Most Visited National Parks in USA

(1) Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Tennessee

Great Smoky Mountain National Park is the most visited national park in America. The Great Smoky Mountains National Park is located in western North Carolina and eastern Tennessee, and covers 520,000 acres. The Smoky Mountains are known for the blue mist that always looms around the peaks and valleys.

The main western gate of the National Park, Oconaluftee is a collection of visitor centers, preserved historic log buildings and picturesque mountain meadows. The large meadow near the visitor center is actually a top place to see the park’s famous elk and other wildlife. Volunteers are often present to share information about elk and provide insight into the history of the area.

Take a great day hike on Hemphill Bald’s Cataloochee Divide Trail to see the views of Maggie Valley. The area is primarily a hiking destination and does not have a national park visitor center. With a large picnic area and hiking trails, Big Creek makes for a relaxing day trip. Hike to Midnight Hole and Mouse Creek Falls.

(2) Grand Canyon National Park, Arizona

The Grand Canyon is divided into two distinct regions, well divided by the actual valley. It is a long four and a half hour drive to get from one rim to another, so plan carefully. If you are going to the North Rim, flying to Las Vegas is the fastest, four and a half hour drive from the park.

The van from the Arizona Shuttle Flagstaff runs the village three times a day from May 15 to October 16. For camping on the South Rim, your best bet is located 25 miles east of Grand Canyon Village. You can catch views of the same west facing North Rim campground, a mile or so north of the lodge.

Most park visitors never leave the developed enclave of the Grand Canyon Village on the South Rim. They roll in their rental car, browse gift shops, and then move to the next national park on their checklist. Paddling 15 miles upstream from the park to Marble Mile without any permits, fees or reservations required. 

(3) Rocky Mountain National Park, Colorado

Rocky Mountains National Park is one of the most visited national destinations in the country. It is no surprise that more than three million people visit the park each year. Within the boundaries of Rocky Mountain National Park, more than 100,000 summits rise above 11,000 feet in height. These amazing mountains providing incredible beauty and inspiration to residents and guests.

The park’s walls are accessible by horseback, pedestrian car – the most notable vehicle route being Trail Ridge Road, the highest continuous paved highway in North America. Outdoor adventurers in Rocky Mountain National Park are busy all year. Open 365 days a year, there are activities and games throughout the summer / autumn and winter / spring seasons.

The unique and diverse landscapes of Rocky Mountain National Park offer something fun. Rocky Mountain National Park offers services and facilities to make your experience special and stress-free. Look through visitor information to gather all the trivial things you want to know, such as one off and visitor centers where you are going, what to do and how to prepare.

(4) Zion National Park, Utah

The oldest of Utah’s five national parks, Zion was named after an ancient Hebrew word “sanctuary”. Zion Canyon has two large campgrounds – the South Campground, which has 117 sites, three of which are wheelchair-bound, and the 190-site Watchman Campground, with seven accessible locations.

While South Campground is closed from November to February, the Watchman is open year-round and provides a bit more solitude. Tourists return as soon as spring comes in March, when the temperature is around 40 to 60 degrees. Every week the temperature constantly ticks upward, causing a blizzard that feeds a range of wild animals.

Zion National Park is located in the southwest corner of Utah, about an hour before St. George, a city filled with all kinds of necessities as you get closer to Zion. In tourist-friendly Springdale it is possible to fly to the regional St. George Airport, an hour’s drive from the park’s south entrance.

(5) Yosemite National Park, California

Yosemite National Park is one of the first wilderness parks in the United States. It extends from 2000 ft (600 m) to more than 13,000 ft (3900 m) above ground level. In 1890, Yosemite National Park was added to the new United States National Park System. Yosemite lands were first protected by the United States Congress and President Abraham Lincoln.

Horsetail Fall is famous for lighting fires when it reflects the orange glow of sunset from mid to late February. At Yosemite, look around and you can see many of the park’s amphibians, reptiles, birds and mammals from behind. At 2,425 feet, Yosemite Falls is the tallest on the planet. Millions of visitors come from all over the world to see the beauty of Yosemite.

Although the park is open throughout the year, approximately 75 percent of visitors arrive in the park through October. Yosemite is world-famous for its waterfalls and the rainbow that appears in them. In the spring and early summer if the sky is clear and the moon is full, it can produce enough light to create a rainbow from the midst of a waterfall.

(6) Yellowstone National Park, Idaho, Montana, Wyoming

Established in 1872, Yellowstone National Park is the oldest and perhaps most famous national park in the United States. Sitting in the northwest corner of Wyoming and stretching across state borders in Idaho and Montana, Yellowstone has nearly 9,000 square kilometers. Yellowstone National Park welcomes more than 3 million visitors each year.

