america national parks tour

US National Parks Tours & Vacations

Embark on an unforgettable adventure in the United States' most spectacular national parks.

As far as national parks go, the  USA  has it all. From lunar-like deserts and striated canyons to snow-capped mountains and alpine valleys teeming with wildlife. With a local leader by your side, you'll explore the most iconic sections of the parks, as well as lesser-known gems you won’t find in the travel guides. Our United States national park tours offer something for all kinds of adventurers. Hike through slot canyons in  Zion , join a real-life wolf tracker in  Yellowstone , tick off bucket-list-worthy hiking trails in  Yosemite  or witness the most beautiful night skies you've ever seen in  Denali . It’s time to dust off those hiking boots... the parks are waiting! 

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Popular US national parks

Us national parks travel faqs, do i need a covid-19 vaccine to join an intrepid trip.

Trips from 1 January 2023 onwards

From 1 January 2023, Intrepid will no longer require travelers to provide proof of vaccination against COVID-19 (excluding all Polar trips and select adventure cruises).

However, we continue to strongly recommend that all Intrepid travelers and leaders get vaccinated to protect themselves and others.

Specific proof of testing or vaccination may still be required by your destination or airline. Please ensure you check travel and entry requirements carefully.

How many national parks are there in the US?

The US has 423 national parks, monuments, and protected sites. Of this number, 63 are classified as national parks.

What is the best time to visit national parks in the US?

The best time to visit a national park depends on what you want to experience on your trip. The US is a huge country with diverse weather, foliage, and wildlife. Most parks change quite dramatically from season to season. Our trips run all year round but spring through to early fall is the most popular time to go when the weather is mild, crowds are smaller, and hiking conditions are good.

What are the top 10 most visited national parks in the US?

The 10 most visited national parks (The National Park Service, 2020) are:  

• Great Smoky Mountains National Park  
• Yellowstone National Park  
• Zion National Park  
• Rocky Mountain National Park  
• Grand Teton National Park  
• Grand Canyon National Park  
• Cuyahoga Valley National Park  
• Acadia National Park  
• Olympic National Park  
• Joshua Tree National Park 

What is mobile/cell phone service and internet access like in US national parks?

Mobile phone service, Wi-Fi, and internet access vary, and some parks will have coverage while others may be completely cut off.

Most visitor centers, lodges, and restaurants will offer free internet access, but it’s worth reading up on coverage or checking with your guide before your trip begins so you can be prepared.

Do I need to purchase travel insurance before traveling?

Absolutely. All passengers traveling with Intrepid are required to purchase travel insurance before the start of their trip. Your travel insurance details will be recorded by your leader on the first day of the trip. Due to the varying nature, availability and cost of health care around the world, travel insurance is very much an essential and necessary part of every journey.

For more information on insurance, please go to: Travel Insurance

Does my trip support The Intrepid Foundation?

Yes, all Intrepid trips support the Intrepid Foundation. Trips to this country directly support our global Intrepid Foundation partners, Eden Reforestation Projects and World Bicycle Relief. Intrepid will double the impact by dollar-matching all post-trip donations made to The Intrepid Foundation.

Eden Reforestation Projects

Eden Reforestation Projects are helping to mitigate climate change by restoring forests worldwide; they also hire locally and create job opportunities within vulnerable communities. Donations from our trips support restoration across planting sites in 10 countries around the globe. Find out more or make a donation World Bicycle Relief

World Bicycle Relief provides people in low-income communities with bicycles to mobilize school kids, health workers, and farmers in far-out areas – giving them access to vital education, healthcare, and income. Donations help provide Buffalo Bicycles – specifically designed to withstand the rugged terrain and harsh environment of rural regions – to those who need them most. Find out more or make a donation

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Natural Wonders and Glittering Lights Abound on This 15-day Guided Tour in the U.S.

