U.S. National Parks Statistics and Ranking

Published Sep 13, 2024

As of 2025, the United States is home to 63 national parks, located across 30 states and two U.S. territories. These parks attract over 300 million visitors annually, drawing both domestic and international tourists.

Map of the United States with all 50 states labeled by two-letter abbreviation, used as the lead image for national parks by state.
Map of the United States with every state labelled by its two-letter abbreviation

National Parks by State

Which states have the most national parks?

California has the most national parks out of all the U.S. states, with a total of nine parks.

  • It is followed by Alaska with eight national parks, and Utah comes in third with five national parks.
  • Colorado rounds out the top four with 4 national parks, followed by Arizona, Florida, and Washington with 3 national parks each.

What is the Newest National Park in the U.S.?

  • The newest national park in the United States is New River Gorge National Park in West Virginia. The park was recognised as a national park in December 2020.

What is the Oldest National Park in the U.S.?

  • The oldest national park in the United States is Yellowstone National Park, which was established on March 1, 1872.
  • The park is located primarily in Wyoming, with parts extending into Montana and Idaho.
National Parks by State
State/TerritoryNational ParkLocationDate of Establishment
Alaska (8)Denali National ParkSouth-central AlaskaFeb 26, 1917
Alaska (8)Gates of the Arctic National ParkNorthern AlaskaDec 02, 1980
Alaska (8)Glacier Bay National ParkSoutheast AlaskaDec 02, 1980
Alaska (8)Katmai National ParkSouthern AlaskaDec 02, 1980
Alaska (8)Kenai Fjords National ParkSouthern AlaskaDec 02, 1980
Alaska (8)Kobuk Valley National ParkNorthwestern AlaskaDec 02, 1980
Alaska (8)Lake Clark National ParkSouthwestern AlaskaDec 02, 1980
Alaska (8)Wrangell–St. Elias National ParkSoutheastern AlaskaDec 02, 1980
American Samoa (1)National Park of American SamoaAmerican SamoaOct 31, 1988
Arizona (3)Grand Canyon National ParkNorthern ArizonaFeb 26, 1919
Arizona (3)Petrified Forest National ParkNortheastern ArizonaDec 09, 1962
Arizona (3)Saguaro National ParkSouthern ArizonaOct 14, 1994
Arkansas (1)Hot Springs National ParkCentral ArkansasMar 04, 1921
California (9)Channel Islands National ParkSouthern CaliforniaMar 05, 1980
California (9)Death Valley National ParkEastern CaliforniaOct 31, 1994
California (9)Joshua Tree National ParkSouthern CaliforniaOct 31, 1994
California (9)Kings Canyon National ParkCentral CaliforniaMar 04, 1940
California (9)Lassen Volcanic National ParkNorthern CaliforniaAug 09, 1916
California (9)Pinnacles National ParkCentral CaliforniaJan 10, 2013
California (9)Redwood National and State ParksNorthern CaliforniaOct 02, 1968
California (9)Sequoia National ParkCentral CaliforniaSep 25, 1890
California (9)Yosemite National ParkCentral CaliforniaOct 01, 1890
Colorado (4)Black Canyon of the Gunnison NPWestern ColoradoOct 21, 1999
