All 63 US National Parks Ranked (2026 Update)

NOTE: If you feel like there’s a better way to rank the parks or that any of these parks scores should be re-evaluated, please drop us a comment below. These are living rankings that are adjusted accordingly when we receive compelling arguments.

Top 5 Best National Parks

1. Mount Rainier National Park

Location: Washington
Previous Ranking: #3

• Overall Score: 44.5/50
• Accessibility: 8/10
• Recreation: 9.5/10
• Crowds: 6/10
• Amenities: 7/10
• Scenery: 14/14

John Muir described Mount Rainier best,“The most luxuriant and the most extravagantly beautiful of all the alpine gardens I ever beheld in all my mountain-top wanderings”.

In our latest rankings, Mount Rainier moved up to the top spot on our list. And those who have visited will find it tough to dispute the ranking. This most heavily glaciated peak in the contiguous US is downright mesmerizing. Similar to the feeling one gets when looking into the Grand Canyon, you can gaze upon this mountain for hours without fathoming what exactly you’re looking at.

Mount Rainier has so much more to offer than the magnificently glaciated mountain surrounded by carpets of the most beautiful wildflowers you’ve ever seen. It has vast old growth forests, clear blue rivers, abundant wildlife, countless vistas, and some of the best hiking opportunities in America.

Summer crowds can be troublesome and wildfires seem to be more present with each passing year, but plan accordingly and you’ll be amazed by this immensely beautiful national park. It should be noted that Rainier is one of the growing list of national parks that require reservations.

RELATED: Check out these 20 Amazing Things to Do at Mount Rainier National Park

From Our Filming Trips: We’ve filmed at Paradise and Sunrise multiple times, and the wildflower meadows in late July never get old. Watching the mountain emerge from the clouds at dawn is one of our favorite filming memories.

Helpful Resources: Map / Guidebook / Hikes / Things to Do / Paradise / Facts / Where to Stay / Shirt
Note: Reservations required, read more here

2. Olympic National Park

Location: Washington
Previous Ranking: #1 (No change)

• Overall Score: 44.5/50
• Accessibility: 7/8
• Recreation: 10/10
• Crowds: 6/10
• Amenities: 7.5/8
• Scenery: 14/14

Ranking Olympic National Park at #2 in America? It’s hard to argue with. This absolutely majestic national park consistently earns its place at the very top of our list.

Olympic National Park is the most diverse national park in America, hands down. It’s like four parks in one. Olympic has everything from lowland forests, striking mountain ranges, pristine alpine lakes, sparkling rivers, temperate rain forests (the largest in the lower 48), iconic wildlife, and over 50 miles of wild coastline!

Oh, and it’s a stones throw from Seattle! Olympic National Park truly has it all and while the crowds have been on the rise in recent years, they’re still far from the hoards that have become so insidious in other US national parks. It’s for these reasons that this Pacific Northwest gem remains one of the very best national parks in America.

You might be interested in reading: Our National Monuments Rankings, 20 Best Things to Do in Olympic National Park, Complete Guide to Olympic National Park, and our Guide to All Washington’s National Parks

From Our Filming Trips: We spent weeks filming our 8K documentary in this park, hiking everything from the Hoh Rain Forest to the rugged Pacific coastline. Olympic earned the top spot on our very first rankings and it hasn’t budged since.

Our Favorite Resources: Guide / Map / Guidebook / Things to Do / Hikes / Storm King / Where to Stay / Video / Shirt

3. Grand Teton National Park

Location: Wyoming
Previous Ranking: #2

• Overall Score: 44/50
• Accessibility: 5.5/10
• Recreation: 10/10
• Crowds: 7/10
• Amenities: 7.5/10
• Scenery: 14/14

Dropping this national park down to the third best national park might come as a bit of a surprise, but number three is still pretty great. Grand Teton National Park is truly iconic and, thanks to strong management and foresight, has been able to avoid the overcrowding more characteristic of its neighbor to the north, Yellowstone.

Here you’ll find the spectacular Teton mountains, the winding Snake River, gorgeous lakes and valleys, and some of the best wildlife viewing opportunities in the entire national park system.

The reason Grand Teton comes in behind its Pacific Northwest contemporaries comes down to accessibility. The closest major city/airport is Salt Lake City at 4.5 hours driving. Bozeman is a touch closer at four hours but flights and rental cars are less available and more expensive.

READ: Comprehensive Guide to Grand Teton National Park

From Our Filming Trips: We’ve spent more time filming in the Tetons than almost any other park. The Snake River at sunrise with the Tetons as a backdrop is one of the most filmed shots in our catalog.

Our Favorite Resources: Guide / Maps / Guidebook / Hikes / Things to Do / Where to Stay / Video / Facts

4. Death Valley National Park

Location: California
Previous Ranking: #13

• Overall Score: 43.5/50
• Accessibility: 7.5/8
• Recreation: 9/10
• Crowds: 8/10
• Amenities: 7/8
• Scenery: 12/14

As the largest park in the contiguous United States at over 1.6 million acres, Death Valley embodies every aspect of an epic US national park. Star Wars landscapes fill the mind with wonder as superlatives are the name of the game here. Death Valley features the lowest point in North America, has the hottest ever recorded air temperature on the planet, the tallest sand dunes in North America, and the driest place in the United States.

Despite the morbid name Death Valley has an abundance of life and incredible sights. So long as you don’t visit during the summer when temperatures can soar into the 130s you’re bound to have a great time here.

Death Valley moved up nine spots in our latest rankings, from thirteen all the way up to four. The combination of easy accessibility from Las Vegas, unbounded recreation (only thing is missing was water – enter Lake Manly), lack of overcrowding issues, and a diversity of otherworldly scenery all contributed to this huge move. And honestly, I think Death Valley still has room to run in future rankings.

READ: Our Best Things to Do Death Valley National Park post here for trip ideas.

From Our Filming Trips: We camped here for weeks filming our documentary, and the night skies alone are worth the trip. Watching the light paint the Mesquite Flat dunes at golden hour is an experience we’ve had dozens of times and it never gets old.

Our Favorite Resources: Guide / Map / Guidebook / Things to Do / Facts / Camping / Where to Stay / Video

5. Glacier National Park

Location: Montana
Previous Ranking: #6

• Overall Score: 42/50
• Accessibility: 5/8
• Recreation: 10/10
• Crowds: 5.5/10
• Amenities: 7.5/8
• Scenery: 14/14

Glacier National Park is one of the grandfathers of the National Park Service and continues to stand the test of time as one of the best national parks in the US. This exceedingly beautiful mountainous park and its jaw-dropping vistas make other park overlooks seem tame by comparison. If you can make the drive from the nearest major airport or city, (which aren’t exactly close), Glacier provides ample recreation opportunities and a park experience that people of all abilities can enjoy.

Among the musts in this park is driving the spectacular Going-to-the-Sun Road, a true engineering marvel that winds through the mountains providing exceptional views of one of the best national parks in America.

In our latest rankings, Glacier moved up one spot to crack into the top five best national parks. The increased weight to scenery was the major factor here. While it gets very high marks for amenities we’d love to see increased camping bandwidth.

From Our Filming Trips: Going-to-the-Sun Road has been the backdrop for some of our most iconic footage. We’ve hiked Highline Trail, Grinnell Glacier, and countless others here.

Our Favorite Resources: Map / Guidebook / Things to Do / Hikes / Where to Stay / Itinerary / Facts
Note: Reservations required

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Top 10 National Parks in America

6. Yosemite National Park

Location: California
Previous Ranking: #4

• Overall Score: 41/50
• Accessibility: 7/8
• Recreation: 10/10
• Crowds: 2/10
• Amenities: 8/8
• Scenery: 14/14

There was a time when Yosemite National Park likely would’ve been #1 on our list of best National Parks in the US. But alas, it’s the 21st century and John Muir’s “grandest of all temples of nature” is bursting at the seams with tourists in search of their latest social media trophy (hiking Half Dome is a mess).

But at the end of the day it’s still Yosemite National Park. Once there you’ll realize just why the park is one of the most popular in the US. Despite the summer crowds, the valley and the park are truly one of the natural wonders of the world.

Yosemite is a true marvel and one of the most spectacular places on earth. Here you’ll find the epic grandeur of Yosemite Valley, the ancient wonders of the Mariposa Grove, and towering waterfalls like Yosemite Falls. The immense beauty found here is overwhelming and has a tendency to make one feel small in the most humbling way. We strongly recommend visiting in the off-season (May & October) for the best experience.

READ: Our Guide to All California’s National Parks

From Our Filming Trips: We’ve filmed in Yosemite more times than we can count. Our honest take? Visit in May or October. Summer Yosemite Valley is a traffic jam.

