Which National Park Should You Go To Next?

The US has over 60 national parks, so which should be up next on your bucket list? 

The National Park System is just one of the many things that makes the United States so unique. You can go from hiking up tall mountains in Grand Teton to paddling through the peaks in the Grand Canyon. The United States has 62 areas that are known as protected land and completely operated by the National Park System.

So, where do you even start when trying to pick one to visit? To help you out, here are some of our favorite national parks. Hopefully, this inspires you to adventure somewhere new the next time you have the opportunity! 

Arches National Park.

Last year, my sister and I went on a road trip to Utah and visited all of its national parks. Truly, they are all stunning, and it’s super easy to visit all of them in a week. But there was something special about Arches National Park. It really felt like we were in the desert, in the middle of nowhere. It was magical to see how all of these beautiful arches just popped up out of nowhere. 

Arches National Park is located just outside of Moab, Utah, which is a cute, small “mountain” town. Moab has some cool spots to eat and stay at, but the thing that makes this town so popular is the fact that it’s in between Arches National Park and Canyonlands National Park.

The most important thing you should know about Arches National Park is that you HAVE to visit the infamous Delicate Arch. Even better, you should hike the Delicate Arch at sunset. Chances are, you’ve probably seen this notorious arch on license plates and plastered across the sign in the Salt Lake City airport that says “Welcome to Utah.”  Since this is such a sought-after venture, you should try to start the hike early so you can escape the big crowds and have a spot to sit once you arrive. 

Travel writer Emma Scott Singletary poses proudly after a hike up to the notorious Delicate Arch. Photo by Emma Scott Singletary.

Grand Teton National Park.

Emma Scott Singletary and her sister atop Inspiration Point. Photo by Emma Scott Singletary

There is something so magical about Grand Teton National Park. I might be a little biased because my sister lives close by and I consider it my second home after visiting almost every year. While boarding the flight home from this beautiful place, the waterworks always start flowing as I look over the Wyoming/Idaho border (better known as Wydaho) so incredibly adorned with the Grand Tetons. 

The views from Jenny Lake are anything but ordinary. Just see for yourself. Photo by Emma Scott Singletary

If this is your only time out there, you must hike the Inspiration Point Trail and take the ferry back across Jenny Lake. It’s not an easy hike, but the views are worth it. It’s sure to give you that feeling of being on top of the world yet in a completely different world at the same time.

Kenai Fjords National Park.

Most people probably haven't heard of Kenai Fjords National Park, which is understandable considering it’s located in a remote area of Alaska. However, this should definitely be at the top of your adventurous bucket list! Alaska can be a pretty intimidating state to visit, as there is truly so much to do. The question remains, where do you even begin? Well, a Kenai Fjords trip wouldn’t be a terrible place to start! 

The Kenai Peninsula in Alaska has so much to offer─from hiking to whale watching to seeing some of the largest and oldest glaciers in the country. The Exit Glacier hike is a simple, 20-ish-minute hike that ends with views of the gorgeous and huge glacier. While it’s so close you could walk up and touch it, it’s important to know glaciers in Alaska are extremely delicate and shouldn’t be messed with. But, they’re still beautiful to admire from a safe distance while listening to all that nature has to offer. 

Exit Glacier looking like its mysteriously charming self, per usual. Photo by Emma Scott Singletary

No matter what, you cannot go wrong when visiting a national park in the United States. Each park has so much to offer, and each is unique and different in its own way. From the everglades of Florida to the glaciers of Alaska, the United States has some incredible wilderness areas to see. Don't let the intimidation of a national park scare you, just get out there and explore!

Featured image taken by Emma Scott Singletary.