Colorado (4)Great Sand Dunes National ParkSouthern ColoradoSep 13, 2004
Colorado (4)Mesa Verde National ParkSouthwestern ColoradoJun 29, 1906
Colorado (4)Rocky Mountain National ParkNorthern ColoradoJan 26, 1915
Florida (3)Biscayne National ParkSouthern FloridaJun 28, 1980
Florida (3)Dry Tortugas National ParkFlorida Keys, Southern FloridaOct 26, 1992
Florida (3)Everglades National ParkSouthern FloridaMay 30, 1934
Hawaii (2)Haleakalā National ParkMaui, HawaiiJul 01, 1961
Hawaii (2)Hawai'i Volcanoes National ParkBig Island, HawaiiAug 01, 1916
Idaho (1)Yellowstone National Park (part)Western Wyoming/Idaho borderMar 01, 1872
Indiana (1)Indiana Dunes National ParkNorthwestern IndianaFeb 15, 2019
Kentucky (1)Mammoth Cave National ParkCentral KentuckyJul 01, 1941
Maine (1)Acadia National ParkMount Desert Island, MaineFeb 26, 1919
Michigan (1)Isle Royale National ParkLake Superior, MichiganApr 03, 1940
Minnesota (1)Voyageurs National ParkNorthern MinnesotaApr 08, 1975
Missouri (1)Gateway Arch National ParkSt. Louis, MissouriFeb 22, 2018
Montana (2)Glacier National ParkNorthern MontanaMay 11, 1910
Montana (2)Yellowstone National Park (part)Western Wyoming/Montana borderMar 01, 1872
Nevada (2)Death Valley National ParkNevadaOct 31, 1994
Nevada (2)Great Basin National ParkEastern NevadaOct 27, 1986
New Mexico (2)Carlsbad Caverns National ParkSoutheastern New MexicoMay 14, 1930
New Mexico (2)White Sands National ParkSouthern New MexicoDec 20, 2019
North Carolina (1)Great Smoky Mountains NP (part)Western North CarolinaJun 15, 1934
North Dakota (1)Theodore Roosevelt National ParkWestern North DakotaNov 10, 1978
Ohio (1)Cuyahoga Valley National ParkNortheastern OhioOct 11, 2000
Oregon (1)Crater Lake National ParkSouthern OregonMay 22, 1902
South Carolina (1)Congaree National ParkCentral South CarolinaNov 10, 2003
South Dakota (2)Badlands National ParkSouthwestern South DakotaNov 10, 1978
South Dakota (2)Wind Cave National ParkSouthwestern South DakotaJan 09, 1903
Tennessee (1)Great Smoky Mountains NP (part)Eastern TennesseeJun 15, 1934
Texas (2)Big Bend National ParkWestern TexasJun 12, 1944
Texas (2)Guadalupe Mountains National ParkWestern TexasOct 15, 1966
Utah (5)Arches National ParkEastern UtahNov 12, 1971
Utah (5)Bryce Canyon National ParkSouthwestern UtahFeb 25, 1928
Utah (5)Canyonlands National ParkSoutheastern UtahSep 12, 1964
Utah (5)Capitol Reef National ParkSouth-central UtahDec 18, 1971
Utah (5)Zion National ParkSouthwestern UtahNov 19, 1919
Virginia (1)Shenandoah National ParkNorthern VirginiaDec 26, 1935
Virgin Islands (1)Virgin Islands National ParkSaint John, U.S. Virgin IslandsAug 02, 1956
Washington (3)Mount Rainier National ParkWestern WashingtonMar 02, 1899
Washington (3)North Cascades National ParkNorthern WashingtonOct 02, 1968
Washington (3)Olympic National ParkNorthwestern WashingtonJun 29, 1938
West Virginia (1)New River Gorge National ParkSouthern West VirginiaDec 27, 2020
Wyoming (2)Grand Teton National ParkNorthwestern WyomingFeb 26, 1929
Wyoming (2)Yellowstone National ParkNorthwestern WyomingMar 01, 1872

