Out of the 63 national parks in the United States, narrowing down the best ones to visit is no easy task. Each park is extraordinary in its own way, offering diverse landscapes, rich ecosystems, and unforgettable adventures. But based on guest ratings, annual visitation, and decades of firsthand experience, we're proud to present The 15 Best National Parks to Visit in the U.S. (including 11 parks featured in our own Austin Adventures itineraries).
- Yellowstone National Park
- Yosemite National Park
- Grand Canyon National Park
- Glacier National Park
- Zion National Park
- Acadia National Park
- Bryce Canyon National Park
- Grand Teton National Park
- Canyonlands National Park
- Rocky Mountain National Park
- Arches National Park
- Crater Lake National Park
- Great Smoky Mountains National Park
- Kenai Fjords National Park
- Olympic National Park
Read on to discover what makes each of these parks truly exceptional, or download the Austin Adventures Guide to the National Parks, featuring expert insights drawn from more than 40 years of guiding in America's most treasured landscapes. Inside, you'll find:
- Where to go and what to see
- When to visit and what to pack
- Multi-day itineraries to make the most of your vacation time
- Top hikes and unmissable activities
- Tips and tricks for making the most of your adventure
- Awe-inspiring photos from every destination
Get your free Guide to the National Parks here:
The 15 Best, One by One...
1. Yellowstone National Park — Idaho, Montana, & Wyoming
Yellowstone holds the distinction of being the world's first national park, spanning Idaho, Montana, and Wyoming. At the heart of the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem (GYE), it protects one of the largest intact temperate ecosystems on the planet and the highest concentration of geothermal features anywhere. Iconic wonders like Old Faithful, the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone, and Mammoth Hot Springs make this one of the most geologically and visually diverse parks in the U.S.
Top Yellowstone National Park Adventures:
For Families
- Yellowstone Family Vacation
- Yellowstone, Big Sky & Paradise Family Vacation
- Yellowstone and Grand Teton Family Vacation
For Adults
- Yellowstone Adventure
- Yellowstone, Big Sky & Paradise Valley Adventure
- Yellowstone and Grand Teton Adventure
- Yellowstone, Glacier & Grand Teton Adventure
For a Snow-Filled Escape
2. Yosemite National Park — California
It's no surprise that Yosemite was among the nation's first designated national parks. Few places inspire awe quite like this iconic valley, where you can stand at the base of a 2,425-foot waterfall, gaze up at an 8,842-foot granite dome, or walk among 3,000-year-old, 300-foot-tall Giant Sequoias. Home to legendary monoliths such as Half Dome and El Capitan, Yosemite is an adventurer’s paradise and an unforgettable destination for families. John Muir described Yosemite as, “By far the grandest of all the special temples of Nature I was ever permitted to enter.”
Top Yosemite National Park Adventures:
3. Grand Canyon National Park — Arizona
There's just nothing quite like the moment you step to the edge of the mile-deep, two-billion-year-old Grand Canyon. Located in northern Arizona, the Grand Canyon is the second most visited national park in the U.S., drawing more than six million visitors in its peak years—most of them exploring the dramatic vistas of the South Rim. Grand Canyon National Park was officially designated in 1919, just three years after the founding of the National Park Service, cementing its status as an American treasure.
Top Grand Canyon National Park Adventures:
4. Glacier National Park — Montana
Glacier National Park takes its name from the ancient glaciers that sculpted its soaring peaks and sweeping valleys millions of years ago. Encompassing more than one million acres, this UNESCO Biosphere Reserve, World Heritage Site, and one of the world’s first International Peace Parks is often called the “Crown of the Continent.” With over 700 miles of hiking trails, wildlife-rich backcountry, and the iconic Going-to-the-Sun Road, Glacier offers some of the most breathtaking alpine scenery in North America.
Top Glacier National Park Adventures:
5. Zion National Park — Utah
Zion, Utah’s first and most visited national park, is celebrated for its narrow slot canyons, soaring orange-red monoliths, and sculpted sandstone landscapes. Home to world-famous hikes like Angels Landing and The Narrows, Zion offers some of the most exhilarating trail experiences on the planet. With roughly 800 native plant species, it boasts the greatest botanical diversity in the state. Long before it was renamed, the Southern Paiute called this sacred place Mukuntuweap, meaning “straight canyon.” In 2000, Zion also introduced the nation’s first free national park shuttle system to help manage crowds during peak months.
Top Zion National Park Adventures:
- Bryce Canyon & Zion Adventure
- Bryce Canyon & Zion Family Vacation
- Utah Mighty Five Adventure - Arches to Zion
6. Acadia National Park — Maine
Come to Maine for the lobster, but stay for Acadia National Park, the first national park established east of the Mississippi. Each year, millions of visitors explore its seven peaks over 1,000 feet, 158 miles of hiking trails, 45 miles of carriage roads adorned with 16 stone bridges, and its iconic coastal lighthouses. Acadia’s story began in 1916 when President Woodrow Wilson created Sieur de Monts National Monument, followed by the establishment of Lafayette National Park in 1919. A decade later, in 1929, it officially became Acadia National Park, the rugged, beloved treasure we know today.
7. Bryce National Park — Utah
Bryce Canyon National Park, perched along the eastern edge of Utah’s Paunsaugunt Plateau, is not actually a canyon but a series of striking natural amphitheaters filled with towering hoodoos—the tall, whimsical spires shaped by millions of years of erosion. Named after early settler Ebenezer Bryce, who famously quipped, “It’s a hell of a place to lose a cow,” this otherworldly landscape is truly a forest of stone. With some of the cleanest air in the world and panoramic views stretching up to 200 miles, Bryce Canyon delivers breathtaking scenery at every turn.
