The USA has some of the best protected areas anywhere from glaciers and mountains to canyons, and from wetlands to wilderness coastlines! The United States has 60+ national parks, each with areas that best suit each of the park’s best features, Whether that’s best views, most wildlife, most scenic drives, best hikes, or best solitude.’

This guide below has some of the most popular and accessible national parks of the USA to give you an idea of what makes each of them different and their most popular activities, as well as the best time to visit to avoid the biggest crowds.

How We Organized This List

This list was organized based on each park’s:

• Overall Experience: This looks at how good the park is for families with kids, as well as the more seasoned adventurers.
• Accessibility: Easy park services, clear roads, good facilities, etc.
• Variety of Activities: Each park is good for different activities such as wildlife. swimming, and even just some scenic views!
• Park Rules and Scenery: This combines how good the rules are, and how good the park looks.
• Overall Experience: This looks at how good the park is for families with kids, as well as the more seasoned adventurers.

Always check the official National Park Service. They are the only ones with the proper information on crowds, rules, and current road information before you visit a national park.

1) Yellowstone National Park (Wyoming, Montana, Idaho)

Best for: Geysers, wildlife, and classic American scenery
This national park is a classic! It is the first national park in the world and is still one of the most beautiful with its geothermal basins, a plethora of stunning waterfalls, and big mountain views! There is also a real chance of encountering bison and elk, and occasionally bears and wolves.
Must see:

• Old Faithful and the Upper Geyser Basin
• Grand Prismatic Spring (view from the overlook if you can)
• Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone (Artist Point)
• Lamar Valley for wildlife spotting

Best time to visit: Late spring to early fall, with summer being the busiest. The shoulders of seasons are beautiful but have variable road access.

2) Grand Canyon National Park (Arizona)

Best for: World-famous viewpoints and unforgettable sunsets.
Pictures of the Grand Canyon really do not do it justice. The most accessible views come from the South Rim, and the North Rim requires a longer drive.
Must see:

• Rim Trail (views for the entire walk)
• Desert View Watchtower Area
• South Kaibab trail

Best time to visit: Spring or fall for cooler temps and less dense crowds.

Tip: Hiking down is optional, though even a short hike below the rim greatly alters the entire experience.

3) Yosemite National Park (California)

Best for: waterfalls, granite cliffs, american landscapes, iconic sequoias

Yosemite is known for its impressive vertical granite structures and breathtaking views of the valleys. Ideal for those looking for serious hikes and those looking for classic American landscapes.

Don’t miss:

• Tunnel View (the postcard overlook)
• Yosemite Falls (seasonal peak flow in spring)
• Glacier Point Road area (when open)
• Mariposa Grove (giant sequoias)

Best time to visit: later spring, for cuts of the waterfall and the fall for less people. Summer is gorgeous but busy.

Tip: yosemite uses a reservation system during peak periods, so plan ahead.

4) Zion National Park (Utah)

Best for: canyon hikes and big scenery in a compact area

Zion National Park has lots to offer: enormous canyon walls, river hikes, and famous trails.

Don’t miss:

• The Narrows (walking in the river; con Wal)
• Angels Landing (requires a permit; not those with height concerns)
• Emerald Pools and Canyon Overlook for short options

Best time to visit spring and fall for a more comfortable season.

Tip: During busy seasons, shuttle systems may be used. Build some additional time into your day.

5) Glacier National Park (Montana)

Best for: Alpine lakes, big mountain hikes, scenic drives

With its rugged peaks and shining turquoise lakes, and trails that provide huge rewards, Glacier feels wild and rugged.

Don’t miss:

• Going-to-the-Sun Road (one of the best drives in the USA)
• Logan Pass trails (great starters include Hidden Lake Overlook).
• Classic hikes and range wildlife encounters in the Many Glacier area.

Best time to visit: Mid summer to early autumn, but access to routes are snow dependent.

Tip: During the peak season in summer, some parts of the Glacier may require a timed entrance reservation.

6) Rocky Mountain National Park (Colorado)

Best for: High-altitude scenery, wildlife + easy access from Denver

One of the most easily accessed, big mountain, true “high-altitude” parks in the USA, Rocky Mountain offers pristine alpine tundra, clustered elk, and scenic drives that rise above the tree line.

Don’t miss:

• Trail Ridge Road (seasonal and spectacular)
• Bear Lake area (great for beginner- intermediate hikes)
• Wildlife in Moraine Park.

Best time to visit: Summer and early autumn, with September offering great elk activity.

Tip: During the busy months, entry permits that are timed are often in use.—

7) Grand Teton National Park (Wyoming)

Best for: amazing views of mountains and lakes, photography, easy pairing with Yellowstone

Grand Teton National Park is home to one of the most impressive and dramatic mountain skylines in the United States, rising dramatically from the valley floor. It is also a great “base camp” park, as there is easy access to numerous different hiking trails.