Top U.S. National Parks by Recreation Visits (2025)

What was the most visited U.S. national park in 2025?

Great Smoky Mountains National Park consistently ranks as the most visited national park in the United States. In 2025, it welcomed 11.53 million visitors.

  • The park is located on the border between North Carolina and Tennessee.

What was the least visited U.S. national park in 2025?

The Kobuk Valley National Park, located in northwestern Alaska, holds the title of the least visited national park, welcoming exactly 7,786 visitors in 2025.

Top U.S. National Parks by Recreation Visits (2025)
RankParkRecreation Visits% of Total
1Great Smoky Mountains NP11,527,93912.28%
2Zion NP4,984,5255.31%
3Yellowstone NP4,762,9885.07%
4Grand Canyon NP4,430,6534.72%
5Yosemite NP4,278,4134.56%
6Rocky Mountain NP4,171,4314.44%
7Acadia NP4,079,3184.34%
8Grand Teton NP3,800,6484.05%
9Olympic NP3,584,1873.82%
10Glacier NP3,136,5573.34%
11Cuyahoga Valley NP3,025,3253.22%
12Joshua Tree NP2,932,6443.12%
13Indiana Dunes NP2,629,4972.80%
14Hot Springs NP2,494,6112.66%
15Gateway Arch NP2,209,0282.35%
16Bryce Canyon NP1,967,3672.10%
17New River Gorge NP & PRES1,958,4402.09%
18Hawaii Volcanoes NP1,877,8542.00%
19Shenandoah NP1,682,1521.79%
20Mount Rainier NP1,635,3421.74%
21Arches NP1,511,7401.61%
22Capitol Reef NP1,388,4761.48%
23Sequoia NP1,378,3371.47%
24Death Valley NP1,320,1341.41%
25Redwood NP1,202,4801.28%
26Badlands NP1,139,3611.21%
27Haleakala NP853,7110.91%
28Saguaro NP847,7490.90%
29Canyonlands NP796,0570.85%
30Kings Canyon NP779,7910.83%
31Everglades NP778,1980.83%
32Glacier Bay NP & PRES740,0440.79%
33Theodore Roosevelt NP729,8930.78%
34Mammoth Cave NP660,7340.70%
35White Sands NP659,7420.70%
36Crater Lake NP632,2420.67%
37Wind Cave NP606,2580.65%
38Big Bend NP568,1040.61%
39Denali NP & PRES543,3000.58%
40Lassen Volcanic NP504,7770.54%
41Biscayne NP486,5670.52%
42Virgin Islands NP471,0740.50%
43Mesa Verde NP463,1300.49%
44Great Sand Dunes NP & PRES432,4980.46%
45Kenai Fjords NP425,3690.45%
46Carlsbad Caverns NP410,7780.44%
47Pinnacles NP343,2080.37%
48Petrified Forest NP315,9510.34%
49Congaree NP287,8330.31%
50Black Canyon of the Gunnison NP250,0860.27%
51Channel Islands NP227,1860.24%
52Guadalupe Mountains NP206,4230.22%
53Voyageurs NP206,3260.22%
54Great Basin NP161,2100.17%
55Wrangell-St. Elias NP & PRES108,8400.12%
56Dry Tortugas NP89,3550.10%
57North Cascades NP46,9250.05%
58National Park of American Samoa43,2580.05%
59Katmai NP & PRES34,4790.04%
60Isle Royale NP29,0910.03%
61Lake Clark NP & PRES19,7780.02%
62Gates of the Arctic NP & PRES14,9230.02%
63Kobuk Valley NP7,7860.01%

Source · Note: Current calendar year data are preliminary and subject to change.

2025 Camper Distribution in the U.S. National Parks by Type

In 2025, U.S. National Parks saw 93.89 million recreation visits in total. Out of those, more than 9.17 million visitors chose to camp.

  • In 2025, the most popular types of camping in the U.S. National Parks were lodging using concessionaires (2.88 million), followed by tent campers (2.32 million).
Pie chart of the distribution of campers across U.S. National Parks in 2025 by camping type: concessionaire lodging, tent, RV, backcountry, and concessionaire camping.
Campers in the U.S. National Parks by Type in 2025

Which U.S. National Park had the most tent campers in 2025?

  • Yosemite National Park leads with the highest number of tent campers in 2025, totalling 439,233 campers.
  • This was followed by Great Smoky Mountains National Park and Joshua Tree National Park.
Horizontal bar chart of top U.S. National Parks for tent campers in 2025; Yosemite leads at 439,233.
Top U.S. National Parks for Tent Campers in 2025

Which U.S. National Park had the most RV campers?

  • In 2025, Yosemite National Park had the most RV campers among U.S. National Parks, with a total of 264,908 campers.
  • This was followed again by Great Smoky Mountains National Park, which accommodated 141,354 RV campers.
Horizontal bar chart of top U.S. National Parks for RV campers in 2025; Yosemite leads at 264,908.
Top U.S. National Parks for RV Campers in 2025

Which U.S. National Park had the most backcountry campers in 2025?