Explore America's top national parks on this 15-Day guided tour. After an evening in Scottsdale, start your journey in bohemian Sedona, where spiritual seekers and nature lovers alike will revel in its red-hued mountainous landscape. Take a short jaunt to the Grand Canyon, where a Local Expert will show you the wonders of America’s most famed natural beauty. In Monument Valley Navajo Tribal Park, Make Travel Matter and board all-terrain vehicles and ride through the desert with your Navajo guide. Glide through Zion National Park on a private shuttle, watching as the red mountains give way to the neon lights of Las Vegas, where you can take in a show or try your luck at poker. Finally, scale the 563-foot-tall Crazy Horse Memorial and stand face-to-face with the stone carving of the Lakota warrior.

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Start Phoenix, United States of America. End Denver, United States of America.

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Travel knowing our 4-point climate action plan will ensure net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050.

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Your tour directly supports local communities by visiting family-run businesses, UNSECO sites and places of cultural significance.

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Every part of our business, from trip design to how we run our offices, aligns to our 5-year sustainability strategy which ensures a positive impact on people, the planet and wildlife.

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Our not-for-profit, the TreadRight Foundation, invests in nature-based solutions to address climate change.

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National Parks

Tauck's National Park vacations offer inside experiences thanks to our relationships and partnerships within the parks. With exceptional access, we are able to handle all of the details for you so you can spend more time enjoying these must-see places at the best time of day and with fewer crowds.

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Welcome to the National Parks

Our relationships with the national parks runs deep going back many many years. With that... we are able to show you something pretty special as you visit must-see places at their must-see times of day and when you stay at inside-the-park hotels, the crowds are fewer and the experience is richer. There's no planning and no organizing – and the best of all, no driving; we take care of all the details. And at the end of the day, hearing "I've seen and done everything I hoped to" is music to our ears.

Explore three national parks on one journey, grand teton national park, niagara falls, ontario, "canada's capital cities plus niagara falls" and "cruising the great lakes: chicago to toronto".

Comprised of three waterfalls – American Falls, Horseshoe Falls and Bridal Veil Falls – Niagara Falls water stems from the upper Great Lakes; the river is estimated to be 12,000 years old. Journey to thundering Niagara Falls for a catamaran cruise near the plunging waters and misty spray of the waterfalls – getting wet is a distinct possibility – and explore the quaint Victorian village of Niagara-on-the-Lake with its flower-filled, tree-lined streets.

Yellowstone National Park

Bryce canyon national park, a feast for the eyes... and the soul.

Oranges and pinks never seen anywhere else dance and dazzle the eye as sunlight plays over Bryce Canyon National Park, where wind and rain have sculpted the canyon's famously quirky, logic-defying "hoodoos" that, according to Paiute legend, were once human before a powerful god called Coyote froze them into rock (for the record, the rock is Navajo sandstone). This universe of warm colors literally glows at sunrise and sunset – a sight to see that can send shivers up your spine. The park reveals nature dressed in a coat of many colors – hues beyond imagining, deeply satisfying to the eye, and energizing to the spirit.

Grand Canyon National Park

Not just a hole in the ground....

Surely you have stumbled upon some other planet... or at least it feels that way at Grand Canyon National Park. Your first glimpse of the enormous Grand Canyon strains credulity. What giants have been playing with the rock here? Or what cataclysmic force of the universe? Then the drama starts. Clouds, shadows, and the shifting sun keep transforming the landscape. As the sun flames in the west, canyon walls turn red while the giants paint the sky, creating masterpieces so beautiful they freeze you in your tracks. The Grand Canyon sprawls wide open, carved out by the Colorado River, revealing two billion years of Earth's history; here is where air meets land, where you meet what feels like destiny, with just the white-tailed Kaibab squirrel, only found here, as witness.

Yosemite National Park

Through the eyes of john muir and ansel adams.

What a young Ansel Adams saw through his lens as he trekked into the California wilderness more than 100 years ago – as John Muir did a half-century before him – has inspired countless visitors to explore its chiseled landscapes in starry-eyed wonder ever since. You won't find modern conveniences here. Celestial bodies trump electricity. Running water falls from rocks. Residents are furred, finned or feathered. And skyscrapers with names like Half Dome and El Capitan are nature made. Adams was just 14 when he first spied the grandeur of Yosemite National Park, armed with a Kodak Brownie camera his father had given him… and a new era began not only for him, but for the wilderness treasures he spent his lifetime celebrating. His iconic photographs need no words or explanation. Even in black and white, they capture what he felt about places now immortalized for future generations.

