USA National Parks: The top 10 most popular parks [with map].

There are 62 national parks in the USA. By the way, Yellowstone National Park was founded in 1872 as the first national park in the United States and at the same time worldwide. Although it is certainly one of the most impressive national parks in the USA - many even call it the most beautiful - Yellowstone National Park is not the park with the most visitors in the USA.

The Great Smoky Mountains National Park in the Appalachian Mountains on the territory of the US states of North Carolina and Tennessee ranks first among the most visited national parks in the USA. Here we present the ten most famous national parks in the USA.

The Top 10 National Parks in the USA (2020)

1. Great Smoky Mountains National Park (12.1 million visitors)

2. Yellowstone National Park (3.8 million visitors)

3. Zion National Park (3.6 million visitors)

4. Rocky Mountain National Park (3.3 million visitors)

5. Grand Teton National Park (3.3 million visitors)

6. Grand Canyon National Park (2.9 million visitors)

7. Cuyahoga Valley National Park (2.8 million visitors)

8. Acadia National Park (2.7 million visitors)

9. Olympic National Park (2.5 million visitors)

10. Joshua Tree National Park (2.4 million visitors)

By the way: Within the National Park Service, this is not yet the top position. With 14.1 million visitors, Blue Ridge Parkway is the most visited attraction within the national parks and protected areas administered by the National Park Service. It is a scenic road designated as a National Scenic Byway.

The Blue Ridge Parkway is about 750 kilometres long and runs through the beautiful hilly landscape of North Carolina and Virginia.

With 12.4 million visitors in 2018, the Golden Gate National Recreation Area in San Francisco is the number two most visited attraction. The area around San Francisco Bay is a huge park and popular worldwide.

Map of the ten most popular national parks in the USA

In our interactive map you can find the most popular national parks as well as the famous national parks in the USA.

1 Great Smoky Mountains National Park View from Clingmans Dome in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park

The Great Smoky Mountains are located in the Appalachian Mountains in the US states of North Carolina and Tennessee. The national park is best known for its diverse wildlife and dense forest, which is one of the oldest forests on earth. It is one of the most popular and best-known national parks in the USA.

Incidentally, it is also the largest primeval forest area in the eastern USA. The flow of visitors is concentrated on the larger roads in the park. If you leave the main roads, you have a good chance of being alone for days.

With a bit of luck, you might even see black bears. The main attraction for many visitors is Clingmans Dome, the highest peak in the Great Smoky Mountains at 2025 metres. The densely forested summit can be reached via well-developed hiking trails. The view from the lookout tower on Clingmans Dome over the endless expanses of the Great Smoky Mountains is breathtaking. However, those who love solitude should avoid this part of the programme.

Yellowstone National Park Grand Prismatic Spring in Yellowstone - Photo: NPS

For many, Yellowstone National Park is the most beautiful park in the USA. Founded in 1872, it is also the oldest park in the world and, at just under 9,000 square kilometres, one of the largest in the USA.

You should plan a few days to explore the park in the US state of Wyoming. Also because the journey to Yellowstone is quite lengthy. The park is known for its more than 300 geysers, the pools of boiling water or mud and the amazing diversity of wildlife.

Old Faithful is the most famous geyser in the Yellowstone area. Old Faithful erupts every 90 minutes for 1.5 to 5 minutes, spraying water up to 55 metres into the air. Grand Prismatic Spring, the largest thermal spring in the USA, can also be seen on postcards.

Yellowstone National Park is also known for its wildlife. You are guaranteed to see bison here. 3 Zion National Park The Narrows are one of the main attractions in Zion.

Zion National Park is bursting at the seams in summer. No wonder, since the park in the US state of Utah offers something for everyone. It is also on the list of famous national parks in the USA.

An absolute highlight in the American national park is the hike into the Narrows. The Virgin River has carved a deep gorge into the rock over millions of years. If the river is not too high, you can hike for kilometres into the canyon. You should set off very early, as the Virgins attract hundreds of hikers in good weather. The river has to be crossed again and again. The destination of most hikers is the so-called Wall Street. Here the canyon walls are very close together and rise hundreds of metres into the air.