Our Favorite Resources: Map / Guidebook / Facts / Where to Stay / Things to Do / Best Hikes / Fall
Note: Reservations required

7. Denali National Park

Location: Alaska
Previous Ranking: #19

• Overall Score: 40.5/50
• Accessibility: 2.5/8
• Recreation: 10/10
• Crowds: 9.5/10
• Amenities: 4.5/8
• Scenery: 14/14

Alaska’s flagship national park named for its tallest mountain which happens to be the highest peak in North America, Denali is on every park-goers bucket list. The breadth of this mountain is hard to appreciate and so is the size of the park itself at 6.1 million acres.

Denali moved up nine places in our latest rankings, leaping into our top ten. It’s deserved. This grandest Alaska national park has some of the most breathtaking scenery in the world, very limited crowds, and endless recreation opportunities (for those exceedingly adventurous souls).

Denali also happens to be one of the most accessible Alaskan national parks with limited driving access, bus access that gets you further, visitor center, campgrounds, and the famous car lottery.

READ: Our detailed Denali National Park Guide

From Our Filming Trips: Based on our decade of experience across dozens of national parks and conversations with rangers who’ve worked the Alaska circuit, Denali’s combination of sheer scale and remoteness puts it in a league of its own.

Our Favorite Resources: Map | Guidebook | Facts | Things to Do

8. Grand Canyon National Park

Location: Arizona
Previous Ranking: #11

• Overall Score: 40.5/50
• Accessibility: 6.5/8
• Recreation: 9/10
• Crowds: 3/10
• Amenities: 8/8
• Scenery: 14/14

Sure we could try to describe to you the singular beauty and majesty of one of the great wonders of the world or we could let one of America’s greatest presidents do it.

In the Grand Canyon, Arizona has a natural wonder which is in kind absolutely exceptional throughout the rest of the world. I want to ask you to keep this great wonder of nature as it now is.

I hope you will not have a building of any kind, not a summer cottage, a hotel or anything else, to mar the wonderful grandeur, the sublimity, the great loneliness and beauty of the canyon.

Leave it as it is. You cannot improve on it. The ages have been at work on it, and man can only mar it.

Theodore Roosevelt

In our latest rankings, Grand Canyon moved up four spots to #8. This was largely due to a more heavily weighted scenery score for which the Grand Canyon received grand remarks, a full 14 points. It doesn’t get more jaw-dropping than this.

Yes the South Rim of the Grand Canyon sees crowds in the summer that are reminiscent of a Disney World parking lot, but Grand Canyon is a large national park. You might be surprised to learn that there are many areas in the park with the same jaw-dropping views that won’t make you feel like you’re in the busiest terminal of Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport on Christmas Eve.

From Our Filming Trips: We’ve filmed from both rims and the river. The South Rim crowds are real, but hike even 30 minutes down the Bright Angel Trail and you’ll have the canyon mostly to yourself.

Our Favorite Resources: Map / Guidebook / Things to Do / Hikes / Best Views / Closest Cities / South Rim / North Rim / Where to Stay / Winter / Facts

9. Great Smoky Mountains National Park

Location: Tennessee & North Carolina
Previous Ranking: #10

• Overall Score: 40.5/50
• Accessibility: 8/8
• Recreation: 8.5/10
• Crowds: 5/10
• Amenities: 7.5/8
• Scenery: 11.5/14

One of the best national parks in America and the crown jewel of the eastern U.S. parks, Great Smoky Mountains National Park protects a vast swath of the immense beauty of the Appalachian Mountains.

These old mountains, forests, and streams have a character about them that tends to invite one to slow down and imagine a world where this was what much of the eastern United States looked like. Herds of elk freely roam the park and bears, otters, deer, foxes, and woodpeckers are commonly sighted.

The Most Visited National Park in America

Though Great Smoky Mountains is the most-visited national park in the United States, some of this “visitation” is due to the park having no entrance fees or stations and being home to a highway that serves as a busy commuter corridor.

In reality, apart from the summer and any time in the Cades Cove area – which can see serious crowding, the park is actually not terribly crowded and it can be quite easy to find yourself on a trail with no one around – if you know where to go. Great Smoky Mountains National Park is flush with amenities like visitors centers and campgrounds and, thanks to the nearby towns of Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge, has plenty of food and lodging opportunities.

RELATED: EPIC Guide to Great Smoky Mountains National Park

From Our Filming Trips: We produced our full 8K film here and spent weeks in the backcountry. The fall colors in Cataloochee Valley with the elk herd are something special.

Our Favorite Resources: Map / Guidebook / Guide / Things to Do / Where to Stay / Video / Facts

10. Sequoia National Park

Location: California
Previous Ranking: #7

• Overall Score: 40.5/50
• Accessibility: 5.5/8
• Recreation: 8.5/10
• Crowds: 6.5/10
• Amenities: 7.5/8
• Scenery: 12.5/14

The beauty of the ancient Sequoia trees found in Sequoia National Park defy any attempt to describe them as John Muir so aptly wrote, “The Big Tree is Nature’s forest masterpiece, and, so far as I know, the greatest of living things. No description can give any adequate idea of their singular majesty, much less their beauty. “

Here, amongst groves of the largest trees in the world, one can’t possibly avoid being humbled and awed by the power of nature. In addition to its namesake trees, the park has abundant amenities and outside of peak summer crowding isn’t too bad. We highly recommend adding this national park to your list as it is one of the best in the world.

RELATED: General Sherman Tree: Everything You Need To Know About the World’s Largest Tree

From Our Filming Trips: Standing next to General Sherman for the first time stopped us in our tracks. No photo or film can capture the scale of these trees.

Our Favorite Resources: Map / Guidebook / Things to Do / Hikes / Facts / Where to Stay / General Sherman Tree

Top 15 Best National Parks in the USA

11. Voyageurs National Park

Location: Minnesota
Previous Ranking: #9

• Overall Score: 40.5/50
• Accessibility: 3.5/8
• Recreation: 9.5/10
• Crowds: 10/10
• Amenities: 6.5/8
• Scenery: 11/14

In the far reaches of Northern Minnesota, straddling the Canadian border, you’ll find this watery wonderland almost exclusively accessible by boat. Here, in the pristine waters of vast lakes and the mosaic of islands and boreal forest that comprise the park, you can truly get away from it all and listen to nothing but the sound of your canoe gliding in the tranquil water and the distant calls of loons.

From kaleidoscopic sunrises and sunsets mirrored on the glassy waters of its lakes, to some of the most spectacular displays of the northern lights you’ll find anywhere on earth, Voyageurs is a true monument to the wonders of nature.

We were sad to see Voyageurs drop out of the top ten in our latest rankings but number twelve on this list is nothing to be ashamed of.

The Most Underrated National Park in America

It’s no secret that we’re big fans of this supremely underrated national park in Minnesota’s far north. There is so much to see and do in Voyageurs and you can truly feel like you have the place to yourself. In the summer you can spend seemingly endless days on the water, fishing, exploring, and stopping and hiking island bluffs or just relaxing on the beach. In the fall the shorelines and islands are ablaze with reds, yellows, and oranges, and the waters are calm and quiet.

Winter brings a deep freeze to this coldest part of the continental U.S. and with it a whole new array of activities, like snowmobiling, ice fishing, cross-country-skiing, and even dog-sledding. The only drawback to Voyageurs is its remoteness and the fact that the park is exclusively accessible by water, meaning you’ll have to rent a canoe, kayak, or motorboat to get around. Obviously it’s a catch-22, because that’s also what makes this national park so special.

Read our Best Things to Do Voyageurs National Park post for trip ideas.

From Our Filming Trips: We captured the Northern Lights here for our film and the experience left us speechless. Paddling through the boundary waters at sunset is something every American should experience.

Our Favorite Resources: Map / Guide / Things to Do / Hikes / Camping / Where to Stay / Video / Facts
Note: Reservations required

12. Redwood National Park

Location: California
Previous Ranking: #5

• Overall Score: 40.5/50
• Accessibility: 4/8
• Recreation: 8.5/10
• Crowds: 8/10
• Amenities: 7.5/8
• Scenery: 12.5/14

Redwood’s misty forests, wild coastline, pristine streams, and valleys teeming with wildlife are one of the best kept “secrets” in the national park system. Forty miles of wild and rugged coastline where whales swim and elk roam are more than enough to take your breath away. Waterfalls and clear blue streams rush against a backdrop of vivid green ferns. The tallest trees in the world soar to unimaginable heights all around you and command your awed gaze. Yes, here in Redwood National Park you’ll be forgiven if you start to think you’re another planet, like say Endor..

