern corner of Utah.

Bryce Canyon, Utah

Situated just 50 miles away from Zion National Park, Bryce Canyon makes the perfect stop on a national park road trip! This fascinating area boasts not only its namesake canyon but also hundreds of towering hoodoos and delicate arches. Walking through the park makes you feel like you have been transported to another planet, and the views are absolutely breathtaking. Zion and Bryce Canyon can easily be combined into one fantastic trip, so make sure to leave plenty of time to visit both parks while you’re there!

Arches National Park, Utah

Perhaps the most fittingly named park in the country, Arches National Park has over 2,000 natural stone arches and is home to the world’s largest freestanding arch. This means that it also has the density of arches on Earth. Arches is just a short drive from Moab in eastern Utah, which can be reached via a long but beautiful drive from Las Vegas or Salt Lake City. While you’re there, you can also visit Canyonlands National Park, which is just a 30-minute drive away.

Death Valley National Park, California

Known for being the driest, hottest, and lowest national park, Death Valley National Park offers incredibly diverse landscapes and wildlife ranging from sweeping sand dunes to jagged mountains. It’s a great spot for hiking, stargazing, and scenic drives. The park is located on the border of California and Nevada and can be easily accessed from Los Angeles and Las Vegas.

USA National Parks - East Coast Forests & Coastlines

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Although the western coast of the US is famous for its landscapes, the eastern seaboard has plenty to offer as well! Many of the parks are located within driving distance of major cities like Washington D.C, New York City, and Miami.

Acadia National Park, Maine

Perched on the rugged Maine coastline, Acadia National Park offers visitors rocky beaches, pristine woodlands, and lofty granite peaks, including Cadillac Mountain, the tallest mountain on the eastern seaboard. Most visitors arrive at the park via the charming seaside town of Bar Harbor, where you can indulge in lobster rolls and admire the Victorian-era architecture. Acadia is one of the most popular East Coast national parks so you may want to avoid visiting during the height of summer when it’s sure to be crowded.

Great Smoky Mountains, TN/NC

Running from Tennessee to North Carolina, the Great Smoky Mountains get their interesting name from the ever-present haze that covers the top of the mountains. The park is famous for its mind-boggling biodiversity, with more than 20,000 species of plants and animals found there, and you can get a closer look at them on one of the many hiking trails that wind their way through the park. Great Smoky Mountains National Park is one of the most easily accessible of the major national parks and is just a few hours' drive from Charlotte, Richmond, and Asheville.

USA National Parks Transport - How to Get Around

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Renting a Car vs. Park Shuttles

Most visitors will reach the US national parks by car, either their own car or a rental car. Since many of the national parks listed above get insanely busy during the summer months, there are usually long traffic jams and a lot of time wasted searching for parking spots. In order to counteract this, many of the country’s most popular parks offer park shuttles. You can usually park at the visitor center or somewhere near the park entrance and then hop on the shuttle from there. The shuttles are usually pretty frequent, which makes this extremely advantageous if you’re planning on doing any hikes that have different starting and ending points.

Some of the best parks for rentals include Yellowstone, Arches, and the Grand Canyon. Meanwhile, Zion, Acadia, Glacier, and Yosemite have shuttle-only zones where private cars are forbidden. It’s important to research where you can drive within each national park as well as what type of driving conditions you can expect to encounter. Depending on where you want to go within the park, you may want to consider getting a rental car with a high clearance such as an SUV or a truck.

Public Transport to Major Parks

Although the United States isn’t exactly known for its public transportation systems, a surprisingly large number of parks are accessible by public transport, including Yosemite, Glacier, Grand Canyon, and Zion. Most parks are also close to regional airports, with the nearest airports to Yellowstone (Bozeman), Grand Canyon (Flagstaff), and Yosemite (Fresno) being just a short drive away. These airports can be very expensive to fly into, so try to be flexible with your travel dates, as it could help you snag a cheaper ticket.

You can also reach a few of the parks by Amtrak train, including Glacier National Park and Grand Canyon National Park. You can also take the train between some of the bigger cities in the region and then pick up a rental car to drive the rest of the way to the park.

Plan Your Visit to USA National Parks: Tips & Tools

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When to Visit the USA National Parks

Most of the national parks are open all year long, with the best time to visit being spring and autumn, which allows you to see springtime wildflowers and fall foliage. Depending on the park, there may be certain sections of the park that are closed during the winter. There may also be limited services available during the off-season.

If possible, try to avoid going to the most popular parks during the summer and school holidays as they tend to be extremely crowded. During the high season, you may have to reserve park passes well in advance. You can find information on USA park permits on the NPS website.

Useful Pass for USA National Parks

The entry fees to America’s national parks can vary greatly, with many of the bigger, most popular parks charging anywhere between $20 and 30 to access the park. This can quickly add up if you’re planning on visiting a lot of different parks. Luckily, the National Park Service offers the America the Beautiful Pass. Valid for one year, this pass gives you access to all of the sites managed by the National Park Service. The pass costs just $8,0, which makes it an incredible value for money. The pass can be purchased on the National Park Service website or at any of the national parks.