If you prefer to go high up, you can climb Angels Landing or Observation Point. Off the beaten track is the Subway - for us one of the top sights in the southwest of the USA. However, you need a permit and some stamina to reach the tube that is open at the top.

The Subway in Zion National Park is one of the top sights in the Southwest of the USA. Recommended travel guide

To help you plan your trip to the most beautiful and famous national parks in the USA, I recommend the following travel guide.

*Advertising link / Images from the Amazon Product Advertising API

4 Rocky Mountain National Park Bear Lake in Rocky Mountain National Park in the light of the rising sun. A striking foreground is extremely important for wide-angle shots,

Rocky Mountain National Park in the US state of Colorado covers almost 1,100 square kilometres. If you only have a few days to explore the park, you should concentrate on the highlights.

The best-known highlight is certainly the Trail Ridge Road, along which you can head for numerous viewpoints and start many hikes into the wilderness. Bear Lake is also not to be missed. It takes less than half an hour to walk around this small lake in a fascinating landscape. If you are already at Bear Lake, you should definitely make a detour to Emerald Lake. Both hikes can be classified as easy and are also suitable for children.

Another very popular destination in the Rocky Mountains is the Alberta Falls, which plunge into the depths of the dense forest. However, you should not hope for solitude at the above-mentioned spots. If you are looking for peace and quiet, you have to go further into the park.

A herd of red deer in the Roky Mountains. For such shots you need a strong telephoto lens in any case. 5 Grand Teton National Park

Close to Yellowstone National Park is Grand Teton National Park. The wildlife, the endless expanses, the lakes and the mountains make this park so unique.

If you are visiting the park for the first time, you should definitely drive the 42-Mile Scenic Loop Drive. The route offers beautiful views of the Tetons and the surrounding landscape.

It is no wonder that Grand Teton National Park is number 5 on the list of the most famous national parks in the USA.

6 Grand Canyon National Park The Grand Canyon is one of the most famous national parks in the USA. The photo was taken at Toroweap Point

The Grand Canyon National Park is sixth in the ranking of the ten most visited national parks in the USA. The imposing canyon, which the Colorado River has eaten into the soft rock over the past five million years, is certainly familiar to everyone.

The main port of call for most visitors is the southern part, the so-called South Rim. Those who see the Grand Canyon with their own eyes for the first time will be amazed. The South Rim Visitor Centre is naturally always well frequented, not least because of the relatively convenient transport links to Las Vegas.

If you walk a little along the canyon or even descend into it, you will leave most of the visitors far behind. The campsites around the visitor centre are also highly recommended.

If that is too much hustle and bustle for you, you should head for the northern part of the canyon, the so-called North Rim. Because of the much wider trails, there is much less going on here.

The Toroweap Overlook (also in the national park) is very lonely. It is one of the narrowest places in the Grand Canyon. The rock walls drop 800 metres vertically here and are very close to each other. Toroweap Point is the superlative of the Grand Canyon. However, the approach is very difficult and the small campsite should be reserved months in advance.

Yavapai Point at the Grand Canyon

Those who love long and challenging hikes should keep the Nankoweap Trail in mind. The Nankoweap Trail leads for hours high up the canyon wall before descending into the canyon. Be sure to check the weather forecast (thunderstorms can be fatal here), plan two to three days and get a permit.

The Havasupai reserve is also well worth a visit. The reserve is not in the administrative area of the national park, but it is another highlight in the Grand Canyon. The Havasupai Reserve can be reached via a 20-kilometre trail that leads down into the Grand Canyon.

7 Cuyahoga Valley National Park

The Cuyahoga Valley National Park is located in the north-east of the USA. More precisely, in the state of Ohio. It is number seven in the top 10 national parks in the USA. It owes its name to the Cuyahoga River, which flows through the park. Translated, it means Crooked River.

The park has been a recreation area since 1974, when it became a national park. A highlight and a very popular trail in the Cuyahoga Valley National Park is the Towpath Trail, which stretches 30 kilometres through the landscape. Many visitors also love to ride the Cuyahoga Valley Scenic Railroad, an old nostalgic railway.

