10 of the Most Popular National Parks in the United States
These 10 most popular national parks in the US feature deep canyons, pointy peaks, and bubbling hot springs.
Soaring mountains, vast canyons, gushing waterfalls and geysers — it’s no wonder these are the 10 most popular national parks in the United States.
We used visitation numbers and annual reports from the National Park Service to find out which of the 63 national parks get the most tourists each year. You can use the list to pick where to go to see some of the most beautiful landscapes in the country. We’ve also included information on how to visit these spots in the low season for an uncrowded national park vacation.
Stretching from the coast of Maine to the canyons of the West, these are some of the country’s greatest treasures.
Top 10 Most Popular National Parks
Great Smoky Mountains National Park
Great Smoky Mountains National Park is a crowd-pleaser along the border of Tennessee and North Carolina with a rolling landscape and epic trails. Free entry and few national parks in this part of the U.S. have kept it in the top spot for decades.
More than 500,000 acres of forests and mountains include parts of the bucket list Appalachian Trail.
Best View: Drive up to Clingmans Dome, the highest point in the park where you can take in views for miles from an observation tower.
When to go: Autumn leaf-peeping season is the prettiest but busy. Consider late spring for fewer crowds.
Here’s the full list of places to stay near Great Smoky Mountains National Park.
Annual visitors: 12,547,743
Grand Canyon National Park
With sections up to 18 miles wide and a mile deep, the Grand Canyon in northern Arizona is unlike anything you will ever see. The Colorado River flows and cuts through layers of orange and rust-colored rock creating breathtaking scenes from the north and south rims.
You can casually take in the views along easy rim trails or by riding free park shuttles that stop at designated lookouts. Adventurers will want to step down into the canyon on hiking trails that lead all the way to the floor, where campgrounds and a hard to book lodge await.
Must-do: Catch a sunset or sunrise from viewpoints along Hermit Road.
When to go: Visit in early spring or fall for cooler weather and fewer people.
Annual visitors: 5,974,411
Rocky Mountain National Park
Just 70 miles from Denver, Rocky Mountain National Park has some 350 miles of hiking trails surrounded by forests, lakes, alpine tundra and snow-capped peaks.
Amongst the resident mammals here, you might spot elk, black bears, moose and bighorn sheep, sometimes right by the road.
Best drive: Trail Ridge Road takes you to an elevation of 12,000 feet with overlooks to stop and soak up the panoramas.
When to go: Summer and fall are the most crowded, so try late spring for wildflowers and warm sun after the snow clears from trails and roads.
Annual visitors: 4,670,053
These are the best places to stay near Rocky Mountain National Park
Zion National Park
Zion National Park is a gem in southern Utah, with a huge canyon to hike and explore. Driving into the park on the Zion-Mount Carmel Highway, you’ll zig-zag all the way down to the canyon floor.
Hiking is the top thing to do here, either along rims and ridges for views of pink and red cliffs, or at the bottom for rivers and waterfalls surrounded by soaring rock walls.
Best hike: The Narrows is a one-of-a-kind hike through the Virgin River as the walls of the canyon close in. The Riverside Walk gives a sneak peek with a much easier path on dry land.
When to go: Avoid May through September unless you want to contend with big crowds. Spring and fall can be chilly but great for hiking.
Annual visitors: 4,488,268
Yosemite National Park
The most popular of California’s nine national parks, Yosemite is well known for its granite mountains, waterfalls and valley vistas. Hiking, climbing the Half Dome, and hunting down cascades like Bridalveil Falls and Yosemite Falls are some of the top things to do.
There are 750 miles of trails here and even more designated wilderness, so it’s easy to get away from the crowds if you avoid the most popular spots.
Best view: The Tunnel View overlook has a picture-perfect scene of the Yosemite Valley with granite peaks on each side and Bridalveil Fall flowing 620 feet down.
When to go: June through September is the busiest time. Come in spring when the waterfalls are gushing and crowds are a bit lighter.
Annual visitors: 4,422,861
Yellowstone National Park
Yellowstone was the first national park in the U.S. and is famous for its volcanic hot spots like Grand Prismatic Spring and the Old Faithful geyser, which erupts regularly throughout the day. Boardwalks and trails lead to other hydrothermal features like mud pots and hot springs.
With about 3,500 square miles of parklands primarily in Wyoming, you can also discover thermal basins, lakes and canyons and spot resident bison and antelope. Use this 4 days in Yellowstone itinerary to plan your trip.
Underrated activity: The thermal basin steals the show, but there are also tons of lakes here for boating if you have enough time.
When to go: Summer is busiest with the best weather, so try early fall and spring to avoid snow and crowds. Winter wolf watching is a fun alternative, too.
Annual visitors: 4,020,288
Acadia National Park
Dramatic cliffs and headlands drop into the sea at Acadia National Park on northern Maine’s Mount Desert Island. Summits like Cadillac Mountain offer sweeping views while rocky beaches have tidal pools and coastal hikes.
More than 150 miles of trails stretch from sea to summit, through forests and beside lakes, and another 70-plus miles of historic and carriage roads are perfect for fall foliage hunting. This is one of the best national parks on the east coast of the U.S. and makes a great Boston to Maine road trip destination.
Must see: The Bass Harbor Head Lighthouse from the 1800s with sea cliffs dropping below.
When to go: Summer for the warm weather, fall for leaf peeping, and spring for lighter crowds.
Annual visitors: 3,437,286
Grand Teton National Park
Grand Teton National Park pairs perfectly with Yellowstone, as it sits just south of the famed landscape in Wyoming. This road trip includes Yellowstone and Grand Teton. The Teton range juts up in perfect pointy peaks here that are reflected in rivers and lakes around the park.
Famous views from Schwabacher Landing, Inspiration Point and Mormon Row are a favorite with photographers. More than 200 miles of trails lead up mountains, through canyons and to lakes while waterways like the Snake River and Jenny Lake are open for boating, floating and kayaking.
Best photo spot: There are tons to choose from but Schwabacher Landing is perfect for capturing the mountains and trees reflected in Snake River when the water is calm.
When to go: Fall is lighter on crowds than summer and resident wildlife like bison, moose and elk are active.
Annual visitors: 3,405,614
Here’s how to spend 3 days in Jackson Hole and Grand Teton National Park
Olympic National Park
The Olympic Peninsula on the Pacific coast of northern Washington State holds this national park known for its mountains and rainforests.
Spanning nearly 1 million acres, the park offers hiking trails that lead to beaches and tide pools, up mountains for sweeping views, and through forests to waterfalls and rivers. Coastal waterways and lakes are also available for boating and canoeing.
Must-do: Watch the sunset behind the sea stacks at driftwood-filled Ruby Beach.
When to go: Summer has the best weather but try late spring or early fall for fewer people. Just expect cloudy, foggy and rainy conditions.
Annual visitors: 3,245,806
Glacier National Park
The Rocky Mountains of northern Montana are the star in Glacier National Park, where more than 700 miles of trails traverse wildflower meadows, turquoise lakes and snow-capped peaks.
Much of the action is along the 50-mile Going-to-the-Sun Road, which cuts through forests and traces the edge of mountains for epic views. Along the way, you can pull over at lookouts and picnic spots, spy bighorn sheep and mountain goats, get up close to glaciers, and hop out for hikes.
Best drive: Going-to-the-Sun Road is the main route through the park for scenic drives. It typically opens for the season after the snow is cleared by late June or early July and closes around mid-October.
When to go: Summer is by far the busiest since roads close during the snowy seasons. Try shoulder months like June and October for lighter crowds.
Annual visitors: 3,049,839