So why did Redwood move down six spots in our latest rankings? It’s more a case of Redwood staying put while others moved past it. Personally I love this place and greedily and glad to see it out of the top ten. More of the park for you and me.

Read our Best Things to Do Redwood National Park post for trip ideas.

From Our Filming Trips: We filmed our Redwood documentary hiking through groves of the tallest trees on earth. Lady Bird Johnson Grove at dawn, wrapped in fog, is one of the most magical places we’ve ever filmed.

Helpful Resources: Things to Do / Hikes / Guide / Map / Guidebook / Where to Stay / Photos / Facts / Near San Francisco / Shirt
Visiting by Season: Winter | Spring | Fall

13. Yellowstone National Park

Location: Wyoming
Previous Ranking: #12

• Overall Score: 39/50
• Accessibility: 5/8
• Recreation: 10/10
• Crowds: 2.5/10
• Amenities: 8/8
• Scenery: 13.5/14

Ah, Yellowstone National Park, the national park that started it all. Seeing the original national park rank outside of our list of the top 10 national parks in America is sure to raise some eyebrows, but hear us out.

Yellowstone is an absolutely spectacular and magical national park. A landscape dotted with otherworldly thermal works, bison holdouts from a time when they ruled the prairie, a thriving wolf population, and an encapsulation of the great American west.

What’s not to love, you ask?

Quite frankly, the crowds. I mean sure, we get it. When you’re managing a place that swells with millions of eager tourists annually, you’re bound to come across challenges managing the influx. But today, Yellowstone is the Disneyland of national parks complete with food courts, souvenir shops, resort villages, and more.

Street traffic (and we’re not talking “bison jams”) due to the sheer amount of cars entering the park has become a real issue here. As a result, and despite its stunning beauty, we’ve dropped it to number 13 on our list of the best national parks in America ranked.

Planning a National Park Road Trip? We’ve detailed all the best ones with planning tips, itineraries, and more in our NATIONAL PARKS ROAD TRIPS post.

From Our Filming Trips: We’ve filmed extensively in Yellowstone and love this park. But we can’t pretend the crowds haven’t fundamentally changed the experience at Old Faithful and the major boardwalks.

Our Favorite Resources: Map / Guidebook / Things to Do / Hikes / Facts / Airports / Where to Stay | Itinerary

14. Rocky Mountain National Park

Location: Colorado
Previous Ranking: #8

• Overall Score: 39/50
• Accessibility: 6.5/8
• Recreation: 10/10
• Crowds: 3/10
• Amenities: 6.5/8
• Scenery: 13/14

Tucked into the heart of Colorado’s Front Range, Rocky Mountain National Park spans more than 400 square miles of breathtaking mountain scenery and ranks in our top 10 best national parks in the US. This national park is considered by many to be the crown jewel of the American Rockies and it’s no wonder why. Rocky Mountain is home to an incredible diversity of wildlife including elk, moose, bighorn sheep, beaver, deer, black bear, eagles, marmots, mountain lions, and so much more.

And the catch..

However, in recent years visitation has increased dramatically at the expense of the visitor experience (not to mention the impact on the park itself). What was once mostly an issue reserved for the bear lake area of the park has spread to the rest of the park (especially around the Estes Park entrance).

Crowd sizes have swelled to the point that the National Park Service has instituted a timed entry program. With population centers soaring near the park, we expect this issue to become more exacerbated with each passing year. Were it not for everyone else loving the park as much as you and I, this would easily be a top five national park.

READ: Our Rocky Mountain National Park Guide & Guide to All Colorado’s National Parks

From Our Filming Trips: We produced our RMNP film here and hiked dozens of trails. Emerald Lake at sunrise with the elk bugling in the valley below is pure magic.

Our Favorite Resources: Guide / Map / Guidebook / Hikes / Things to Do / Where to Stay / Video / Facts
Note: Reservations required

15. North Cascades National Park

Location: Washington
Previous Ranking: #18

• Overall Score: 38.5/50
• Accessibility: 4/8
• Recreation: 9/10
• Crowds: 8.5/10
• Amenities: 4/8
• Scenery: 13/14

The last time we made this list we were sure North Cascades would be moving up in the future – it’s nice not to be wrong. Referred to by some as the “American Alps” with mountain beauty that rivals any range on the planet, North Cascades is the crown jewel of the mighty cascade range. One of three Washington national parks, North Cascades is the least visited, the most difficult to access all around, and perhaps the most rewarding for those who dare.

This is a backpackers paradise to be sure, but it’s just not very approachable for the average national park/outdoors enthusiast. All the best North Cascades trails are long and feature lots of incline (they’re also unbelievably beautiful). For that reason we had to dock it on accessibility. We also docked it for amenities of which there are few.

That said, the park’s interior is absolutely stunningly beautiful as a simple Google image search will show you, and its lack of crowds and backcountry offerings are a major plus. If you’re interested in getting off the beaten path and seeing some amazing scenery, here’s your chance.

RELATED: Our Guide to All Washington’s National Parks

From Our Filming Trips: We’ve hiked and filmed in North Cascades and the sheer scale of the peaks never fails to stun. This is a backcountry filmmaker’s dream — dramatic ridgelines, glaciated summits, and almost no crowds. It’s genuinely one of the most underrated parks in the country.

Our Favorite Resources: Map / Guidebook / Where to Stay / Things to Do / Best Hikes / Facts

Parks Ranked 16-25

16. Great Sand Dunes National Park

Location: Colorado
Previous Ranking: #15

• Overall Score: 38.5/50
• Accessibility: 4/8
• Recreation: 7.5/10
• Crowds: 10/10
• Amenities: 5/8
• Scenery: 12/14

Imagine the Sahara Desert with a backdrop of the Rocky Mountains – you’re looking at one of the most underrated national parks in America, Great Sand Dunes National Park. Great Sand Dunes is a spectacular park located in southern Colorado that features some of the most breathtaking and unique scenery anywhere in the world.

Great Sand Dunes is home to the tallest dunes in North America rising to over 300 feet tall, sandboarding, seasonal creeks to splash around in with the kids, along with loads of Alpine beauty including pristine lakes for fishing.

The tough part is getting to the park because it’s fairly remote and doesn’t easily make its way into a national park road trip. The good news is that when you arrive crowds will be minimal.

FYI bugs can be a bit of an issue in the Spring so plan accordingly.

READ: These 4 Colorado National Parks Will Blow Your Mind

From Our Filming Trips: We filmed here and the dunes with the Sangre de Cristo mountains behind them create a landscape that feels like it belongs on another planet.

Our Favorite Resources: Map / Guidebook / Things to Do / Where to Stay / Facts

17. Lassen Volcanic National Park

Location: California
Previous Ranking: #33

• Overall Score: 37.5/50
• Accessibility: 4.5/8
• Recreation: 9/10
• Crowds: 6/10
• Amenities: 6/8
• Scenery: 12/14

We liken Lassen to a Yosemite meets Yellowstone. Situated just below the mighty volcanic Cascade Range and at the northern tip of the Sierra Nevadas, this park features some otherworldly scenery. Thermal works here in an area known as Bumpass Hell rival some of those you can find in Yellowstone. Throw in some stunning alpine lakes, sugar pine forests, and purple mountain majesty and you’ve got a general feeling for the place. The catch here is distance from a major airport or conveniences.

Lassen moved up a whopping sixteen places in our latest rankings, bounding into the top twenty. It deserves to be here. Anyone who’s visited (when the thermal areas are open) will tell you that this place is truly special. As for the negatives, it’s a bit out there. Wildfires and crowding in the summer are also growing issues.

Our Favorite Resources: Map | Facts | Things to Do

18. Saguaro National Park

Location: Arizona
Previous Ranking: #37

• Overall Score: 37/50
• Accessibility: 8/8
• Recreation: 6.5/10
• Crowds: 8/10
• Amenities: 4.5/8
• Scenery: 10/14

Named for the cactus emblematic of the southwest, Saguaro National Park is relatively small but packs a punch. Sunsets here are among the best in the US worth the trip in and of themselves. A visit to Saguaro in winter is just what the doctor ordered for most Americans living in places where that nagging cold weather’s a real drag.

The park’s close proximity to Tucson makes it a worthwhile and easy stop for folks who happen to be in the area. Sunsets here are truly magical and visitors from outside the area will be surprised at just how large the saguaro cacti can be.

Saguaro moved up a staggering eighteen places in our latest rankings. Why? As other parks are swamped with massive crowds, Saguaro is not. Additionally, it’s one of the most accessible parks with numerous ADA accessible trails, lots of roads, and easy access to a major city.

