The United States has 63 National Parks across 30 states, plus several territories. Together they cover more than 84 million acres — Yellowstone alone is bigger than Rhode Island and Delaware combined.
States with the most National Parks
| State | # Parks | Most famous |
|---|---|---|
| California | 9 | Yosemite, Sequoia, Joshua Tree, Death Valley, Redwood |
| Alaska | 8 | Denali, Glacier Bay, Kenai Fjords, Gates of the Arctic |
| Utah | 5 | Zion, Bryce Canyon, Arches, Canyonlands, Capitol Reef |
| Colorado | 4 | Rocky Mountain, Mesa Verde, Great Sand Dunes, Black Canyon |
| Arizona | 3 | Grand Canyon, Petrified Forest, Saguaro |
| Washington | 3 | Olympic, Mount Rainier, North Cascades |
| Florida | 3 | Everglades, Biscayne, Dry Tortugas |
The "must-visit" big 5
Yellowstone (Wyoming, Montana, Idaho)
The world's first national park (1872). 2.2M acres straddling 3 states. Home of Old Faithful, half the world's geysers, and the largest grizzly + wolf population in the lower 48.
Grand Canyon (Arizona)
1 mile deep, 277 miles long, up to 18 miles wide. ~6M visitors a year. 6 million years of geological exposure visible in the canyon walls.
Yosemite (California)
Half Dome, El Capitan, Yosemite Falls (highest waterfall in North America). Birthplace of the conservation movement via John Muir.
Zion (Utah)
Towering sandstone cliffs in red, pink, cream. Angel's Landing and The Narrows are bucket-list hikes.
Glacier (Montana)
Going-to-the-Sun Road, 700 lakes, the last refuge of grizzlies in the lower 48 outside Yellowstone.
Largest National Parks (by area)
- Wrangell-St. Elias (Alaska) — 13.2M acres. Larger than Switzerland.
- Gates of the Arctic (Alaska) — 8.5M acres.
- Denali (Alaska) — 6.0M acres.
- Katmai (Alaska) — 4.1M acres.
- Death Valley (California/Nevada) — 3.4M acres. Largest park in the lower 48.
Smallest National Parks
- Gateway Arch (Missouri) — 192 acres. The smallest national park.
- Hot Springs (Arkansas) — 5,500 acres. Oldest federally protected area (1832).
- Indiana Dunes (Indiana) — 15,000 acres.
The 20 states with NO National Park
Alabama, Connecticut, Delaware, Georgia, Iowa, Illinois, Kansas, Louisiana, Maryland, Massachusetts, Mississippi, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, Wisconsin.
(They do have National Monuments, Historic Sites, etc. — just no "National Park" designation.)
National Park vs. National Monument vs. State Park
- National Park — designated by an Act of Congress. Highest tier. 63 currently.
- National Monument — designated by Presidential proclamation. ~130 currently.
- National Forest / Grassland / Seashore / Recreation Area — managed by various federal agencies.
- State Park — managed by state government, NOT federal.
Learn states through their parks
Statedoku uses "Home to Yellowstone" or "Has a National Park" as constraints in its daily puzzle. Geography by curiosity.
Play today's puzzle →Frequently asked questions
How many National Parks are in the US?
63 National Parks across 30 states. The 64th — New River Gorge — was added in 2020.
Which state has the most National Parks?
California with 9: Yosemite, Sequoia, Kings Canyon, Joshua Tree, Death Valley (shared with Nevada), Lassen Volcanic, Pinnacles, Redwood, Channel Islands.
What was the first National Park?
Yellowstone, established in 1872 — the world's first National Park. It predates the Wyoming and Montana statehoods.
What's the most visited National Park?
Great Smoky Mountains (Tennessee/North Carolina) with ~13M visitors/year. Grand Canyon is second at ~6M. Free entry helps Smokies stay #1.
Which state has the most acreage in National Parks?
Alaska — 8 parks totaling ~33M acres, more than the other 49 states combined.