Complete List of US National Parks: Opening Dates, Facts & More

The United States is home to an incredible variety of national parks, each offering unique landscapes, history, and outdoor adventures. Below, you'll find a complete list of all 63 U.S. national parks, along with their establishment dates and interesting facts!

Complete List of U.S. National Parks

1. Denali National Park – Established in 1917, home to North America's tallest peak, Denali (20,310 ft).
2. Gates of the Arctic National Park – Established in 1980, this is the least-visited national park due to its remote location.
3. Glacier Bay National Park – Established in 1980, a UNESCO World Heritage site with stunning tidewater glaciers.
4. Katmai National Park – Established in 1980, famous for its brown bears and the Valley of Ten Thousand Smokes.
5. Kenai Fjords National Park – Established in 1980, known for its massive glaciers and marine wildlife.
6. Kobuk Valley National Park – Established in 1980, features sand dunes and caribou migrations.
7. Lake Clark National Park – Established in 1980, offers a mix of volcanoes, rivers, and rugged wilderness.
8. Wrangell-St. Elias National Park – Established in 1980, the largest U.S. national park (bigger than Switzerland!).
9. Grand Canyon National Park – Established in 1919, one of the most famous natural wonders of the world.
10. Petrified Forest National Park – Established in 1962, home to colorful petrified wood and prehistoric fossils.
11. Saguaro National Park – Established in 1994, protects giant saguaro cacti and Sonoran Desert landscapes.
12. Hot Springs National Park – Established in 1921, known for its thermal waters.
13. Channel Islands National Park – Established in 1980, protects five remote islands and diverse marine life.
14. Death Valley National Park – Established in 1994, the hottest and driest national park in the U.S.
15. Joshua Tree National Park – Established in 1994, known for its unique Joshua trees and rock formations.
16. Kings Canyon National Park – Established in 1940, features deep valleys and giant sequoia trees.
17. Lassen Volcanic National Park – Established in 1916, home to active geothermal features.
18. Pinnacles National Park – Established in 2013, known for rock spires and condors.
19. Redwood National Park – Established in 1968, preserves the world's tallest trees.
20. Sequoia National Park – Established in 1890, home to General Sherman, the largest tree by volume.
21. Yosemite National Park – Established in 1890, famous for El Capitan and Half Dome.
22. Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park – Established in 1999, known for its steep, dramatic cliffs.
23. Great Sand Dunes National Park – Established in 2004, features the tallest sand dunes in North America.
24. Mesa Verde National Park – Established in 1906, preserves ancient Puebloan cliff dwellings.
25. Rocky Mountain National Park – Established in 1915, famous for high-altitude hiking and wildlife.
26. Biscayne National Park – Established in 1980, protects coral reefs and shipwrecks.
27. Dry Tortugas National Park – Established in 1992, home to Fort Jefferson and crystal-clear waters.
28. Everglades National Park – Established in 1947, the largest tropical wilderness in the U.S.
29. Hawai'i Volcanoes National Park – Established in 1916, home to Kilauea and Mauna Loa volcanoes.
30. Haleakalā National Park – Established in 1961, famous for sunrise views from the summit.
31. Yellowstone National Park – Established in 1872, the first national park in the world.
32. Indiana Dunes National Park – Established in 2019, features sandy beaches along Lake Michigan.
33. Mammoth Cave National Park – Established in 1941, home to the world’s longest cave system.
34. Acadia National Park – Established in 1919, known for coastal scenery and Cadillac Mountain.
35. Isle Royale National Park – Established in 1940, accessible only by boat or seaplane.
36. Voyageurs National Park – Established in 1975, known for its interconnected waterways.
37. Gateway Arch National Park – Established in 2018, commemorates westward expansion.
38. Glacier National Park – Established in 1910, features stunning alpine scenery and wildlife.
39. Great Basin National Park – Established in 1986, home to ancient bristlecone pines.
40. Carlsbad Caverns National Park – Established in 1930, features over 119 caves beneath the desert.
41. White Sands National Park – Established in 2019, known for its vast gypsum sand dunes.
42. Theodore Roosevelt National Park – Established in 1978, honors the conservation legacy of Theodore Roosevelt.
43. Cuyahoga Valley National Park – Established in 2000, featuring waterfalls and scenic trails.
44. Crater Lake National Park – Established in 1902, home to the deepest lake in the U.S.
45. Congaree National Park – Established in 2003, protects one of the last old-growth floodplain forests.
46. Badlands National Park – Established in 1978, known for striking rock formations.
47. Wind Cave National Park – Established in 1903, home to one of the world's longest caves.
48. Great Smoky Mountains National Park – Established in 1934, the most-visited national park in the U.S.
49. Big Bend National Park – Established in 1944, known for its remote desert landscapes.
50. Guadalupe Mountains National Park – Established in 1972, home to Texas' highest peak.
51. Arches National Park – Established in 1971, famous for its natural sandstone arches.
52. Bryce Canyon National Park – Established in 1928, known for its hoodoo rock formations.
53. Canyonlands National Park – Established in 1964, featuring dramatic desert landscapes.
54. Capitol Reef National Park – Established in 1971, home to Waterpocket Fold rock formations.
55. Zion National Park – Established in 1919, famous for its towering sandstone cliffs.
56. Shenandoah National Park – Established in 1935, offering scenic Blue Ridge Mountain views.
57. Mount Rainier National Park – Established in 1899, home to the most glaciated peak in the U.S.
58. North Cascades National Park – Established in 1968, featuring rugged mountain scenery.
59. Olympic National Park – Established in 1938, containing diverse ecosystems.
60. New River Gorge National Park – Established in 2020, known for whitewater rafting.
61. Grand Teton National Park – Established in 1929, famous for its jagged mountain peaks.
62. National Park of American Samoa – Established in 1988, protecting tropical rainforests.
63. Virgin Islands National Park – Established in 1956, featuring stunning Caribbean beaches.

Track Your National Park Adventures!

Exploring the incredible U.S. national parks is a journey of a lifetime. Whether you're planning your next visit or reminiscing about past adventures, our handcrafted National Parks Maps are the perfect way to track your travels. Mark each park you've visited and get inspired for future trips!