Bryce Canyon National Park rock formation

15 Breathtaking Winter Wonderland Destinations in the USA

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, covering historical battle grounds to the most unique and diverse nature landscapes.

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)

! = Beware of seasonal timed entry/permits required Learn more here

PC = per car

PP = per person

Alaska (8)

  • Denali National Park~ ($15pp/7 days)
  • 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)

Arkansas (1)

  • Hot Springs National Park

California (9)

  • Channel Islands National Park~
  • Death Valley National Park~ (partially Nevada) ($30pc/7 days)
  • 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^~ ($35pc/7-days)

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! ($35/7 days)

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

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! ($30pc/7 days + timed permit summer $2)
  • Bryce Canyon National Park ($35pc/7 days)
  • Canyonlands National Park ($30pc/7 days)
  • Capitol Reef National Park
  • Zion National Park!

Virgin Islands (1)

  • Virgin Islands National Park

Virginia (1)

  • Shenandoah National Park!

Washington (3)

West Virginia (1)

  • New River Gorge National Park and Preserve

Wyoming (2)

  • Grand Teton National Park~
  • Yellowstone National Park (partially in Idaho and Montana)^~ ($35/7 days)

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 (many do, however, have national monuments):

What about National Monuments in the USA?

National Monuments are equally exciting to seek out as you road trip around the United States. They 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 summary 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!

National Park Annual Passes

A National Park Annual pass is an essential addition if you plan to visit three or more national parks within a 12-month period. The main ones you need to be aware of:

  • America The Beautiful $80 annually. This is the most common card that most will invest in. It’s available to purchase online and at most national park visitor centers. It costs the same for US citizens and overseas visitors.

Free Entrance Days in 2024

On free entrance days, queues can be incredibly long, so you need to be organized and arrive early (or avoid these days if you already have a pass or want to enjoy your national parks with fewer crowds!). Keep in your diary:

Important Things to Know About Visiting America’s National Parks

spring national parks text lay over the redwoods national park in california
summer national parks text overlay over a scene from glacier national park montans
fall national parks text overlay over the grand canyon
winter national parks text overlay of snow capped mountains in denali alaska

Unless otherwise referenced, all information is sourced from the National Parks Service and Wikipedia.

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© Family Road Trip 2024

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