There are 63 designated national parks in the United States. Great Smoky Mountains sees 13.3 million visitors annually. Gates of the Arctic sees around 10,000 (you'd need a bush plane to get there).
Not all parks are equally accessible. Some are day-trip friendly from major cities. Others require multi-day commitments, advance permits, or specialized logistics. The "completionist" goal (visiting all 63) is valid, but don't let the checklist mentality overshadow quality experiences at fewer parks.
This guide organizes all 63 parks by NPS region with highlights and tracking prompts for each. Use it as a bucket list, a planning reference, and a record of where you've been.
A note on tracking: For each park, note your date visited, your overall rating, and whether you'd return. That last one matters most. After 20 parks, the "would return" indicator becomes your shortcut for recommendations and future planning.
Pacific West Region (17 Parks)
The Pacific West covers California, Hawaii, Washington, Oregon, Nevada, Idaho, Arizona, Guam, and American Samoa. This region includes some of the most visited parks in the system.
California
Channel Islands: Santa Barbara County, CA Five islands off the Southern California coast, accessible only by boat or plane. Sea caves, unique wildlife, minimal crowds. Highlights: Kayaking sea caves at Santa Cruz Island, island fox sightings, Inspiration Point hike, snorkeling at Landing Cove Track: Date visited _____ | Rating _____ | Would return? _____
Death Valley: Inyo County, CA/NV The largest national park in the lower 48 at 3.4 million acres. Extreme heat in summer, stunning in spring. Highlights: Badwater Basin (lowest point in North America), Zabriskie Point sunrise, Artist's Palette, Mesquite Flat Sand Dunes, Racetrack Playa Track: Date visited _____ | Rating _____ | Would return? _____
Joshua Tree: Riverside/San Bernardino Counties, CA Where the Mojave and Colorado deserts meet. Iconic twisted trees, world-class stargazing, rock climbing mecca. Highlights: Hidden Valley, Keys View, Skull Rock, Cholla Cactus Garden, night sky photography Track: Date visited _____ | Rating _____ | Would return? _____
Kings Canyon: Fresno/Tulare Counties, CA Often combined with Sequoia, but distinct: deeper canyon, fewer crowds, wilder feel. Highlights: Kings Canyon Scenic Byway, General Grant Tree, Zumwalt Meadow, Mist Falls Track: Date visited _____ | Rating _____ | Would return? _____
Lassen Volcanic: Shasta County, CA Active volcanic landscape with hydrothermal features, often overlooked in favor of Yellowstone. Highlights: Bumpass Hell, Lassen Peak summit hike, Manzanita Lake, Sulphur Works Track: Date visited _____ | Rating _____ | Would return? _____
Pinnacles: San Benito/Monterey Counties, CA Remains of an ancient volcano, famous for talus caves and California condor recovery. Highlights: Bear Gulch Cave, High Peaks Trail, condor sightings, Balconies Cave Track: Date visited _____ | Rating _____ | Would return? _____
Redwood: Del Norte/Humboldt Counties, CA Home to the tallest trees on Earth (coast redwoods over 350 feet). Foggy, ancient, otherworldly. Highlights: Tall Trees Grove, Fern Canyon, Lady Bird Johnson Grove, Newton B. Drury Scenic Parkway Track: Date visited _____ | Rating _____ | Would return? _____
Sequoia: Tulare County, CA Giant sequoias (the largest trees by volume on Earth). General Sherman is the biggest. Highlights: General Sherman Tree, Moro Rock, Crystal Cave, Tunnel Log Track: Date visited _____ | Rating _____ | Would return? _____
Yosemite: Mariposa/Madera/Tuolumne Counties, CA Waterfalls, granite cliffs, giant sequoias. One of the most iconic landscapes in America, and the crowds to match. Highlights: Yosemite Falls, Half Dome, El Capitan, Tunnel View, Glacier Point, Mariposa Grove Track: Date visited _____ | Rating _____ | Would return? _____
