From iconic canyon views and glacier-carved valleys to ancient caves, mountain roads, coastal trails, and crystal-blue lakes, America’s national parks offer some of the most unforgettable vacation experiences in the country. These 10 national parks highlight an incredible range of landscapes and trip styles, whether you’re planning a scenic road trip through Shenandoah National Park, a first-time visit to Grand Canyon National Park, a cave tour at Mammoth Cave National Park, or a bucket-list adventure in Yellowstone, Yosemite, Glacier, Olympic, Crater Lake, Bryce Canyon, or Acadia. Use the handy NPS app and our helpful planning tips to discover what to do, how to get there, the best time to visit, and what to know before your next national park getaway.
Yellowstone National Park (Montana & Wyoming)
Yellowstone National Park is perhaps the quintessential American park. It became the country's (and the world's) first national park on March 1, 1872. Today, it offers hiking trails, fishing streams, and scenic driving routes across nearly 3,500 square miles of wilderness atop a geothermic hot spot. It’s also home to an abundance of wildlife, from timber wolves and American bison to grizzly bears and bald eagles—making it an unbeatable destination for photographers and anyone with a love for the outdoors.
Know Before You Go
- Top things to do: Watch Old Faithful erupt, explore the Upper and Midway Geyser Basins, see Grand Prismatic Spring, visit the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone, drive through Hayden or Lamar Valley for wildlife viewing, and stop at Yellowstone Lake or Mammoth Hot Springs.
- How to get there: Yellowstone has five main entrances. Popular gateways include Gardiner, Cody, and Jackson, with the South Entrance offering a natural connection to nearby Grand Teton National Park.
- Best time to visit: Summer offers the most road access, services, and ranger programs, while spring and fall bring fewer crowds and strong wildlife viewing. Winter is beautiful, but access is extremely limited.
- Tips for first-time visitors: Yellowstone is huge, so focus on one or two regions per day. Always stay on boardwalks near thermal areas, never approach wildlife, and use pullouts instead of stopping in traffic. Also, consider pairing your trip with the Grand Tetons for an epic double feature.
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Shenandoah National Park – Virginia
A land of cascading waterfalls and wooded hollows, Shenandoah National Park encompasses 200,000 acres in Virginia's Blue Ridge Mountains. The park's rolling mountains attract hikers, mountain bikers and rock climbers from all over the world. Discover Shenandoah with a Blue Ridge Parkway road trip, a 469-mile scenic route that follows the crest of the mountains and ends at the Skyline Drive into the park.
Know Before You Go
- Top things to do: Take a trip on Skyline Drive, hike to waterfalls like Dark Hollow Falls or Rose River Falls, take in Blue Ridge Mountain overlooks, spot wildlife, or challenge yourself on Old Rag Mountain.
- How to get there: Shenandoah National Park is about 75 miles from Washington, D.C., with four main entrances along Skyline Drive, including Front Royal, Thornton Gap, Swift Run Gap, and Rockfish Gap.
- Best time to visit: Spring brings wildflowers and waterfalls, while fall is popular for colorful foliage along Skyline Drive. Summer offers full access but can get crowded at trailheads.
- Tips for first-time visitors: Start with Skyline Drive for the easiest introduction to the park. Check road conditions before arriving, bring layers and water, and reserve an Old Rag day-use ticket if that hike is on your list.
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Bryce Canyon National Park – Utah
There is no place in the world quite like Bryce Canyon National Park. In the arid Utah desert, this park's otherworldly landscape is dominated by spire-like hoodoos—towering rock formations sculpted by eons of erosion—that cast their eerie shadows across the land. Bryce Canyon is also home to some of the darkest, clearest night skies in the United States, making it perfect for stargazing.
Know Before You Go
- Top things to do: See the hoodoos from Sunrise Point, Sunset Point, Inspiration Point and Bryce Point, hike the Queen’s Garden and Navajo Loop combination, take a scenic drive, or stay after dark for stargazing.
- How to get there: Bryce Canyon National Park is in southern Utah near Bryce Canyon City, about 20 miles from Panguitch, a convenient hub for road trips through the region. Most visitors arrive via Highway 12 and 63.
- Best time to visit: Spring and fall is best for comfortable hiking weather and smaller crowds. Summer is busy but ideal for ranger programs, while winter offers snowy canyon views.
