America’s National Parks are a treasure. A Ken Burns documentary called them "America’s Best Idea." While there are currently 62 of the “big” National Parks (think Yellowstone and the Grand Canyon), the National Park Service is filled with National Forests, National Battlefields, National Historic Landmarks, and more. Some places focus more on natural beauty, while others truly celebrate the history of our great country.
While not every state is home to one of the official national parks, each state in the union has at least one site that is run by the National Park system that you should put on your list. And often, the smaller spots are less heavily visited, so you really get a chance to learn and explore something knew.
If you’ve got kids, don’t forget to ask about the Junior Ranger program. Kids can do worksheets and learn about the parks to keep them engaged, and they’ll be rewarded with a fancy badge (and sometimes a patch!). Put these on your list when you're ready to hit the road!
Alabama
Russell Cave National Monument
This hole in the ground has some major historical importance. Here you'll get to see how prehistoric man lived 10,000 years ago in this cave shelter. This spot is quite off the beaten path in Bridgeport, AL, but totally worth the visit. Make sure you ask the park rangers to demo some of the prehistoric weaponry, it's really neat.
Alaska
The Land of the Midnight Sun is home to eight National Parks and a total of 17 sites run by the National Park Service. You can't go wrong with any of them, as they are all filled with some of the most pristine natural beauty anywhere in the world. But Denali is home to North America's tallest peak (the mountain previously also known as Mt. McKinley), and has six million acres of wild land to discover.
Arizona
Close to six million people visit this unbelievable destination every year for a reason. Covering 277 miles of land, this expansive park is home to the stunning canyon and rock formations like you've never seen before. Hike, camp, or take a river rafting trip during your stay.
Arkansas
Located in the town of Hot Springs this park has natural beauty, to be sure, but is on the map as a former tourist destination for its famed bathhouses. These buildings took advantage of the thermal springs, and were built above them. You can't hop in a spring, but you can book a visit to one of two of the spas that are still operational today.
California
Yosemite National Park
Like Alaska, California has a lot of National Parks to choose from, and you can't go wrong with a trip to Alcatraz, Death Valley, or Joshua Tree. And the Golden Gate National Recreation Area was the most visited spot in the National Park Service in 2019. But if you are looking for a big old national park experience, head to Yosemite. There are waterfalls around practically every corner and mountains that will take your breath away, and ancient Sequoia trees that practically glow in the sunshine.
Colorado
This park houses almost 5,000 archeological sites, including the famed cliff dwellings of the ancestral Pueblo people who lived here from 600 to 1300 CE.
Connecticut
Weir Farm National Historic Site
At the Wilton home of impressionist artist J. Alden Weir , you'll see some of his art, but you can also explore the 60 acres of woods and fields that inspired his work.
Delaware
First State National Historical Park
This park is actually seven different locations, scattered around the state of Delaware, including the picture Fort Christina in Wilmington where the Swedes originally landed and established their colony, but you can also visit the Green in Dover where Delaware became the "First State."
Florida
The Everglades are enormous and cover much of the Southern part of Florida and should definitely be on your list, but if you are looking for a completely unique and cool National Park experience, this one is it. In order to get to Fort Jefferson, you have to take a ferry (that runs once a day) from Key West, or find a seaplane, and head hours out into the middle of the Gulf of Mexico. Once at the fort you can explore the grounds and snorkel along the crystal clear coral reef and see everything from sharks to sea turtles.
Georgia
Martin Luther King Jr. National Historical Park
Explore many Atlanta sites of importance to this powerful leader of the modern civil rights movement, from the Baptist church where he lead with his father to his birth home.
Hawaii
Normally you'd run far away from an active volcano, but here you can sometimes see the lava slowly flow like a river into the ocean. When the lava isn't flowing, you can still see the amazing craters and unusual terrain that they've left in their wake.
Idaho
Craters of the Moon National Monument
It's not hard to see why this park got its name. Lava flow left behind some truly bizarre landscaping details that actually look more like the surface of the moon than Earth.
Illinois
Lincoln Home National Historic Site
Explore the Springfield home of President Abraham Lincoln, where he spent 17 years of his life raising his family.
Indiana
Formerly a National Lakeshore, this 15 mile stretch along Lake Michigan got an upgrade in 2019 to National Park. There are many ways to get to the lake, but the wooden staircases that safely traverse the dunes are the most fun (and exhausting).
Iowa
Effigy Mounds National Monument
This scenic preserved space highlights the Effigy Mounds created by American Indian tribes into animal shapes.
Kansas
Tallgrass Prairie National Preserve
While land that looked like this pictured used to cover 170 million miles of America, very little of it still exists today. This preserve in the Kansas Flint Hills helps keep what remains in its natural state.
Kentucky
Mammoth isn't an exaggeration about its size, this is the world's longest known cave system. It's one of the UNESCO World Heritage Sites and feels completely otherworldly when you are inside. Guided tours are given regularly, but take one of the lantern ones in the evening if you can for an even more surreal experience.
Louisiana
Jean Lafitte National Historical Park and Preserve
Made up of six different locations across Southern Louisiana, you can see nature at the Barataria Preserve or the Wetlands Acadian Cultural Center, learn about history at the Chalmette Battlefield or learn more about the Acadian (Cajun) settlers at the Acadian Cultural Center.
Maine
Maine's rocky coastline puts on a show in Bar Harbor at this national park. Greet the sunrise from on top of Cadillac Mountain, walk along the stone-filled beaches, listen to the ocean at Thunder Hole or spend a day hiking one of the 158 miles of trails.
Maryland
In this tragic spot, 23,000 soldiers were killed or wounded in the span of one awful day during the midst of the Civil War. Bring tissues.
Angel Madison is a shopping editor at Hearst Magazines with over 25 years of editorial experience. She writes about parenting, toys, plus-size fashion, sneakers, and more for brands like Good Housekeeping, Country Living, Prevention, and Esquire. Before her time at Hearst, Angel worked as a parenting editor for New Jersey Family and covered entertainment for NBC Universal, AOL, and TV Guide. When she’s not testing the latest footwear trends, adding to her collection of over 100 LEGO sets, or scouting for the hottest new toys, you can find Angel walking long distances (either in the woods or in New York City) and spending time with her daughter.
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