17 Best US National Parks To Visit In Summer

Planning a summer trip across the United States? Be sure to include a few national parks on your itinerary. These protected gems offer unforgettable experiences. Choose from chasing waterfalls and hiking rugged trails, or simply soaking in the views roadside.

From the towering peaks of the Rockies to the coastal cliffs of the Atlantic, the U.S. showcases incredible natural beauty. Thanks to the National Park Service, many of these landscapes remain preserved and accessible for all to explore. Each park showcases a distinct mix of wilderness, history, and natural beauty.

Whether you’re a seasoned backpacker or a casual sightseer, there’s a national park calling your name. In this post, I’ll highlight some of the top choice of the 63 official U.S. national parks worth visiting.

Death Valley National Park – California

With its scorching temperatures and unforgiving terrain, it’s no wonder why this otherworldly national park has been given the name Death Valley.

Just across the Nevada border into California, you’ll find Death Valley National Park. It’s one of those places where you feel like you’re on another planet.

Enjoy one of the best viewpoints in the park at Dante’s View. This spot showcases incredible views out into Badwater Basin, the lowest point in the country.

Many other viewpoints and great spots show off the beauty of the rest of the park. One of the most popular is Artists Palette, which features a hillside filled with bright colors that have happened because of chemical weathering.

Olympic National Park – Washington

Located on the Olympic Peninsula in Washington, Olympic National Park is home to some of the most diverse landscapes in the Pacific Northwest. This UNESCO world heritage site has alpine meadows, glaciers, and towering peaks.

The park covers nearly a million acres, with rugged coastlines, snow-capped peaks, and lush rainforests. It’s a hiker’s paradise, offering trails for all levels, from alpine climbs to walks through the Hoh Rainforest.

Let’s not forget the rugged coast of the Pacific Ocean. Here, beaches are riddled with driftwood, tide pools, and lots of space to explore. It’s a fun spot for family-friendly beach combing.

Voyageurs National Park – Minnesota

Nestled far up in the untouched forests of Northern Minnesota, Voyageurs National Park offers visitors a chance to escape into what Minnesota is most well known for. As The Land of 10,000 Lakes, it’s no surprise that Voyageurs is almost 1/3 water.

From expansive lakes to flowing streams, visitors can explore the waters of Minnesota. It’s a chance to see why the state is so well-loved. Wander the hiking trails along the lakeshore, or take a boat or kayak to get an even deeper look into this park.

At night, there’s a chance to catch a glimpse of the northern lights, as the park is a certified Dark Sky Park. When it’s time to call it a night, stay at one of the many nearby resorts on the lake!

Rocky Mountain National Park – Colorado

Set in Colorado’s Rockies, Rocky Mountain National Park ranks among the most visited in the U.S., and for good reason. Dense forests, alpine lakes, and snow-capped peaks make it a must for mountain lovers.

Hike trails to Alberta Falls, Emerald Lake, or Sky Pond. Drive the scenic road and spot elk, moose, or marmots. Higher elevations offer breathtaking views that stretch deep into Colorado’s wilderness.

Don’t miss Estes Park. It gives off adorable small-town vibes, just like some of my favorite small towns in Minnesota!

Glacier National Park – Montana

In recent years, Glacier National Park has become one of the most popular areas in the US to explore. Known for its stunning and also terrifying road, the Going-to-the-Sun Road, a Glacier National Park itinerary features some of the most breathtaking views you’ll ever see.

This Montana destination offers everything you would hope for in a national park, including wildlife, incredible hikes, and beautiful vistas. There are also many glaciers, hence the park’s name.

Given the nickname the Crown of the Continent, Glacier is well-loved. Although it’s located in the remote Montana wilderness, you will surely see many other visitors during your time in the park.

On my recent trip to Glacier, we got into the park around 6 am, which helped avoid some of the afternoon crowds!

Yosemite National Park – California

Another of the best US national parks is Yosemite, located in Central California. Yosemite Valley is known worldwide for its awe-inspiring granite cliffs, cascading waterfalls. Its amazing hiking trails within the Sierra Nevada Mountains are hard to beat.

With iconic landmarks like Half Dome and El Capitan, adrenaline seekers can put their skills to the test by hiking and rock climbing on these giant rock formations. And down below, less adventurous hikers can experience the power of Yosemite Falls, the tallest waterfall in North America.

Yosemite is also home to lots of wildlife, such as black bears and mule deer. It also features the largest species of tree in the world, the Giant Sequoias. My favorite trail in Yosemite is to Vernal Falls, which is a stunning waterfall with great vista points along the way.

Acadia National Park – Maine

As the only official US national park in New England, visiting Acadia National Park in Maine is a must! Located next to Bar Harbor, this beautiful park is home to miles of rugged coastline along the Atlantic Ocean.

Walk the Ocean Path trail for a few miles to enjoy sweeping ocean views. Visit the often-photographed Bass Harbor Head Lighthouse. For adventure seekers, hiking the Beehive Trail offers stunning vistas.

It’s an arduous climb with metal rungs, but the views are well worth it. A stop at the Jordan Pond House is a must. Order lunch and try the famous popovers—they’re delicious.

Denali National Park – Alaska

Denali National Park’s winters and very long and its summers fleeting. Spanning over six million acres, the park is home to North America’s highest peak, Denali, which rises majestically to 20,310 feet.

Adventurers can explore a range of activities, from hiking and wildlife viewing to taking a bus tour along the stunning Denali Park Road. The ‘Big Five’ is the goal: bears, moose, wolves, caribou, and Dall sheep.

The park’s diverse ecosystems, featuring alpine tundra and vast forests, offer endless opportunities for photography and exploration. Visitors can also engage in ranger-led programs to learn about the park’s unique geology and ecology.