- Tips for first-time visitors: Use the park shuttle during busy months, especially for amphitheater viewpoints. Bring sun protection, layers, and sturdy shoes. Consider pairing your visit with nearby national parks like Zion or Capitol Reef.
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Acadia National Park – Maine
The rock-strewn beaches and glacier-sculpted peaks of Maine's Mount Desert Island feel like they belong to another world. This diverse landscape is now protected as Acadia National Park. Yet for all its seeming isolation, this gorgeous national park couldn't be easier to get to with Bar Harbor just a few miles away. For the park's best view, hike to the top of Cadillac Mountain, the highest peak on the Atlantic Coast.
Know Before You Go
- Top things to do: Drive Park Loop Road, head to the top of Cadillac Mountain, walk Ocean Path, see Thunder Hole, explore Jordan Pond, hike the many trails, or bike carriage roads.
- How to get there: Acadia National Park is on Maine’s Mount Desert Island near Bar Harbor, and just 40 miles from Bangor. Most visitors arrive via U.S. Route 1 and Maine Route 3.
- Best time to visit: Late spring through fall is the most popular season, with summer offering full access and fall bringing colorful foliage. Winter is quieter, but many roads and facilities are limited.
- Tips for first-time visitors: Reserve Cadillac Summit Road access if you plan to drive to the top during the reservation season. Start early, use the Island Explorer shuttle when available, and plan extra time for parking.
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Crater Lake National Park – Oregon
Beautiful Crater Lake National Park is home to one of the deepest and clearest lakes in the world, formed inside the collapsed summit of an ancient volcano. Its intense blue water, steep caldera walls, and views of Wizard Island make it one of the most striking landscapes in the Pacific Northwest. Visitors can drive Rim Drive in season, hike forest and summit trails, or take a boat tour to Wizard Island when lake access and seasonal operations allow.
Know Before You Go
- Top things to do: Take a trip along Scenic Rim Drive, admire spectacular lake views from Rim Village, hike to informative overlooks, visit Watchman Peak, take a trolley or boat tour when in season, or descend Cleetwood Cove Trail for lake access when open.
- How to get there: Crater Lake National Park is in southern Oregon. Most visitors arrive by car from Medford and Klamath Falls, with road access varying by season.
- Best time to visit: Summer and early fall offer the best access to Rim Drive, hiking trails and boat tours. Winter brings heavy snow and a much more limited park experience.
- Tips for first-time visitors: Check road conditions before arriving, since snow can close roads and facilities well into summer. Services are limited the closer you get to the park. Bring layers, sun protection and water, and plan ahead if you want to reach the lake.
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Yosemite National Park – California
From ancient, towering sequoia to the iconic profiles of El Capitan and Half Dome, Yosemite National Park is easily one of America's most iconic national parks. If you love the outdoors, Yosemite is one big playground, home to enough hiking trails to keep you busy for a lifetime. Go rock climbing at Tuolumne Meadows, kayak on the Merced River, fish in the park's high mountain lakes and ride horseback in Yosemite Valley—the possibilities are endless.
Know Before You Go
- Top things to do: See El Capitan and Half Dome in Yosemite Valley, visit Yosemite Falls, walk among giant sequoias in Mariposa Grove, drive to Glacier Point when open, or hike trails for every skill level.
- How to get there: Yosemite is reached by several California highways, including routes through Mariposa, Oakhurst, Groveland, and Lee Vining. Yosemite Valley is accessible by car year-round, conditions permitting.
- Best time to visit: Spring is best for waterfalls, while summer brings broader road and trail access. Fall offers fewer crowds. Winter can be beautiful, but weather limits access to higher elevation areas.
- Tips for first-time visitors: Arrive before peak hours to reduce traffic delays, check current road and reservation requirements, store food properly to protect bears, and use shuttles when available in Yosemite Valley.
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Glacier National Park – Montana
Montana's Glacier National Park puts the glacier-carved peaks of the Rocky Mountains on vivid display. During your journey through the park, you can explore hidden mountain lakes, picnic in vast alpine meadows and drive the high-elevation Going-to-the-Sun Road across the spine of the Rockies. One of the least developed parks in the lower 48 states, the majority of the park is miles from the nearest man-made structure or road—so plan your visit accordingly!
Know Before You Go
- Top things to do: Drive Going-to-the-Sun Road, hike to alpine lakes and overlooks, explore Many Glacier, visit Lake McDonald, look for wildlife, or take in mountain views from Logan Pass when open.