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Welcome to the National Parks... the Tauck Way

Our National Parks are included on many of our immersive journeys for good reason. With a combination of strong cultural heritage, precious landscapes & topography worth protecting, these vast lands need to be discovered so that we all can come to appreciate their beauty and grandeur.

America's canyonlands, yellowstone & grand teton national parks, canadian rockies, whistler & victoria, best of the canadian rockies, traveling with tauck, never settle for ordinary.

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U.S. National Park Tours

For over 100 years, the United States National Park system has been the envy of the world.

From spectacular  sunsets over the Grand Canyon  to giant redwood and sequoia trees, amazing sights await guests on one of our guided US National Parks tours. View incredible hoodoos and sandstone monuments at Bryce and Zion National Parks. Experience hot springs and gushing geysers at  Yellowstone National Park , where American wildlife roam freely.

At California’s Yosemite National Park, take in the awe-inspiring granite cliffs of El Capitan and Half Dome. In Sequoia National Park, gaze skyward at General Sherman, renowned as the largest living tree in the world.

Alaska’s untouched beauty awaits on one of our popular  Alaska cruise and land tours . Voyage through Denali to see the Alaskan wildlife in person and get the local experience. From there, you can witness the unbelievable sight of calving glaciers in Glacier Bay and Kenai Fjords National Parks. There’s a reason why Alaska is known to be “The Last Frontier”!

Enjoy one of our US National Park tours and take in America as you have never seen her before.

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Ultimate Pacific Northwest & California Tour

Per person, double occupancy, excludes roundtrip airfare

On this tour, the West Coast is your playground. Travel from Seattle to Los Angeles as you combine our Sights of the Pacific Northwest tour with the California & National Parks tour.

Ultimate Canyons & Rocky Mountains National Parks Tour

Discover the American West on this tour through 9 spectacular National Parks. The fascinating history, diverse landscapes, and stunning views on this itinerary will captivate you!

Sights of The Pacific Northwest

The Pacific Northwest is as famous for its natural beauty as its sophisticated yet quirky cities-experience the best of both worlds on this journey from Seattle to San Francisco.

Rocky Mountains & Black Hills National Parks Tour

Be captivated by America’s most beautiful western landscapes as you discover historic sites, visit uniquely charming towns, and take in endless vistas on a Rocky Mountains tour.

Majestic Alaska Cruise & Tour

Leave no sight unseen on this Alaskan vacation! Start off with gold mining in Fairbanks, wildlife in majestic Denali, colorful coastal villages, and a cruise through Kenai Fjords.

Grand Alaskan Cruise & Tour

Rugged, remote, and so beautiful it takes your breath away, the wilds of the Frontier State come alive on this guided Alaskan cruise tour. Experience the best that Alaska has to offer.

Crimson Canyons & Mesas National Parks Tour

Enjoy natural wonder after natural wonder on this unforgettable journey through the rugged beauty of six of America’s most spectacular national parks.

California and National Parks

Get to know the real California on this scenic guided tour. Soak in magnificent vistas, sunny beaches, the culture of San Francisco and the glamour of Los Angeles.

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15 Day US National Parks tour from Yellowstone to Grand Canyon

15 days, 1 country and 21 cities

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14 Breakfasts, 1 Welcome Reception, 2 Lunches, 6 Dinners

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This National Parks tour is an iconic journey, culminating at the Grand Canyon, through Zion’s pink cliffs, Monument Valley’s imposing mesas, Grand Tetons’ alpine landscapes and Mount Rushmore’s rock-hewn faces. Hear from a Native American storyteller and overnight in Yellowstone, soaking it all in in just 15 days.

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15 days itinerary trip from Las Vegas to Las Vegas visiting 1 country and 21 cities

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About this trip

Sightseeing highlights.