Our Favorite Resources: Guide / Hikes / Things to Do / Map / Guidebook / Where to Stay / Video / Facts / Shirts

19. Big Bend National Park

Location: Texas
Previous Ranking: #39

• Overall Score: 37/50
• Accessibility: 4/8
• Recreation: 8/10
• Crowds: 9/10
• Amenities: 6/8
• Scenery: 10/14

The greater of the two Texas parks both in size and scenery, Big Bend is a hot time, quite literally. If you’re visiting during pretty much any season other than winter you need to come prepared with plenty of water and snacks. This park’s proximity to the Mexican border (right on it) means temperatures soar in spring and summer often climbing into the triple digits.

Big Bend was one of the biggest beneficiaries of our updated formula, moving up a massive eighteen places in our latest rankings. Low crowds, great scenery, nice amenities, and abundant recreation make for a great score. If not for the remoteness of the park (it is out in the middle of nowhere – we’re talking 4.5hours from a major airport or city) it would rank much higher on this list.

RELATED: 12+ AMAZING Facts About Big Bend National Park

Our Favorite Resources: Map | Guidebook | Where to Stay | Facts | Things to Do | Hikes

20. Shenandoah National Park

Location: Virginia
Previous Ranking: #28

• Overall Score: 37/50
• Accessibility: 8/8
• Recreation: 7/10
• Crowds: 6/10
• Amenities: 7/8
• Scenery: 9/14

As one of the Eastern United States premiere parks, Shenandoah is mostly a ridge line destination with the top attraction here being its incredibly scenic Skyline Drive. Autumn in the park is especially spectacular with a fall foliage display that rivals those of the Great Smoky Mountains to the south.

Shenandoah moved up eight places in our latest rankings as a result of our updated formula. While it doesn’t have a massive volcanic mountain, or Yosemite valley, its accessibility, amenities, and reasonable crowds bring it into the top half of parks on our list.

READ: Best East Coast National Parks

Our Favorite Resources: Map | Guidebook | Things to Do | Facts

21. Zion National Park

Location: Utah
Previous Ranking: #14

• Overall Score: 37/50
• Accessibility: 7/8
• Recreation: 9/10
• Crowds: 0.5/10
• Amenities: 7.5/8
• Scenery: 13/14

Cue the furious Zion fans. Listen folks, we love Zion, but the truth is this park is an absolute mess right now. We hear a lot today about our national parks being “loved to death” and no park epitomizes this problem more than Zion (think Angels Landing & The Narrows).

While the park is jaw-droppingly beautiful and home to world-class recreational opportunities, it’s also completely choked with tourists on every trail and crowding every vista. Buses, lottery systems, permits, closures, and still the crowds swarm like moths to a flame. What’s that old proverb? If you love it, let it go.

All that said, we gave it a half point on crowds because there actually are a few areas of the park that are not completely overrun, like Kolob Terrace and Kolob Canyons. In those parts of the park you can actually enjoy the beauty of the place without the near constant head-shaking necessitated by seeing the endless crowds of tourists desperately angling for their next social media masterpiece (think Angels Landing).

READ: Our Best Things to Do Zion National Park post here for trip ideas.

My Favorite Resources: Guide | Things to Do | Hikes | Map | Guidebook | Where to Stay | Road Trip | Itinerary
Note: Reservations required

22. Everglades National Park

Location: Florida
Previous Ranking: #45

• Overall Score: 36.5/50
• Accessibility: 7.5/8
• Recreation: 7.5/10
• Crowds: 7/10
• Amenities: 6/8
• Scenery: 8.5/14

Known for its reptiles, Everglades National Park represents the best chance people have to see the American Alligator in a national park. While the park itself is actually quite massive (third largest in the lower 48), the hike-able regions of it are somewhat limited. The best user experience is on a boat and the most popular iteration of this is the fan boat where folks can travel at high speeds and cover a lot of ground.

Moving up nineteen places in our latest rankings one might think there was some sort of expansion to Everglades National Park. There wasn’t. The park moved up the second most of any of the parks thanks to our updated formula. The interesting part here is that the scenery score is relatively low comparatively. Consider Everglades as the Pete Rose of this list – not the most talented but gets the job done. Very accessible, plenty of recreation, improving amenities (they got a new hotel within the park!), and manageable crowds are a recipe for success.

One of Florida’s many parks, Everglades is a great addition to any south Florida trip.

READ: Best East Coast National Parks

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23. Kings Canyon National Park

Location: California
Previous Ranking: #27

• Overall Score: 36.5/50
• Accessibility: 5/8
• Recreation: 8/10
• Crowds: 5.5/10
• Amenities: 6.5/8
• Scenery: 11.5/14

Located directly adjacent to Sequoia National Park and featuring similar scenery (the second largest tree on the planet lives here) and even a similar lodge you might be asking yourself why it ranks so much lower.

Well, it’s a matter of accessibility, burned areas, crowds, and the sequoia groves here aren’t quite as gorgeous or plentiful as those you’ll find down the road. As we’ve received extensive questions about this contrast over the years allow me to clarify further.

Accessibility in our formula not only refers to getting into the park but also what is accessible within the park. Sequoia has more developed roads, trails, campgrounds, and lodging than Kings Canyon. Call it national park snobbery spoiled with a wealth of natural splendor, but here we are.

Our Favorite Resources: Things to Do | Facts | General Grant Tree

24. Canyonlands National Park

Location: Utah
Previous Ranking: #24

• Overall Score: 36.5/50
• Accessibility: 4/8
• Recreation: 8.5/10
• Crowds: 7/10
• Amenities: 5.5/8
• Scenery: 11.5/14

Canyonlands is one of the parks that has views that one can seemingly gaze upon for days without losing interest or truly comprehending the vastness of the landscape. Mesa Arch here represents one of the most photographed (and beautiful) sunrises in all of the national park system while Green River Overlook offers one of the most dazzling sunsets. It’s also devoid of the crowds found in some other Utah national parks (like its neighbor Arches).

The catch? Four-wheel drive. If you’ve got it you’re set and have full access to all of the unbelievable destinations the park has to offer. Without it, your time in the park will be mostly limited to overlooks and a few trails from above, which are still well worth the trip.

READ: Utah National Parks Road Trip

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25. Wrangell St. Elias National Park

Location: Alaska
Previous Ranking: #20

• Overall Score: 36.5/50
• Accessibility: 1.5/8
• Recreation: 8.5/10
• Crowds: 10/10
• Amenities: 2.5/8
• Scenery: 14/14

As one of the more accessible Alaska parks, Wrangell makes it into our top 25 US national parks for that reason alone. Wrangell is an Alaska national park full of superlatives and a world unto itself. It is a park of otherworldly and seemingly impossible landscapes. The difference at Wrangell vs most of Alaska’s national parks is that you can actually take a car and drive to some of them.

Wrangell St. Elias National Park is the largest national park in the US at over 13 million acres. The park features 9 of the 16 tallest mountain peaks in the country. If Wrangell were a state, it would be larger than Connecticut, Delaware, and Rhode Island.

Now, the drive is a bit of a trek at around 5 hours to get from Anchorage to get to McCarthy, where visitors can access the historic Kennecot mine and Root Glacier.

READ: Our detailed Wrangell St Elias National Park Guide

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Parks Ranked 26-30

26. Kenai Fjords National Park

Location: Alaska
Previous Ranking: #16

• Overall Score: 36.5/50
• Accessibility: 2/8
• Recreation: 8/10
• Crowds: 9.5/10
• Amenities: 3/8
• Scenery: 14/14

Kenai Fjords is perhaps the most accessible of Alaska’s national parks. Unlike most other national parks in Alaska, there is actual driving in the park (however limited) that allows access to hiking trails. Of these hikes, the Harding Icefield Trail is one of the finest most spectacular hikes in the entire national parks system.

There’s also regular boat tours out of Seward that take visitors by many of the most breathtaking areas and sites. Couple that with its close proximity to the major city of Anchorage with regular commercial flights and we’ve got ourselves a real winner.

Why did it drop so far in our latest rankings? A re-evaluation of the parks amenities and accessibility. While it’s true you can drive into Kenai Fjords, you can’t get very far. The rest of this vast park must be accessed by boat or bush plane.

READ: Our detailed Kenai Fjords National Park Guide

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27. Crater Lake National Park

Location: Oregon
Previous Ranking: #32

• Overall Score: 36/50
• Accessibility: 4/8
• Recreation: 7.5/10
• Crowds: 6/10
• Amenities: 6.5/8
• Scenery: 12/14

The deepest lake in America is one of the seven wonders of Oregon and is surprisingly the state’s only national park. The kind of blue water that exists here is unlike any other in the world – you have to see it to believe it. While the park itself is fairly remote and requires quite a drive to access, trust us, it’s worth it.

