US National Parks

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.

National Parks Directory

Acadia

Maine

American Samoa

American Samoa

Arches

Utah

Badlands

South Dakota

Big Bend

Texas

Biscayne

Florida

Black Canyon of the Gunnison

Colorado

Bryce Canyon

Utah

Canyonlands

Utah

Capitol Reef

Utah

Carlsbad Caverns

New Mexico

Channel Islands

California

Congaree

South Carolina

Crater Lake

Oregon

Cuyahoga Valley

Ohio

Death Valley

California, Nevada

Denali

Alaska

Dry Tortugas

Florida

Everglades

Florida

Gates of the Arctic

Alaska

Gateway Arch

Missouri

Glacier

Montana

Glacier Bay

Alaska

Grand Canyon

Arizona

Grand Teton

Wyoming

Great Basin

Nevada

Great Sand Dunes

Colorado

Great Smoky Mountains

Tennessee, North Carolina

Guadalupe Mountains

Texas

Haleakalā

Hawaii

Hawai'i Volcanoes

Hawaii

Hot Springs

Arkansas

Indiana Dunes

Indiana

Isle Royale

Michigan

Joshua Tree

California

Katmai

Alaska

Kenai Fjords

Alaska

Kings Canyon

California

Kobuk Valley

Alaska

Lake Clark

Alaska

Lassen Volcanic

California

Mammoth Cave

Kentucky

Mesa Verde

Colorado

Mount Rainier

Washington

New River Gorge

West Virginia

North Cascades

Washington

Olympic

Washington

Petrified Forest

Arizona

Pinnacles

California

Redwood

California

Rocky Mountain

Colorado

Saguaro

Arizona

Sequoia

California

Shenandoah

Virginia

Theodore Roosevelt

North Dakota

Virgin Islands

U.S. Virgin Islands

Voyageurs

Minnesota

White Sands

New Mexico

Wind Cave

South Dakota

Wrangell-St. Elias

Alaska

Yellowstone

Wyoming, Montana, Idaho

Yosemite

California

Zion

Utah

Quick Facts About US National Parks

Oldest Park

Yellowstone
(1872)

Newest Park

New River Gorge
(2020)

Largest Park

Wrangell-St. Elias
13.2M acres

Smallest Park

Gateway Arch
91 acres

Most Visited

Great Smoky Mountains
14.1M visitors/year

Least Visited

Gates of the Arctic
~10K visitors/year

Deepest Lake

Crater Lake
1,943 feet

Highest Point

Denali
20,310 feet

Lowest Point

Death Valley
-282 feet