National Parks
All 63 U.S. National Parks
The bucket list, mapped for the road. Every U.S. National Park — what it’s known for, when to go, the one sight you can’t skip, and the hikes and detours around it.
MaineAcadiaAtlantic cliffs & the first sunrise in the U.S.Best: Summer & fall (foliage)ASAmerican SamoaRainforest, reefs & Samoan culture in the South PacificBest: Year-round (tropical)UtahArchesOver 2,000 natural stone archesBest: Spring & fallSouth DakotaBadlandsEroded spires & mixed-grass prairieBest: Spring & fallTexasBig BendDesert, river canyons & dark skiesBest: Nov–AprilFloridaBiscayneA park that’s 95% waterBest: Winter & springColoradoBlack CanyonA sheer, dizzyingly deep gorgeBest: Late spring–fallUtahBryce CanyonForests of orange hoodoosBest: Late spring–early fallUtahCanyonlandsCanyons, mesas & buttes carved by riversBest: Spring & fallUtahCapitol ReefThe Waterpocket Fold & historic orchardsBest: Spring & fallNew MexicoCarlsbad CavernsA vast underground cave & bat flightsBest: Year-round (bats May–Oct)CaliforniaChannel IslandsThe "Galápagos of North America"Best: Spring (flowers) & fallSouth CarolinaCongareeThe tallest old-growth hardwood forest in the EastBest: Spring & fallOregonCrater LakeThe deepest, bluest lake in AmericaBest: July–SeptemberOhioCuyahoga ValleyWaterfalls, towpath & a scenic railroadBest: Spring–fallCalifornia & NevadaDeath ValleyThe hottest, lowest, driest place in North AmericaBest: Nov–MarchAlaskaDenaliNorth America’s highest peak & subarctic wildernessBest: June–AugustFloridaDry TortugasA remote island fort & coral reefsBest: Winter & springFloridaEvergladesA "river of grass" full of wildlifeBest: Winter (dry season)AlaskaGates of the ArcticAmerica’s wildest park — no roads, no trailsBest: June–AugustMissouriGateway ArchThe 630-ft Gateway to the WestBest: Spring & fallMontanaGlacierThe Crown of the ContinentBest: July–SeptemberAlaskaGlacier BayTidewater glaciers calving into the seaBest: June–AugustArizonaGrand CanyonA mile-deep canyon, one of the wonders of the worldBest: Spring & fall (South Rim year-round)WyomingGrand TetonA wall of sawtooth peaks over glacial lakesBest: June–SeptemberNevadaGreat BasinAncient bristlecones, a cave & dark skiesBest: Summer & fallColoradoGreat Sand DunesThe tallest dunes in North AmericaBest: Late spring & fallTennessee & North CarolinaGreat Smoky MountainsThe most-visited national park in the U.S.Best: Spring & fallTexasGuadalupe MountainsTexas’ highest peak & a fossil reefBest: Spring & fall (canyon color)HawaiiHaleakalaA volcanic summit above the cloudsBest: Year-round (summit is cold)HawaiiHawaii VolcanoesTwo active volcanoes & living lava landscapesBest: Year-roundArkansasHot SpringsHistoric bathhouses & thermal springsBest: Spring & fallIndianaIndiana DunesLake Michigan dunes & beachesBest: Summer (beach) & fallMichiganIsle RoyaleA wild Lake Superior island, wolves & mooseBest: June–SeptemberCaliforniaJoshua TreeTwisted trees, granite piles & dark skiesBest: Oct–AprilAlaskaKatmaiBrown bears fishing at Brooks FallsBest: July & September (bears)AlaskaKenai FjordsTidewater glaciers & a vast icefieldBest: June–AugustCaliforniaKings CanyonA giant-sequoia and deep-canyon parkBest: Summer & fallAlaskaKobuk ValleyArctic sand dunes & caribou migrationBest: June–SeptemberAlaskaLake ClarkVolcanoes, turquoise lakes & coastal bearsBest: June–SeptemberCaliforniaLassen VolcanicAll four volcano types & bubbling hydrothermalsBest: July–SeptemberKentuckyMammoth CaveThe longest known cave system on EarthBest: Year-round (tours)ColoradoMesa VerdeAncestral Puebloan cliff dwellingsBest: Late spring–fallWashingtonMount RainierA glaciated volcano & wildflower meadowsBest: July–OctoberWest VirginiaNew River GorgeA rugged river canyon & a famous bridgeBest: Spring–fall (fall color)WashingtonNorth CascadesJagged peaks & hundreds of glaciersBest: July–SeptemberWashingtonOlympicRainforest, mountains & wild coast in one parkBest: July–OctoberArizonaPetrified ForestRainbow petrified wood & the Painted DesertBest: Spring & fallCaliforniaPinnaclesVolcanic spires, talus caves & condorsBest: Spring & fallCaliforniaRedwoodThe tallest trees on EarthBest: Late spring–fallColoradoRocky MountainAlpine tundra & the highest paved road in any parkBest: Summer & fallArizonaSaguaroForests of giant saguaro cactusBest: Oct–AprilCaliforniaSequoiaThe largest trees on Earth by volumeBest: Summer & fallVirginiaShenandoahSkyline Drive & Blue Ridge viewsBest: Spring & fall (foliage)North DakotaTheodore RooseveltBadlands, bison & wild horsesBest: Late spring–fallVIVirgin IslandsCaribbean beaches & coral reefsBest: Winter & springMinnesotaVoyageursA water-based park of interconnected lakesBest: Summer (water) & winterNew MexicoWhite SandsGlistening white gypsum dunesBest: Fall–springSouth DakotaWind CaveA complex cave & prairie above itBest: Late spring–fallAlaskaWrangell–St. EliasThe largest national park in the U.S.Best: June–SeptemberWyoming & Montana & IdahoYellowstoneThe world’s first national park — geysers & wildlifeBest: Late spring–fallCaliforniaYosemiteGranite cliffs, waterfalls & giant sequoiasBest: Spring (waterfalls)–fallUtahZionTowering sandstone canyon wallsBest: Spring & fall