Top 50 BEST National Parks in the U.S. (3,000 Subscriber Special)

America's national parks are some of the most beautiful places in the world. Here is a video with the best national parks in the US ranked based on my personal experience.
This is just based on my preferences, opinions, and experiences and should not be taken as a definitive list. It exists to share information about 50 of the most beautiful national parks in America.
All photos and videos were taken by National Park Wild.
Thank you for 3,000 subscribers. Subscribe now for more national park content.
Timestamps:
0:00 Introduction
0:40 Caveats & Preferences
2:47 Honorable Mentions
3:15 Number 50
3:30 Number 49
3:47 Number 48
4:13 Number 47
4:32 Number 46
4:52 Number 45
5:16 Number 44
5:32 Number 43
6:05 Number 42
6:28 Number 41
6:56 Number 40
7:19 Number 39
7:52 Number 38
8:20 Number 37
8:45 Number 36
9:14 Number 35
9:52 Number 34
10:17 Number 33
10:52 Number 32
11:29 Number 31
12:06 Number 30
12:34 Number 29
13:18 Number 28
14:00 Number 27
14:21 Number 26
15:08 Number 25
15:46 Number 24
16:30 Number 23
17:01 Number 22
17:38 Number 21
18:13 Number 20
19:03 Number 19
19:44 Number 18
20:34 Number 17
21:17 Number 16
21:57 Number 15
22:46 Number 14
23:55 Number 13
24:41 Number 12
25:42 Number 11
26:28 Number 10
27:05 Number 9
28:15 Number 8
28:56 Number 7
30:19 Number 6
31:08 Number 5
32:02 Number 4
33:11 Number 3
34:15 Number 2
35:33 Number 1
List of every national park in the United States alphabetically:
Acadia National Park: Maine
American Samoa National Park: American Samoa
Arches National Park: Utah
Badlands National Park: South Dakota
Big Bend National Park: Texas
Biscayne National Park: Florida
Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park: Colorado
Bryce Canyon National Park
Bryce Canyon National Park: Utah
Canyonlands National Park: Utah
Capitol Reef National Park: Utah
Carlsbad Caverns National Park: New Mexico
Channel Islands National Park: California
Congaree National Park: South Carolina
Crater Lake National Park
Crater Lake National Park: Oregon
Cuyahoga Valley National Park: Ohio
Death Valley National Park: California, Nevada
Denali National Park: Alaska
Dry Tortugas National Park: Florida
Everglades National Park: Florida
Gates of the Arctic National Park: Alaska
Gateway Arch National Park: Missouri
Glacier Bay National Park: Alaska
Glacier National Park: Montana
Grand Canyon National Park
Grand Canyon National Park: Arizona
Grand Teton National Park: Wyoming
Great Basin National Park: Nevada
Great Sand Dunes National Park: Colorado
Great Smoky Mountains National Park: Tennessee, North Carolina
Guadalupe Mountains National Park: Texas
Haleakalā National Park: Hawaii
Hawai'i Volcanoes National Park: Hawaii
Hot Springs National Park: Arkansas
Indiana Dunes National Park
Indiana Dunes National Park: Indiana
Isle Royale National Park: Michigan
Joshua Tree National Park: California
Katmai National Park: Alaska
Kenai Fjords National Park: Alaska
Kings Canyon National Park: California
Kobuk Valley National Park: Alaska
Lake Clark National Park: Alaska
Lassen Volcanic National Park: California
Mammoth Cave National Park: Kentucky
Mesa Verde National Park: Colorado
Mount Rainier National Park: Washington
New River Gorge National Park: West Virginia
North Cascades National Park: Washington
Olympic National Park: Washington
Petrified Forest National Park: Arizona
Pinnacles National Park: California
Redwood National Park: California
Rocky Mountain National Park: Colorado
Saguaro National Park: Arizona
Sequoia National Park: California
Shenandoah National Park: Virginia
Theodore Roosevelt National Park: North Dakota
Virgin Islands National Park: United States Virgin Islands
Voyageurs National Park: Minnesota
White Sands National Park: New Mexico
Wind Cave National Park: South Dakota
Wrangell-St. Elias National Park: Alaska
Yellowstone National Park
Yellowstone National Park: Wyoming, Montana, Idaho
Yosemite National Park: California
Zion National Park: Utah

[@NationalParkWild]

Thank you all for 3,000 subscribers. I hope you all enjoy this list.

