The mountains are calling and I must go!

The mountains are calling and I must go!

A beginner’s guide to national parks Are you a casual visitor or complete beginner to national parks, looking to explore deeper but don’t know where to start? This comprehensive guide to the U.S. National Park System will help you determine what to put at the top of your bucket list.

National Park Service nps.gov/planyourvisit

Let’s plan your adventure!

Must visit parks from every region Yosemite

3

Grand Canyon

Arizona

» Visitors: 3,897,070 » Trails: 800 miles » Avg. stay: 13 hours » Acreage: 747,956 » Entrance fee: $35 » Features: Waterfalls, granite cliffs, giant sequoia groves

» Visitors: 4,733,705 » Trails: 595 miles » Avg. stay: 15 hours » Acreage: 1,218,375 » Entrance fee: $35 » Features: Largest canyons on Earth, great hikes

In 2023 alone, about 325.5 million recreation visits were made to national parks. This is just a small fraction of the more than 16 billion visits to national parks since the U.S. National Park Service (NPS) began collecting visitation data in 1904. So who are the superstars of the national park system?

And what makes them so special?

following regions: Pacific West, Intermountain, Midwest, Southeast, and Northeast. For the purposes of this publication, parks located in Alaska, Hawaii, and U.S. territories will be categorized into the Non-contiguous U.S. region. National parks across the United States encompass a remarkable diversity of ecosystems, ranging from lush rainforests and alpine meadows to arid deserts and There are a total of 63 national parks from 31 states coastal wetlands, each with its unique set of and two U.S. territories. They are divided into the plants, animals, and geological features.

# Visitors

California

Trails (miles) Avg. stay (h) Acreage

An overview of national parks

14

Regions Pacific West

23

Southeast

8

32 4

Midwest Intermountain

1

Northeast Non-contiguous U.S.

The most visited national parks

18

5

The top 10 most popular national parks of 2023 cumulatively had around 92 million visitors. The Intermountain region is the most popular by far, also having the most amount of parks at 19.

However, the honor of most popular park comes from the Southeast region, which goes to Great Smoky Mountains national park.

33

Where to first?

11 3

Great Smoky Mts.

59

4.6 mil

Yellowstone

4.5 mil

52 More than 8.42 million visitors chose to camp overnight. The most popular type of camping by far is tent camping.

3.8 mil

RV Campers

18.3%

3.8 mil

Acadia

Grand Teton

3.4 mil

Joshua Tree

3.2 mil

46

42

64.7%

47 44

2

43

16.1%

50

Off Season

Winter

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During the fall, you can observe hundreds of elk making an annual migration from high country to lower elevation meadows and also appreciate beautiful yellow aspen trees.

Mar Apr May

The park is most popular during the spring for its beautiful wildflower blooms and ideal hiking conditions.

Fall is a popu autumn supe

Jun Jul Aug

Joshua Tree is almost always packed on weekends and the holidays.

Avoid the heat and crowds by visiting in October or November.

Fall

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Death Valley is the hottest place in the world and reaches temperatures of over 120°F, making it a more popular destination in the winter.

Spring

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Pacific West

Summer

Shoulder Season

Hawaii

Backcountry camping is a remote style of camping for the few adventurous and brave explorers (but not recommended for beginners!)

2.9 mil

National parks experience different levels of visitation throughout the year, categorized into peak season, shoulder season, and off-season. Peak season typically aligns with favorable weather and school vacations, resulting in higher crowds and busier trails. Shoulder season, found at the edges of peak periods, offers a balance between good weather and fewer visitors. Off-season, generally marked by cooler weather or less accessible conditions, sees the fewest visitors, providing a quieter experience at the cost of limited services.

National Park Service

48

45

Backcountry Campers

Watching the seasons pass

1

12

Alaska

Olympic

Peak Season

14

54

40

Tent Campers Yosemite

7

31

17

30

Great Smoky Mountains national park has been the most visited park since 1944, being within half a day’s drive for half of the U.S. population.

4.1 mil

Rocky Mountain

53

2

4.7 mil

Zion

15

24

13.3 mil

Grand Canyon

35 34

49

Sep Oct Nov

Unsurpisingly, national parks are most popular during the s Visit during the fall to avoid the Texas heat, which is also the ideal time to canoe in the Rio Grande.

Badlands

38

21

Great Smoky Mts.

13

Acadia

Hawai’i Volcanoes

10

South Dakota

Arizona

South Dakota

Hawai’i

» Visitors: 1,046,400 » Trails: 30 miles » Avg. stay: 4 hours » Acreage: 244,000 » Entrance fee: $30 » Features: Layered rock formations, deep canyons

» Visitors: 13,297,647 » Trails: 848 miles » Avg. stay: 7 hours » Acreage: 522,427 » Entrance fee: Free » Features: Rolling mountains, lush forests, waterfalls

» Visitors: 3,879,890 » Trails: 150 miles » Avg. stay: 6 hours » Acreage: 49,075 » Entrance fee: $30 » Features: Rugged coastal landscapes, pristine lakes

» Visitors: 1,620,294 » Trails: 150 miles » Avg. stay: 6 hours » Acreage: 335,229 » Entrance fee: $30 » Features: Two active volcanoes, lush rainforests