  • The Grand Canyon National Park recorded the highest number of backcountry campers among U.S. National Parks, with a total of 163,351 in 2025.
  • This was followed by Yosemite National Park, which had 139,743 backcountry campers.
Horizontal bar chart of top U.S. National Parks for backcountry campers in 2025; Grand Canyon leads at 163,351.
Top U.S. National Parks for Backcountry Campers in 2025

U.S. National Parks by Size

What is the largest National Park in the US?

  • Wrangell-St. Elias National Park is the largest national park in the United States. The park is located in Alaska, covering an area of 13.2 million acres (53,320 square kilometres).

Which U.S. National Park is the smallest in size?

  • Gateway Arch National Park is the smallest national park in the United States. The park is located in St. Louis, Missouri and spans just 91 acres (0.14 square miles or 0.37 square kilometres).
U.S. National Parks by Size
RankNational ParkStateAcresComparable Country, State or Island
1Wrangell-St. Elias NP & PRESAlaska8,323,146.48Moldova
2Gates of the Arctic NP & PRESAlaska7,523,897.40Maryland
3Denali NP & PRESAlaska4,740,911.16Slovenia
4Katmai NP & PRESAlaska3,674,529.33Connecticut
5Death Valley NPCalifornia, Nevada3,373,063.14Montenegro
6Glacier Bay NP & PRESAlaska3,223,383.43Montenegro
7Lake Clark NP & PRESAlaska2,619,816.49Lebanon
8Yellowstone NPWyoming, Montana, Idaho2,219,790.71Puerto Rico
9Kobuk Valley NPAlaska1,750,716.16Palestine
10Everglades NPFlorida1,400,539.30Delaware
11Grand Canyon NPArizona1,201,647.03Trinidad and Tobago
12Glacier NPMontana1,013,125.99Cape Verde
13Olympic NPWashington922,649.41Rhode Island
14Big Bend NPTexas801,163.21Iturup Island (Russia)
15Joshua Tree NPCalifornia790,635.74Makira (Solomon Islands)
16Yosemite NPCalifornia761,747.50Zemlya Georga Island (Russia)
17Kenai Fjords NPAlaska669,650.05Unalaska Island (Alaska)
18Isle Royale NPMichigan571,790.30Luxembourg
19Great Smoky Mountains NPTennessee, North Carolina522,426.88Alor Island (Indonesia )
20North Cascades NPWashington504,780.94Mauritius
21Kings Canyon NPCalifornia461,901.20Comoros
22Sequoia NPCalifornia404,062.63Åland Islands (Finland)
23Canyonlands NPUtah337,597.83Faroe Islands (Denmark)
24Hawaiʻi Volcanoes NPHawaii323,431.38Lougheed Island (Canada)
25Grand Teton NPWyoming310,044.22Mill Island (Antarctica)
26Rocky Mountain NPColorado265,795.20Tahiti (French Polynesia)
27Channel Islands NPCalifornia249,561.00Hiiumaa (Estonia)
28Badlands NPSouth Dakota242,755.94São Tomé and Príncipe
29Capitol Reef NPUtah241,904.50São Tomé and Príncipe
30Mount Rainier NPWashington236,381.64São Tomé and Príncipe
31Petrified Forest NPArizona221,390.21Turks and Caicos Islands
32Voyageurs NPMinnesota218,200.15Attu Island (Alaska)
33Shenandoah NPVirginia199,217.77Kiribati
34Crater Lake NPOregon183,224.05Tonga
35Biscayne NPFlorida172,971.11Federated States of Micronesia
36Zion NPUtah147,237.02Saint Lucia
37White Sands NPNew Mexico146,344.31Saint Lucia
38Redwood NPCalifornia138,999.37Guam (United States)
39Great Sand Dunes NP & PRESColorado107,341.87Curaçao (Netherlands)
40Lassen Volcanic NPCalifornia106,589.02Antigua and Barbuda
41Saguaro NPArizona91,715.72Jan Mayen (Norway)
42Guadalupe Mountains NPTexas86,367.10Grenada
43Great Basin NPNevada77,180.00Malta
44Arches NPUtah76,678.98Maldives
45New River Gorge NP & PRESWest Virginia72,186.49Caribbean island (Saint Kitts)
46Theodore Roosevelt NPNorth Dakota70,446.89Bonaire (Netherlands)
47Dry Tortugas NPFlorida64,701.22Saint Kitts and Nevis
48Mammoth Cave NPKentucky54,011.91Sauvie Island (Oregon)
49Mesa Verde NPColorado52,485.17Pine Island (Florida)
50Acadia NPMaine49,075.26American Samoa (United States)
51Carlsbad Caverns NPNew Mexico46,766.45Washington, D.C
52Bryce Canyon NPUtah35,835.08Wallis and Futuna (France)
53Wind Cave NPSouth Dakota33,970.84Christmas Island (Australia)
54Haleakalā NPHawaii33,264.62Christmas Island (Australia)
55Cuyahoga Valley NPOhio32,572.24Vieques (Puerto Rico)
56Black Canyon of the Gunnison NPColorado30,780.76Jersey (United Kingdom)
57Pinnacles NPCalifornia26,685.73Montserrat (United Kingdom)
58Congaree NPSouth Carolina26,539.22Montserrat (United Kingdom)
59Indiana Dunes NPIndiana15,067.00Nauru
60Virgin Islands NPUnited States Virgin Islands14,940.00San Marino
61American Samoa NPAmerican Samoa8,256.67Macau (China)
62Hot Springs NPArkansas5,548.01Tuvalu
63Gateway Arch NPMissouri90.90Vatican City