[@willsoutside]

Great video man, ive always wanted to visit every national park in the US and these videos make me want to even more.

[@NationalParkWild]

Thanks! I am happy that you enjoyed the video.

[@normiewoo787]

Thanks for updating. It's fun to see how your opinions change the more you experience.

[@NationalParkWild]

It was fun to do the list again.

[@shana8055]

This channel is such a treasure! I really appreciate your analysis on the different parks. Your videos make me want to go to Denali! 🐻🗻

[@NationalParkWild]

It’s very nice of you to say that. Denali is a wonderful place.

[@TravelDash]

This list was incredible! Many surprises which made for an interesting video. I can’t wait to return to Lassen and experience everything when the park is fully open.

[@NationalParkWild]

Thanks, Marc! It’s always fun to have some surprising picks even if it can lead to hate. Laden is definitely worth returning to, especially for the hikes mentioned in the video.

[@llvg4229]

Hey travel, i live near lassen, the park opens in stages but the main two attractions are bumpass pass which is kind of like a mini yellowstone and of course lassen peak itself, the hikes to which both are usually opened last in the park. they usually will open yearly sometime between early may and late june and will stay open until sometime between late october and early december, depending on the yearly snow pack. however, fires have devestated some lesser visited areas and made them unsafe to reopen yet. I usually go about every other year or so, same with redwoods, and i do enjoy them. :)

[@georgetanner9953]

Great video! I’ve only been to 15 parks so far, but my top 5 as of right now goes : 1 Yosemite 2 Zion 3 Grand Teton 4 Bryce Canyon 5 Yellowstone

[@NationalParkWild]

Nice list!

[@rebeccas8476]

Beautiful video! Really enjoyed watching it and dreaming of future travels.

[@NationalParkWild]

Thanks! I’m so happy you enjoyed this.

[@jymnmeier3527]

So excited to see your chanel doing so well :) Love your videos and your lists !

[@NationalParkWild]

I’m happy hear that. Thanks for your support.

[@FollowThomas]

Great overview. Enjoyed watching and got some good ideas what to visit next. I live in Florida like you and checking out the national parks one by one. 👍

[@NationalParkWild]

Thank you! I wish you the best as you explore more parks.

[@andreafairchok5514]

Thank you for another amazing video. I definitely want to go see more national parks. Have you been to Devil's Tower in Wyoming? It is quite the spiritual experience and the prairie dogs are lovely.

[@NationalParkWild]

Thank you. I have been to Devils Tower and I love it.

[@miked509]

Great video! It's good to see you liked Acadia enough to rank it that high.

[@NationalParkWild]

Thanks! I loved Acadia for sure.

[@miked509]

@@NationalParkWild You're welcome! That's great!

[@OdinNorse]

I love your content and it is just amazing.

[@NationalParkWild]

Thank you.

[@ProspectorAl]

I have been to 53 National Parks at last count. Yellowstone is definitely my number one. I have been there 3 times. If you haven't been to North Cascades it is a must. The drive across rivals any drive that I have done in the National Parks. Notable absent is Great Smoky Mountains. If you avoid the crowded areas, the diversity of flora and fauna is unmatched anywhere.

[@NationalParkWild]

Awesome that Yellowstone is also your number one. I have been to the other parks you mentioned, but it’s been a long time and I didn’t see much of them, so those were some of the omissions that I referenced at the start of the video.

[@Bobber_Foote]

I like you put Denali and Katmai in your top 5!I have a soft spot for both of these parks in my heart because these were my first national parks I have ever went too.