In the summer a ferry runs to and from Wizard island where folks can get a unique view of the surrounding area and taking a dip in the lake is a popular activity. In the winter, cross country skiing, snowshoeing, and backcountry camping are popular among the hardy outdoors enthusiast. Crater Lake actually sees more snowfall than almost every other park in the lower 48.

RELATED: 10+ (FASCINATING) Crater Lake National Park Facts You Probably Didn’t Know

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28. Capitol Reef National Park

Location: Utah
Previous Ranking: #22

• Overall Score: 36/50
• Accessibility: 4/8
• Recreation: 7/10
• Crowds: 9/10
• Amenities: 5.5/8
• Scenery: 10.5/14

Probably the least known Utah national park, and yet it’s easily one of the best. No crowds, abundant scenery, and there’s even a small town (Torrey) right up against the park that has restaurants and conveniences that will surprise you. The scenery here is magnificent, rivaling most of the other Utah parks, and you practically have the place to yourself. Here you’ll find lots of great day-hikes and truly out of this world stargazing opportunities (pun intended).

So why the low score? Capitol Reef is the most remote of the Utah parks (4 hours driving from SLC) and the amenities are sparse.

READ: 15 Epic Things to Do at Capitol Reef National Park

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29. Isle Royale National Park

Location: Michigan
Previous Ranking: #44

• Overall Score: 35.5/50
• Accessibility: 2.5/8
• Recreation: 7.5/10
• Crowds: 9/10
• Amenities: 6/8
• Scenery: 10.5/14

Clocking in as one of the least visited parks in the entire system (including the Alaska parks), Isle Royale is a place often overlooked by park-goers. Its location, a network of 450 islands (mostly very small) out in Lake Superior, makes it difficult to get to. But for those few who make it each year, the scenery is worthwhile. The fact that you cannot drive to the park seems to serve as quite the deterrent to visitors. Getting to the main island requires a 2 hour ferry ride (the shortest route) and costs $60-100 per passenger.

Moving up thirteen spots in our latest rankings is no easy feat! The reason for this is low crowds, lots of recreation (albeit largely water based), and a surprising amount of amenities. Were it not for the remote location Isle Royale would rank much higher. Fans of the park can take solace in hoarding its wonders largely to themselves.

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30. Badlands National Park

Location: South Dakota
Previous Ranking: #25

• Overall Score: 35.5/50
• Accessibility: 4/8
• Recreation: 6.5/10
• Crowds: 9/10
• Amenities: 5.5/8
• Scenery: 10.5/14

Here’s a true national park lovers national park. Seemingly in the middle of nowhere in the vastness of South Dakota’s Northern Great Plains you’ll stumble upon this beautiful national park. Upon entering you’ll be greeted by towns of playful prairie dogs before seeing scores of the grand emblem of the American west roaming the park freely the American bison. Sunsets here are absolutely magnificent as the light sweeps across the seemingly unending landscapes of striped hills and plains.

This is a park that’s score doesn’t feel like it quite captures the magnificence of the park. Accessibility, limited recreation opportunities outside of hiking and camping, as well as a lack of amenities bring this park down in our updated formula.

READ: Things to Do Badlands National Park

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Parks Ranked 31-40

31. Arches National Park

Location: Utah
Previous Ranking: #17

• Overall Score: 35.5/50
• Accessibility: 4.5/8
• Recreation: 7.5/10
• Crowds: 6/10
• Amenities: 5.5/8
• Scenery: 12/14

Arches National Park is perhaps the most interactive of all the Utah parks filled with scenery that brings out the child in all of us. Sandstone hallways and tunnels, rocks to climb on and over, sandy trails perfect for sandals or even bare feet at times, and red rock vistas that make for an experience.

Is the park a bit one-dimensional? Sure. Does it get crowded? Big time and increasingly so. It seems the word is out about Arches and the visitor experience has definitely been diminished as a result. Recently a reservation system was installed to better manage the hoards hoping to get in. It’s for these reasons that Arches dropped twelve spots in our latest rankings.

With that being said, if you’re making the pilgrimage to Moab, put the mountain bike away for a day or two and get out and hike this park, you’ll be so glad you did.

READ: Our comprehensive guide to Utah’s National Parks

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Note: Reservations required

32. New River Gorge National Park

Location: West Virginia
Previous Ranking: #53

• Overall Score: 35/50
• Accessibility: 5/8
• Recreation: 9/10
• Crowds: 7/10
• Amenities: 4.5/8
• Scenery: 9.5/14

America’s newest National Park is West Virginia’s first and it’s a beauty! New River Gorge has a massive array of great recreational opportunities including rafting, kayaking, fishing, canoeing, hiking, and more. The fall foliage here is magnificent with bright reds, oranges, and yellows filling the gorge.

No park saw a larger jump in our latest rankings than New River Gorge which catapulted a full twenty one spots. Why? For starters, this newer park has developed more amenities for visitors. Crowd sizes here are very manageable compared to so many other parks, and accessibility continues to improve.

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33. Glacier Bay National Park

Location: Alaska
Previous Ranking: #43

• Overall Score: 35/50
• Accessibility: 1.5/8
• Recreation: 7/10
• Crowds: 9/10
• Amenities: 3.5/8
• Scenery: 14/14

Glacier Bay is a wonderful “cruising park” with spectacular views from the water including orcas, whales, massive glaciers, and so much more. It’s hard to ask for more breathtaking scenery than what you can find in this park. So what’s the catch? Getting to the park is exceedingly difficult, requiring a flight and then either another flight or ferry. It also comes with quite a hefty price tag and for that reason it ranks lower on our list despite the incredible sites.

READ: Our detailed Glacier Bay National Park Guide

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34. Theodore Roosevelt National Park

Location: North Dakota
Previous Ranking: #40

• Overall Score: 35/50
• Accessibility: 3/8
• Recreation: 6.5/10
• Crowds: 9.5/10
• Amenities: 5/8
• Scenery: 11/14

Named for the great conservationist and president, Theodore Roosevelt National Park is home to magnificent high plains landscapes complete with the iconic American Bison. There are even badlands here similar in stature to those found to the south in Badlands National Park. And did someone say wild horses? Yes.

The catch? Getting there. This park is located way out in North Dakota where no average American road trips will take you. We also knock it a few points due to the proximity of large-scale industrial fossil fuel activity within view of the park.

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35. Mesa Verde National Park

Location: Colorado
Previous Ranking: #31

• Overall Score: 35/50
• Accessibility: 4/8
• Recreation: 6/10
• Crowds: 8.5/10
• Amenities: 6.5/8
• Scenery: 10/14

Known for the cliff dwellings it protects, Mesa Verde is a budding archaeologists’ dream national park. Ancient pueblo dwellings and ruins are beautifully preserved in this remote desert park. Located in the southwest corner of Colorado this park is out there but totally worth a trip if you’re in the area. The scenery is top notch and the crowds are manageable.

READ: Our Guide to All Colorado’s National Parks

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36. Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park

Location: Colorado
Previous Ranking: #34

• Overall Score: 35/50
• Accessibility: 3.5/8
• Recreation: 6/10
• Crowds: 9/10
• Amenities: 5/8
• Scenery: 11.5/14

Of all the underrated national parks out there, this one is near the top of the list. As a relatively new park it has flown under the radar of most park-goers’ summer travel plans. For those who love Black Canyon, this is great news as it means more of the park for us.

The scenery here is mesmerizing and warrants the same long gazes afforded to places like the Grand Canyon and Yosemite. The major drawback here is its distance from, well everything, and out-of-the-way relativity to national park road trips. If you do make it out you’ll be handsomely rewarded.

READ: Our Guide to All Colorado’s National Parks

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37. Bryce Canyon National Park

Location: Utah
Previous Ranking: #26

• Overall Score: 35/50
• Accessibility: 4.5/8
• Recreation: 6.5/10
• Crowds: 7/10
• Amenities: 6.5/8
• Scenery: 10.5/14

As far as the mighty five Utah national parks go, Bryce Canyon clocks in at number five on the list. I’ll be the first to say that the Navajo Loop trail in Bryce Canyon is among the most beautiful I’ve hiked in the entire parks system. Sunrises in the park are nothing short of jaw-dropping.

However, the scenery here, while beautiful, doesn’t change past the main viewing area near Sunset Point. Add the crowds here which are tour bus large, with the relative small size of the park and we arrive at 5th out of five. With that being said, even Utah’s lowest ranking park still ranks higher than so many other parks.