Explore the Grand Canyon with Tim, a Local Specialist and Geologist

Visit Zion, Bryce Canyon, Yellowstone, Grand Teton National Park, Arches, Mesa Verde, Grand Canyon National Parks, Jackson, The Buffalo Bill Center of the West in Cody, Little Bighorn Battlefield, The Mile High City of Denver, Monument Valley, Las Vegas

Discover  the High Roller in Las Vegas

Discover Salt Lake City

View Crazy Horse Memorial, iconic Mount Rushmore in South Dakota

See iconic Delicate Arch

Scenic Drive along Desert View Drive

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An expert Travel Director and professional Driver

Cherry-picked hotels, all tried and trusted

All porterage and restaurant gratuities

All hotel tips, charges and local taxes

Breakfast daily and up to half of your evening meals

Must-see sightseeing and surprise extras

Audio headsets for flexible sightseeing

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Luxury air-conditioned coach with Wi-Fi in most countries or alternative transportation (such as rail journeys)

Optional Experiences and free time

On occasion, hotels of similar standard and location may be utilized.

MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® Experiences

Every one of our tours includes at least one conscious travel experience that supports one or more of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGS). Look out for yours within the day-by-day trip itinerary.

Find out more

Net-zero by 2050

Travel knowing our 4-point climate action plan will ensure net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050.

Support Local

Your tour directly supports local communities by visiting family-run businesses, UNESCO sites and places of cultural significance.

Sustainable Practices

Every part of our business, from trip design to how we run our offices, aligns to our 5-year sustainability strategy which ensures a positive impact on people, the planet and wildlife.

Philanthropic Efforts

Our not-for-profit, the TreadRight Foundation, invests in nature-based solutions to address climate change.

You’ll make a positive impact to people, planet and wildlife on this tour

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Experience a world beyond your expectations. Choose from our award-winning escorted tours on virtually every continent with local favourites and off-the-beaten-path experiences only Globus can share.

We know why you travel. You’d rather have an extra day exploring than a fancy chocolate on your pillow at night. Enjoy hand-selected inclusions and world-class experiences for value-minded travel lovers like you.

Raise your sights and set your sails for the rivers of Europe, South America, Asia, and Africa on an Avalon Waterways cruise. Elevate your cruise experience with fewer passengers, more choices, and endless possibilities.

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Optional Excursions

Cameras at the ready! On this holiday, you are going to encounter some of the most spectacular sights and scenery the USA has to offer.

Your road trip starts in Denver, Colorado and takes you through seven different states to the bright lights of Las Vegas. Along the way, you will discover historic sites and landmarks dedicated to those who helped define the country’s history and step into the cowboy world of the ‘Wild West’.

This meticulously planned journey travels through no less than nine of America’s national parks. Keep your eyes peeled for wildlife and see spouting geysers in Yellowstone, then prepare yourself for the beauty of the Rocky Mountains in Grand Teton. Discover vast, rugged landscapes shaped by the power of nature, visit ancient cave dwellings and marvel at geological wonders galore. From dramatic red-rock arches to hoodoos, towering cliffs and the iconic Grand Canyon, this trip is packed full of once-in-a-lifetime experiences. And with time in between for you to explore at leisure, sip a quiet drink or enjoy a cosy meal, you can slow things down and relive every moment

Your Holiday Includes

• Return flights from London
• 15 nights in great quality hotel plus 1 night in flight
• 17 meals: 15 breakfasts, 1 lunch, 1 dinner and welcome drink
• Travelsphere Holiday Director and Specialist Local Guide
• Overseas transfers, other transportation and porterage

Included Holiday Highlights

• Visit Mount Rushmore National Memorial
• See the Crazy Horse Memorial
• Tour Badlands National Park
• Discover the ‘Wild West’ city of Deadwood
• Tour the Battle of Little Bighorn site
• Visit the world’s first national park, Yellowstone
• Enjoy a tour of Grand Teton National Park
• Explore Salt Lake City
• Admire Canyonlands National Park
• Discover Arches National Park
• See the cliff dwellings in Mesa Verde National Park
• Visit Monument Valley
• Discover the iconic Grand Canyon National Park
• Marvel at Bryce Canyon National Park’s unique geology
• Zion Canyon National Park
• Stay at the heart of the action on the Las Vegas Strip

Day 1 UK - Denver

Your journey through some of the most spectacular scenery in America is about to begin. After dropping off your bags and clearing security, why not treat yourself to a drink at the airport before boarding your flight to Denver. On arrival, we'll drive you to your overnight hotel.