[@NationalParkWild]

That's awesome. Both parks are stunning.

[@gumerzambrano]

Thanks for the great video!

[@NationalParkWild]

I’m stoked that you enjoyed it. Thanks for watching.

[@albertzhang359]

13:50 “somewhat terrifying yet a wonderful experience” perfect summary of almost all national parks 👍

[@mandydoddFL]

I live in fl and my interest are exact when it comes to parks lol so great video for me to decide where we go next! We just left Grand Canyon National Park

[@NationalParkWild]

I hope you enjoyed Grand Canyon! Thanks for your kind words.

[@GeographyGeek]

Like you said I'm kind of surprised you ranked Big Bend so high but I missed a lot when I went. It was during a government shutdown and so thier top trails, the border crossing to mexico, and the all of the public restroom were closed. It was a terrible experience. I had 3 nights booked in the campground but I ended up only staying one night. I will say that it was some of the clearest skies I've seen so being able to see the milky way so clearly was pretty cool.

[@NationalParkWild]

I’m so sorry you had a bad experience there. I’m glad you at least got to enjoy the awesome stargazing.

[@NationalParkWild]

Congratulations on 100,000 subscribers.

[@GeographyGeek]

@@NationalParkWild I appreciate it! Love your channel! I’m a big fan of our Parks. I think I’ve been to around 20.

[@snarrwarschannel]

Good list and I appreciate the effort you put into it. I just don't see how Big Bend is ahead of any of the Utah NP's. Although I would agree with you that it's underrated in general, as far as desert scenery goes, it just doesn't stack up IMO. Keep doing videos like this!!

[@NationalParkWild]

Thanks! I hope to make a video about Big Bend soon.

[@funkymonk816]

Of the 15 parks I've been to, my top 5 are: 1. North Cascades (best mountain scenery of any park + most underrated park in my opinion) 2. Olympic 3. Bryce Canyon 4. Mt Rainier 5. Grand Teton

[@runningrock124]

Good list, lots of effort to put it together. I've been to 40 NPs. Planning to finish them all within a cpl years. I'm missing Alaska, Hawaii, California (minus Yosemite), Florida and the remote islands. Smoky Mtns and North Cascades omitted probably because of not a lot of time spent there? Everyone's experience is so unique and their own journey to explore for themselves.

[@NationalParkWild]

Thank you very much for your comment. You are correct about the reason for the omissions, and I hope to get back to both of those parks soon.

[@MagnitudeReviews]

Just saying hi as someone who's a current park ranger at Great Sand Dunes National Park and a former park ranger at Zion National Park.

[@NationalParkWild]

Hello! It’s awesome to get a comment from a park ranger.

[@melissadesantis8966]

7:52 I’ve been to that park Joshua tree national park is a good place to go to and also I would recommend going there at night during the summer! You can see the Milky Way galaxy there!

[@chaseferguson1261]

I completely agree with your top ten (except I'd switch Katmai to 4, and lake Clark to 5) Also since it seems like you love mountain hikes, and you've gone up mount Washburn before, next time you visit yellowstone I suggest to do the Avalanche peak trail, it is my favorite trail, and definitely the best views in all of yellowstone if you hike it on a clear day.

[@NationalParkWild]

I’ll definitely do Avalanche Peak next time. Thanks for your advice!

[@masonat76]

If you want the best chance to see Rainier, you need to come in July or August. I've probably seen it ten days in a row now from the Seattle area.

[@NationalParkWild]

Luckily, I have been to that area in July and while it was outside the park, I did see the mountain. It was spectacular.

[@metarus208]

thanks

[@Seth-12345]

I have a soft spot for the Everglades as someone who grew up in Florida. I think it shows off the beauty and diverse wildlife of Florida very well, so even if its not the most stunning park when it comes to scenery, it’ll always be one of my favorites.

[@tonycaucci6948]

Sand dunes in CO is by far my favorite so far. Sunrises are beautiful there

[@NationalParkWild]

It is a very underrated and wonderful place.