Don’t miss:

• Jenny Lake area (the boat shuttle + hike is a classic)
• Oxbow Bend for sunrise reflections
• Taggart Lake for a great moderate hike

Best time to visit: summer and early fall.

8) Olympic National Park (Washington)

Best for: the most diverse parks with a rainforest, mountains, and crazy coastline

If you are looking for diverse scenery in a single trip, Olympic is the top spot. It is like three parks in one. You get mossy rainforests, snow-dusted mountains, and all the coastline you could want with some rugged Pacific beaches.

Don’t miss:

• Hoh Rain Forest (Hall of Mosses)
• Hurricane Ridge vistas (when you can)
• Rialto Beach or Ruby Beach for dramatic coastlines

Best time to visit: summertime is great for the mountains, and spring and fall are best for the rainforest (fewer crowds).

9) Acadia National Park (Maine)

Best for- coastal drives, fall colors, easy-moderate hikes, sunrises,

Acadia is a smaller national park, but it is very easy to enjoy the park’s natural beauty on a short visit. You can enjoy forested trails, rocky shoreline, and beautiful ocean views.

Don’t miss:

• Cadillac Mountain is very popular for its sunrises, but you will need to make a reservation to view it.
• Ocean Path and Sand Beach area
• Jordan Pond (easy loop + view)

The Best time to visit is late summer.

10) Arches National Park (Utah)

Best for- unique rock formations, primitive camping, photography, easy scenic stops, mixed-ability short hikes

Arches National Park is filled with beautiful landscapes with natural stone arches. Because most highlights are easily accessible with short hikes, it makes for a more inclusive experience.

Don’t miss:

• a popular sunset hike to Delicate Arch
• fam friendly hikes in the Windows Section
• longer trails in Devils Garden

Best time to visit is spring and fall because summer is very hot.

Tip: it is a first-come first-serve entry system during peak season, so check ahead to beat the crowd.

11) Everglades National Park (Florida)

Best for- total wilderness experience, with wildlife, wetlands, kayaking.

If you are a wildlife lover and a paddler, the Everglades is a wilderness area with a flat wide variety of wildlife.

• Shower Valley: biking trail + lookout tower.
• Anhinga Trail: easy trail with lots of wildlife.
• Any ranger talks (when available).

Best time to visit: winter/early spring (cooler temps, less mosquitoes).

Tip: Stay back from wildlife, especially alligators.

12) Great Smoky Mountains National Park (Tennessee/North Carolina)

Best for: easy waterfalls, scenic drives, wildflowers, family trips

The Smokies have gorgeous cabins, accessible hikes, and scenic rolling mountains with misty mornings.

Must sees:

• Cades Cove: wildlife + historic cabins
• Clingmans Dome: big views, short walk
• Laurel/Grotto Falls

Best time to visit: spring for wildflowers, fall for foliage.

Tip: It is free to enter but parking tags/fees may apply depending on the current rules.

Noteworthy Mentions (Deserving Trip Dedicated)

For equally memorable but different vibes, consider:

• ____Bryce Canyon, UT- great sunrises, and very unique geological formations (Hoodoos)
• ____Sequoia and King’s Canyon, CA- Very tall and large trees and great deep mountain wilderness
• ____Joshua Tree, CA- A great place for stargazing and great deserts
• ____Death Valley, CA/NV- Visually interesting deserts (best from October to March)
• ____Denali, AK- big wilderness and big animals (access is seasonal)

Planning A National Park Trip Basics

Little’s go a long way, especially with popular parks.

1) Research Required Reservation and Timed Entry

More and more parks have:

• Timed entry
• Shuttle Reservations
• Permits for Angel’s Landing and other specific hikes

These can completely sell out.

2) Get An Early Start

More likely to find parking, and for cooler temperatures, and for more wildlife

3) Anticipate Large Driving Distances

If they’re large, the driving distance is likely very large.

4) Pack for safety

Make sure to bring:

• A good amount of food and water
• Something to help protect you from the sun
• Clothes for layers (the weather in the mountains changes quickly)
• A paper map or some form of offline navigation
• Some basic supplies for first-aid

5) Follow Leave No Trace

Stay on the trail, pack out what you take in (trash), do not feed the wildlife, and keep a safe distance from all wildlife.

What National Park Suits You Best?

If you want:

• Iconic first-timer parks: Grand Canyon, Yellowstone, and Yosemite.
• Best-hiking focused trips: Grand Teton, Zion, and Glacier.
• Best variety in one park: Olympic.
• Best East Coast classic: Great Smoky Mountains and Acadia National Park.
• Best wetlands and wildlife: The Everglades National Park.

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