Our National Park System encompasses 429 national park sites in the United States. They span across more than 84 million acres, with parks in each of the 50 states and extending into the outlying territories. Within this expansive system, 63 sites include “National Park” as part of their proper name, including well-known places like Acadia, the Great Smoky Mountains, and the Grand Canyon. If you’re planning a visit to any national park, there’s no better time to visit than during National Park Week at the end of April each year. Learn all about this celebration of America’s great outdoors — including fee-free days throughout the year! However, while the National Parks are incredible in their own right, the best state parks in the US are also worth a visit.

There are over 6,600 state park sites in the U.S. covering an incredible 14 million acres of land. These parks provide a wide range of recreation opportunities in the most accessible, close-to-home settings. And when we say “opportunities,” we mean bucket-list-level opportunities. Some of the most glorious parks in the country are, in fact, our state parks! These are places with sublime scenic beauty, unrivaled recreation, and once-in-a-lifetime experiences. In short, these are superlative state parks that belong on everyone’s bucket list, offering adventures that rival anything you’d find at our country’s finest national parks.

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There’s no better way to admire the splendor of America the Beautiful than our parks — national *or* state. We hope the above best state parks in the US provide ample fuel to feed your wanderlust for years to come. Please share with us your favorite national and state parks. And if you want to show your love for our national parks, check out the goods from the Parks Project.

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More to Explore

Best State Parks In The U.S.

What are some other top-rated state parks in the U.S.?

Aside from those mentioned above, here are several additional top-rated state parks in the U.S.:

Each state has its incredible parks that preserve natural beauty and offer endless recreational opportunities. What is your favorite park in your home state?

What are the best national parks in the U.S.?

Our national parks system is filled with natural wonders and awe-inspiring scenery. Here are the top national parks in the U.S.:

  • Glacier National Park in Montana welcomes nearly 3 million visitors annually and encompasses over 1 million acres of land.
  • Acadia National Park in Maine sees over 3 million visitors each year. This gorgeous coastal park is known as the “Crown Jewel of the North Atlantic Coast.”
  • Zion National Park in Utah is incredibly popular as it welcomes around 5 million visitors each year. This happens to be one of my favorite national parks! What’s yours?