[@jondevlin4754]

No idea how anybody can rank these parks … these places are amazing …super impressed by your high ranking Big Bend … Big Bend is just so out of the way … very very dry last summer …sure hope they can pick up some rain!

[@NationalParkWild]

The parks are hard to rank, but I love making rankings so I did my best. Big Bend is a super overlooked gem in my eyes.

[@jimgreen5788]

NPW, you mentioned Wrangell-St. Elias is our largest. Do you know it's also #3 in the world? Yup! The largest is NE Greenland, and #2 is Tassili 'N Ajjer in Algeria. I was in Dry Tortugas last summer, but went the cheap route--ferry. Several years ago, I visited Death Valley, and you'll never guess what I experienced--a downpour. What're the chances?? I couldn't believe my rotten luck. Grand Teton is glorious, I have to agree! May I point out something while I have the stage? Grand Teton is the big peak there, and the range there is the Teton Range. After being pronounced for the past 100 years as ZYE-un, in recent years it inexplicably started getting pronounced way too often as ZYE-ahn. It's named after the mountain in Israel. This was excellent! Thanks!

[@NationalParkWild]

Thanks for all of your information and I’m happy you enjoyed the list.

[@victorinosparkajen9405]

If you havent yet, i suggest you hike and camp in Haleakala's crater but keep in mind there is a tropical beach which beckons you to enjoy the ocean down below you. what you learn in the crater speaks of two vastly different cultures, that which had been taken and yearns to survive, and that which has taken and yearns to dominate.

[@NationalParkWild]

Thank you for the advice.

[@tanyawarpula]

Please revisit North Cascades National Park, you won't be disappointed.

[@NationalParkWild]

I know I won’t and I would love to go back. I promise I will return one day.

[@maxhenyan9719]

I highly recommend North Cascades National Park in Washington. Sounds like it would be right up your alley due to all the mountains, hikes, and wildlife:)

[@NationalParkWild]

I’ll be hopefully having a great trip there this summer

[@AbhiAnand-vn4rq]

Did you end up visiting north cascades?

[@lucasgrover4225]

w video

[@NationalParkWild]

Thank you

[@CJspitz]

While most of the ranking is different from mine, Yellowstone stays on the top tier just like mine does. A bit sad that you didn't have Great Smoky Mtns on the list because of the crowds. Yeah, it is the most visited national park in the USA. However, the scenery and the atmosphere there along with Gatlinburg area are surreal for me and very relaxing which many national parks could NOT give me.

[@NationalParkWild]

Yellowstone is tough to beat. For the Smokies, I haven’t gone in a while so I didn’t want to give it a low ranking based on a lesser visit than most other parks.

[@cooperstravels5725]

My goal is to take my two daughters to all 63 national parks. We have been to 5 so far (I have been to many more), with Voyageur's happening this coming weekend. My ranking of the 5 we have been to is as follows: 1) New River Gorge 2) Shenandoah 3) Congaree 4) Indiana Dunes 5) Cuyahoga Side note, Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore is better than Indiana Dunes in my opinion. Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore is beautiful as well.

[@NationalParkWild]

Pictured Rocks is incredible. Good luck on your journey to the parks!

[@Person12222]

Theodore roosevelt national park. And great basin have alot to do for there small size. Compared to other national parks

[@NationalParkWild]

Absolutely. There are some other small parks with a lot to see, but both of those places are very underrated.

[@jlor7675]

We were in Yellowstone a few weeks ago. It's the most majestic place I've seen in my 53 years.

[@NationalParkWild]

That’s fantastic.

[@thegalvean2220]

What is a location that you most want to become a national park? For me, I think some part of the Driftless Area should become one

[@NationalParkWild]

Tongass National Forest in Alaska.

[@johng5710]

I just recently drove the Minnesota/Iowa portion of the Great River Road, and I absolutely was not expecting the scenery that I saw along the Mississippi River in that area. I was blown away!

[@NationalParkWild]

I just uploaded a video on the topic of the next national park.