Hawaii
Haleakalā: Maui, HI A massive shield volcano with a lunar-like summit crater. Sunrise above the clouds is legendary. Highlights: Summit sunrise (reservation required), Sliding Sands Trail, Pipiwai Trail to Waimoku Falls Track: Date visited _____ | Rating _____ | Would return? _____
Hawai'i Volcanoes: Big Island, HI Active volcanism at Kīlauea, lava tubes, steaming vents. The only place in the US to potentially see flowing lava. Highlights: Kīlauea Overlook, Thurston Lava Tube, Chain of Craters Road, Devastation Trail Track: Date visited _____ | Rating _____ | Would return? _____
Pacific Northwest
Crater Lake: Klamath County, OR The deepest lake in America, stunningly blue, filling a collapsed volcanic crater. Snow closes rim roads into early summer. Highlights: Rim Drive, Wizard Island boat tour, Cleetwood Cove Trail, Watchman Peak Track: Date visited _____ | Rating _____ | Would return? _____
Mount Rainier: Pierce/Lewis Counties, WA Glaciated active volcano visible from Seattle. Wildflower meadows, old-growth forests, serious mountaineering. Highlights: Paradise, Sunrise, Skyline Trail, Grove of the Patriarchs, Wonderland Trail Track: Date visited _____ | Rating _____ | Would return? _____
North Cascades: Whatcom/Skagit/Chelan Counties, WA Rugged alpine wilderness, jagged peaks, over 300 glaciers. Often called "the American Alps." Highlights: Diablo Lake Overlook, Cascade Pass, Ross Lake, North Cascades Highway scenic drive Track: Date visited _____ | Rating _____ | Would return? _____
Olympic: Clallam/Jefferson/Grays Harbor/Mason Counties, WA Three distinct ecosystems: rainforest, alpine, and Pacific coast. One of the most diverse parks in the system. Highlights: Hoh Rain Forest, Hurricane Ridge, Rialto Beach, Sol Duc Falls, Lake Crescent Track: Date visited _____ | Rating _____ | Would return? _____
Pacific Islands
American Samoa: American Samoa The only national park in the Southern Hemisphere. Remote, tropical, culturally rich. Highlights: Rainforest hikes on Tutuila, snorkeling, Samoan village cultural experiences Track: Date visited _____ | Rating _____ | Would return? _____
Intermountain Region (20 Parks)
The Intermountain region covers the Rocky Mountains and Southwest: Utah, Colorado, Montana, Wyoming, Arizona, New Mexico, Oklahoma, and Texas. This is where many of the iconic red rock parks live.
Utah (The Mighty Five)
Arches: Grand County, UT Over 2,000 natural stone arches in a concentrated area. Delicate Arch is Utah's most photographed landmark. Highlights: Delicate Arch at sunset, Landscape Arch, Windows Section, Fiery Furnace (permit required), Devils Garden Track: Date visited _____ | Rating _____ | Would return? _____
Bryce Canyon: Garfield/Kane Counties, UT Not actually a canyon (an eroded amphitheater of hoodoos). Otherworldly landscape, excellent night skies. Highlights: Sunrise Point, Navajo Loop Trail, Queens Garden, Wall Street, night sky programs Track: Date visited _____ | Rating _____ | Would return? _____
Canyonlands: San Juan/Wayne/Garfield/Grand Counties, UT Vast, rugged canyon country divided into four districts. Island in the Sky is most accessible; the Needles and Maze require commitment. Highlights: Mesa Arch sunrise, Grand View Point, Island in the Sky, Chesler Park (Needles), White Rim Road (4WD) Track: Date visited _____ | Rating _____ | Would return? _____
Capitol Reef: Wayne County, UT 100-mile Waterpocket Fold, pioneer history, fruit orchards. Least crowded of Utah's five. Highlights: Scenic Drive, Capitol Gorge, Hickman Bridge, Gifford Homestead fruit pies, Cassidy Arch Track: Date visited _____ | Rating _____ | Would return? _____