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38. Hawai’i Volcanoes National Park

Location: Hawaii
Previous Ranking: #29

• Overall Score: 35/50
• Accessibility: 3/8
• Recreation: 6.5/10
• Crowds: 8/10
• Amenities: 6.5/8
• Scenery: 11/14

Hawaii’s flagship national park, Hawai’i Volcanoes used to encompass Haleakala National Park on the neighboring island of Maui as well. Despite that subtraction the place is otherworldly (very mars-esque) and presents a rare opportunity to see lava (or at least its effects depending on whether it’s active during your visit) up close.

This park is always changing as eruptions over the past few decades have both created and destroyed park attractions. The Thurston Lava tube is amazing to hike through and the tropical birds that can be viewed here are rare and beautiful.

This year, a re-evaluation of the accessibility of this magical place dropped it nine spots in the rankings.

RELATED: See our full Hawai’i Volcanoes National Park Guide here! Or, read: : Best Things to Do Hawai’i Volcanoes National Park for trip ideas.

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39. Joshua Tree National Park

Location: California
Previous Ranking: #23

• Overall Score: 35/50
• Accessibility: 6.5/8
• Recreation: 7/10
• Crowds: 6/10
• Amenities: 5.5/8
• Scenery: 10/14

Oh Joshua Tree. Has any park been more idolized by musicians and pop-culture? What was once thought of as an interesting other-worldly filming location for old Hollywood television productions like Star Trek, is now every budding artist’s pilgrimage for photo shoots and experimental..well, anyway. Watercolor sunsets and night skies teeming with stars, fairy tale trees and giant boulder piles, warm desert air and endless vistas, these are the hallmarks of this iconic southwestern destination.

Alas, through all of its publicity Joshua Tree has not lost any of its beauty, but with its growing crowds one can envision a day in the not too distant future with the dreaded “R” word coming into play.

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40. Virgin Islands National Park

Location: US Virgin Islands
Previous Ranking: #36

• Overall Score: 34.5/50
• Accessibility: 3/8
• Recreation: 8/10
• Crowds: 8/10
• Amenities: 4.5/8
• Scenery: 11/14

There’s a national park in the Virgin Islands!? Yes! And it’s everything you could imagine and more. While the 2017 hurricanes forever changed the landscape here, leveling most of the towering palms and mangroves, it is still stunningly beautiful albeit in a different way than before. Warm crystal waters, palm trees, white sand beaches, sea turtles, iguanas, ocean sunsets, Trunk Bay, and more await you here.

Getting to the island is a bit tricky as you have to fly to the neighboring island of St. Thomas first, rent a car, and then take the car on the ferry to St. John where the park is located. The layout of this park is a bit funky, somewhat like that of Acadia with roads on St. John that lead in and out of the park (sometimes without even realizing you’ve left).

Read our Best Things to Do Virgin Islands National Park post here for trip ideas.

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Parks Ranked 41-45

41. Katmai National Park

Location: Alaska
Previous Ranking: #35

• Overall Score: 34/50
• Accessibility: 0.5/8
• Recreation: 7/10
• Crowds: 9.5/10
• Amenities: 3/8
• Scenery: 14/14

We’ve all seen the famous bearcam of the grizzlies hunting salmon at Brooks Falls, and we all want to see that in person (safely behind the plexiglass viewing area) along with the countless other hard-to-fathom landscapes that exist within this amazing park.

The fact of the matter is that it just ain’t easy (or cheap) to do so. Getting to Katmai typically requires multiple flights and thousands of dollars which puts it squarely out of reach for most Americans. Accessing Katmai National Park is expensive. There are no roads that lead into the park which means getting to Katmai requires a flight (and not on a commercial flight).

Brooks Falls Bear Watching – The world famous Katmai National Park bear camera resides at Brooks Falls. Getting to Brooks Falls is not cheap requiring yet another non-commercial flight. From King Salmon it the cost to Brooks Falls is around $300. Once here, behold the best bear viewing on the planet via a safe viewing platform.

READ: Our detailed Katmai National Park Guide

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42. Acadia National Park

Location: Maine
Previous Ranking: #21

• Overall Score: 33.5/50
• Accessibility: 5/8
• Recreation: 7.5/10
• Crowds: 2.5/10
• Amenities: 7/8
• Scenery: 11.5/14

Now you’re definitely not alone in wondering “did they forget Acadia!?” We did not. But maybe some folks should.. Acadia is routinely one of the top ten most visited national parks in America despite being one of the smallest. But let’s talk about the good stuff first.

Along the rocky shores of Maine’s coast you’ll find this easternmost national park. Once the exclusive domain of the gilded age elite, a few civic-minded residents decided to make Acadia’s beauty available to all Americans by donating the land to the national park service – and boy are we glad they did. With rounded mountains, shimmering lakes (called ponds here) , rugged coastline, and forests dotted with old stone roads and trails this New England national park is a real treasure. Fall brings some of the best foliage in the parks system to Acadia and is not to be missed.

All that being said, the park could benefit from less folks visiting (sorry not sorry Bar Harbor). Crowding can be a real issue in the summer as tourist buses and cars fill the park and parking becomes very scarce. We dock it a few points for accessibility as well – it’s pretty remote, and flights into Bangor aren’t the easiest to come by.

READ: Best East Coast National Parks

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Note: Reservations required

43. Lake Clark National Park

Location: Alaska
Previous Ranking: #49

• Overall Score: 33/50
• Accessibility: 1/8
• Recreation: 7/10
• Crowds: 9/10
• Amenities: 2/8
• Scenery: 14/14

Lake Clark is home to some of the most extraordinary landscape scenery on the planet. Add in the vast array of wildlife present in the park and you’ve got a real home run.

The only problem, as is the case with most of the Alaska parks, is getting there. Getting to Lake Clark, while not quite as difficult as Gates of the Arctic or Kobuk Valley, is still pretty darn tough. Visitors must take a seasonal ferry or small plane to reach jumping off points into the park. The cost for all this? Substantial.

READ: Our detailed Lake Clark National Park Guide

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44. Great Basin National Park

Location: Nevada
Previous Ranking: #46

• Overall Score: 33/50
• Accessibility: 3/8
• Recreation: 7/10
• Crowds: 8.5/10
• Amenities: 4/8
• Scenery: 10.5/14

This park falls into the underrated category in our national parks rankings for sure. It’s a place full of superlatives. Great Basin is an anomaly in the high desert of Nevada and rises from the hot desert floor with very little vegetation, up into lush coniferous forests high above. There is even a glacier in the park – in Nevada – how wild is that!

The park features alpine lakes, and our favorite part, groves of ancient Bristlecone Pines (we’re talking thousands of years old). Fall is a great time to see the park as the foliage is pretty grand. Accessibility and amenities really hurt the score of an otherwise lovely park. Visit and you won’t be disappointed.

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45. Guadalupe Mountains National Park

Location: Texas
Previous Ranking: #42

• Overall Score: 33/50
• Accessibility: 4/8
• Recreation: 6.5/10
• Crowds: 9/10
• Amenities: 4/8
• Scenery: 9.5/14

The second of two Texas parks, both in size and scenery, Guadalupe Mountains still has a lot to offer. Impressive high country desert landscapes, a diversity of wildlife (even the rare Mexican black bear), and no crowds to speak of. Perfect, right?

Almost. Accessibility is an issue here as it’s kinda out in the middle of nowhere. While not quite as remote as its sister Texas park, Big Bend, it’s still a long drive to get here. The good news is that it’s right next to Carlsbad Caverns and not too far (3 hours) from White Sands. Sounds like the makings of a great road trip!

Parks Ranked 46-50

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46. Petrified Forest National Park

Location: Arizona
Previous Ranking: #30

• Overall Score: 33/50
• Accessibility: 5.5/8
• Recreation: 5/10
• Crowds: 9/10
• Amenities: 3.5/8
• Scenery: 10/14

Petrified Forest holds a special place in our hearts as the first national park we ever visited and the place where we fell in love with America’s public lands. Upon arriving we were dazzled by blue mesas, striped hills, warm winds, distant storms, rainbows, petroglyphs, and the most beautiful collection of rocks (petrified wood – leave it there) we have ever seen. Oh and no crowds!

We docked it some points due to its lack of amenities – unfortunately there are no campgrounds in the park (there is camping though across the interstate in a pretty sad area). With that said, located right off the I-40 in Arizona, Petrified is a great park to add to your next southwest road trip.

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47. Haleakala National Park

Location: Hawaii
Previous Ranking: #38

• Overall Score: 32.5/50
• Accessibility: 3/8
• Recreation: 6.5/10
• Crowds: 6.5/10
• Amenities: 5.5/8
• Scenery: 11/14

National park + Hawaii – what’s not to like? Located on the island of Maui, this tropical park is a feast for the eyes with two main areas to explore. The crater is all the rage and has been deemed “the greatest sunrise in the national parks” by many… if you can beat the crowds (which are substantial and thus seeing it requires a reservation) and get lucky with the weather. The other section is the more tropical side (near Hana) with jaw-dropping waterfalls, ocean, palm trees, and rain forest.

