Snow-covered mountains, dense forests, explosive geysers, pristine coastlines – the most popular national parks in the USA offer nature lovers everything their hearts desire. Come with us on a journey to the ten most visited parks in 2021 and be impressed by America's incredible diversity.
With around 14.1 million visitors annually, the Great Smoky Mountains in the border region of North Carolina and Tennessee are by far the most popular national park in the USA! Its misty mountain landscapes will enchant you with vibrant colors and breathtaking viewpoints. On endless hiking trails, you will cross dense forest areas and reach rushing waterfalls. An absolute must-do for a vacation on the US East Coast!
| Great Smoky Mountains National Park facts | |
|---|---|
| Visitors: | 14.1 million |
| Opening hours: | 365 days a year, In winter, some roads, campgrounds, and the visitor center are closed. |
| Entrance: | Free |
| Tour tips: | Explore these Great Smoky Mountains National Park Hiking Tours |
Utah is the perfect state for adventurers and outdoor enthusiasts, featuring five spectacular national parks. Zion, the most visited of Utah's "Mighty Five," welcomes you with bright red sandstone rock towers, steep canyons, and deep gorges. However, you'll have to earn the best view of Zion Canyon and the Virgin River by following a challenging hiking trail up to the Angels Landing viewpoint. The magnificent panorama will more than reward you for your efforts!
| Zion National Park facts | |
|---|---|
| Visitors: | 5 million |
| Opening hours: | 365 days a year |
| Entrance: | Car (7 days) $ 35, Motorcycle (7 days) $ 30, On foot / bicycle (7 days) $ 20 |
| Tour tips: | Adventurous Zion National Park Tours |
Yellowstone, the oldest national park in the world, recently celebrated its 150th birthday. The landscape, which stretches across the states of Wyoming, Idaho, and Montana, is a truly unique natural phenomenon. Yellowstone National Park sits atop a vast magma chamber that feeds explosive geysers like Old Faithful and dazzling thermal lakes like Grand Prismatic Spring. Also, you can expect rushing waterfalls, jagged peaks, dense forests, and rich wildlife with bison, bears, elk, wolves, and many more.
| Yellowstone National Park facts | |
|---|---|
| Visitors: | 4.9 million |
| Opening hours: | 365 days a year, During the winter season, only the north and northeast entrances are open. |
| Entrance: | Car (7 days) $ 35, Motorcycle / snowmobile (7 days) $ 30, On foot / bicycle (7 days) $ 20 |
| Tour tips: | Fascinating Yellowstone National Park Tours |
The mighty Grand Canyon is breathtaking from every angle! Over a length of 365 km, it cuts up to 1.6 km deep through the US state of Arizona. Along the huge canyon, you will find a number of spectacular panorama viewpoints and hidden paradises like the turquoise blue Havasu waterfalls.
If you're looking for a bit of a thrill, you can go rafting on the rapids of the Colorado River or dare to go on the Skywalk, through whose see-through glass floor you can look down on the canyon at dizzying depths.
| Grand Canyon National Park facts | |
|---|---|
| Visitors: | 4.5 million |
| Opening hours: | 365 days a year |
| Entrance: | Car (7 days) $ 35, Motorcycle $ 30, On foot / bicycle (7 days) $ 20 |
| Tour tips: | Spectacular Grand Canyon National Park Tours |
Rocky Mountain National Park stretches across northern Colorado in the middle of the most famous mountain range in the United States. If you're looking for adventure in the great outdoors, you'll enjoy hiking, horseback riding, fishing, and camping among dense pine forests, wild streams, and snow-covered tundra.
Rocky Mountain is also one of the best national parks in the USA for wildlife observation. You will encounter numerous different species of wild animals such as wapitis, elk, mouflon, grizzly bears, and bison during your explorations.
| Rocky Mountain National Park facts | |
|---|---|
| Visitors: | 4.4 million |
| Opening hours: | 365 days a year |
| Entrance: | Car (1 day) $ 25, Car (7 days) $ 35, Motorcycle / snowmobile (1 day) $ 25, Motorcycle / snowmobile (7 days) $ 30, On foot / bicycle (1 day) $ 15 |
| Tour tips: | Challenging tours to explore the Rocky Mountain National Park |
The only national park in the New England states, Acadia, is located almost entirely on Mount Desert Island off the coast of Maine. Acadia National Park features a diverse natural environment of coniferous forests, granite peaks, shimmering lakes, and rugged coastlines. Hike to Mount Cadillac, the highest point on the US East Coast, and observe the island's unique wildlife, including black bears, coyotes, chipmunks, beavers, and grey seals.
| Acadia National Park facts | |
|---|---|
| Visitors: | 4 million |
| Opening hours: | 365 days a year, In winter, some areas and facilities are closed. |
| Entrance: | Car (7 days) $ 30, Motorcycle (7 days) $ 25, On foot / bicycle (7 days) $ 15 |
| Tour tips: | Great tours to experience the Acadia National Park |
Majestically, the Teton mountain range towers more than 2,000 m above the Wyoming Valley. The Grand Teton National Park was founded around the unique mountain range with its blue-white glaciers and fabulous lakes, which directly adjoins Yellowstone National Park in western Wyoming.