U.S. National Parks by Mortality Count

Which National Parks are the most dangerous?

Grand Canyon National Park in Arizona (216 deaths), Yosemite National Park in California (189 deaths), and Great Smoky Mountains National Park (150 deaths) are the national parks with the highest mortality counts from 2007 to August 2024.

  • Common causes of fatalities include falls, drowning, and environmental exposure. The rugged terrain and high visitor numbers at these parks contribute to the higher accident rates.

What are the safest National Parks in the U.S.?

Some parks like Sequoia National Park, Kings Canyon National Park and Glacier Bay National Park report zero visitor deaths.

These parks typically have easier terrain and lower visitation numbers, which contribute to their safety records.

RV rental in the USA

U.S. National Parks by Mortality Count
RankParkMortality Count (2007 to August 2024)
1Grand Canyon National Park216
2Yosemite National Park189
3Great Smoky Mountains National Park150
4Yellowstone National Park84
5Mount Rainier National Park82
6Rocky Mountain National Park77
7Grand Teton National Park73
8Death Valley National Park70
9Olympic National Park56
10Zion National Park55
11Glacier National Park53
12Shenandoah National Park48
13Virgin Islands National Park41
14Cuyahoga Valley National Park40
15Big Bend National Park35
16Indiana Dunes National Park32
17Joshua Tree National Park31
18Acadia National Park30
19Canyonlands National Park27
20North Cascades National Park27
21Biscayne National Park20
22Saguaro National Park19
23Everglades National Park18
24Hawaii Volcanoes National Park17
25Arches National Park15
26Haleakala National Park15
27Channel Islands National Park15
28Mammoth Cave National Park12
29Crater Lake National Park10
30Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park9
31Capitol Reef National Park8
32Bryce Canyon National Park7
33White Sands National Park7
34Guadalupe Mountains National Park7
35Dry Tortugas National Park7
36Hot Springs National Park6
37Badlands National Park6
38Mesa Verde National Park5
39Lassen Volcanic National Park5
40Pinnacles National Park5
41Wind Cave National Park4
42Carlsbad Caverns National Park4
43Voyageurs National Park4
44Theodore Roosevelt National Park2
45Great Basin National Park2
46Isle Royale National Park2
47Gateway Arch National Park1
48Petrified Forest National Park1
49Congaree National Park1
50New River Gorge National Park & PRES0
51Sequoia National Park0
52Glacier Bay National Park & PRES0
53Kings Canyon National Park0
54Great Sand Dunes National Park & PRES0
55Denali National Park & PRES0
56Redwood National Park0
57Kenai Fjords National Park0
58Wrangell-St. Elias National Park & PRES0
59Katmai National Park & PRES0
60Kobuk Valley National Park0
61Lake Clark National Park & PRES0
62National Park of American Samoa0
63Gates of the Arctic National Park & PRES0