This year the National Park Service (NPS) is celebrating its centennial! On August 25, 2016 the NPS turns 100. To celebrate we’re doing a national park post series and starting with the top ten national parks to visit based on number of visitors. Stephanie’s on a quest to go to all the national parks and has been to eight of the ones on this list. Enjoy these ideas of which top 10 national parks to visit for the 100th anniversary!
Great Smoky Mountains
Photo Credit: Laura Brown
Highlights: wildlife, mountains, waterfalls, Cades Cove valley, historic buildings
Closest Airport: Mc Ghee Tyson Airport in Knoxville, TN
Activities: hiking (including on a section of the Appalachian Trail), bicycling, camping, horseback riding, scenic drives
Best Time to Go: March to May, September to October
Plan your trip to Great Smoky Mountains National Park!
Grand Canyon
Photo Credit: Laura Brown
Highlights: South Rim, viewpoints (including Mather, Mopi, Grandview and Desert), Colorado River, sunsets, El Tovar Hotel
Closest Airports: Flagstaff, Phoenix and Vegas
Activities: rafting trips, hiking (Bright Angel Trail and South Kaibab take you down to the river), mule trips, scenic drives, camping
Best Time to Go: March to April, September to October
Learn more about Grand Canyon National Park!
Rocky Mountain
Photo Credit: National Geographic
Highlights: elk and bighorns, Trail Ridge Road, summits, alpine lakes, tundra flowers and wild blooms
Closest Airport: Denver
Activities: fishing, hiking, camping, wildlife watching, scenic drives
Best Time to Go: May (for wildflowers) to mid-June, September (peak elk month) to October
Learn more about Rocky Mountain National Park!
Yosemite
Highlights: Bridalveil Fall, Half Dome, El Capitan, and other rock formations, giant sequoias, Ansel Adams Gallery, The Majestic Yosemite Hotel (formerly The Ahwahnee)
Closest Airports: Modesto, Oakland and San Francisco
Activities: rock climbing, art and photography classes, swimming, hiking, backpacking
Best Time to Go: April to May, September to October
Learn more about Yosemite!
Yellowstone
Highlights: Old Faithful geyser, wildlife including bison, and bear (don’t forget your bear spray), hot springs and mud pots, Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone
Closest Airport: Billings and Bozeman, MT; Idaho Falls, ID; Cody and Jackson, WY
Activities: snowmobiling and snowshoeing in winter, hiking, boating, wagon rides, wildlife viewing, camping
Best Time to Go: May to mid-June, September to October
Learn more about Yellowstone!
Zion
Highlights: The Narrows, sandstone cliffs, Angels Landing, Zion and Kolob Canyons, Springdale
Closest Airport: McCarran International Airport in Las Vegas, Nevada
Activities: hiking, camping, canyoneering, river trips, birding
Best Time to Go: April and October
Learn more about Zion National Park!
Olympic
Photo Credit: National Geographic
Highlights: beaches and coastline, forests, mountains, Vacation Volunteers in the summer, beaches, Lake Crescent Lodge
Closest Airport: Seattle
Top Activities: backpacking, fishing, hiking, kayaking and canoeing, beach combing
Best Time to Go: April to mid-May, July to October but all year really!
Learn more about Olympic National Park! Stephanie hasn’t been to this park yet- she needs to plan a trip soon!
Grand Teton
Highlights: Jackson Lake breakfast cruise, mountains, Jackson Lake Lodge, lakes, Moulton Barn in Mormon Row Historic District
Closest Airport: Jackson Hole, WY (you can pair with a trip to Yellowstone)
Top Activities: float trips, mountaineering, fishing, camping, hiking
Best Time to Go: May to June, September to October
Plan your trip to Grand Teton National Park!
Acadia
Photo Credit: Mainethingstodo.com
Highlights: Cadillac Mountain, rocky beaches, Mount Desert Island, lighthouses, Schoodic Peninsula
Closest Airports: Bangor and Portland
Activities: leaf viewing in autumn, biking, scenic drives, camping, boating
Best Time to Go: June, September to October for beautiful fall foliage
Read all about Acadia National Park!
Glacier
Photo Credit: nps.gov
Highlights: mountains, lakes, Many Glacier Hotel, mountain goats, Going-to-the-Sun Road
Closest Airport: Kalispell, MT
Activities: horseback riding, hiking, biking, backcountry camping, boating
Best Time to Go: June and September
Learn more about Glacier National Park! Stephanie still needs to go and it’s high on her list of places to go!
In general, the best time to visit most of these parks is in the spring and fall since summer tends to be busiest and warmer. If you must visit in the summer, you can get away from the maddening crowd by picking off the beaten path places to go in the park including those reached by longer hikes! Visiting parks in the winter if they’re open can be charming.
View all our stories about the US National Parks here!
What about you? How many of these parks have you been to? What parks would you recommend that aren’t listed here? We love hearing from you in the comments below!
I’ve been lucky enough to visit over a dozen this year (so far) while traveling in the RV and I have a new appreciation for how awesome the US is! Heading to a few more before the year is out!
That’s so awesome, Andi! We so enjoy following your journey on Instagram. As a fellow National Park fan, I would love to do a similar RV trip. What an amazing way to see this beautiful country of ours!