Read our Best Things to Do Haleakala National Park post here for trip ideas.

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48. Mammoth Cave National Park

Location: Kentucky
Previous Ranking: #54

• Overall Score: 32/50
• Accessibility: 7/8
• Recreation: 4.5/10
• Crowds: 7.5/10
• Amenities: 6/8
• Scenery: 7/14

The longest known cave system is Kentucky’s only national park and a true gem. While the scenery here is a bit one-dimensional it is indeed grand. Mammoth Cave is one of the eastern United States’ few parks and is certainly worth a visit if you’re in the area.

In previous rankings, cave fans have dogged us about the low ranking of the cave parks. They’re undoubtedly cool, but in terms of national parks it’s hard to compete.

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49. Channel Islands National Park

Location: California
Previous Ranking: #50

• Overall Score: 32/50
• Accessibility: 4/8
• Recreation: 6/10
• Crowds: 8.5/10
• Amenities: 2.5/8
• Scenery: 11/14

Deemed “the American Galapagos”, Channel Islands feature an unbelievable amount of biodiversity. Located just off the coast of Southern California, this eight island chain is another bucket-lister for park-lovers.

Getting to the islands themselves presents a bit of difficulty as visitors have to take a ferry and usually make reservations well in advance. Once arriving to the islands activities including hiking, kayaking, diving, and relaxing.

Amenities are a bit limited so make sure to pack water and food for your trip. It hurts us that such a beautiful national park is ranked so low but alas access & amenities are the key issues here.

Helpful Resources: Where to Stay | Facts | Things to Do

50. White Sands National Park

Location: New Mexico
Previous Ranking: #47

• Overall Score: 32/50
• Accessibility: 4/8
• Recreation: 5/10
• Crowds: 9/10
• Amenities: 4.5/8
• Scenery: 9.5/14

We first visited White Sands back in its monument days (not too long ago) and left saying “this place would make a great national park”. Apparently we weren’t alone in our thinking.

Today, White Sands has achieved park status, and if you can figure a way to add it to a road trip (without adding 8 hours), it is definitely worth the stop! Boardwalks out into the sands make for a great user experience. The white color of the sand is dazzling (pack the sunglasses) and unlike anything we’ve experienced.

As this park gets more infrastructure it’s likely to rise in the rankings.

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Parks Ranked 51-52

51. Wind Cave National Park

Location: South Dakota
Previous Ranking: #41

• Overall Score: 32/50
• Accessibility: 4/8
• Recreation: 7/10
• Crowds: 7.5/10
• Amenities: 4.5/8
• Scenery: 9/14

Wind Cave is the lesser of two South Dakota Parks and as a result is an underrated park. Because “cave” is in the name, many non-cave-enthusiasts write it off prematurely. But there’s a lot more to the park than just the cave!For starters, there are some impressive herds of bison which roam some beautiful high plains landscapes. Throw in some coniferous forests and prairie dog towns and we’ve got ourselves a destination!

Our Favorite Resources: Things to Do | Video | Facts | Map

52. Kobuk Valley National Park

Location: Alaska
Previous Ranking: #61

• Overall Score: 31.5/50
• Accessibility: 0.5/8
• Recreation: 7/10
• Crowds: 10/10
• Amenities: 0/8
• Scenery: 14/14

See our Gates of the Arctic justification above. Kobuk Valley is a jaw-droppingly beautiful place that is nearly impossible for the average person to get to.

Getting into the park requires multiple flights, a guide (to do it safely), and thousands of dollars.

It seems to us this park would have been more fitting for a wilderness designation than a National Park. For that reason it ranks near the bottom of our list.

READ: Our detailed Kobuk Valley National Park Guide

Our Favorite Resources: Guide | Facts

The Worst National Parks (The Bottom 10 Parks)

53. Pinnacles National Park

Location: California
Previous Ranking: #56

• Overall Score: 31.5/50
• Accessibility: 5/8
• Recreation: 6.5/10
• Crowds: 8/10
• Amenities: 4/8
• Scenery: 8/14

This will likely be one the national parks on this ranked list that moves up in the years to come as infrastructure fills out. The most recent addition of the California National Parks is a beauty featuring some lovely dry mountain scenery, caves exploration, condor viewing, and lots of great rock climbing opportunities.

With that being said, hiking is the main activity in the park and there’s plenty of it. A great time to check out the park is in the spring when the wildflowers are blooming.

Our Favorite Resources: Things to Do | Facts

54. Gates of the Arctic National Park

Location: Alaska
Previous Ranking: #57

• Overall Score: 31.5/50
• Accessibility: 0.5/8
• Recreation: 7/10
• Crowds: 10/10
• Amenities: 0/8
• Scenery: 14/14

Gates of the Arctic is a breathtakingly beautiful place that is nearly impossible for the average person to get to.

Getting into the park requires multiple flights, a guide (to do it safely), and thousands of dollars. It seems to us this park would have been more fitting for a wilderness designation than a National Park. For that reason it ranks near the bottom of our list.

READ: Our detailed Gates of the Arctic National Park Guide

Our Favorite Resources: Guide | Facts | Map

55. Biscayne National Park

Location: Florida
Previous Ranking: #52

• Overall Score: 31.5/50
• Accessibility: 6/8
• Recreation: 6/10
• Crowds: 7/10
• Amenities: 4/8
• Scenery: 8.5/14

Biscayne is a snorkelers & divers dream with an immense diversity of underwater sea life begging to be explored. While this park is not a hikers park with more than 90% of it being underwater, it is a unique addition to the National Park System that can be a great add-on to a south Florida trip.

That being said, accessing the best scenery is impossible without a boat and as such it scores low in our rankings.

Resources: Facts | Things to Do

Somebody’s got to do it. All of these parks are still worth a visit, just not as worthwhile as the others. On any ranked national parks list there has to be a bottom.

56. American Samoa National Park

Location: American Samoa
Previous Ranking: #55

• Overall Score: 31/50
• Accessibility: 0.5/8
• Recreation: 7/10
• Crowds: 10/10
• Amenities: 1/8
• Scenery: 12.5/14

It’s a shame to rank such a beautiful national park so low on our list.. A picture-perfect postcard of tropical paradise, American Samoa National Park is a must-visit park for NPS enthusiasts. Crystal blue waters meet tall, lush mountains in the heart of the South Pacific creating one of the dreamiest looking national parks in the system.

Getting there, however, is going to cost you. Average flight prices from the mainland US typically range from $1,800 – $3,000 putting it out of reach for most of us. Once there, exploring the park’s incredible beauty isn’t exactly easy either with relatively few hiking trails and very limited park facilities. Beyond that, there are practically no amenities within the park making it even more difficult to enjoy. Maybe that’s the point.

While it might be best to avoid Congaree during late spring & the summer months (skeeters), other times of the year are fair game. The scenery here just doesn’t compare to most national parks and given its relative small size we find it in its rightful places near the bottom of the list.

Resources: Things to Do | Facts

58. Cuyahoga Valley National Park

Location: Ohio
Previous Ranking: #58

• Overall Score: 30/50
• Accessibility: 8/8
• Recreation: 5.5/10
• Crowds: 5/10
• Amenities: 6/8
• Scenery: 5.5/14

What was once part of a superfund cleanup site is now a beautiful national park. Cuyahoga is a great place to spend a day and soak in the natural beauty of Ohio. And there is beauty here. Brandywine Falls for example is a real stunner. During fall the park’s foliage adds a whole new element enhancing its beauty further. Its location near Cleveland makes it an easy stop for any park-lover to add on their trip to the city.

However, its relative small size, minimal recreational opportunities beyond hiking, and well below average (for a national park) scenery keep Cuyahoga low on our list.

Our Favorite Resources: Guidebook | Things to Do | Facts

59. Carlsbad Caverns National Park

Location: New Mexico
Previous Ranking: #60

• Overall Score: 29.5/50
• Accessibility: 4/8
• Recreation: 4.5/10
• Crowds: 9/10
• Amenities: 4/8
• Scenery: 8/14

Carlsbad Caverns is a really amazing place, home to over a hundred caves and some of the most spectacular subterranean sites in the world. It’s the kind of place that all cave enthusiasts have to see. The nightly bat flight is impressive.

What drags it down on our list is the accessibility, limited recreation opportunities, and overall scenery (while beautiful) being very one-dimensional. With that being said, it’s definitely worth the visit!

