Travelers are spoiled for choice in the United States, but if you’re building a bucket list, this renumbered lineup ranks the 10 National Parks to visit in The US from least busy to most beloved. Think of it as a road-trip mixtape: the opener eases you in with sub-Arctic silence, the finale crescendos with Smoky Mountain fiddle tunes, and every stop in between layers on its own tempo of adventure. Lace up—the trail stories waiting here are the kind that stick to your boots forever.
1. Denali National Park & Preserve, Alaska
Six million acres of tundra and taiga mean Denali often feels like a private wilderness safari. Only one 92-mile road threads the park, and once you’re beyond Mile 15, a shuttle becomes your moving wildlife hide where grizzlies and caribou claim the right-of-way. Clear days reveal 20,310-foot Denali vaulting two vertical miles above the plain—enough to make seasoned mountaineers gulp. In late August, dwarf birch blaze crimson against already snow-dusted ridges, and the northern lights sometimes ripple across the sky like green silk. Pack layers, patience, and a zoom lens; you’ll use them all.
2. Everglades National Park, Florida
Nicknamed the “River of Grass,” the Everglades move southward at only a few feet per day, creating a watery labyrinth of mangroves, sawgrass marsh, and cypress domes. Glide silently in a kayak through buttonwood tunnels where roseate spoonbills flash bubble-gum pink and alligators patrol like prehistoric bouncers. Winter’s dry season brings bug-light breezes and crystal-clear sloughs that corral wildlife into easy view around Shark Valley. Stick around for a full-moon bike ride—the sawgrass plains glow silver under starlight, and you’ll never look at “flat” Florida the same way again. Bonus tip: grab a slice of key lime pie in nearby Homestead as a sweet post-paddle reward.
3. Arches National Park, Utah
Compact but mighty, Arches crams more than 2,000 natural stone arches into just 119 square miles, turning every bend into a geology gallery. Delicate Arch—the one on Utah’s license plates—spans 46 feet high, and those who hike up at dawn often share it only with ravens riding the thermals. In winter a dusting of snow rims the russet Entrada sandstone, creating postcard contrast without the 100 °F summer scorch. After sunset, International Dark Sky status unveils a Milky Way so bright it casts your shadow on the slickrock. Bring a thermos of cocoa and watch shooting stars zing overhead like celestial fireworks.
4. Glacier National Park, Montana
Straddling the Continental Divide, Glacier offers 700-plus miles of trail and a jagged skyline nicknamed the “Crown of the Continent.” Mid-July finally melts enough snow to open the legendary Going-to-the-Sun Road, a two-lane ribbon that climbs to 6,646-foot Logan Pass amid wildflower fireworks. Backcountry fans whisper about Grinnell Glacier’s turquoise meltwater and the sunset alpenglow that paints Mount Gould rose-gold. Paddleboarders drift across glassy Lake McDonald while moonlit peaks double as perfect reflections. Go soon—scientists warn the namesake ice fields could retreat beyond recognition within our lifetime.
5. Acadia National Park, Maine
Rugged Atlantic coastline, granite domes, and spruce-fringed lakes come together in Acadia, a 47,000-acre Down East dreamscape. Cadillac Mountain greets the continental U.S. sunrise from October to March, and sipping coffee up there feels like owning time itself. Cruise the 27-mile Park Loop Road in mid-October when sugar maples torch the shoreline, then refuel on century-old popovers at Jordan Pond House. Sea kayakers weave through the Porcupine Islands under the watchful eyes of harbor seals, and foggy mornings wrap lighthouses in novelist-approved mystery. End your day with a lobster roll in Bar Harbor—it’s practically a park tradition.
6. Yosemite National Park, California
When Yosemite became a park in 1890, John Muir called its granite “cathedrals”—step into the valley and you’ll know why. Waterfalls somersault 2,425 feet off cliffs, peregrine falcons dive near 200 mph, and 3,000-foot El Capitan challenges climbers with blank stone audacity. Spring snowmelt turns every cascade to maximum volume; autumn’s gold-flecked meadows and crisp air feel tailor-made for photographers. Evening light pours through Tunnel View like liquid honey, igniting Half Dome in pink alpenglow. After dark, tilt your head back: Glacier Point’s star field makes you feel like you’ve stumbled onto the deck of a cosmic ship.
7. Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming | Montana | Idaho
Yellowstone practically rewrote the definition of “wild” when it became the world’s first national park in 1872. Old Faithful’s 90-minute heartbeat still steals the show, but it’s the lesser-known corners—like the technicolor bacteria mats of Grand Prismatic Spring or Lamar Valley’s wolf-shadowed dawn—that truly blow minds. The park sits atop a supervolcano, and more than 10,000 hydrothermal features hiss, gurgle, and spit proof of raw earth power. Visit in early September when elk bugles echo across golden sage flats and the morning mist feels almost cinematic. Don’t be surprised if a bison traffic jam becomes your new favorite travel anecdote.
8. Zion National Park, Utah
Copper-pink sandstone walls soar a half-mile high in Zion, creating a natural cathedral filled with cottonwoods and the eternal hush of the Virgin River. Wading the knee-deep corridor of The Narrows turns hiking into river trekking, with reflected light dancing on water-sculpted walls. Brave souls tackle Angel’s Landing’s chain-assisted spine for a vertigo-defying panorama, but quieter gems like Emerald Pools reward those who linger. Late October brings fiery foliage and daytime highs in the comfy 70s °F. Nab a riverside campsite and fall asleep to frog song under a riot of stars.
9. Grand Canyon National Park, Arizona
No photo preps you for the first rim-side gasp at Grand Canyon—a 277-mile chasm carved by the Colorado River over millions of years. Sunrise at Mather Point paints layer upon layer of ancient sea beds in peaches and plums, while descending the South Kaibab Trail delivers crimson solitude beneath the hustle. Winter snow dusts limestone ledges, turning the familiar vista into a monochrome masterpiece. For a fresh angle, ride a mule to Phantom Ranch and swap hikers’ tales over lemonade brewed from canyon spring water. Every viewpoint feels like a different planet, yet the ravens croaking overhead anchor you firmly in the moment.
10. Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Tennessee | North Carolina
Great Smoky Mountains holds the crown as America’s busiest park, but step a mile beyond the asphalt and the Southern Appalachians wrap you in quiet mist. The forest is a biodiversity bombshell—scientists have already cataloged over 19,000 species and suspect tens of thousands more. In late May, synchronous fireflies flash like living Christmas lights, and mid-September’s warm days/ cool nights set the stage for October’s riot of red and gold. Cruise historic Cades Cove for 19th-century log cabins framed by elk-frequented ridgelines, then finish with blackberry cobbler in nearby Townsend. The Smokies prove “crowded” is just a mindset—solitude is always one trail switchback away.