Zion: Washington/Iron/Kane Counties, UT Towering red cliffs, narrow slot canyons, challenging hikes. Angels Landing and The Narrows are bucket-list trails. Highlights: Angels Landing (permit required), The Narrows, Canyon Overlook, Observation Point, Emerald Pools Track: Date visited _____ | Rating _____ | Would return? _____
Arizona
Grand Canyon: Coconino/Mohave Counties, AZ One of Earth's most dramatic landscapes. Most visitors see the South Rim; the North Rim is quieter; inner canyon requires permits and planning. Highlights: Mather Point, Desert View Watchtower, South Kaibab Trail, Bright Angel Trail, North Rim (if open) Track: Date visited _____ | Rating _____ | Would return? _____
Petrified Forest: Navajo/Apache Counties, AZ Ancient fallen trees turned to colorful stone, Painted Desert badlands. Often a quick stop; worth more time. Highlights: Crystal Forest, Blue Mesa, Painted Desert rim, Agate House, newspaper Rock petroglyphs Track: Date visited _____ | Rating _____ | Would return? _____
Saguaro: Pima County, AZ Giant saguaro cacti up to 40 feet tall (the iconic symbol of the Sonoran Desert). Two districts flank Tucson. Highlights: Saguaro West sunset, Signal Hill petroglyphs, Valley View Overlook, Desert Discovery Nature Trail Track: Date visited _____ | Rating _____ | Would return? _____
Colorado
Black Canyon of the Gunnison: Montrose/Gunnison Counties, CO A narrow, steep-walled canyon carved by the Gunnison River. Dramatic but compact: easy day visit. Highlights: Painted Wall, Chasm View, South Rim Road, North Rim (unpaved, less crowded) Track: Date visited _____ | Rating _____ | Would return? _____
Great Sand Dunes: Alamosa/Saguache Counties, CO North America's tallest sand dunes against 14,000-foot peaks. Surreal landscape, often overlooked. Highlights: High Dune, Star Dune, Medano Creek (seasonal), sand sledding, night sky Track: Date visited _____ | Rating _____ | Would return? _____
Mesa Verde: Montezuma County, CO Ancestral Puebloan cliff dwellings, the best-preserved in the US. Ranger-led tours required for major sites. Highlights: Cliff Palace, Balcony House, Spruce Tree House, Mesa Top Loop Road Track: Date visited _____ | Rating _____ | Would return? _____
Rocky Mountain: Boulder/Grand/Larimer Counties, CO Alpine tundra, mountain lakes, elk herds. Trail Ridge Road is the highest continuous paved road in the US. Highlights: Trail Ridge Road, Bear Lake, Longs Peak, Sprague Lake, elk rut in fall Track: Date visited _____ | Rating _____ | Would return? _____
Wyoming/Montana
Grand Teton: Teton County, WY Jagged peaks rising abruptly from the valley floor, no foothills to soften the drama. Often combined with Yellowstone. Highlights: Jenny Lake, Cascade Canyon, Oxbow Bend, Mormon Row, Delta Lake Track: Date visited _____ | Rating _____ | Would return? _____
Glacier: Flathead/Glacier Counties, MT Rugged alpine wilderness, glacially carved valleys, 700+ miles of trails. Going-to-the-Sun Road is iconic. Highlights: Going-to-the-Sun Road, Highline Trail, Hidden Lake, Many Glacier, Grinnell Glacier Track: Date visited _____ | Rating _____ | Would return? _____
Yellowstone: WY/MT/ID The first national park. Geysers, hot springs, wildlife, waterfalls. The most geothermally active place on Earth. Highlights: Old Faithful, Grand Prismatic Spring, Lamar Valley wildlife, Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone, Mammoth Hot Springs Track: Date visited _____ | Rating _____ | Would return? _____
New Mexico/Texas/Oklahoma
Big Bend: Brewster County, TX Remote bend of the Rio Grande, Chihuahuan Desert, rugged mountains. One of the least visited major parks. Highlights: Santa Elena Canyon, South Rim Trail, Hot Springs, Window Trail, Rio Grande Village Track: Date visited _____ | Rating _____ | Would return? _____