The park is beautiful in the summer months, but a visit during the off-season will mean less crowds. Another way to keep peace and quiet is to wander further away from Yellowstone’s vast network of paved roads. The park is hundreds of kilometers of hiking trails that meander through the vast Lamar Valley and the Grand Canyon of Yellowstone.

The best way to experience the natural wonders of Yellowstone country is to immerse yourself fully in this magnificent setting. Discover Yellowstone National Park, where 1,100 miles of footpaths travel or get a bit wet during a fishing excursion. During the winter months, Yellowstone National Park still does a lot with snowmobiling, skiing and snowshoeing.

(7) Acadia National Park, Maine

Acadia, south of Bar Harbor, Maine: 47,000 acres of wooded woodland, rocky beaches, private islands and dusty pink mountain peaks. This patch of jagged coastal Maine is the New Englanders Vacation, where cottages are outnumbered resorts. From the Twinkle Lighthouse to whale watching and riding lobster boats, Acadia National Park has magic for everyone.

Acadia National Park is about 160 miles from Portland, Maine and 50 miles from Bangor. The sweet city of Bar Harbor, located on Mount Desert Island, shares its borders with the park and is a popular home base for visitors. To travel from Boston to Acadia National Park by plane, you can catch a direct flight from Hancock County-Bar Harbor Airport (BHB).

Acadia National Park is generally open 24 hours a year. Many park roads are closed during the winter including Park Loop Road, Cadillac Mountain Road, and all unpaved roads. The daily park entrance fee is $ 30 per vehicle and $ 25 per motorcycle. An Acadia Annual Park Pass costs $ 55 and is valid for one year from the date of purchase.

(8) Grand Teton National Park, Wyoming

Looking at most of the Jackson Hole Valley, the park is home to vast mountains, ancient lakes and rivers. The Teton Range with peaks 7,000 feet above the valley floor is the centerpiece of the park. Neither of the two main roads running north-south through the park are spectacular. The highest, most prominent peak is the Grand Teton which is 13,770 feet.

The park has a magnetic attraction for photographers and wildlife enthusiasts, but tetons offer some of the most demanding and technical mountaineering experiences anywhere in the world, especially during winter. Mountaineers and climbers flock to the Tetons to hone their skills before heading to the world’s vast mountains.

Many visitors consider Grand Teton National Park with its shimmering lakes, dense carpeted forests, and snow-capped peaks most of the year. You can appreciate its breathtaking beauty at Quick Drive-By, or take on trails and waterways in search of backward lakes and waterfalls. Tetons themselves are particularly popular with mountain climbers.

(9) Olympic National Park, Washington

Since 1938, visitors have been enjoying the Olympic National Park, one of the great wilderness areas of the West. In winter, snow-based activities are popular and during the other three seasons, visitors love exploring its wood expanses. Home to dozens of species of mammals and aquatic life, it is not uncommon to find elk locking antlers, whales breaching the sea surface.

The relatively proximity to the Olympics in urban areas makes it an inexpensive destination for overnight stays or weekend trips. Covering an area of ​​more than 4,000 square kilometers of the Olympic Peninsula in the northeast corner of Washington State, Olympic National Park encompasses many different ecosystems.

The Olympics offers endless possibilities for recreation, sightseeing, study and relaxation. In the heart of the peninsula you will have the opportunity to hike through the lush temperate rainforest. On the western side of the peninsula, enjoy stunning views of the Pacific Ocean as you stroll past tidal pools.

(10) Glacier National Park, Montana

On May 11, 1910, President William Taft signed a bill to establish Glacier National Park. The nation’s 10th National Park, Montana’s Glacier preserves over 1 million acres of glacier-carved peaks and valleys, ancient lakes and rivers. The vision for a park was to celebrate peace and friendship between the United States and Canada.

The glacier allows the continental divide extreme weather. This is because opposition Pacific and Arctic winds converge on the divide, causing a dramatic collision of weather. Evidence of human use in the area is more than 12,000 years old. Archaeological evidence suggests human occupation of this landscape from 12,000 years ago to retreat of ice age glaciers.

The glacier has welcomed more than 100 million visitors to the park. The park’s annual visit has been increasing over the past five years, reaching a record high of 2,946,681 in 2016. The park’s largest glacier is 0.7 square miles. Of the 26 glaciers currently present, Blackfoot Glacier is the largest glacier in the park.