Day 2 Denver - Rapid City

Your adventure begins in earnest today with a journey to Rapid City in South Dakota. On the way, we're going to stop at the former military and trading outpost of Fort Laramie. This is where Chief Red Cloud signed the treaty that gave the supposedly worthless Black Hills to the Sioux. Just six years later, Custer discovered gold in the Black Hills, prompting the Gold Rush and ultimately causing the Battle of Little Bighorn.

There's a treat in store tonight as we head to Fort Hays Chuckwagon supper and cowboy music show located on the film set of 'Dances with Wolves'. Here we'll enjoy a hearty meal and some foot-stomping fun and entertainment.

Day 3 Mount Rushmore & Badlands

Your day begins with a visit to Mount Rushmore National Memorial, famous for its majestic granite sculptures of Presidents Roosevelt, Lincoln, Washington and Jefferson. Carved between 1927 and 1941 by sculptor Gutzon Borglum and around 400 workers, each face is around 18 metres high. You're also going to see the Crazy Horse Memorial, another monument carved into the Black Hills. An immense masterpiece that's still being worked on, it honours the heroic 19th-century leader of the area's native people.

The highlights keep on coming as we embark on an afternoon tour of Badlands National Park. Here you'll discover an eerie world of geological wonders that was carved over millions of years by the forces of nature

Day 4 Rapid City - Deadwood - Sheridan

You're heading into 'Wild West' territory today with a drive through the Black Hills to Deadwood, a town created on the back of the Gold Rush. The entire city is a national historic landmark and there's time for you to have a good look around. Maybe you'll visit Adams Museum and learn about the history of the Black Hills, browse the shops for souvenirs or enjoy lunch in a bar or saloon. We'll then head to Sheridan for the night.

Day 5 Sheridan - Little Bighorn Battlefield - Cody

The highlight of your day is a visit to the historic site of the Battle of Little Bighorn, fought in June 1876 between the US Army and Native American warriors. A guided tour gives you the chance to relive Custer's Last Stand and get a fascinating insight into one of the most famous conflicts of the American Indian Wars. Afterwards, you'll have a chance to delve deeper into the history of the battle with free time at the visitor centre and museum.

There's an inviting selection of restaurants in Cody, so after arriving at the hotel why not venture out for dinner. Your Holiday Director can point you in the right direction if you need a recommendation.

Day 6 Cody - Yellowstone National Park

After today, you'll be able to say that you have set foot in the world's first national park. Yellowstone is a wonderland of spouting geysers, hot springs, boiling pools and bubbling mud pots. On your tour you'll see the extraordinary Yellowstone Canyon with its waterfall twice the height of Niagara and, of course, 'Old Faithful', the famous geyser which erupts every 93 minutes or so. The park is also a wildlife sanctuary with bears, elk, moose and herds of bison all roaming freely, so be sure to keep your eyes peeled for sightings.

Day 7 Grand Teton National Park

The next national park you'll tick off your list is Grand Teton. It's home to the Teton Range, a series of mountains that form part of the Rockies and stretch for 40 miles from Yellowstone National Park towards Jackson. The park is famed for its beautiful landscape of snow-capped peaks, lakes and glaciers and you can take in these exceptional sights today.

Day 8 Yellowstone - Salt Lake City

We'll head to Utah today for an overnight stay in the state capital, Salt Lake City. Founded by the Mormons, Salt Lake City is set on the shores of the Great Salt Lake and at the foot of spectacular mountains. When we arrive this afternoon, our first port of call will be the elegant Utah Capitol Building, which overlooks the city from a hilltop setting. Surrounded by manicured gardens planted with trees and shrubs, you can step inside to see the Supreme Court and House of Representatives with a tall rotunda in the centre. Be sure to look up and admire the painted ceiling of the rotunda, a celebration of the state bird, the seagull.