[@itszaque5031]

As a Utah native I was hurt when we only got 1 in the top 10 (especially because Zions is my 4th favorite in the state, I know I’m weird) but I loved learning about so many parks I haven’t visited yet!

[@NationalParkWild]

Utah is one of the most stunning states for nature, but my personal preference for mountains was the ultimate reason why I didn’t put too many Utah parks in the very top. That said, all 4 mentioned in the list are stellar. I’m happy you enjoyed this video!

[@JP-dz7zu]

Cuyahoga should be dishonorable mention and lose National Park status.

[@beccachambers4632]

CUYAHOGA in MY opinion in a spectacular park, sure I have seen the big western parks and northern parks but CUYAHOGA is WONDERFUL!

[@Andy-Mesa]

The objectively correct list (of the ones I've visited) Olympic Big Bend Zion Grand Canyon Yosemite North Cascades Mount Rainier Redwood Arches Channel Islands Canyonlands Crater Lake Great Smoky Mountains Saguaro Petrified Forest Bryce Canyon Pinnacles Carlsbad Caverns White Sands Capitol Reef Everglades Congaree Guadalupe Mountains Joshua Tree Biscayne Hot Springs

[@NationalParkWild]

It’s a nice list for sure.

[@EtaM29]

I’ve only been to a couple on a few spread trips 1. Glacier It feels like every mountain you climb theirs one more that’s taller, we did a hike and I forget what it was called but we were way up and it felt like we couldn’t get higher and then we popped out onto a pond with 600ft cliffs surrounding it. Of course the sun road is a big W 2. Teddy Roosevelt Really underrated and while I mostly drove through it and only stopped a few times it felt like a different universe like if we found a planet with human life. 3. Yellowstone Iconic but I would say overrated still absolutely gorgeous and rlly good but I found some of it to be kinda boring. I saw old faithful at sunset which is great but also underwhelming. The grand prismatic is cool and the mountains make a nice backdrop but I feel like it’s known for attractions rather then being really good. 4. Badlands I agree with you on all your statements but I think if it had more civilization and unique things it would be higher up 5. Coyagoga the one in Ohio idk It was pretty cool and the ledges hike is amazing but it felt a lot more like a state park then a National one I liked that trip better for Cedar Point. EDIT: grand Teton is 4 I would have liked it more but we more drove through it on our way from SLC to yellow stone

[@EtaM29]

Avalanche lake was the one I talked about for glacier

[@NationalParkWild]

It’s awesome that you’ve been to 3 of the best.

[@EtaM29]

@@NationalParkWild thanks!!

[@BruceEdmonds821]

Joshua Trees aren't cacti. They're Yucca in the Agavoideae subfamily of the Asparagaceae family. Cacti are in the Cactaceae family which is in the order Caryophyllales. While unrelated, both Yucca and Cactus have evolved a succulent habit, thorny foliage, and highly absorbent roots.

[@ihavecompassion499]

Take a flight tour through the wrangells and it’ll be you new #1

[@thane9]

Big Bend it my #1. But shhh....let's keep it between us. ;)

[@NationalParkWild]

I’m glad to hear that.

[@vinceredeor439]

I’ve only been to 7 parks, but if I had to rank them: 1. Glacier 2. Sequoia 3. Kings Canyon 4. Great Smokey Mountains 5. New River Gorge 6. Cuyahoga Valley 7. Saint Louis Arch (why is this a national park?)

[@dipanshusingh9790]

Is great smoky part of the top 50 or did I miss it??

[@NationalParkWild]

I did not rank it because it has been 6 years since I went.

[@scooby0006]

great video, but turn the background music down if your gonna talk. i have no idea why people make listeners have to fight to hear them talk.

[@NationalParkWild]

I’m happy you liked the video, but I’m sorry about the music issue. My audio quality is not the best and the music tends to help, but there were parts where it wasn’t as much in the background as I had hoped.

