Ever worry that you will run out of places to explore in America? Lucky for you, there are 63 national parks and 429 national park sites across the country—it will take a long time to work your way through the 85 millions acres they encompass. And with additional sites being earmarked for conservation (West Virginia’s New River Gorge was just designated as a national park in 2021, for example), the list of destinations keeps growing and growing.
Remember, it takes some planning to visit the national parks, though the journey you make of it will be worthwhile. One way to optimize the experience is by targeting the lesser-known parks. Avoid the snaking lines at the Grand Canyon and take in the wrinkly sandstone at Capitol Reef. Skip the tortuous campsite-booking system at Acadia and sleep on the sands of Indiana Dunes. Smaller parks might mean fewer amenities and tour outfitters, but that’s where the real beauty of wilderness shines through.
In 2024, National Park Week runs April 20 to April 28. On April 20, entrance fees will be waived to kick off this year’s celebration and encourage people to sign off of screens and visit a national park in person.
Voyageurs National Park, Minnesota
Guadalupe Mountains National Park, Texas
North Cascades National Park, Washington
Lassen Volcanic National Park, California
Capitol Reef National Park, Utah
Biscayne National Park, Florida
Congaree National Park, South Carolina
Glacier Bay National Park, Alaska
New River Gorge National Park and Preserve, West Virginia
Indiana Dunes National Park, Indiana
Haleakalā National Park, Maui, Hawaii
Petrified Forest National Park, Arizona
Bonus National Lakeshore: Picture Rocks, Michigan
This story was originally published in 2023 and updated in 2024.