National Park Guide

My guide to every national park I’ve visited…

Welcome to my National Park Guide! Here, you can find a map of the 63 American national parks. Those in green are the ones I’ve visited. Scroll down to find my ranking and score of the national parks I’ve visited.

Ranking Every National Park I’ve Visited…

So far, I’ve been to 32 of the 63 American national parks. While my experiences in each park have varied wildly, each park has created equally memorable journeys. The scores listed below summarize my reviews of the parks, which can be found on that park’s webpage. Click the images to learn more about the parks!

Yosemite

Score: 29 / 30

Located in California’s Sierra Nevada Mountains, Yosemite is one of the most iconic and incredible national parks. The park’s massive granite rock formations are breathtaking and provide ample rock-climbing opportunity, and its varied landscapes allow chances to hike, swim, kayak, sightsee, view wildlife, and explore.

Rocky Mountain

Score: 28 / 30

Colorado’s Rocky Mountain National Park is – understandably – one of the most popular national parks in the country. Though crowds can be a burden here, the park’s incredible scenery, abundant wildlife, endless amount of recreation opportunities, and close proximity to major cities make it one of the best national parks.

Olympic

Score: 27.5 / 30

Nestled within the Olympic Peninsula in western Washington, Olympic is a haven for beautiful landscapes, varied activities, impressive biodiversity, and bountiful wildlife. The park is hard to reach, but those who make the journey will be rewarded with days to weeks of adventure.

Great Smoky Mountains

Score: 27 / 30

Shared by Tennessee and North Carolina, Great Smoky Mountains is the most visited national park. While crowds can hinder the experience, those with even a slight urge for adventure can escape those crowds on the park’s hundreds of miles of trails. The park’s backcountry offers unparalleled natural beauty and exciting wildlife.

Mount Rainier

Score: 26.5 / 30

Washington’s flagship national park is as impressive up close as it is from Seattle. The park is teeming with opportunities to hike, climb mountains, and view wildlife, not to mention explore the highest peak in the Cascade Range.

Big Bend

Score: 26 / 30

Located in Texas, one of the most remote national parks in the contiguous 48 states is also one of the most impressive. Supreme isolation, endless views of mind-boggling landscapes, fun hikes, and a surprising concentration of wildlife make Big Bend worth the long drive required to reach it.

Everglades

Score: 26 / 30

While the park isn’t as packed with activities as others on this list, Florida’s Everglades is notable for its unbelievable biodiversity and opportunities to view fascinating and unique wildlife. The park is easy to access and offers activities for visitors at any age, skill level, or physical condition.

Grand Canyon

Score: 26 / 30

One of the most famous natural wonders in the world is a marvel to behold. Arizona’s Grand Canyon is a hiker’s and backpacker’s paradise, while also offering rafting and sightseeing opportunities and plenty of amenities along the rim to keep people of all shapes and sizes happy. Just be prepared to deal with the crowds.

Zion

Score: 25.5 / 30

Utah’s Zion is an iconic and grand demonstration of the way erosion can create dramatic and colorful landscapes. The park has many memorable hikes and rock climbing opportunities, but loses points due to the huge crowds that have begun to burden the park in recent years.

Channel Islands

Score: 25 / 30

This national park protects five of California’s eight Channel Islands. The islands are a haven for marine wildlife, endemic land species, a huge number of sea caves, a beautiful night sky, and blissful isolation from the mainland. Though hard to reach and explore, the park offers an experience like no other.

Kings Canyon

Score: 25 / 30

Even though I visited Kings Canyon at the height of California’s 2020 wildfire season, it still left an impression on me. Its natural beauty rivals that of nearby Yosemite and contains challenging hikes and must-see attractions.

New River Gorge

Score: 24.5 / 30

West Virginia’s New River Gorge contains some of Appalachia’s most beautiful landscapes. The deep canyon carved by the park’s namesake river offers whitewater rafting, rock climbing, and hiking. The New River Gorge Bridge and a collection of defunct mining facilities create a unique historical layer to the park.

Badlands

Score: 24 / 30

Often overlooked, South Dakota’s Badlands is an otherworldly landscape that is sure to leave an impression on even the most skeptical visitors. The park features opportunities to hike, sightsee, and view uncanny wildlife.

Great Sand Dunes

Score: 23.5 / 30

This bizarre national park in southern Colorado protects a massive dunefield at the base of the Sangre de Cristo Range. The dunefield and surrounding mountains offer plenty to see and do, and the park encompasses some of Colorado’s finest alpine wilderness.

Joshua Tree

Score: 23 / 30

Located in southern California, Joshua Tree is a paradise for boulderers and traditional rock climbers. Non-climbers will find enjoyment in observing the park’s bizarre landscape, scrambling up huge rock piles, and exploring its vast wilderness.