- How to get there: Glacier National Park is in northwest Montana, with west-side access near West Glacier and east-side access near St. Mary. Many visitors use Kalispell or Whitefish as gateway bases.
- Best time to visit: Summer offers the best chance for full road and trail access, especially along Going-to-the-Sun Road. Late spring and fall are quieter, but far more weather-dependent.
- Tips for first-time visitors: Check road status and current entry requirements before arriving, since snow and construction can affect access. Start early, bring layers, and allow extra time for traffic, shuttles and scenic stops. Services are very limited the closer you get to the park.
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Grand Canyon National Park – Arizona
Grand Canyon National Park is one of the country’s most recognizable landscapes, where the Colorado River has carved a vast canyon through layers of rock that reveal millions of years of geologic history. The South Rim offers classic viewpoints, visitor services, shuttle routes and trails for a wide range of travelers, while the more remote North Rim provides a quieter seasonal experience. Whether you stay near the rim or explore by foot, every view feels truly grand in scale.
Know Before You Go
- Top things to do: Visit Mather Point and the historic Grand Canyon Village, walk the Rim Trail, ride the free South Rim shuttle, see Desert View Watchtower, hike part of Bright Angel Trail or South Kaibab Trail, or watch sunrise or sunset.
- How to get there: The South Rim is typically open year-round and commonly reached from Williams or Flagstaff. Page also works well as a northern Arizona base for trips that include the East Entrance, Desert View Drive, Lake Powell, or Horseshoe Bend.
- Best time to visit: Spring and fall offer comfortable weather and strong hiking conditions. Summer is busy and very hot, especially below the rim. In winter, you can expect fewer crowds, but possible snow and ice.
- Tips for first-time visitors: Start at the South Rim for the easiest first visit. Arrive early and use shuttle buses when available. Always pack extra water and sun protection, and avoid hiking too far into the canyon without planning for the climb back out.
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Mammoth Cave National Park – Kentucky
Discover the world’s longest known cave system, with hundreds of miles of mapped underground passages beneath the rolling hills of central Kentucky, at Mammoth Cave National Park. Guided tours reveal vast chambers, narrow corridors and stories shaped by geology, early tourism, and the people who worked in and around the cave. Above ground, visitors can hike forest trails, paddle the Green and Nolin Rivers, or explore the quiet side of the park between cave tours.
Know Before You Go
- Top things to do: Take a ranger-led cave tour, explore surface trails, visit the Green River, go canoeing or kayaking, join a ranger program, bike park roads or learn about the cave’s history at the visitor center.
- How to get there: Mammoth Cave National Park is in central Kentucky near Cave City. Most visitors arrive by car from Interstate 65 and start at the Mammoth Cave Visitor Center.
- Best time to visit: Cave tours are offered year-round, but spring through fall brings more tour options and better conditions for hiking and paddling. Summer is the busiest season.
- Tips for first-time visitors: Reserve cave tour tickets early, since popular tours can sell out. Read tour descriptions before booking, wear sturdy shoes and bring a light jacket because cave temperatures stay chilly.
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Olympic National Park – Washington
Olympic National Park protects an extraordinary mix of glacier-capped mountains, old-growth forests, temperate rain forests and rugged Pacific coastline. A single trip can include mountain views from Hurricane Ridge, clear water at Lake Crescent, moss-draped trees in the Hoh Rain Forest, and sea stacks along the coast. Because the park covers so many ecosystems across the Olympic Peninsula, visitors should choose a few regions to explore rather than trying to see everything in one day.
Know Before You Go
- Top things to do: Visit Hurricane Ridge, explore Lake Crescent, walk the Hall of Mosses in the Hoh Rain Forest, see Sol Duc Falls, visit Rialto Beach or Ruby Beach, or hike through old-growth forest along Lake Quinault.
- How to get there: Olympic National Park surrounds much of Washington’s Olympic Peninsula. Port Angeles is a practical northern gateway, with U.S. Highway 101 connecting major park areas.
- Best time to visit: Summer offers the broadest access to roads, trails and visitor services. Spring and fall can be quieter and lush, while winter brings snow to higher elevations and stormy coastal conditions.
- Tips for first-time visitors: Focus on one or two regions per day to avoid long drives. Check road conditions before arriving, bring rain gear and layers, and arrive early at popular areas like Hurricane Ridge and Hoh Rain Forest.