Top Bryce Canyon National Park Adventures:
- Bryce Canyon and Zion Adventure
- Bryce Canyon & Zion Family Vacation
- Utah Mighty Five Adventure - Arches to Zion
8. Grand Teton National Park — Wyoming
While the jagged Teton Range is the park’s iconic centerpiece, Grand Teton National Park would not be the same without the winding Snake River, which threads together its soaring peaks, broad valleys, and a chain of pristine glacial lakes. The park is equally renowned for its abundant wildlife, and it is common to spot elk, bison, moose, river otters, bald eagles, and trumpeter swans throughout its diverse habitats. One of the most fiercely debated conservation efforts in U.S. history, Grand Teton took 50 years to establish compared to Yellowstone’s swift two-year designation. Today, it stands as one of Wyoming’s most spectacular destinations for adventure seekers of all kinds.
Top Grand Teton National Park Adventures:
- Yellowstone & Grand Teton Adventure
- Yellowstone & Grand Teton Family Vacation
- Yellowstone, Glacier & Grand Teton Adventure
9. Canyonlands National Park — Utah
Canyonlands National Park, located just a short drive from Arches, takes its name from the dramatic canyons and towering buttes carved by the Colorado River. Spanning 337,598 acres of colorful geologic formations, Canyonlands is divided into three distinct districts. The most visited region, Island in the Sky, is a massive mesa offering endless panoramic overlooks. To the south, the Needles showcases striking rock spires, while the Maze remains one of the most remote and labyrinth-like wilderness areas in the National Park System.
Top Canyonlands National Park Adventures:
10. Rocky Mountain National Park — Colorado
Located in the Colorado Rockies northwest of Boulder, Rocky Mountain National Park was established in 1915 and remains one of America’s most accessible alpine playgrounds. The park features 355 miles of hiking trails, 150 lakes, and 60 peaks rising above 12,000 feet, all inviting visitors to explore its rugged beauty. Unlike Yellowstone, Grand Canyon, and Glacier, Rocky Mountain never contained a railroad, which made the development of its road system a top priority. The resulting Trail Ridge Road carries travelers through forests and meadows and up to breathtaking high-elevation vistas.
11. Arches National Park — Utah
Arches National Park, located in southeastern Utah just north of Moab, is home to more than 2,000 natural red rock arches, each formed over millions of years through wind, water, and erosion. To qualify as an arch, an opening must measure at least three feet in any direction, and Arches holds the highest concentration of these formations anywhere in the world. Its otherworldly landscapes have appeared in iconic films such as Indiana Jones, Thelma & Louise, and several John Wayne classics. Must-see landmarks include Delicate Arch, Balanced Rock, Devils Garden, and the Fiery Furnace. The best time to visit depends on the type of adventure you are seeking, from spring hiking to stargazing under clear fall skies.
Top Arches National Park Adventures:
12. Crater Lake National Park — Oregon
Founded in 1902, Crater Lake National Park is home to the deepest lake in the United States, reaching an astonishing depth of 1,943 feet. Its famously vibrant blue waters were formed when an ancient volcano collapsed after a massive eruption roughly 7,700 years ago, an event estimated to be 42 times more powerful than the eruption of Mount St. Helens. Rising 763 feet above the lake’s surface, Wizard Island is the visible tip of the submerged volcano, creating a dramatic and unforgettable focal point within this natural wonder.
13. Great Smoky Mountains — North Carolina & Tennessee
Spanning 522,427 acres almost evenly across North Carolina and Tennessee, Great Smoky Mountains National Park is one of the largest protected areas in the eastern United States and consistently ranks as the most visited national park in America, welcoming well over 12 million visitors each year. Its misty ridgelines, extraordinary biodiversity, and rich cultural heritage draw more people than any other national park, creating a powerful positive impact on surrounding communities. The park continues to serve as an economic anchor for the region, supporting thousands of local jobs and generating hundreds of millions of dollars in visitor spending annually.
14. Kenai Fjords National Park — Alaska
Kenai Fjords National Park lies at the edge of the North Pacific Ocean and is shaped by nearly 40 glaciers spilling from the massive Harding Icefield. These glaciers have carved deep fjords and rugged coastlines, creating rich habitats for an impressive diversity of wildlife. Tens of thousands of seabirds, including puffins and peregrine falcons, migrate to or gather along its cliffs each year. In the cold, nutrient-rich waters below, sea otters, porpoises, harbor seals, sea lions, and a wide array of whales thrive, while the surrounding forests and mountains are home to bears, moose, and mountain goats.
Top Kenai Fjords National Park Adventures:
15. Olympic National Park — Washington
Olympic National Park showcases an extraordinary range of ecosystems, from lush temperate rain forests to glacier-capped peaks to more than 70 miles of wild, rugged coastline. Encompassing nearly one million acres, with 95 percent designated as wilderness, the park is one of the most ecologically diverse areas in the National Park System. Some locations receive an astonishing 12 feet of rain each year, nurturing vibrant mosses, towering evergreens, and abundant wildlife. Originally established as a forest reserve in 1897, the area gained further protection in 1909 when President Theodore Roosevelt created Mount Olympus National Monument to safeguard the habitat of Roosevelt elk. After witnessing the peninsula’s beauty firsthand, he established Olympic National Park in 1938.
Top Olympic National Park Adventures:
Ready for Your Next Adventure?
Has this list whet your appetite for exploring America’s incredible national parks? Dive into our collection of fully guided, multi-day itineraries—each one packed with unforgettable activities, thoughtfully crafted experiences, and the ease of all-inclusive travel. All you have to do is show up ready for adventure; we take care of the rest.