Arches

Score: 22.5 / 30

Arches’ otherworldly landscapes contain thousands of red sandstone arches. Utah’s famous Delicate Arch and other impressive formations are scattered throughout the park. The park provides many memorable hikes that are sure to captivate visitors throughout their visit.

Dry Tortugas

Score: 22 / 30

Sitting 70 miles west of Key West in Florida, Dry Tortugas is seldom-visited due to its inaccessibility and remoteness. However, those that trek to the park will discover beautiful blue-green waters, fascinating history, pristine tropical landscapes, colorful marine wildlife, and an unforgettable experience.

North Cascades

Score: 22 / 30

Washington’s least-visited national park is difficult to access because there are no paved roads leading into the park. Except for one unpaved road, reaching the park’s borders requires a significant amount of hiking. Once there, however, visitors will find plentiful backpacking trails and views that rival Switzerland’s Alps.

Bryce Canyon

Score: 21.5 / 30

Bryce Canyon is a mind-boggling example of the way erosion can carve unique structures into a landscape. The park’s famous hoodoos, vibrant colors, and gorgeous overlooks make for an exciting visit. While there’s not much to do in the park, it’s a memorable place to visit and is the most visually stunning of Utah’s Mighty Five.

Carlsbad Caverns

Score: 21.5 / 30

Hidden under the unassuming Chihuahuan Desert in New Mexico, Carlsbad Caverns contains a plethora of caves to explore. Its namesake cavern – the most easy to access – is a stunning show cave that will be difficult to forget.

Wind Cave

Score: 21 / 30

Since I visited during the pandemic, I was not able to see this national park’s namesake cave. However, its surface still features a beautiful example of South Dakota’s wilderness, which includes many hikes in addition to chances to see bison and prairie dogs.

Pinnacles

Score: 20.5 / 30

Without much to do, Pinnacles is often overshadowed by California’s more impressive national parks. However, the park is still an exciting excursion on its own merits. Within the park’s borders, visitors can find its intriguing namesake rock spires, multiple hiking trails, and a plethora of wildlife.

Guadalupe Mountains

Score: 20 / 30

Located just thirty minutes from the nearby Carlsbad Caverns, Guadalupe Mountains sits in a remote part of west Texas. The park includes challenging hiking trails in addition to some stellar scenery.

Mammoth Cave

Score: 19.5 / 30

Visitors to Kentucky’s Mammoth Cave may be surprised by the existence of a massive network of underground tunnels tucked away under an ordinary forest. The cave is undoubtedly impressive, and the numerous tours offered in the park allow visitors to explore its many facets and corridors.

Biscayne

Score: 18 / 30

Located on Florida’s coast just south of Miami, Biscayne is made up of mostly water. Those looking to snorkel or dive within the park will find beautiful coral reefs, historic shipwrecks, tropical wildlife, and mangrove-lined shores.

Petrified Forest

Score: 17.5 / 30

Arizona’s Petrified Forest features a collection of petrified wood strewn across a diverse landscape filled with colorful mesas. The park also contains historic pueblos, a portion of historic Route 66, and the beautiful Painted Desert. Though beautiful, the lack of activities, escapism, or wildlife in the park is a little frustrating.

Cuyahoga Valley

Score: 17 / 30

Ohio’s Cuyahoga Valley is located near Cleveland. While the park is easily accessible and offers plenty of relaxing activities, it comes at the cost of being in close proximity and sharing much of its land with civilization, making it feel like a state or municipal park.

White Sands

Score: 16.5 / 30

New Mexico’s White Sands contains part of the largest gypsum dunefield in the world. The dunes are undoubtedly a wonder to behold, but once visitors take in the views and complete a couple of short hikes, they will likely be ready to move on.

Mesa Verde

Score: 16 / 30

Situated near the Four Corners area, Mesa Verde in Colorado contains a massive amount of cliff dwellings. The park offers several guided tours, hikes, and educational opportunities, but its activities and landscapes quickly start to feel repetitive.

Indiana Dunes

Score: 15.5 / 30

A recent addition to the national park roster, Indiana Dunes is located on the shores of Lake Michigan. The park’s biodiversity and namesake dunes are fun to explore, but it’s hard to escape the sights, sounds, and smells of nearby civilization and a massive port that sits in the middle of the park.

Hot Springs

Score: 13 / 30

Located in rural Arkansas, Hot Springs is an oddball in the National Park System. While it contains some forests and hiking trails, its primary attraction is a row of historic bathhouses situated in a busy city. It is certainly the best national park for a spa day.

Gateway Arch

Score: 9.5 / 30

While Gateway Arch’s namesake centerpiece is impressive and iconic, it makes little sense why the small park was dubbed a “national park” in 2018. The park is entirely manmade and located in the middle of downtown St. Louis, Missouri.