Carlsbad Caverns: Eddy County, NM Massive limestone caves, 119 known caves. The Big Room is one of the largest underground chambers in North America. Highlights: Big Room, Natural Entrance Trail, bat flight program (summer), King's Palace Track: Date visited _____ | Rating _____ | Would return? _____
Guadalupe Mountains: Hudspeth/Culberson Counties, TX Texas's highest peaks, ancient fossil reef, fall foliage in McKittrick Canyon. Highlights: Guadalupe Peak (highest in Texas), McKittrick Canyon, El Capitan view, Devil's Hall Track: Date visited _____ | Rating _____ | Would return? _____
White Sands: Otero County, NM Brilliant white gypsum dunes in the Tularosa Basin. Sunrise and sunset transform the landscape. Highlights: Dunes Drive, Alkali Flat Trail, sand sledding, sunset photography Track: Date visited _____ | Rating _____ | Would return? _____
Midwest Region (5 Parks)
The Midwest has fewer parks but distinctive landscapes: badlands, islands, and prairies.
Badlands: Jackson/Pennington Counties, SD Eroded buttes and pinnacles, prairie grasslands, bison herds. Dramatic landscapes close to the road. Highlights: Badlands Loop Road, Door Trail, Notch Trail, Night sky programs, bison Track: Date visited _____ | Rating _____ | Would return? _____
Cuyahoga Valley: Summit/Cuyahoga Counties, OH A river valley between Cleveland and Akron. Waterfalls, forests, accessible urban wilderness. Highlights: Brandywine Falls, Cuyahoga Valley Scenic Railroad, Towpath Trail, Blue Hen Falls Track: Date visited _____ | Rating _____ | Would return? _____
Gateway Arch: St. Louis, MO The 630-foot stainless steel arch on the Mississippi River. More monument than wilderness, but officially a national park. Highlights: Tram ride to the top, Gateway Arch grounds, Old Courthouse Track: Date visited _____ | Rating _____ | Would return? _____
Theodore Roosevelt: Billings/McKenzie Counties, ND Badlands where Roosevelt ranched and developed his conservation ethic. Less famous than South Dakota's Badlands, equally striking. Highlights: Scenic Loop Drive, Maltese Cross Cabin, wildlife (bison, wild horses, prairie dogs), painted canyons Track: Date visited _____ | Rating _____ | Would return? _____
Voyageurs: St. Louis/Koochiching Counties, MN A water-based park on the Canadian border. Accessible primarily by boat. Highlights: Boat tours, Ellsworth Rock Gardens, Kettle Falls, northern lights, night sky Track: Date visited _____ | Rating _____ | Would return? _____
Northeast Region (4 Parks)
The Northeast has the most historic concentration of national parks (some of America's oldest protected lands).
Acadia: Hancock County, ME Rocky Atlantic coastline, forested mountains, carriage roads. The first national park east of the Mississippi. Highlights: Cadillac Mountain sunrise, Jordan Pond, Thunder Hole, Park Loop Road, carriage roads Track: Date visited _____ | Rating _____ | Would return? _____
Indiana Dunes: Porter/LaPorte Counties, IN 15 miles of Lake Michigan shoreline, dune ecosystems, surprising biodiversity. Highlights: West Beach, 3 Dune Challenge, Cowles Bog Trail, Mount Baldy Track: Date visited _____ | Rating _____ | Would return? _____
Isle Royale: Keweenaw County, MI Remote island in Lake Superior, accessible only by ferry or seaplane. Backpacker's paradise, wolf-moose study site. Highlights: Greenstone Ridge Trail, Rock Harbor, Scoville Point, moose sightings, solitude Track: Date visited _____ | Rating _____ | Would return? _____
Shenandoah: Multiple Counties, VA Blue Ridge Mountains, Skyline Drive, Appalachian Trail, accessible from Washington DC. Highlights: Skyline Drive, Old Rag Mountain, Whiteoak Canyon Falls, Big Meadows, Dark Hollow Falls Track: Date visited _____ | Rating _____ | Would return? _____
Southeast Region (12 Parks)
The Southeast includes Appalachian parks, subtropical wilderness, coastal preserves, and cave systems.