A 300-kilometer network of trails takes you along the shores of the Snake River and Jackson Lake into the lowlands of Jackson Hole. Here, highlights like America's most photographed barn, T. A. Moulton Barn, and the huge wapiti herds of the National Elk Refuge await you .
| Grand Teton National Park facts | |
|---|---|
| Visitors: | 3.9 million |
| Opening hours: | 365 days a year |
| Entrance: | Car (7 days) $ 35, Motorcycle (7 days) $ 30, On foot / bicycle (7 days) $ 20 |
| Tour tips: | Grand Teton National Park Tours |
Yosemite National Park in eastern California is a hiker's and climber's paradise filled with striking rock formations, beautiful waterfalls, and giant redwoods. Head to Yosemite Valley, where Tunnel View is one of America's most famous postcard views – the Merced River framed by the granite cliffs of Half Dome, El Capitan, and Three Brothers.
A unique natural phenomenon awaits you in the winter months: it is when Horsetail Fall, known as the “Firefall,” glows in red, yellow, and orange, creating the illusion of liquid gold cascading into the depths.
| Yosemite National Park facts | |
|---|---|
| Visitors: | 3.3 million |
| Opening hours: | 365 days a year |
| Entrance: | Car (7 days) $ 35, Motorcycle (7 days) $ 30, On foot / bicycle (7 days) $ 20 |
| Tour tips: | Unique tours to explore the Yosemite National Park |
The Indiana Dunes National Park is one of the most visited national parks in the USA thanks to its towering sand dunes, spreading over a length of 24 km along the shore of Lake Michigan and towering up to 60 m in some areas. Whether hiking, horseback riding, snowshoeing, or spotting rare bird species, Indiana's only national park will never fail to impress you.
| Indiana Dunes National Park facts | |
|---|---|
| Visitors: | 3.2 million |
| Opening hours: | 365 days a year |
| Entrance: | Car (7 days) $ 25, Motorcycle (7 days) $ 20, On foot / bicycle (7 days) $ 15 |
| Tour tips: | Enjoy the scenery with these Chicago Water Tours |
To see the breathtaking landscapes of Glacier National Park, you'll need to head to Montana's northernmost region just across the Canadian border. Take a rental car and travel the Going to the Sun Road and Logan Pass to reach gorgeous mountain lakes like Two Medicine Lake, Bowman Lake, and Hidden Lake. Against a background of majestic peaks like Mount Cleaveland, Mount Oberlin, and Kintla Peak, you'll find Glacier National Park an ideal terrain for hiking, climbing, or fly fishing.
| Glacier National Park facts | |
|---|---|
| Visitors: | 3.1 million |
| Opening hours: | 365 days a year, Due to weather conditions, there are very limited services and partly closed roads in winter. |
| Entrance: | Car (7 days, summer) $ 35, Car (7 days, winter) $ 25, Motorcycle (7 days, summer) $ 30, Motorcycle (7 days, winter) $ 20, On foot / bicycle (7 days, summer) $ 20, On foot / bicycle (7 days, winter) $ 15 |
| Tour tips: | Breathtaking Glacier National Park tours |
After your trips to the 10 most visited national parks in the USA, you're longing for a bit more peace and quiet? No problem, we have the perfect insider tip for you. Isle Royal National Park on Michigan's Upper Peninsula offers you a stark contrast to the hustle and bustle of the more popular parks.
Only about 26,000 people visit the remote Isle Royal National Park each year, which you can only reach by ferry or plane. The journey is worth it, though, as Isle Royal is a great place to explore the pristine nature and dramatic shorelines of Lake Superior in tranquility by kayak or on a hike.
| Isle Royal National Park facts | |
|---|---|
| Visitors: | 26,000 |
| Opening hours: | Open from April 16th to October 31st |
| Entrance: | Per day per person $ 7 |
The United States has a total of 63 spectacular national parks. Although they are not among the most visited parks, you should not miss the Everglades and Death Valley if you want to see unique landscapes that exist only once in the whole world.
Everglades National Park at the southern tip of Florida is a biodiverse wetland that sits on the border of freshwater and saltwater. While enjoying year-round tropical temperatures, you can explore the spectacular nature of the Everglades in one of the iconic hovercrafts.
Death Valley National Park regularly records the highest air temperatures in the United States. The surreal desert landscape in southwestern California is also the driest and lowest point in the USA and has many mysterious natural phenomena to offer.
You are not only a nature lover but also interested in America's urban highlights? Check out the 10 most livable cities in the USA or the 10 tallest buildings in the United States!
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