National Parks of the USA – Map, List and Annual Pass

Petr Novák

National parks in the United States offer some of the most beautiful and diverse natural wonders the country has to offer. They feature majestic mountains, wild natural formations, deserts, and lush forests. There are 63 national parks in the USA, and on this website, you’ll find a detailed guide for each one. I will also advise you on how to save on entrance fees and share additional interesting facts about the parks.

Map of US National Parks | © Petr Novák

Table of Contents
  1. List of National Parks in the USA 2025
  2. Information About U.S. National Parks
  3. Entrance Fees for National Parks in the USA
  4. How Many National Parks Are There in the USA?
  5. What Are the Most Visited National Parks in the USA?
  6. What Is the Oldest National Park in the USA?
  7. What Is the Newest National Park in the USA?

List of National Parks in the USA 2025

The map of U.S. national parks includes all parks located in the continental United States, Alaska, and Hawaii. Two additional national parks are in unincorporated territories: the U.S. Virgin Islands and American Samoa. A colored dot next to the park’s name indicates the number of visitors in 2023. Green dots mark less visited parks, while red dots denote the most popular ones.

Name State Established
Acadia National Park Maine February 26, 1919
American Samoa National Park American Samoa October 31, 1988
Arches National Park Utah November 12, 1971
Badlands National Park South Dakota November 10, 1978
Big Bend National Park Texas June 12, 1944
Biscayne National Park Florida June 28, 1980
Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park Colorado October 21, 1999
Bryce Canyon National Park Utah February 25, 1928
Canyonlands National Park Utah September 12, 1964
Capitol Reef National Park Utah December 18, 1971
Carlsbad Caverns National Park New Mexico May 14, 1930
Channel Islands National Park California March 5, 1980
Congaree National Park South Carolina November 10, 2003
Crater Lake National Park Oregon May 22, 1902
Cuyahoga Valley National Park Ohio October 11, 2000
Death Valley National Park California, Nevada October 31, 1994
Denali National Park Alaska February 26, 1917
Dry Tortugas National Park Florida October 26, 1992
Everglades National Park Florida May 30, 1934
Gates of the Arctic National Park Alaska December 2, 1980
Gateway Arch National Park Missouri February 22, 2018
Glacier Bay National Park Alaska December 2, 1980
Glacier National Park Montana May 11, 1910
Grand Canyon National Park Arizona February 26, 1919
Grand Teton National Park Wyoming February 26, 1929
Great Basin National Park Nevada October 27, 1986
Great Sand Dunes National Park Colorado September 13, 2004
Great Smoky Mountains National Park North Carolina, Tennessee June 15, 1934
Guadalupe Mountains National Park Texas September 30, 1972
Haleakala National Park Hawaii August 1, 1916
Hawaii Volcanoes National Park Hawaii August 1, 1916
Hot Springs National Park Arkansas March 4, 1921
Indiana Dunes National Park Indiana February 15, 2019
Isle Royale National Park Michigan March 3, 1931
Joshua Tree National Park California October 31, 1994
Katmai National Park Alaska December 2, 1980
Kenai Fjords National Park Alaska December 2, 1980
Kings Canyon National Park California March 4, 1940
Kobuk Valley National Park Alaska December 2, 1980
Lake Clark National Park Alaska December 2, 1980
Lassen Volcanic National Park California August 9, 1916
Mammoth Cave National Park Kentucky July 1, 1941
Mesa Verde National Park Colorado June 29, 1906
Mount Rainier National Park Washington March 2, 1899
New River Gorge National Park West Virginia December 27, 2020
North Cascades National Park Washington October 2, 1968
Olympic National Park Washington June 29, 1938
Petrified Forest National Park Arizona December 9, 1962
Pinnacles National Park California January 10, 2013
Redwood National Park California October 2, 1968
Rocky Mountain National Park Colorado January 26, 1915
Saguaro National Park Arizona October 14, 1994
Sequoia National Park California September 25, 1890
Shenandoah National Park Virginia May 22, 1926
Theodore Roosevelt National Park North Dakota November 10, 1978
Virgin Islands National Park U.S. Virgin Islands August 2, 1956
Voyageurs National Park Minnesota January 8, 1971
White Sands National Park New Mexico December 20, 2019
Wind Cave National Park South Dakota January 9, 1903
Wrangell-St. Elias National Park Alaska December 2, 1980
Yellowstone National Park Idaho, Montana, Wyoming March 1, 1872
Yosemite National Park California October 1, 1890
Zion National Park Utah November 19, 1919

Information About U.S. National Parks

  1. Entrance Fees for National Parks in the USA

    The entry conditions and fees for national parks vary. Some parks have free admission or only charge parking fees. Generally, entry fees are charged per vehicle, covering all occupants. The same applies to motorcycles, while fees per person are typically only collected for pedestrian entry into the park.

    If you plan to visit three or more national parks within 12 months, it is worth purchasing the plastic card America the Beautiful Annual Pass for $80. The card grants free access to all U.S. national parks (and other locations) for 12 months without requiring additional payment at the parks.

    Some national parks require entry reservations for specific dates during the peak season. Conditions vary by park, but the America the Beautiful pass does not cover these reservations.

  2. How Many National Parks Are There in the USA?

    There are 63 national parks in the USA, 14 of which are listed as UNESCO World Heritage Sites, either in whole or as part of larger areas.

    At least one national park is located in 30 U.S. states. California has the most national parks (9), followed by Alaska (8).

  3. What Are the Most Visited National Parks in the USA?

    In 2023, a total of 325.5 million people visited all U.S. national parks. Visitor records were broken in 20 parks.

    According to data from the National Park Service, the most visited parks were the Great Smoky Mountains (13,297,647 visitors), Grand Canyon (4,733,705), Zion (4,623,238), Yellowstone (4,501,382), and Rocky Mountain (4,115,837).

    Conversely, the least visited parks were Gates of the Arctic (11,045 visitors), American Samoa (12,135), Lake Clark (16,728), Kobuk Valley (17,616), and Isle Royale (28,965).

  4. What Is the Oldest National Park in the USA?

    The oldest national park in the USA—and the world—is Yellowstone, established on March 1, 1872. President Ulysses S. Grant signed the act to protect its unique geothermal features for future generations.

    The second-oldest national park in the USA is Sequoia, established on September 25, 1890. President Benjamin Harrison signed the law to protect the giant sequoias, particularly in the Giant Forest area.

    The third-oldest park is Yosemite, founded on October 1, 1890. Its protection focuses on granite cliffs, waterfalls, and ancient sequoias.

  5. What Is the Newest National Park in the USA?

    The newest national park in the USA is New River Gorge, designated on December 27, 2020. President Donald Trump signed the act to protect the gorge, renowned for its scenic beauty and opportunities for rafting and rock climbing.

    The second-newest park is Indiana Dunes, established on February 15, 2019, to protect unique sand dunes and diverse ecosystems along the Lake Michigan shoreline.

    The third-newest park is Gateway Arch, which gained its status on February 22, 2018. The park honors its historical significance and symbolizes westward expansion in the United States.

US National Parks

  1. National Parks of the USA – Map, List and Annual Pass
  2. America the Beautiful Pass 2025 – How It Works, Cost & Parks
  3. Timed-Entry Reservation for US National Parks (2025 GUIDE)

Travel Guides to USA National Parks

Discussion (2)

Why isn’t the Ozark National Scenic Riverways listed?

Odpovědět

@Lorri: Hi Lorri, this is a list of US National Parks. So forests, rivers and other such places are not there. :-)

Odpovědět

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