Biscayne: Miami-Dade County, FL 95% water (coral reefs, mangroves, islands). Snorkeling and boat trips are the primary experiences. Highlights: Snorkeling at the reefs, Boca Chita Key, Maritime Heritage Trail, boat tours Track: Date visited _____ | Rating _____ | Would return? _____
Congaree: Richland County, SC Old-growth bottomland hardwood forest, boardwalk trails, firefly displays in spring. Highlights: Boardwalk Loop Trail, canoe/kayak on Cedar Creek, synchronous fireflies (May-June) Track: Date visited _____ | Rating _____ | Would return? _____
Dry Tortugas: Monroe County, FL 70 miles west of Key West, accessible only by boat or seaplane. Fort Jefferson, pristine snorkeling. Highlights: Fort Jefferson, snorkeling the moat wall, seabird colonies, night sky Track: Date visited _____ | Rating _____ | Would return? _____
Everglades: Miami-Dade/Monroe/Collier Counties, FL The largest subtropical wilderness in the US. Sawgrass prairies, mangroves, alligators, manatees. Highlights: Anhinga Trail, Shark Valley, Nine Mile Pond canoe trail, Flamingo, airboat alternatives outside park Track: Date visited _____ | Rating _____ | Would return? _____
Great Smoky Mountains: TN/NC The most visited national park (13.3 million annually). Southern Appalachian forests, synchronous fireflies, historic buildings. Highlights: Clingmans Dome, Cades Cove, Roaring Fork Motor Nature Trail, Alum Cave Trail, Chimney Tops Track: Date visited _____ | Rating _____ | Would return? _____
Hot Springs: Garland County, AR Historic bathhouses fed by natural hot springs. The smallest national park by area, very developed. Highlights: Bathhouse Row, Fordyce Bathhouse Visitor Center, hot spring bathing, Hot Springs Mountain Tower Track: Date visited _____ | Rating _____ | Would return? _____
Mammoth Cave: Edmonson County, KY The world's longest known cave system, 400+ miles mapped. Underground tours required to see the caves. Highlights: Historic Tour, Domes and Dripstones Tour, Frozen Niagara, self-guided cave tour Track: Date visited _____ | Rating _____ | Would return? _____
New River Gorge: Fayette/Raleigh/Summers Counties, WV The newest national park (2020). Whitewater rafting, rock climbing, one of the oldest rivers in North America. Highlights: New River Gorge Bridge, Long Point Trail, Endless Wall Trail, whitewater rafting Track: Date visited _____ | Rating _____ | Would return? _____
Virgin Islands: St. John, USVI Tropical beaches, coral reefs, ruins of sugar plantations. Most of St. John island is parkland. Highlights: Trunk Bay, Cinnamon Bay, Reef Bay Trail, snorkeling, Annaberg Plantation Track: Date visited _____ | Rating _____ | Would return? _____
Alaska Region (8 Parks)
Alaska's parks are massive, remote, and wild. Most require significant planning, flights, or boat access.
