Each year, America’s national parks draw tourists to take in the country’s amazing natural beauty. In 2020, the National Park Service recorded more than 237 million visitors across sites such as the Blue Ridge Parkway (its most popular destination with more than 14 million visitors last year) and national parks. Did. From ocean to sparkling ocean, America is home to an incredible variety of landscapes, from dramatic canyons and vast deserts to snow-capped peaks and lush valleys. When choosing the best national parks in the United States, we believe visitor numbers speak for themselves.
While all 63 national parks are worth visiting, the top 15 most-visited national parks are truly some of America’s best, with bucket-list destinations like the Grand Canyon and Yosemite. I am. Of course, if you want to avoid the crowds, you can always check out less visited national parks. Only some visitors can offer all the beauty, so you can roam freely.
The top 15 most visited national parks in the United States are:
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1. Great Smoky Mountains National Park, North Carolina and Tennessee
Number of visits: 12.1 million
Great Smoky Mountains National Park is the most visited national park in the country, with a whopping 12.1 million visitors. This park, which straddles North Carolina and Tennessee, is known for its wildlife, waterfalls, and mist-covered mountains. Although it’s worth visiting year-round for the beautiful views and outdoor activities like hiking, the park shines in the fall when the trees are ablaze with red, orange, and gold leaves.
2. Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming, Montana, and Idaho
Number of visits: 3.8 million
The world’s first national park, Yellowstone National Park, was established in 1872 and recorded 3.8 million visitors in 2020. Across 2.2 million acres, you’ll find unique hydrothermal attractions like Mammoth Hot Springs, Old Faithful Geyser, and Grand Prismatic Spring, as well as waterfalls, lakes, and wildlife.
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3. Zion National Park, Utah
Number of visits: 3.6 million
Utah is home to some of the best national parks in the country, including Arches, Bryce Canyon, and Canyonlands, but Zion National Park is Utah’s first and most popular national park. Dramatic cliffs and canyons form this impressive landscape, and visitors can enjoy hiking, climbing, biking, bird watching, and stargazing during their stay here.
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4. Rocky Mountain National Park, Colorado
Number of visits: 3.3 million
Spread over 415 square miles of mountainous terrain, Rocky Mountain National Park is the fourth most visited national park. Here, visitors can spot moose, bighorn sheep, elk, bats, and much more wildlife (all from a safe distance, of course), as well as explore the park’s many hiking trails. Rocky Mountain National Park also offers many scenic drives for visitors who want to explore the park’s alpine forests and wildflower-covered meadows without leaving their cars.
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5. Grand Teton National Park, Wyoming
Number of visitors: 3.3 million
Wyoming’s second on the list is Grand Teton National Park, the jagged peaks of the incredible Teton Mountains that tower above Grand Teton National Park. (Consider visiting Grand Teton and Yellowstone on his one road trip.) In this national park, incredible mountains meet alpine lakes and lush valleys, and visitors You can enjoy mountain climbing, hiking, boating, and fishing. When you visit, keep an eye out for wildlife such as bison, elk, beaver, and moose.
6. Grand Canyon National Park, Arizona
Number of visits: 2.9 million
Often referred to as one of the world’s natural wonders, the vast Grand Canyon is a breathtaking sight, and it’s no wonder Grand Canyon National Park is one of the most visited national parks in the country. Visitors can spend a day here hiking along canyon walls, rafting the Colorado River, taking in scenic car and train rides, and learning about Native American culture and history. You can spend it.
7. Cuyahoga Valley National Park, Ohio
Number of visits: 2.8 million
Located between Cleveland and Akron, Ohio, Cuyahoga Valley National Park offers plenty to see and do, including hiking, biking, canoeing, kayaking, golf, and fishing. Explore the Towpath Trail, which follows the historic route of the Ohio and Erie Canal, or take in the scenery (and wildlife, including eagles, deer, beavers and otters) aboard the Cuyahoga Valley Scenic Railway. Is not it.
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8. Acadia National Park, Maine
Number of visits: 2.7 million
Acadia National Park, located on Maine’s rugged Atlantic coastline, was visited by approximately 2.7 million people in 2020. Visitors can drive along 44 miles of historic motorways or explore 254 miles of hiking trails on foot. Most of the national park is located on Mount Desert Island, just a short distance from the charming town of Bar Harbor, along the beautiful Park Loop Road and picturesque trails perfect for bird watching.
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9. Olympic National Park, Washington
Number of visits: 2.5 million
Olympic National Park in the Pacific Northwest attracts millions of visitors each year. Within the approximately 1 million acre park, visitors will find many unique landscapes and ecosystems to explore, including temperate rainforests, rocky Pacific coastlines, and high peaks such as Mount Olympus. Stargazing, hiking, and boating are some of the park’s popular activities.
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10. Joshua Tree National Park, California
Number of visits: 2.4 million people
Joshua Tree National Park, known for its stunning desert landscape and its namesake Joshua tree, recorded approximately 2.4 million visitors in 2020. Visitors can hike or bike through the unique landscape, go rock climbing or horseback riding, or stay after dark to enjoy stunning night views. The sky (Joshua Tree is an International Dark Sky Park, making it a great place for stargazing).
11. Indiana Dunes National Park, Indiana
Number of visits: 2.3 million
Indiana Dunes National Park, located on the shores of Lake Michigan about an hour from Chicago, saw more than 2 million visitors in 2020. His 15,000 acres include sandy beaches and 80 miles of trails along dunes, forests, and wetlands.
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12. Yosemite National Park, California
Number of visits: 2.3 million
One of the oldest national parks in the United States, Yosemite National Park is also one of the most visited. It is known for the towering granite formations of El Capitan and Half Dome, the waterfalls, wildlife, and ancient sequoias found within the park. Although the park is open all year round, the best time to visit to see the waterfall in its full form is spring. Plan to camp overnight in Yosemite and enjoy this amazing park.
13. Glacier National Park, Montana
Number of visits: 1.7 million people
Glacier National Park in Montana is a picturesque landscape of glaciers, lakes, mountains, and grasslands. The iconic Going to the Sun Road is a must-see. During the winter, the road is partially closed due to weather, but it is usually fully opened in June or July. If you’re visiting in the summer, be sure to keep an eye out for wildflowers.
14. Shenandoah National Park, Virginia
Number of visitors: 1.7 million
Shenandoah National Park’s more than 200,000 acres were visited by more than 1 million visitors in 2020. Park highlights include the 165-mile scenic Skyline Drive along the Blue Ridge Mountains, peaks, waterfalls, and more.
15. Bryce Canyon National Park, Utah
Number of visits: 1.5 million
Known for having the highest concentration of hoodoos (tall, slender rock pillars) on earth, Bryce Canyon National Park is Utah’s second most visited national park and offers some truly spectacular scenery. During the day, visitors can drive to the most popular viewpoints or go hiking along the rim, and at night, stargazing begins. Bryce Canyon is also an International Dark Sky Park.
Elizabeth Rhodes is an associate digital editor at Travel + Leisure. Follow her adventures on Instagram @elizabetheeverywhere.