(11) Joshua Tree National Park, California

Widely populated by lavish and Greater Monoliths and volcanic clusters, the park surprises eco-travelers, outdoor adventurers and naturalists. Two large ecosystems come together to create this tranquil land, conducive to meditation and wandering. The ways to enjoy Joshua Tree National Park are almost as vast as the park itself.

Many camps provide those with more time in one of nature’s most attractive destinations. The Park Rangers offer special bookings and Ranger-led tours that educate visitors about the park’s geography, wildlife and plant life. Recently named an International Dark Sky Park, Joshua Tree always grants visitors the display of bright stars above at night.

The methods of mountaineering to enjoy Joshua Tree National Park are as vast as the adrenaline-infused rock rocking between hiking trails and boater outcroppings suitable for all levels. Come for a few hours to hike on countless trails suitable for all levels of hikers or plan an adrenaline-type rock climb amidst rare booster outcroppings.

(12) Bryce Canyon National Park, Utah

Bryce Canyon, just half an hour from the Canaab, presents an amazing world of rock carved into spectacular ten-story-sized columns. Mystical castles, temples, and beautiful stone structures form a “fairy land” in real structures. You can enjoy the valley on a scenic drive of 37 miles or explore the wonders of Bryce walking through several trails.

After spending time in Bryce, visit the nearby Red Canyon and Kodachrome Basin State Park. Bryce Canyon trails offer a variety of difficulty ranging from easy hikes to some more challenging strenuous hikes. There are 50 miles of trails within Bryce Canyon in total. There are cross-country ski trails located within the Dixie National Forest for wintertime visitors.

Mammals in the park include bobcats, mountain lions, mule deer, foxes, ground squirrels and marmots. The most common large mammal you see in Bryce canyon is the mule deer. There are 160 different types of birds, including swift and scale, which usually appear in summer but move away for the winter season. Plants and trees within Bryce Canyon are based on elevation within the park.

(13) Cuyahoga Valley National Park, Ohio

Cuyahoga Valley National Park contains its small oasis just south of Cleveland, Ohio. Looking at Lake Erie, the park is home to the Ohio and Erie Towpath Trail, part of the 500-kilometer Ohio and Erie Canal route. The park offers a wide variety of other outdoor activities including canoeing, golfing, horse riding and fishing.

It is the most recently established national park. The National Park Service continues to work with local agencies to protect and maintain the site It holds. The park is open 365 days a year, although visitor center hours vary by season. Some waterfall areas and potentially dangerous areas close in the evening.

Winter is also good as it brings a scenic beauty to the Cuyahoga Valley. Due to lake effects, winter conditions can change very quickly, and temperatures often dip below zero. Spring and autumn bring more moderate conditions and you will avoid the crowds coming to park during peak summer.

(14) Mount Rainier National Park, Washington

Mount Rainier is popular because of the sheer amount of things to experience in the waterfall area, the gorgeous display of wildflowers during the peak season and access to hiking trails. This area on the southeast side of the park is home to ancient, supernatural-seeming old-forests known for the Evergreen State.

Situated at an altitude of 6,400 feet, Sunrise is the highest point of the park from where one can reach. Located in the northwest of Mount Rainier, Cascade Mountain Range is the least visited section in the national park due to limited access via road in the temperate summer months. There are certainly up to for such a calm atmosphere and unspecified nature.

The park has excellent camp in three established campgrounds. The most popular, Cougar Rock Campground (3,100 feet), because of its convenient position in heaven and the awesome laid-back vibe. Camps are suitable for camping tents as well as boons and most have plenty of space to set up multiple tents.

(15) Hawaii Volcanoes, Hawaii

Each of the islands in the Hawaiian Islands has formed throughout history from a hot spot of magma beneath the Earth’s surface. The magma becomes bubbly and forms itself until it is tall enough to break the ocean surface and form an island. An active volcano is any volcano that has had at least one eruption during the last 10,000 years.

There are five main volcanoes in Hawaii that are considered active. Four of these active volcanoes are located on the Big Island. There is also a sixth active volcano, called Loihi, which is still submerged under the waters of the Big Island coast. It is located on the Big Island and is a volcano that had a major eruption in the spring of 2018.

Mauna Kea is the highest volcano in the world when it is measured from sea level to its peak on the Big Island. It is currently dormant but scientists believe it will erupt again in the future. The last eruption of this volcano occurred 4,000 years ago. The lava flow Hualalai in Hawaii was last erupted in 1801, but it is the other rattle since that last eruption on the Big Island.