Yellowstone National Park – Wyoming

The first national park in the United States to open was Yellowstone National Park in the early 1870s. Today, it’s still one of the most visited, with over 3 million visitors annually.

With a few days in Yellowstone, you can enjoy a hugely diverse landscape with things like geysers, hot springs, open prairies, and towering mountains.

Yellowstone is home to the world’s largest concentration of geysers, hot springs, steam vents, and mud pots. There are boardwalks that wind right through these areas so that you can explore them for yourself.

The park has also been given the nickname the ‘Serengeti of North America’ thanks to its large concentration of wildlife, including bison, grizzly and black bears, elk, bighorn sheep, and more.

Grand Teton National Park – Wyoming

Another of the most popular parks in the country is Grand Teton National Park, found just south of Yellowstone in Wyoming. It’s home to the Teton Mountains, which are very jagged peaks that have a very distinctive outline.

People who love the mountains often love visit, as they make for the perfect place to hike up into or backpack in the peaks. Wildlife roam everywhere, and your chances of seeing bison, moose, and bears are high!

My favorite hike in Grand Teton is to Delta Lake, a gorgeous, blue alpine lake that sits right in front of Disappointment Peak.

Bryce Canyon National Park – Utah

The unique Bryce Canyon National Park is well known for its distinctive red landscape of hoodoos, spires, and towers that jut out of the ground.

Fitting right in with the rest of Utah’s red landscapes and rock formations, Bryce Canyon features dozens of hiking trails leading right into the red rock.

The hoodoos are all over the park, so you won’t miss them. The best way to see them is to go hiking, particularly on the Navajo Loop Trail, which leads you right down into the hoodoos and canyons and gives you great views of the scenery.

When I visited Bryce Canyon, I started this hike at around 7 am because it allowed me to enjoy the trail with fewer crowds. I recommend doing this!

Haleakalā National Park – Hawaii

If you’ve ever wanted to explore the volcanic landscape of Hawaii, then a visit to Haleakalā National Park will allow you to do just that.

Nestled on the stunning island of Maui, the Haleakalā Crater towers above the island at over 10,000 feet above sea level. The park is open year-round, and you’ll experience five climatic zones during the road trip.

You can explore the dormant volcano by hiking around its miles of trails. Additionally, if you’re up for the challenge, you can even attempt hiking in the Summit Area. This area provides challenging trekking since the air is thin at such a high elevation.

Another of the best things to do at Haleakalā National Park is watch the sunrise or sunset, which are some of the most phenomenal sites you’ll ever see.

Grand Canyon National Park – Arizona

The Grand Canyon, one of North America’s deepest and most iconic canyons, is a top bucket-list destination in Arizona. It’s the national park we grow up learning about in our history books and somewhere on millions of people’s bucket lists.

Located along the Colorado River, the 277-mile-long canyon can be explored by hiking. Trails all over allow you to either walk along the south rim of Grand Canyon or enter it and even get down to the canyon floor.

Whether on foot or by mule, there are many ways to experience this legendary national park—no matter your skill level.

Katmai National Park – Alaska

While hard to reach, Katmai National Park in Alaska is one of the most unique and rewarding national parks you’ll ever visit. Although Denali National Park attracts the lion’s share of visitors, Katmai offers an unforgettable experience.

To get to Katmai, you’ll need to take a boat or fly to the Alaskan Peninsula, where you’ll then arrive and get to explore this remote park.

Katmai is home to a huge population of grizzly bears, with more bears than people living on the Alaska Peninsula. While it takes an expensive float plane to reach, it’s one of the best national parks in Alaska for bear viewing.

You can catch a special glimpse of these majestic creatures at Brooks Camp. At this particular spot during certain parts of the year, you can see dozens of grizzlies at a time catching salmon as they jump over Brooks Falls.

Mount Rainier National Park – Washington

Home to the tallest mountain in Washington State, Mount Rainier National Park offers hundreds of miles of hiking trails. Each of which gives a new viewpoint of the magical mountain, Mount Rainier, towering at 14,000 feet.

From the daunting Wonderland Trail, which circles the entire base of the mountain, to easier options like Naches Peak, every hike can offer scenic views of Mount Rainier.

Wildflowers bloom around every corner during the summer, creating a magical experience. I’d recommend visiting in late July to see the best flower blooms!

Zion National Park – Utah

Speaking of otherworldly places, Zion National Park in southern Utah is another of those places, featuring bright red rock formations.

Zion’s hiking trails are of the most popular in the country, including Angels Landing and The Narrows.

These two iconic hikes themselves are a few things that make the park worth visiting, and you could spend all day doing just one of them!

Other than that, there are several excellent viewpoints and plenty of other fantastic hikes, like Emerald Pools, to check out and enjoy the uniqueness of Zion.

Everglades National Park – Florida

Way over on the eastern side of the United States is Everglades National Park. This expansive park on the southern tip of Florida, has the most unique wildlife in the country, namely the American crocodile and manatees.

These fascinating creatures can only be seen in certain places in the US, and Florida is one of those destinations. While in the Everglades, check out some hiking trails and watch for the crocs, especially near Shark Valley, which is the best place for spotting them.

Or take an airboat tour to get out onto the water and have a new perspective of the landscape.

Wrap-Up: Best National Parks In The USA

If you’re planning a trip around the United States this summer or trying to decide which US national parks to visit, there is no shortage of beauty to see.

From coastlines to roaming wildlife to towering mountains and otherworldly features, you can see something new in every corner of the country.

I hope these great national parks in the USA blow you away just as much as they have for me!