America's Crown Jewels: Top 10 Must-Visit National Parks in the US

The Top 10 National Parks in the US: Your Ultimate Nature Bucket List

Why To Read This? Planning a trip to a US national park can be overwhelming. is a nasty statistic. There are over 60 parks! Where do you even start? This guide makes it easier, focusing on the top Vitamin D10 national parks and their iconic status and landscapes, biodiversity, and visitor experiences. You will become more aware of what to prioritize and you can plan to escape into the best natural treasures of America. Enjoy your adventure!

Understanding the Selection: "Top" parks are relevant only in terms of your own preferences. We focus on parks based on the iconic landscapes, ecosystems, unique geological structures, and whole visitor experience/impact. The parks we choose must have a park, experience, or feature that is authentically one of a kind and represents the massive amount of natural beauty found throughout our great land. The numbers from the National Park Service (NPS) which noted visitation and significance to conservation coupled with many decades of travel experience collectively power our recommendations.

1. Yellowstone National Park (Wyoming, Montana, Idaho)

• Why it's Top: The first national park in the world and a geothermal paradise unlike anywhere else.
• Iconic Features: Old Faithful geyser, Grand Prismatic Spring (the largest hot spring in the US), Yellowstone Lake, Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone, loads of wildlife including bison, elk, bears, and wolves.
• Unique Experience: Being able to experience raw geological power through geysers, hot springs, mudpots, and fumaroles.
• Best Time to Visit: May-June & Sept-Oct (you'll have fewer crowds while wildlife viewing). July-August is peak season.  
   

2. Yosemite National Park (California)

• Why it's Top: The Sierra Nevada icon has granite monoliths, giant sequoias and spectacular waterfalls. 
• Iconic Features: El Capitan, Half Dome, Yosemite Falls (tallest in North America), Glacier Point, Mariposa Grove (giant sequoias), Tuolumne Meadows.
• Unique Experience: Gazing up at the sheer granite walls of Yosemite Valley or hiking among ancient, massive sequoias.
• Best Time to Visit: May-June (peak waterfalls), Sept-Oct (fewer crowds, fall colors). Winter offers snowscapes.

3. Grand Canyon National Park (Arizona)

• Why it's Top: Sierra Nevada landmark that has granite monoliths, giant sequin trees and stunning waterfalls. 
• Iconic Features: The vast vistas of the South Rim, the deeper and wilder North Rim, Havasu Falls (permit/hike required), Colorado River rapids.  
• Unique Experience: Being able to see and feel the immensity and depth in-person from the rim and/or traveling down into the canyon.  
• Best Time to Visit: Spring (Apr-May) & Fall (Sep-Oct) for cooler temps. South Rim open all year. North Rim open seasonally.

4. Zion National Park (Utah)

• Why it's Top: The towering sandstone cliffs, narrow slot canyons, and Virgin River make for a hiker's paradise. 
• Iconic Features: Angels Landing (permit required), The Narrows (hike through the river), Zion Canyon Scenic Drive, Emerald Pools, Observation Point. 
• Unique Experience: Wading in the beautiful water carved canyon of The Narrows or the exhilarating ascent to Angels Landing. 
• Best Time to Visit: Spring (Apr-May) & Fall (Sep-Oct). Though summer can be hot and crowded, it is more accessible with lots of places to visit; winter can be freezing, but beautiful.

5. Glacier National Park (Montana)

• Why it's Top: The "Crown of the Continent" has rugged mountains and glacial lakes with Going-to-the-Sun Road (don't forget your bear spray).
• Iconic Features: The Cathedral Group peaks, Jenny Lake, Snake River, the historic barns of Mormon Row, plenty of moose and elk.
• Unique Experience: Getting the iconic reflection of the Tetons in a glacial lake at sunrise or traveling the scenic waterways.
• Best Time to Visit: June-Sept for hiking and access, Fall (Sept-Oct) for bright colors and the wildlife rutting season, winter for snow sports.

6. Grand Teton National Park (Wyoming)

• Why it's Top: The jagged, dramatic Teton Range rises straight out of the Jackson Hole valley making it a destination of mountain grandeur that you won't find anywhere else.
• Iconic Features: The Cathedral Group peaks, Jenny Lake, Snake River, historic barns of Mormon Row, the plethora of moose and elk.
• Unique Experience: Capturing the iconic reflection of the Tetons in a glacial lake at sunrise, or cruising through the scenic waterways.
• Best Time to Visit: June-Sept for hiking/access, fall (Sept-Oct) for spectacular colors and wildlife rutting season, and winter for snow sports.