Our Favorite Resources: Facts | Things to Do

60. Dry Tortugas National Park

Location: Florida
Previous Ranking: #51

• Overall Score: 29.5/50
• Accessibility: 2.5/8
• Recreation: 6/10
• Crowds: 9/10
• Amenities: 2/8
• Scenery: 10/14

The main reason for a low ranking of Dry Tortugas National Park stems from two key factors – access and facilities. What was once a strategic fort far out on the Florida Keys is now a neat island national park.

Dry Tortugas is one of the few “tropical” national parks in the system which is reason-alone to make the trip. And making the trip is half the fun. Getting to this park requires an additional plane ride from Key West or ferry ride out to the island. Once there, visitors can snorkel, swim, relax, and otherwise enjoy the remains (well-intact) of Fort Jefferson.

Facilities are quite limited on the island and if you’re camping make sure to pack all of your own food and water.

Our Favorite Resources: Guide | Facts

61. Hot Springs National Park

Location: Arkansas
Previous Ranking: #62

• Overall Score: 29/50
• Accessibility: 7/8
• Recreation: 5.5/10
• Crowds: 6/10
• Amenities: 6/8
• Scenery: 4.5/14

While this site should definitely be protected, featuring some really great historical and natural areas, are we sure the full “National Park” designation is the right one for Hot Springs? In our estimation it seems it would be perfect for a National Historic Park designation or perhaps even a National Monument designation.

It’s definitely worth a visit if you’re in the area but were it not for a few recent additions to the national park system it would rank at the bottom of our list.

Our Favorite Resources: Things to Do | Facts

62. Indiana Dunes National Park

Location: Indiana
Previous Ranking: #59

• Overall Score: 25/50
• Accessibility: 7/8
• Recreation: 4/10
• Crowds: 6.5/10
• Amenities: 4.5/8
• Scenery: 3/14

We can now have a day on the beach in the great lakes *in* a national park – about time, right? Indiana Dunes is a nice spot and one of the most recent additions to the NPS system.While not anywhere close to the level of grandeur of most of the other parks in terms of scenery it’s still a great place to see!

The park is easily accessed from the great Chicago area. However, scenery here is limited to either sand or lake, amenities are lacking, and recreation is limited to beach activities and a couple of hikes. Should it be a national park? Debatable. Will it ever be the worst national park? Not so long as the next one on our list retains its status..

Our Favorite Resources: Facts | Things to Do

The Worst National Park in America

National Monuments Ranked: ALL 128 US National Monuments Ranked (Best to Worst)

63. Gateway Arch National Park

Location: Missouri
Previous Ranking: #63

• Overall Score: 15.5/50
• Accessibility: 8/8
• Recreation: 1/10
• Crowds: 3/10
• Amenities: 2.5/8
• Scenery: 1/14

Last but, well, least..

We were not alone in our head-scratching upon hearing the news that Gateway Arch had been elevated to full park status alongside the likes of Yellowstone and Yosemite. Receiving a coveted congressional designation as a national park is usually a long and hard fought process with long justification statements and passionate debate.

In this case the justification statement is a mere paragraph long and does not, in and of itself, hold up to the criteria set forth by congress. We are very much for the creation of new parks and different kinds of parks, but the system we have allows for diverse designations. Would not a National Historic Site or National Historic Park designation be more fitting in this case?

We’re calling this a national park, really?

Typically parks under consideration need to demonstrate a need for the designation which was not done so (at least publicly) in this case. When the bill to create this was brought to the house floor it seems that getting it done quickly so that it could be celebrated by the 4th of July was a leading justification for elevating it to park status.

Clocking in at 62 acres it is by far the smallest park and could fit into the next smallest park (Hot Springs) more than 88 times with room to spare. The question we are left asking ourselves is what sort of political, backroom horse trading was done in order to slap the “National Park” tag on the arch? Might make for some interesting investigative journalism..

RELATED: 6 GREAT Missouri National Parks (An Honest Guide + Photos)

Resources: National Parks Ranked (it’s last) | Facts

Well done, fellow park fan.

Well folks, that’s a wrap! If you made it this far you can give yourself a nice pat on the back! Time to plan that next trip and get out there into the wide world of National Parks.

We’ve got some trips of our own planned for this year and will be updating you further as we go. Feel free to subscribe to our mailing list (at the bottom of the page) to stay up to date with our adventures in the parks!

Do You Agree With Our Best US National Parks?

Okay we’re sure you’ll have your own opinions – we want to hear them! Where do you think the parks stack up with one another? Drop us a comment below! This list is updated to include your feedback.

Premium National Parks Maps

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Check out this page for more purchasable national parks maps. If you don’t see the right size map for you above feel free to shoot them an email and they’ll be happy to create a customized one just for you!

FAQ – Best National Parks Ranked

Complete Rankings List 2026

1. Mount Rainier
2. Olympic
3. Grand Teton
4. Death Valley
5. Glacier
6. Yosemite
7. Denali
8. Grand Canyon
9. Great Smoky Mountains
10. Sequoia
11. Voyageurs
12. Redwood
13. Yellowstone
14. Rocky Mountain
15. North Cascades
16. Great Sand Dunes
17. Lassen Volcanic
18. Saguaro
19. Big Bend
20. Shenandoah
21. Zion
22. Everglades
23. Kings Canyon
24. Canyonlands
25. Wrangell – St. Elias
26. Kenai Fjords
27. Crater Lake
28. Capitol Reef
29. Isle Royale
30. Badlands
31. Arches
32. New River Gorge
33. Glacier Bay
34. Theodore Roosevelt
35. Mesa Verde
36. Black Canyon of the Gunnison
37. Bryce Canyon
38. Hawaii Volcanoes
39. Joshua Tree
40. Virgin Islands
41. Katmai
42. Acadia
43. Lake Clark
44. Great Basin
45. Guadalupe Mountains
46. Petrified Forest
47. Haleakala
48. Mammoth Cave
49. Channel Islands
50. White Sands
51. Wind Cave
52. Kobuk Valley
53. Pinnacles
54. Gates of the Arctic
55. Biscayne
56. American Samoa
57. Congaree
58. Cuyahoga Valley
59. Carlsbad Caverns
60. Dry Tortugas
61. Hot Springs
62. Indiana Dunes
63. Gateway Arch

Map of the National Parks in America

We’ve included a quick map for all 63 of America’s National Parks below.

What Qualifies As A US National Park?

There seems to be some confusion out there about what exactly qualifies as a “national park” in the United States, so let’s clear that up.

There are many different types of designations within the national park system, like national monuments, national historical parks, national battlefields, national historic sites, national parks, and so on.

Each one of these specific designations carries with it a different meaning, a different type of administration, and affords the area different levels of protection.

For a more in-depth explanation of these designations visit our article that explains the different National Park Service designations and their meanings, What Exactly Is A National Park?

How Many National Parks Are There In The USA?

To be clear, there are 63 national parks in the US which are part of a system that includes 423 national park sites. National parks can only be designated by an act of congress – unlike many other units in the national park system which can gain their designation through executive action or even secretarial orders.

National historical parks, for instance, are not national parks, even though they contain the phrase “national park” in their title. Confused yet? The same goes for national preserves, national monuments and anything else that is not simply named “[Insert Name] National Park”. But don’t take our word for it, you can read all about these different designations here.

The National Park System

The national park system is full of incredible places that constitute the all-important natural and cultural heritage of the United States. These special places, from Gettysburg National Military Park to Yosemite National Park, are of immense importance and are equally deserving of preservation and administration that fits their unique place in the story of this country.

So whether your favorite national park service unit is a national park, a national monument, a national recreation area, or any other type of designation, the point is they’re all important, but there’s only 63 congressionally-designated “national parks”.

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More Helpful Information on the National Parks

List of National Monuments: Ultimate List of National Monuments (Alphabetical + By State)
How Many National Parks: How Many National Parks Are There Exactly (Detailed Guide)
Best National Parks Ranked: ALL 63 US NATIONAL PARKS RANKED By Experts
Free Downloadable National Parks Map & List: LIST & MAP of National Parks By State (+ Printable Checklist)
Best National Monuments: All 128 US National Monuments Ranked (Best to Worst)
Best National Parks to Visit: 20 Best National Parks to Visit
Largest National Parks: 15 Largest National Parks in the United States (+ Full List)
Most Visited National Parks: Top 10 Most Visited US National Parks
Least Visited National Parks: Top 10 Least Visited National Parks
Best East Coast National Parks: Top 10 Best East Coast National Parks Ranked
Utah National Parks Road Trips: 5 Best Utah National Park Road Trips
Best National Park Road Trips: 10 Best National Park Road Trips