Denali: Denali Borough, AK North America's highest peak (20,310 feet) and one of the premier wildlife parks. One road, mostly bus access. Highlights: Denali (mountain) views (weather permitting), bus tours, Wonder Lake, grizzly and caribou sightings Track: Date visited _____ | Rating _____ | Would return? _____
Gates of the Arctic: Multiple Boroughs, AK No roads, no trails, no facilities. True Arctic wilderness, accessed by bush plane. Highlights: Float trips, backpacking, Arctic solitude, midnight sun Track: Date visited _____ | Rating _____ | Would return? _____
Glacier Bay: Hoonah-Angoon/Yakutat, AK Tidewater glaciers, whales, sea otters. Most visitors arrive by cruise ship. Highlights: Margerie Glacier, Bartlett Cove, whale watching, kayaking, boat tours Track: Date visited _____ | Rating _____ | Would return? _____
Katmai: Multiple Boroughs, AK Famous for brown bears catching salmon at Brooks Falls. Fly-in access only. Highlights: Brooks Falls bear viewing, Valley of Ten Thousand Smokes, floatplane flights Track: Date visited _____ | Rating _____ | Would return? _____
Kenai Fjords: Kenai Peninsula Borough, AK Glaciers meeting the sea, marine wildlife, accessible from Seward. Highlights: Exit Glacier, boat tours of fjords, Harding Icefield Trail, whale and otter sightings Track: Date visited _____ | Rating _____ | Would return? _____
Kobuk Valley: Northwest Arctic Borough, AK Arctic sand dunes and caribou migration. Remote, visited by fewer than 20,000 people annually. Highlights: Great Kobuk Sand Dunes, caribou migration (fall), river trips Track: Date visited _____ | Rating _____ | Would return? _____
Lake Clark: Multiple Boroughs, AK Volcanoes, glaciers, salmon runs, brown bears. No roads; fly or boat in. Highlights: Twin Lakes, coastal bear viewing, Tanalian Falls, salmon runs Track: Date visited _____ | Rating _____ | Would return? _____
Wrangell-St. Elias: Multiple Boroughs, AK The largest national park at 8.7 million acres (larger than Yellowstone, Yosemite, and Switzerland combined). Highlights: McCarthy/Kennecott, Root Glacier, Nabesna Road, flightseeing Track: Date visited _____ | Rating _____ | Would return? _____
Using This Checklist
This list works as a bucket list, but the better use is as a planning and memory tool.
Before trips, scan by region to see what's nearby. After trips, fill in dates, ratings, and the "would return" indicator. Over years, you build a personal reference that shows not just where you've been, but how each park compared and which ones deserve another visit. If you're deciding between a passport and a journal for tracking, our comparison of national park passports vs. journals breaks down what each captures.
For a structured way to document each park in detail (conditions, trails, wildlife, reflections, ratings, and passport stamps), see our national park journaling guide. The National Parks Remembered journal has 40 entries with three pages per park, enough for years of documentation.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many national parks are there?
63 designated national parks as of 2024. The newest is New River Gorge in West Virginia, designated in 2020. The National Park Service also manages 400+ other sites (monuments, seashores, battlefields), but only 63 have the "National Park" designation.
Which national park is the most visited?
Great Smoky Mountains, with over 13 million visitors annually. It's free to enter and accessible from major Southeast cities. Zion and Yellowstone typically round out the top three.
Which national park is the least visited?
Gates of the Arctic in Alaska sees around 10,000 visitors per year. It has no roads, trails, or facilities (you fly in by bush plane).
How do I track my national park visits?
Use this checklist for a quick reference. For detailed documentation (conditions, trails, ratings, reflections, and passport stamps), a dedicated journal works better than scattered notes. The key is capturing "would return?" for each park so you can reference it later.
Is it realistic to visit all 63 national parks?
It's possible but requires significant time and money. Eight parks are in Alaska, some requiring bush planes. Two are in remote Pacific territories. For most people, visiting 20-30 parks represents a lifetime of memorable trips. The goal shouldn't overshadow actually enjoying each visit.
Which parks require advance reservations or permits?
This changes seasonally and by demand, but parks like Arches, Rocky Mountain, Zion (Angels Landing), Yosemite, Glacier, and Haleakalā often require timed entry or trail permits during peak season. Always check NPS.gov before visiting popular parks in summer.
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