7. Rocky Mountain National Park (Colorado)

• Why it's Top: High-altitude experiences with alpine tundra, mountain lakes, wildlife and the most famous road in the USA, Trail Ridge Road.
• Iconic Features: Trail Ridge Road (the highest continuous paved road in the USA), Bear Lake, Longs Peak, Dream Lake, abundant elk herds.
• Unique Experience: Driving above the treeline on Trail Ridge Road or hiking to untouched alpine lakes surrounded by peaks.
• Best Time to Visit: June- Sept for full and complete road access. May and Oct have fewer crowds but may have snow. Also, timed entry permits may be required during peak season. 

8. Acadia National Park (Maine)

• Why it's Top: The only national park in the Northeast, featuring a rugged coastline, granite peaks, and island character.
• Iconic Features: Cadillac Mountain (the first sunrise in the US), Park Loop Road, Thunder Hole, Jordan Pond, carriage roads, Bass Harbor Head Lighthouse.
• Unique Experience: Sunrise from Cadillac mountain, or hiking coastal trails/ vistas.
• Best Time to Visit: Summer (July-August), otherwise Fall (Sept - Oct) for amazing foliage, Spring is often cool/muddy.

9. Bryce Canyon National Park (Utah)

• Why it's Top: A surreal landscape with a forest of colorful hoodoos (tall, skinny rock spires). 
• Iconic Features: Bryce Amphitheater, Sunrise Point, Sunset Point, Thor's Hammer and Queen's Garden Trail.
• Unique Experience: Going down and walking among hoodoos is an incredibly unique experience, especially if you are hiking the Navajo Loop or Queens Garden down into the maze of hoodoos! 
• Best Time to Visit: May-Sept for warm weather, April or October for fewer people and winter for stunning snow-dusted hoodoos.

10. Olympic National Park (Washington)

• Why it's Top: A remarkably diverse park featuring glacier-capped peaks, ancient temperate rainforest, and wild Pacific coastline. 
• Iconic Features: Hoh Rainforest, Hurricane Ridge, Ruby Beach, Rialto Beach/Hole-in-the-Wall, Sol Duc Hot Springs. 
• Unique Experience: Strolling through the moss-draped giants of the Hoh Rainforest or exploring tide pools on a rocky Pacific beach. 
• Best Time to Visit: July-August for driest/sunniest weather (though rain is always a possibility). Late Spring and Fall yield lush landscapes and less crowds.  

Beyond the List: Planning Your National Park Adventure

Know Before You Go: Always visit the NPS site for your park of choice. You will find important information here, including updates about road & trail closures, fire restrictions, weather & alerts, permits (if you plan to do a popular hike like Angels Landing or Half Dome), reservations (for camping, lodging and more parks increasingly need to reserve entry/roads like Rocky Mountain or Glacier), and access (parks at higher elevations or the North Rim Grand Canyon will reduce access seasonally).

Leave No Trace: These parks are treasures; pack out all trash, stay on disignated trails, respect wildlife (keep a safe distance!), and leave natural and cultural features as they are. Learn and abide by the 7 LNT principles.

Timing is Everything: Shoulder seasons (Spring/Fall) will often provide the best compromise of favorable weather and fewer people. Summer is peak season for almost everybody. Winter seldom attracts crowds and can provide unique and often beautiful experiences in many national parks, yet you must be ready for closures and snow!

Book Early: Lodges (inside and near parks) and popular campsites can book up months, sometimes a year in advance. So make sure to give enough time in advance to secure your accommodations.

Pack Smart: Layers wise! Weather can change quickly in the the mountains and desert. Wear sturdy shoes, rain gear, sun protection (hat, sunscreen), and be aware of your needs: plenty of water, maps, and first aid supplies. Bear spray should be used where recommended (e.g. Yellowstone, Glacier).

Preserving- Our Parks' Legacy

These parks are not just for us- they are for all of us, and future generations. The privilege of visiting these parks must be respected, and responsibility comes with it. When we plan for it, when we respect park regulations and wildlife, we minimize impacts, and support the National Park Service (donations and/or volunteering) we make sure that these sacred places remain alive and vibrant living places, not just accessible, but usable places of joy for everyone!

Are you ready to Explore? The experiences in America's national parks will inspire awe and create lasting memories. Invigorating mountain vistas, desert peace, stunning beaches, and geothermal phenomena are just a few of the experiences in America's national parks awaiting you. All of the parks listed above offer a chance for adventure! Which of these top US national parks is calling to you? Share your dream destination or favorite park experience below in the comments!