National parks by date established 37

1. Yellowstone, WY 2. Sequoia, CA 3. Yosemite, CA 4. Mount Rainier, WA 5. Crater Lake, OR 6. Wind Cave, SD 7. Mesa Verde, CO 8. Glacier, MT 9. Rocky Mountain, CO 10. Hawai’i Volcanoes, HI 11. Lassen Volcanic, CA 12. Denali, AK 13. Acadia, ME 14. Grand Canyon, AZ 15. Zion, UT 16. Hot Springs, AR 17. Bryce Canyon, UT 18. Grand Teton, WY 19. Carlsbad Caverns, NM 20. Everglades, FL 21. Great Smoky Mountains, TN/NC 22. Shenandoah, VA 23. Olympic, WA 24. Kings Canyon, CA 25. Isle Royale, MI 26. Mammoth Cave, KY 27. Big Bend, TX 28. Virgin Islands 29. Haleakalā, HI 30. Petrified Forest, AZ 31. Canyonlands, UT 32. North Cascades, WA

25

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26 21

62

Make sure to check the weather!

16

19

57

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19

41

33. Redwood, CA 34. Arches, UT 35. Capitol Reef, UT 36. Guadalupe Mountains, TX 37. Voyageurs, MN 38. Badlands, SD 39. Theodore Roosevelt, ND 40. Channel Islands, CA 41. Biscayne, FL 42. Gates of the Arctic, AK 43. Glacier Bay, AK 44. Katmai, AK 45. Kenai Fjords, AK 46. Kobuk Valley, AK 47. Lake Clark, AK 48. Wrangell-St. Elias, AK 49. Great Basin, NV 50. American Samoa 51. Dry Tortugas, FL 52. Saguaro, AZ 53. Death Valley, CA 54. Joshua Tree, CA 55. Black Canyon, CO 56. Cuyahoga Valley, OH 57. Congaree, SC 58. Great Sand Dunes, CO 59. Pinnacles, CA 60. Gateway Arch, MO 61. Indiana Dunes, IN 62. White Sands, NM 63. New River Gorge, WV

51 28

10

Virgin Islands

Being the largest island on Lake Superior that is only accessible by ferry, boat, or seaplane, extreme winter weather makes it too dangerous to visit.

ular time to visit, with cooler temperatures and beautiful ermoons that illuminate the desert landscape.

The Everglades, located in southern Florida, experiences a dry season with lower humidity, lesser heat and fewer insects. This is when the park is most popular.

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Although it is a great time to see the Northern Lights in Alaska, it will be incredibly dark, cold, and hard to travel.

If you don’t mind braving the hot, humid weather, summer may be the best time to avoid crowds at Everglades.

summer. It’s a good idea to plan up to six months ahead for the more popular locations and get reservations as soon as they open.

This often overlooked park hosts beautiful fall colors, low humidity, and ideal water levels for paddling activities.

National Park Service

2

Not sure what to pack in your bag? Here are some essentials Before heading out to a national park, it’s important to be prepared! Make sure to pack these essentials to keep yourself safe and comfortable during your park visit.

1 Emergency shelter or blanket to protect you from severe weather.

1

2 Durable bag with plenty of storage.

3 Hat, sunglasses, and sunscreen for sun protection.

8

4 First Aid Kit for medical emergencies.

2

9

Flashlight, lanterns, or headlamps for lighting—be sure to

5 pack extra batteries.

Matches or lighters for creating a heat source—familiarize

6 yourself with fire use regulations at your park of choice.

3 7

Have a map, compass, and GPS system on hand and plan

7 your route before your trip.

8

Make sure to stay hydrated! Outdoor activity can easily lead to dehydration, especially in hot weather.

6

5 4

Pack trail snacks that are easy to digest, like trail

9 mix and granola bars, to keep yourself energized.

Get a park pass!

The majority of parks require passes for entry. Some highdemand locations may also need a timed entry or parking reservation during peak season to help control crowds.

Additionally, some parks have special permits for activities such as backcountry camping, fishing, or climbing. It’s a

good idea to research a park’s specific requirements before your trip to ensure you have the necessary passes and permits, helping make your visit smooth and hassle-free. Learn more at NPS.gov.

Standard/annual pass

America the Beautiful

If you’re only planning on visiting one park, a standard or annual pass for a specific park may be the best option. Prices vary by park.

For $80, you get an entire year of access to all national parks, monuments, forests, and more. This is an excellent option if you’re looking to visit a handful of parks in a year.

Free park days

Free passes

Senior discount

The National Park System has six days in the year where they offer free admission to everyone! Mark these entrance fee-free days in your calendar.

There are also many free pass options.

See if you qualify!

» January 15: Birthday of Martin Luther King, Jr.

» NPS Access Pass: U.S. citizens or

U.S. citizens or permanent residents over the age of 62 qualify for a discounted America the Beautiful pass at $20 annually. They also qualify for a lifetime pass for $80.

» April 20: First day of National Park Week

permanent residents with permanent

» June 19: Juneteenth

disabilities

» August 4: Anniversary of the Great American Outdoors Act » September 28: National Public Lands Day » November 11: Veterans Day

» Every Kid Outdoors Program: Fourth grade students » Military Passes: Active duty military and veterans, as well as their dependants » Volunteer Pass: Volunteers with 250 service hours

Got questions? Contact us National Park Service nps.gov/planyourvisit

National Park Service 1849 C Street NW Washington, DC 20240 202-208-6843