When considering iconic US landscapes, many people envision the most-visited major national parks.
As someone who has visited all 10 of them, they're all worth seeing — but I still have my favorites.
Great Smoky Mountains came in last due to the crowds, but Grand Teton was my favorite to visit.
After visiting 59 of the 63 major United States national parks, it's easy to see how each earned the prestigious designation — which makes picking favorites feel wrong. Each park is unique in its own way, with incredible diversity and sights that are well worth visiting.
The top 10 most-visited national parks are no exception. These parks, which saw visitation between about 2.5 million and over 13 million people in 2023, are likely what most people envision when they think of a US national park.
With national park visitation on the rise, I'm often asked which of the most-popular parks are my favorites. Although I enjoyed my time in all of the most-visited parks, there are some I'd visit again over others. Here's how I'd rank them.
Joshua Tree National Park is uniquely beautiful, but it can get overly hot.
The word "otherwordly" gets thrown around a lot in travel writing, but California's Joshua Tree National Park — the ninth most-visited park — is one of the few places I think truly lives up to the moniker.
This park has a unique feel, from the unique Joshua trees and the cholla cacti to the fascinating geology and boulders.
The only reason it's ninth on my list is that the park and surrounding area have become very popular in the past several years. This has made accommodations more expensive and the park more crowded than I'd like.
It's also dangerously hot in the summer months, reaching over 100 degrees Fahrenheit during the day.
Yellowstone is worth making the trip to Wyoming or Montana for — but beware of the crowds.
Yellowstone is undoubtedly legendary. As the first designated national park in the US, it's on most people's travel bucket list — for a good reason. However, it feels very crowded as the fourth most-visited park in 2023, with many visiting the same geothermal sights.
Although I'll stop to see Old Faithful erupt on every visit, I'd be lying if I said it wasn't a bit annoying to jockey for a parking space in the summer and be stuck in traffic when trying to get outdoors.
Zion National Park is beautiful, but I prefer visiting some of Utah's other parks.
Zion National Park isn't the park I'd expect to be the third-most visited, even with its dramatic and awe-inspiring landscapes.
The Utah park is famous on social media for the Angel's Landing hike, which requires a permit and includes dangerously steep dropoffs and exposed edges.
Although its proximity to Las Vegas makes it an easier trip than many of the state's four other major national parks, the crowds can be overwhelming. For that reason, I'd prefer to visit other Utah parks like Capitol Reef or Canyonlands.
The Grand Canyon needs to be seen in person.
Arizona's Grand Canyon National Park is a place you must see to believe. The steep-sided canyon is more massive than any photo could convey.
The second most-visited park has fascinating history and geology, ample hiking opportunities, and viewpoints perfect for staring in awe.
Despite being the first stop on my solo national park quest nearly a decade ago — and having visited over a half dozen times since then — it's not higher on my list simply due to the crowds.
Olympic National Park is easily one of my favorites.
Although Washington's Olympic National Park barely made the list of the top 10 most-visited parks in 2023, it's consistently one of my top-five favorites.
The diverse landscapes are mind-boggling, from the quiet and lush Hoh Rainforest to the dramatic waves on the coast and the high-elevation alpine of the Hurricane Ridge mountains.
Even as one of the most-visited parks, Rocky Mountain doesn't feel as crowded as others.
As a resident of Colorado, I may be biased, but in my opinion, Rocky Mountain National Park will forever be one of the most stunning places in the world.
Whether I'm driving along Trail Ridge Road, hiking the popular Bear Lake Corridor, or heading into some of the less-visited areas of the park, there is nothing quite like the mountain majesty you experience here.
As the fifth most-visited national park, it's always near the top of the list for visitors. But with its large size of 415 square miles and timed vehicle entry reservation system, it doesn't tend to feel as crowded as some of the other parks with similar visitation.
Maine’s Acadia National Park offers lots of unique experiences.
Although Maine's Acadia National Park can get crowded, the beauty is still worth the hassle to me.
Watching the sunrise or sunset from atop the summit of Cadillac Mountain or hiking the Ocean Path Trail sets Acadia apart from other parks.
From driving the Park Loop Road and biking the carriage roads to stopping at Jordan Pond House for its famous popovers and prosecco, this park is simply magical at every turn.
To get away from the crowds, I love visiting the Schoodic Peninsula area of the park and getting out on the water on a tour boat.
Yosemite National Park never fails to inspire me with its unparalleled beauty.
Yosemite Valley in Yosemite National Park is a place that brings me to tears every time I visit. The dramatic granite cliff faces, towering waterfalls, and giant sequoia trees are awe-inspiring.
Beyond the valley, the California park offers lots of activities like hiking and rock climbing, drawing millions of visitors annually. However, to mitigate some of the crowding, the park uses a timed-entry system during certain parts of the year.
Despite being a popular park, I'll still happily return to this magical landscape.
Grand Teton National Park is my favorite.
I always hesitate to name Wyoming's Grand Teton National Park my favorite and draw even more visitors. Although it's the eighth most-visited national park, it's never felt unmanageably crowded in the over a dozen times I've visited.
The jagged peaks are unlike any other mountain range I've seen, and the wildlife, lakes, and proximity to Jackson make it one of my favorite national parks to visit.
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