List of U.S. National Parks in 2025
The United States is home to an impressive 63 national parks, spread across 30 states and 2 territories. These natural wonders offer a diverse range of landscapes, from the icy peaks of Alaska's Wrangell-St. Elias National Park, the largest at 13.2 million acres, to the sun-drenched deserts of Arizona's Grand Canyon National Park.
Alaska boasts the most national parks, with a total of 8, including Denali, Gates of the Arctic, and Katmai. Other states, such as California, Utah, Colorado, and Wyoming, are also known for their multiple parks, although the exact counts per state aren't fully detailed.
Many states, however, have only one or no national parks. For instance, Florida has 3 national parks - Biscayne, Dry Tortugas, and Everglades - while Idaho and Maine each have 1, Yellowstone and Acadia respectively.
One of the most famous national parks is Yosemite, renowned for its waterfalls, deep valleys, grand meadows, ancient giant sequoias, and a vast wilderness area. Other notable parks include the Grand Canyon, Zion, and Glacier National Parks.
The smallest US national park is Cuyahoga Valley National Park in Ohio, covering an area of about 33,061 acres. Conversely, the coldest temperatures can be found in Gates of the Arctic National Park and Preserve in Alaska, where winter temperatures can drop as low as -50°F (-45°C) or even lower.
Each of these national parks offers unique experiences and attractions. For example, Dry Tortugas National Park is approximately 95% water, making it an ideal destination for marine life enthusiasts. Meanwhile, Mammoth Cave in Kentucky is the world's longest known cave system, with over 400 miles explored so far.
Death Valley National Park, located in California and Nevada, is the warmest national park in the U.S., holding the record for the highest temperature ever recorded on Earth at 134°F (56.7°C). On the other hand, the coldest temperature ever recorded in a U.S. national park was at Schrader Bluff National Wildlife Refuge in Alaska, not a national park but a wildlife refuge managed by the National Park Service.
These national parks can be found on a map, which is linked in this article. The newest addition to this list is New River Gorge National Park and Preserve in West Virginia, designated as the 63rd national park on December 27, 2020.
These national parks are not just tourist attractions but are also part of the United States federal park system, which is dedicated to preserving these natural treasures for future generations to enjoy. For a more detailed list of national parks by specific states or information about a particular state, feel free to ask.
- The United States federal park system strives to preserve the 63 national parks, dispersed across 30 states and 2 territories, for future generations to appreciate.
- The state of Alaska leads with the most national parks within its territory, including Denali, Gates of the Arctic, and Katmai.
- California, Utah, Colorado, and Wyoming are also known for hosting multiple national parks, although the exact count for each state is not entirely detailed.
- Florida has 3 national parks - Biscayne, Dry Tortugas, and Everglades - while Idaho and Maine each feature 1 national park, Yellowstone and Acadia respectively.
- Yosemite National Park is famed for its waterfalls, deep valleys, grand meadows, ancient giant sequoias, and a vast wilderness area.
- The Grand Canyon, Zion, and Glacier National Parks are other notable destinations, each offering unique experiences and attractions.
- Cuyahoga Valley National Park in Ohio is the smallest US national park, covering about 33,061 acres.
- Gates of the Arctic National Park and Preserve in Alaska endures the coldest temperatures, with winter temperatures occasionally dropping as low as -50°F (-45°C) or lower.
- Dry Tortugas National Park is approximately 95% water, making it an ideal location for marine life enthusiasts.
- Mammoth Cave in Kentucky is the world's longest known cave system, with over 400 miles explored so far, and it can be found within the US national parks. The newest addition to this list is New River Gorge National Park and Preserve in West Virginia, designated as the 63rd national park on December 27, 2020.