[@scooby0006]

@@NationalParkWild your right it was only certain parts. But having to put close captions on to figure out what you were saying sometimes was a little problematic. But overall we liked the video. Don't take it as we didn't like it.

[@NationalParkWild]

@@scooby0006 Thank you for the feedback. I'm definitely glad you liked the video and I didn't take your comment as hate. I will definitely be lowering the volume of the music in the future.

[@homebythesea9301]

Cape Hatteras National Seashore

[@ajduker]

How have you not been to Capitol Reef?

[@NationalParkWild]

I have been, but I didn’t see enough of it to give a fair ranking.

[@ajduker]

@@NationalParkWild ahh, I was expecting something top tier then realized I was way off 😂

[@FirstLast-lq4xf]

Where is us map with parks location

[@tonloc371]

What’s the story of the banana at Olympic? 😂

[@NationalParkWild]

We were on a small trail in the Hoh Rainforest, Spruce Nature Trail I believe, and we notice a banana peel on the side of the trail. Then we noticed a banana slug on the peel.

[@taoiseachjager9643]

I have been to over 40 national parks. The only ones i am missing are those out east, a couple in alaska, For me at least my favourites are,in order: gates of the artic, rocky mountain, olympic, death valley, great basin, canyonlands, katmai, and capital reef. It is not in the usa, but hornstrandir in iceland is probably the best national park on the planet

[@NationalParkWild]

I’d love to get to Hornstrandir.

[@sanchayansarkar2953]

Smoky mountains so down the list. It's one of the best national parks.

[@eldorado17427]

North cascades?

[@NationalParkWild]

It's been 5 years since I went and I didn't have time to go into the backcountry, so I opted not to rank it as it wouldn't really be fair.

[@eldorado17427]

@@NationalParkWild it's an amazing park and drop dead gorgeous you should check it out again. Tons of wildlife and biodiversity

[@NationalParkWild]

@@eldorado17427 Thanks for the advice.

[@nunyab..]

I know you haven’t seen much of it but North Cascades would be top 20

[@NationalParkWild]

I think it could be and I hope to find out one day.

[@haroldgeernian3699]

Big bend is #7?? No clue what you loved so much about it. It kinda sucks in my opinion lol, coming from a Texan born and raised.

[@NationalParkWild]

That’s interesting to hear. The unique and colorful mountain features were just so new and impressive to me. Perhaps you living in that scenery makes it unspectacular to you.

[@kevincinnamontoast3669]

Next video idea. Top 50 prettiest ladies! Be careful of of rankings.

[@MegaGo68]

Good list -- yes, obviously subjective. I've only been to 14, which I rank in this order: 1. Big Bend 2. Bryce 3. Badlands 4. Arches 5. Zion 6. Capitol Reef 7. Denali 8. Grand Canyon 9. Wrangel St. Elias 10. Theodore Roosevet 11. White Sands 12. Smoky Mountains 13. Kenai Fjords 14. Shenandoah Will be adding more soon!

[@NationalParkWild]

Thank you! I’m glad you’ll be adding more to the list.

[@mingchen1348]

You probably didn't bother to go to North Cascade

[@NationalParkWild]

I had been to the park but for a brief time when I made this. I went back and liked it a lot.

[@prairiedog840]

you pronounce El Capitan wrong

[@theoutofdoors5083]

No Smoky Mountains??? I grew up on the west coast and went to quite a few national parks in many different western states. I moved to TN recently, not having the Smokys even on the list is a travesty, and very idiotic. But it does show how bad and useless your opinion is.

[@NationalParkWild]

Smoky Mountains was excluded for reasons explained at the beginning of the video. My last visit to the Smokies was short and was over 6 years ago. This means it would have ranked significantly lower than it probably deserves to. It was either rank it based on a brief trip and make the park look bad or say at the beginning I haven't seen much of it so people know why it doesn't appear on the list. Trust me when I say you should be happy the park was omitted.

[@NationalParkWild]

0:18

[@josephstrano3967]

The moment you rated Carlsbad Caverns over Mammoth Cave National park you lost all credibility.