Which States Have the Most National Parks?

The United States has 63 designated national parks — distinct from the broader National Park System, which includes monuments, recreation areas, and historic sites. These 63 parks are spread very unevenly across the country. Here's the complete breakdown.

States With the Most National Parks

California — 9 national parks. No state has more. They are: Yosemite, Sequoia, Kings Canyon, Death Valley, Joshua Tree, Channel Islands, Pinnacles, Redwood, and Lassen Volcanic. California's geographic diversity — from alpine peaks to desert basins to coastal cliffs — makes it uniquely suited for national park designations.

Alaska — 8 national parks. Denali, Glacier Bay, Kenai Fjords, Katmai, Lake Clark, Wrangell-St. Elias, Gates of the Arctic, and Kobuk Valley. Wrangell-St. Elias is the largest national park in the US at 13.2 million acres — larger than the country of Switzerland.

Utah — 5 national parks. The "Mighty Five": Zion, Bryce Canyon, Arches, Canyonlands, and Capitol Reef. Utah's five parks are within a few hours of each other, making the state a premier road-trip destination. Arches alone has over 2,000 natural stone arches.

Colorado — 4 national parks. Rocky Mountain, Mesa Verde, Great Sand Dunes, and Black Canyon of the Gunnison. Rocky Mountain is one of the most visited parks in the system; Mesa Verde protects the most significant collection of Ancestral Puebloan sites in the US.

Wyoming — 2 national parks. Yellowstone and Grand Teton. Yellowstone, established in 1872, was the world's first national park. Grand Teton rises more abruptly above its valley floor than almost any mountain range in North America.

Hawaii — 2 national parks. Haleakalā and Hawaiʻi Volcanoes. Both involve volcanoes — Haleakalā on Maui (last erupted around 1600 CE) and Kīlauea on the Big Island, one of the most continuously active volcanoes on Earth.

States With Zero National Parks

12 states have no designated national parks: Alabama, Connecticut, Delaware, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Louisiana, Maryland, Mississippi, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York (technically no national park though it has many national monuments and sites), Ohio, Oklahoma, Rhode Island, South Carolina, and Wisconsin.

Wait — that's more than 12. Actually the exact count depends on how you categorize some designations. New York's Acadia-equivalent is actually in Maine; New York itself has no designated national park though it has many national monuments (Statue of Liberty, Gateway, etc.).

The Least Visited National Park

Gates of the Arctic in Alaska sees fewer than 12,000 visitors per year — the least of any park. There are no roads, no trails, and no facilities. Every visitor arrives by small plane or on foot from the Dalton Highway.

The Most Visited

Great Smoky Mountains National Park sees over 12 million visitors annually — more than Yellowstone, the Grand Canyon, and Yosemite combined. It's the only national park without an entrance fee, and its location between several large Southern cities drives its extraordinary visitor count.

The Newest National Parks

New River Gorge in West Virginia was designated a national park in December 2020 — the most recent addition to the national park system. Indiana Dunes became a national park in 2019, giving Indiana its first national park designation after years as a national lakeshore.

National Park vs. National Monument

Many people confuse national parks with national monuments. National monuments can be created by presidential proclamation; national parks require an act of Congress. The National Park System includes 63 national parks but over 420 total units — including monuments, recreation areas, seashores, parkways, and historic sites. The full system spans all 50 states and US territories.

For anyone planning a national park road trip, California-Utah is the most park-dense corridor in the country, and Alaska offers the most dramatic wilderness experiences for those willing to make the journey.