National Park Information

There are 58 designated National Parks in the United States. Each of these national parks are unique and they provide you the opportunity to enjoy beautiful scenery, explore the backcountry, view wildlife in their natural habitats, and to enjoy the sights and sounds of nature at its finest.

More than 285 million people visited America's national parks during 2009. Visitors to the national parks not only enjoy the scenery and recreational activities, they help the economy of the local communities that border the national parks.

Of the 58 National Parks, do you know which 10 get the most visitors per year? Take a look at the 10 most visited U.S. National Parks.

The United States National Parks can be divided into 7 different geographic regions:

1. Alaska - 8 National Parks including Denali and Katmai

2. The Colorado Plateau - 10 National Parks including Arches and Grand Canyon

3. The East - 13 National Parks including Acadia and Everglades

4. The Pacific Northwest - 6 National Parks including North Cascades and Olympic

5. The Pacific Southwest - 8 National Parks including Haleakala and Yosemite

6. The Rocky Mountains - 9 National Parks including Glacier and Yellowstone

7. The Southwest - 3 National Parks including Big Bend and Carlsbad Caverns

The coverage of the National Parks starts with an overview of the natural features, ecology, geology, wildlife, and what makes each individual park so unique. You will be able to understand how fragile certain areas can be and why you might be prevented from entering parts of the park that are set aside to protect wildlife.

The national parks are for you to enjoy, but they were also designated to protect ecosystems. Thirteen national parks have been designated United Nations World Heritage sites because of their outstanding cultural and scenic features. Twenty-two parks have the status of international biosphere reserves due to their unique natural qualities.

Following the overview of the park, you will find additional sections that provide you information on:

How To Get To The National Park provides you with travel information on getting to the national park. Knowing where the closest airports are located can be helpful when planning your national park vacation. Traveling by vehicle is a great way to see the national parks on your own schedule. We provide you with the various routes that will get you to your destination.

When To Visit The National Park - most national parks are open year-round, but there are certain times of the year, week, or even day that are the best times to visit a national park. The most popular time to visit national parks is usually during the summer months, which also means the parks are going to be crowded. If you want to avoid the crowds and have that flexibility in your schedule, then a trip during spring or autumn might be the best time to plan your trip. In many parks, autumn is one of the best times to visit. The fall colors can be spectacular, the biting insects are usually gone, and the parks are usually uncrowded. Spring is a great time to observe the wildflowers blooming and the newborn wildlife. Winter in many of the national parks can be harsh, but there are usually very few people and you can enjoy cross-country skiing and snowshoeing. While the parks are open year-round, the visitor facilities might be limited, so you need to be aware of what will be open during the time of your visit.

Visiting The National Park and being able to do certain activities depends on how much time you have. Many people make day trips to the national parks, but you could easily spend much longer. The best advice we can give you is to take your time and don't be in a hurry. The average visitor only spends half a day in the park, which is a very short time. Most of that time is spent looking at the passing scenery through the windshield of your vehicle. If you are going to take the time to plan a trip to visit a national park, then try to spend some time getting out of your vehicle and take a few short hikes. We provide you with suggestions on where to go and what to see depending on how much time you have available. Be sure to explore different areas on your own. No matter how many times you have been to a national park, you will probably see something different each time you visit.

National Park Maps are useful for planning your trip. Knowing where the roads and trails are located ahead of time can make your trip much more enjoyable. Being able to refer to a map when we discuss the various scenic roads, loops, overlooks, and trails will give you a better idea of how to plan your time and where to make your lodging or camping reservations.

National Park Activities and Information provides you with suggestions of popular activites within the park such as camping, hiking, rafting, fishing, photography, and viewing wildlife. While many of these activities you can do on your own, there are some specialized activities like white water rafting where you might want to take a guided raft trip. We provide you with suggestions and lists of companies that are licensed by the National Park Service to provide specialized visitor services and tours.

National Park Campgrounds and Lodging are important considerations when you are planning your trip to the National Parks. Many people enjoy the experience of camping in the parks, while others prefer staying in chalets, lodges, and hotels. We provide you an overview of the campgrounds and lodging accomodations within and adjacent to the National Parks. Many of the National Parks do not provide lodging within the park, so you will want to find and reserve your rooms in nearby towns.