You'll then have some free time to explore downtown Salt Lake City. A good place to start is Temple Square, the area surrounding the Salt Lake Temple, a place of worship for members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Here you'll discover a collection of museums, libraries and historic houses interspersed with gardens and monuments. As one of the world's largest genealogical libraries, the city's Family History Library is another interesting place to visit.

Day 9 Salt Lake City - Canyonlands National Park - Moab

Today we make our way to Canyonlands National Park, an incredible rugged landscape of canyons carved by the Colorado River. The Islands in the Sky district of the park offers expansive views of the spectacular canyon wilderness stretching for miles below. We'll make several stops to take in the magnificent scenery, so be sure to have your camera at the ready. Later we'll arrive in Moab for an overnight stay where you can take an optional sunset jet boat ride on the Colorado River. This scenic trip gives you the chance to view the red rock cliffs from the water and is followed by a cowboy-style dinner.

Day 10 Moab - Arches National Park - Cortez

Your next base is Cortez, which we reach via a visit to Arches National Park. This unfathomable red-rock landscape is home to more than 2,000 natural sandstone arches, giant rock formations and pinnacles. The story of this geological wonder dates back around 65 million years to when the sandstone sculptures began to form. Shaped by water and erosion the scenery evolved over time and is ever-changing to this day. We'll spend this morning exploring the park and you'll have the opportunity to get a closer view of one of the arches on a short walk.

Day 11 Mesa Verde National Park

Mesa Verde National Park is also within reach from Cortez, and it's where your tour takes you today. This archaeological masterpiece was once the home of the Ancestral Pueblo people and is famed for its well-preserved cliff dwellings. Centuries ago, thriving communities lived, worked and played in this rugged wilderness and we've arranged for a Local Guide to escort us on a tour of this fascinating site. One of the highlights is Cliff Palace, the largest cliff dwelling in North America with more than 150 individual rooms.

After our tour, we'll drive to Park Point, the highest peak of Mesa Verde National Park. On a clear day, the incredible view stretches for hundreds of miles over Arizona, Utah, Colorado, and New Mexico.

Day 12 Cortez - Monument Valley - Grand Canyon National Park

Today we are heading to Monument Valley, instantly recognisable as the setting for many western movies with its wide-open spaces dotted with incredible sandstone monoliths. The park sits within the Navajo Nation Reserve and is said to be one of the most photographed places on Earth, with sandstone rock formations towering up to 300 metres tall. An optional tour narrated by an expert Navajo guide is available if you'd like to find out more about this fascinating destination and the heritage of the Navajo people.

Our journey continues with a drive to the Grand Canyon National Park in Arizona and we'll catch our first glimpse of this iconic natural wonder this afternoon.

Day 13 Grand Canyon National Park - Kanab

As highlights go, the Grand Canyon is hard to beat, and today is the day that you get to fully take in the magnificence of this spectacular sight. This mile-deep, steep-sided canyon, carved by the Colorado River is a breathtaking sight however viewed, but an optional helicopter flight gives you the thrilling chance to see it from the air.

As we continue our journey to Kanab, we'll stop at the Native Grill and enjoy a traditional frybread taco. This food truck is run by a local Navajo family and supported by our Travelsphere Cares programme.

Day 14 Bryce Canyon National Park

There are just two more national parks to go now, and today you'll view the spires of rock, known as hoodoos, which form the unique geology of Bryce Canyon. The most iconic section of the park is a bowl-shaped area known as the Bryce Amphitheatre and we'll admire its beauty from a series of viewpoints.

Day 15 Kanab - Zion National Park - Las Vegas

A day of contrasts begins with a visit to Zion National Park, where you'll see mesmerising rock formations and sheer cliffs in shades of pink and cream. You've time to explore at your leisure and can use the park's free shuttle bus to discover highlights including the Temple of Sinawava, a natural amphitheatre carved by the Virgin River and surrounded by dramatic canyon walls. Equally as enthralling is your destination tonight, the man-made wonder that is Las Vegas. To appreciate the city in its neon-lit glory, why not join a sightseeing tour this evening.

