The Best National Parks to Visit Across the Country
As the end of the semester approaches, you’re probably already thinking about potential summer plans—specifically, where you might want to travel. Enter: America’s national parks.
You’re probably familiar with at least a few of the most famous national parks, but with a total of 63 in the country, we’re certain there are some stops you probably haven’t heard of. We’ve rounded up some of the most beautiful parks around the United States below to help you decide what to hit on your next road trip.
Acadia National Park – Maine
Photo by Owen Casey from Pexels
Not too far from Portland and along the coast, Maine’s Acadia National Park is perfect for those looking for a scenic drive. The area’s Park Loop Road is a 27-mile-long road that allows visitors to see the park and coastlines in all of their true glory. There are also plenty of picturesque hiking trails if you’re wanting to get up close and personal with Maine’s nature.
Badlands National Park – South Dakota
Located in southwest South Dakota is Badlands National Park, complete with gigantic rock formations, grasslands, and the occasional buffalo roaming about. Similar to other parks, Badlands can be seen without leaving the car—the Scenic Byway is about 40 miles long—but we’re almost certain you’ll want to get out and enjoy the view. As an added bonus, Mount Rushmore is only an hour and a half drive away.
Grand Canyon National Park – Arizona
Photo by Ian Beckley from Pexels
We would be remiss if we didn’t include the Grand Canyon, often considered one of the natural wonders of the world, on this list. The entire park itself is made up of a whopping 277 miles, while the canyon is a mile deep and 18 miles across in its widest places. With colorful layers of rock surrounding you from all angles, the Grand Canyon and the rest of the park are absolutely a must-see.
Shenandoah National Park – North Carolina and Virginia
Back on Elon’s side of the country is Shenandoah National Park, filled with waterfalls, scenic overlooks and lots of wildlife. Here, the Blue Ridge Parkway connects Virginia’s Shenandoah and North Carolina’s Great Smokey Mountains and is the perfect way to take in this national park while also getting to see some of the beautiful towns each state has to offer.
Yellowstone National Park – Wyoming
Perhaps the most famous of all the national parks—and also the first established—is Yellowstone in Wyoming. The drive through Yellowstone will take you past several of the hot springs, geysers, canyons and more found on the 2.2 million acres of park land.
Yosemite National Park – California
If you find yourself in California and are looking to get out into nature, Yosemite should absolutely make its way onto your itinerary. The road that runs through the park guarantees you’ll see glaciers, cascading waterfalls and massive granite walls. A beautiful bonus found in the park is the ancient sequoia groves, which are home to hundreds of towering trees.
Already been to a national park or planning a trip to one soon? Remember to tag @theedgemag!