Besides hiking, cycling and paddling on the river, whether by kayak, stand-up paddleboard or canoe, you can also go golfing and fishing.

8 Acadia National Park Autumn in Acadia National Park - Photo: NPS

Acadia National Park on the coast of the US state of Maine is famous for its rugged rocky coastline and rugged landscape of mountains and lakes. From Cadillac Mountain you have an incredible panoramic view of lakes, mountains and the sea.

The Park Loop Road offers many beautiful viewpoints and hiking trails. Mountain fans will get their money's worth on the Beehive Trail. The view from the top is fantastic, but some parts of the trail are steep and a bit tricky.

Arcadia National Park is the eighth most popular national park in the USA in 2021.

9 Olympic National Park Olympic National Park is known for its rugged coastline - Photo: NPS

Olympic National Park in Washington is known for its fascinating mountains and stunning coastlines. Those who love the sea will adore Ruby Beach. From Hurricane Ridge you probably have the most beautiful view over the Olympic National Park. In summer, however, the road is constantly congested. So it's worth starting early.

10 Joshua Tree National Park Joshua Tree National Park is definitely one of the top sights in California.

One of our absolute favourite parks is Joshua Tree National Park. We will never forget driving into the park. Passing countless Joshua Trees. Not only do these Joshua trees have crazy shapes, but they all look different. We were totally fascinated by the beauty of nature.

In southern California, you will find the unreal Joshua Trees next to rugged, barren landscape. A popular vantage point is the Keys View. From up here you have a great view of the San Andreas Fault, the infamous earthquake fold on which Los Angeles and San Francisco were built.

One of the most popular hikes in Joshua Tree National Park takes you to Hidden Valley. The round trip is only about one kilometre long and a popular destination for families. Incidentally, cattle rustlers used to hide their prey here. Hence the name Hidden Valley.

Also worth seeing is the Cholla Cactus Garden, where thousands of cactuses grow. A short circular trail leads through this unique area.

The hike through Hidden Valley is one of the top highlights in Joshua Tree National Park. Extra tip: Yosemite National Park Yosemite National Park impresses with deep valleys and striking mountains

Yosemite National Park is one of the most impressive in the USA. It has fallen out of the current top 10 ranking of the most famous national parks in terms of visitor numbers, but this national park has enchanted us. No wonder, it is one of the largest national parks in the USA.

It is one of our top favourites and should not be missing from our list of famous national parks in the USA. You should plan a few days for a visit, as there is really a lot to discover.

A highlight is the circular hike along the Four Mile Trail and the Panorama Trail. You should plan about ten hours for the strenuous hike. You will be rewarded with amazing views of Yosemite Valley and the famous Half Dome, Sentinel Rock and El Capitan. You will also pass several large waterfalls such as Yosemite Falls. In summer, however, the waterfalls have little or no water.

Half Dome itself is also a popular destination. However, climbing the 2693-metre-high mountain is not for recreational hikers. Fitness, sure-footedness and a head for heights are an absolute must here. Even the shortest route via the Mist Trail from Yosemite Valley to the summit is an enormous challenge at just under 23 kilometres and almost 1500 metres in altitude. You also need a permit.

If you don't want to go quite so high, there are many easy hikes in Yosemite Valley for every level of ability.

Yosemite National Park, California: Half Dome in the light of the setting sun. Shortly before, a heavy rain shower swept over us.

Exciting articles on other travel blogs

You can find even more information about the biggest and most famous national parks in the USA on the following travel blogs:

• "Tennessee and North Carolina: 13 pictures from the Smoky Mountains" on Reiselust-Mag

• "Arches National Park - the park of natural arches" on Genussbummler

• You can find even more info on Acadia National Park here at our colleague Sabrina from Couch Escape.

I hope you enjoyed my list of the top 10 national parks in the USA in 2021. No matter if it's the biggest, most popular or most famous national park in the USA: it will enchant you. We have always been absolutely fascinated by the beauty of nature.

And don't forget: there are a total of 62 national parks in the USA. I'm only scratching the surface of a few of the famous national parks in the USA. If you would like an insider tip from me in addition to the most famous national parks, then I recommend you to visit.