There are an incredible 63 National Parks in the USA.
The lower 48 contiguous states have 51 parks, whilst you’ll find 2 in Hawaii, 8 in Alaska and American overseas territories are home to another 2, bring us to the grand total of 63.
In total, however, you’ll find 423 National Park sites, spanning the USA and it’s overseas territories, covering over 84 million acres.
So how do you fit them in your family road trip plans? Let’s take a look at each state and we’ll connect you to one of our road tripping itineraries and destination guides.
List of National Parks in the United States
^ = Also a UNESCO World Heritage Site (14)
~ = Also a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve (21)
Alaska (8)
- Denali National Park~
- Arctic National Park
- Glacier Bay National Park^~
- Katmai National Park
- Kenai Fjords National Park
- Kobuk Valley National Park
- Lake Clark National Park
- Wrangell-St Elias National Park (largest!)^
American Samoa (1)
- National Park of American Samoa
Arizona (3)
- Grand Canyon National Park ^
- Petrified Forest National Park
- Saguaro National Park
Arkansas (1)
- Hot Springs National Park
California (9)
- Channel Islands National Park~
- Death Valley National Park~ (partially Nevada)
- Joshua Tree National Park~
- Kings Canyon National Park~
- Lassen Volcanic National Park
- Pinnacles National Park
- Redwood National Park^
- Sequoia National Park~
- Yosemite National Park^
Colorado (4)
- Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park
- Great Sand Dunes National Park
- Mesa Verde National Park^
- Rocky Mountains National Park~
Florida (3)
- Biscayne National Park
- Dry Tortugas National Park~
- Everglades National Park^~
Hawaii (2)
- Haleakala National Park ~
- Hawai’i Volcanoes National Park ^~
Idaho
- Yellowstone National Park (partial, see Wyoming)
Kentucky (1)
- Mammoth Cave National Park^~
Indiana (1)
- Indiana Dunes National Park
Maine (1)
- Acadia National Park
Michigan (1)
- Isle Royale National Park~
Minnesota (1)
- Voyagers National Park
Missouri (1)
- Gateway Arch National Park
Montana (1)
- Glacier National Park^~
- Yellowstone National Park (*partial, see Wyoming)
Nevada (1)
- Great Basin National Park
- Death Valley National Park (partial – see California)
New Mexico (2)
- Carlsbad Caverns National Park^
- White Sands National Park
North Dakota (1)
- Theodore Roosevelt National Park
North Carolina
- Great Smoky Mountains National Park (partial – see Tennessee)
Ohio (1)
- Cuyahoga Valley National Park
Oregon (1)
- Crater Lake National Park
South Carolina (1)
- Congaree National Park~
South Dakota (2)
- Badlands National Park
- Wind Cave National Park
Tennessee (1)
- Great Smoky Mountain National Park^~
Texas (2)
- Big Bend National Park ~
- Guadalupe Mountains National Park
Utah (5)
- Arches National Park
- Bryce Canyon National Park
- Canyonlands National Park
- Capitol Reef National Park
- Zion National Park
Virgin Islands (1)
- Virgin Islands National Park
Virginia (1)
- Shenandoah National Park
Washington (3)
- Mount Rainier National Park
- North Cascades National park
- Olympic National Park^~
West Virginia (1)
- New River Gorge National Park and Preserve
Wyoming (2)
- Grand Teton National Park~
- Yellowstone National Park (partially in Idaho and Montana)^~
Which USA States Don’t Have National Parks?
Certainly not lacking in their own natural beauty, but the following states do not have any designated National Parks:
- Alabama
- Connecticut
- Delaware
- Georgia
- Illinois
- Iowa
- Kansas
- Louisiana
- Maryland
- Massachusetts
- Mississippi
- Nebraska
- New Hampshire
- New Jersey
- New York
- Oklahoma
- Pennsylvania
- Rhode Island
- Vermont
- Wisconsin
What about National Monuments in the USA?
National Monument are equally exciting to seek out as you road trip your way around the United States. National Monuments are protected for their historical or archaeological significance.
Every state has either a National Park or a National Monument, except poor old Delaware! As just a brief summery of other National Sites in the USA there are:
- 11 National Battlefields
- 60 National Historical Parks
- 76 National Historic Sites
- 1 International Historic Site
- 3 National Lakeshores
- 31 National Memorials
- 85 National Monuments
- 4 National Parkways
- 19 National Preserves
- 2 National Reserves
- 18 National Recreation Areas
- 4 National Rivers
- 3 National Scenic Trails
- 10 National Seashores
- 10 National Wild and Scenic Rivers and Riverways
- plus 11 other designations, including the White House!
Important things to know about visiting American National Parks
- Learn more about the 4th Grader Pass Every Kid Outdoors – Free National Parks entry for a whole school year for you 4th Grader & all the family!
- Explore every east coast national park on a sensational east coast family road trip.
- Here are all the best US national parks we recommend you explore in winter.
- It’s best to visit these popular national parks in the spring for stunning colors and fewer crowds
- Summer is the best time to visit these national parks – some of which are only accessible in the hottest months
- Fall national park trips can bring cooler weather for hiking and a kaleidoscope of color at these stunning US national parks
All information sourced from National Parks Service and Wikipedia unless otherwise referenced.
© Family Road Trip