The Best National Parks Experiences in the U.S. (All 63 Parks!)

Exploring all 63 U.S. national parks is a once-in-a-lifetime adventure, each offering a unique experience—from epic mountain ranges to desert landscapes and remote islands. Here’s a curated guide to the best experience at each national park, often considered a “must-do” or the most iconic feature of the park:

🏞️ Western Parks (Scenic Giants)

1. Yellowstone (WY/MT/ID) – Watch Old Faithful erupt and explore the Grand Prismatic Spring.
2. Yosemite (CA) – Hike to Glacier Point or Half Dome for breathtaking valley views.
3. Grand Canyon (AZ) – Hike into the canyon via South Kaibab Trail or take a sunset rim walk.
4. Zion (UT) – Hike Angels Landing (permit required) or wade through The Narrows.
5. Glacier (MT) – Drive or bike Going-to-the-Sun Road and spot glaciers.
6. Sequoia (CA) – Stand beside the General Sherman Tree, the largest tree on Earth.
7. Kings Canyon (CA) – Drive the Kings Canyon Scenic Byway or hike to Mist Falls.
8. Olympic (WA) – Tidepool at Rialto Beach, then hike Hoh Rain Forest.
9. Mount Rainier (WA) – See wildflowers at Paradise or hike Skyline Trail.
10. North Cascades (WA) – Hike to Cascade Pass for epic alpine views.
11. Redwood (CA) – Walk through Tall Trees Grove or drive the Avenue of the Giants.
12. Lassen Volcanic (CA) – Hike Bumpass Hell to see boiling mudpots and fumaroles.
13. Crater Lake (OR) – Drive the Rim Drive or hike to Watchman Peak at sunset.
14. Channel Islands (CA) – Kayak sea caves at Santa Cruz Island.
15. Joshua Tree (CA) – Rock scramble at Skull Rock and stargaze in the dark skies.
16. Death Valley (CA/NV) – Visit Badwater Basin, the lowest point in North America.
17. Pinnacles (CA) – Hike Bear Gulch Cave and spot condors in flight.

🏜️ Southwest Desert & Canyons

18. Arches (UT) – Delicate Arch hike at sunset.
19. Canyonlands (UT) – Island in the Sky’s Mesa Arch at sunrise.
20. Bryce Canyon (UT) – Hike the Queens Garden + Navajo Loop among hoodoos.
21. Capitol Reef (UT) – Pick fruit in the Fruita orchards and hike to Cassidy Arch.
22. Mesa Verde (CO) – Take a ranger-led tour of Cliff Palace.
23. Great Basin (NV) – Explore Lehman Caves and stargaze at night.

🏔️ Rocky Mountains & High Plains

24. Rocky Mountain (CO) – Drive Trail Ridge Road or hike Emerald Lake.
25. Black Canyon of the Gunnison (CO) – Peer into the gorge from Painted Wall overlook.
26. Great Sand Dunes (CO) – Sandboard down the dunes or cool off in Medano Creek.
27. Wind Cave (SD) – Take a cave tour and look for bison in the prairie above.
28. Badlands (SD) – Hike Notch Trail and catch sunset at Panorama Point.
29. Theodore Roosevelt (ND) – Scenic drive and watch for wild horses and bison.

🌳 Eastern U.S.

30. Acadia (ME) – Sunrise at Cadillac Mountain and hike the Beehive Trail.
31. Shenandoah (VA) – Drive Skyline Drive in the fall and hike to Old Rag.
32. Great Smoky Mountains (TN/NC) – Clingmans Dome view and Cades Cove loop.
33. Mammoth Cave (KY) – Explore the world’s longest cave system on a ranger tour.
34. Cuyahoga Valley (OH) – Bike the Ohio & Erie Canal Towpath Trail or visit Brandywine Falls.
35. New River Gorge (WV) – Raft the New River or walk the Long Point Trail.

🌲 Midwest & Central U.S.

36. Voyageurs (MN) – Paddle a canoe through interconnected lakes.
37. Isle Royale (MI) – Backpack or kayak the remote island wilderness.
38. Indiana Dunes (IN) – Climb the dunes and swim in Lake Michigan.
39. Gateway Arch (MO) – Take the tram to the top of the Arch.
40. Hot Springs (AR) – Bathe in historic bathhouses on Bathhouse Row.

🌴 Southern Parks

41. Big Bend (TX) – Soak in the Hot Springs, float the Rio Grande, or hike Lost Mine Trail.
42. Guadalupe Mountains (TX) – Summit Guadalupe Peak, Texas’ highest point.
43. Biscayne (FL) – Snorkel coral reefs or kayak through mangroves.
44. Everglades (FL) – Airboat tour or kayak through mangroves.
45. Dry Tortugas (FL) – Ferry to Fort Jefferson, snorkel in crystal-clear water.
46. Congaree (SC) – Boardwalk hike through swamp forest, kayak the Congaree River.

🌊 Pacific Islands & Alaska

47. Haleakalā (HI) – Watch sunrise above the clouds from the crater.
48. Hawai‘i Volcanoes (HI) – See active lava flows (when erupting) and hike Kīlauea Iki.
49. Denali (AK) – Bus tour into Denali Park Road, spot wildlife & view Mount Denali.
50. Gates of the Arctic (AK) – Fly in and experience untouched Arctic wilderness.
51. Kobuk Valley (AK) – Visit the Great Kobuk Sand Dunes (via charter plane).
52. Lake Clark (AK) – Bear viewing at Silver Salmon Creek or hiking near Turquoise Lake.
53. Katmai (AK) – Watch brown bears catching salmon at Brooks Falls.
54. Wrangell-St. Elias (AK) – Visit the historic Kennecott Mine and glacier hikes.
55. Glacier Bay (AK) – Cruise among icebergs, spot whales and calving glaciers.
56. Kenai Fjords (AK) – Boat tour to see tidewater glaciers and marine wildlife.

🏝️ Territories & Remote Islands

57. American Samoa (AS) – Hike Mt. Alava and snorkel in the South Pacific.
58. National Park of Samoa (AS) – Explore lush tropical rainforests and Samoan villages.
59. Virgin Islands (VI) – Snorkel Trunk Bay or hike the Reef Bay Trail.
60. Dry Tortugas (FL) – Snorkel coral reefs and tour historic Fort Jefferson.

🧭 Lesser-known but amazing

61. Great Basin (NV) – Stargaze under some of the darkest skies in the U.S..
62. Congaree (SC) – Kayak the blackwater floodplain under towering trees.
63. North Cascades (WA) – One of the least visited but most stunning alpine parks.