The United States National Park System includes 63 protected areas designated as national parks, often called "America's Best Idea." These parks preserve the nation's most spectacular natural wonders, diverse ecosystems, and significant historical sites for future generations.
From the towering peaks of Denali to the deep canyons of the Grand Canyon, from the vast wilderness of Yellowstone to the underwater wonders of Biscayne, these parks represent the incredible diversity of American landscapes. They serve as sanctuaries for wildlife, repositories of natural history, and destinations for millions of visitors each year.
The National Park Service, established in 1916, manages these parks along with hundreds of other protected sites. The first national park was Yellowstone, established in 1872, while the newest is New River Gorge, designated in 2020.
Maine
American Samoa
Utah
South Dakota
Texas
Florida
Colorado
Utah
Utah
Utah
New Mexico
California
South Carolina
Oregon
Ohio
California, Nevada
Alaska
Florida
Florida
Alaska
Missouri
Montana
Alaska
Arizona
Wyoming
Nevada
Colorado
Tennessee, North Carolina
Texas
Hawaii
Hawaii
Arkansas
Indiana
Michigan
California
Alaska
Alaska
California
Alaska
Alaska
California
Kentucky
Colorado
Washington
West Virginia
Washington
Washington
Arizona
California
California
Colorado
Arizona
California
Virginia
North Dakota
U.S. Virgin Islands
Minnesota
New Mexico
South Dakota
Alaska
Wyoming, Montana, Idaho
California
Utah
Yellowstone
(1872)
New River Gorge
(2020)
Wrangell-St. Elias
13.2M acres
Gateway Arch
91 acres
Great Smoky Mountains
14.1M visitors/year
Gates of the Arctic
~10K visitors/year
Crater Lake
1,943 feet
Denali
20,310 feet
Death Valley
-282 feet