Day 16 Las Vegas - UK

Spend today exploring Las Vegas at your leisure. Marvel at the epic buildings lining the famous Strip and watch the incredible dancing fountains outside the Bellagio. Try your luck in one of the elegant casinos or shop till you drop; the opportunities are endless! Later, we'll meet up for the final time and travel to the airport for our flight home.

After an unforgettable holiday, you'll arrive back in the UK today.

Additional Information

Favourite moment.

Yellowstone National Park offers so many opportunities to spot wildlife. To see the magnificent bison is incredible.

Accommodation (as specified or similar)

Aloft gateway park denver, country inn & suites by carlson, ramada plaza sheriden hotel, crosswinds inn.

Family owned and operated, Crosswinds Inn is just minutes from Yellowstone National Park, and is within walking distance of shops and restaurants. Hotel facilities include free WiFi, an indoor pool and hot tub, plus a breakfast room offering continental breakfast.

Bedroom amenities include tea/coffee making facilities, microwave, refrigerator and hairdryer.

Crystal Inn Hotel & Suites

Aarchway inn, baymont by wyndham cortez, grand canyon plaza hotel, la quinta inn & suites by wynham kanab.

The La Quinta Inn is close to some of Kanab’s most popular attractions, landmarks and restaurants, and offers guests an outdoor pool and hot tub, fitness centre, 24-hour front desk, free WiFi and there’s also a small onsite shop.

Bedrooms feature air conditioning, refrigerator, microwave, desk, ironing amenities, television, tea/coffee making facilities and hairdryer.

Horseshoe Las Vegas Hotel & Casino

Travelsphere cares.

When you book this holiday you're supporting the DineHozho project 'Native Grill' - a food truck run by a local Navajo family. DineHozho aims to further integrate Navajo culture by assisting indigenous-owned businesses in their development and connecting them to the tourist industry.

Experience even more of your destination by adding one or more optional experiences to your holiday before you set off. Take a look below at the extra trips you can enjoy on this tour

USA - Monument Valley - Open vehicle tour with Navajo guide

USA - Las Vegas by night

Sunset jet boat tour on the Colorado River with dinner

Personalise your trip.

Choose to extend your stay with an organised add-on. 

Epic Wonders of the National Parks with Las Vegas Add-on

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US National Parks

Into the wild.

From the Grand Canyon to the Great Smoky Mountains, the US is blessed with a bounty of stunningly diverse and perfectly preserved National Parks (63, to be exact), each one as mesmerising as the next. Alaska to Zion, you’re invited to explore the canyons, arches, waterfalls, and wildlife of some of America’s most picturesque parks with Cosmos.

GoParks! Tours

In addition to introducing travellers to the treasures of America's national parks, Cosmos is proud to partner with the Wildland Firefighter Foundation to help support the brave firefighters who protect America’s private and public lands from wildfires. We make a contribution to the Wildland Firefighter Foundation for every traveller who selects a GoParks! Tour, at no additional cost to you!

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Explore america's best national parks.

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Exploring America's National Parks

• In-depth Cultural
• Fully Guided
• Coach / Bus

Places You’ll See

• Introduction
• Day 1 LAS VEGAS
• Day 2 LAS VEGAS–WILLIAMS–GRAND CANYON NATIONAL PARK
• Day 3 GRAND CANYON NATIONAL PARK–MONUMENT VALLEY–KAYENTA
• Day 4 KAYENTA–MOAB–ARCHES NATIONAL PARK–GRAND JUNCTION
• Day 5 GRAND JUNCTION–COLORADO NATIONAL MONUMENT–DENVER AREA
• Day 6 DENVER AREA–CUSTER
• Day 7 CUSTER. EXCURSION TO CUSTER STATE PARK, MOUNT RUSHMORE & CRAZY HORSE MEMORIAL
• Day 8 CUSTER–DEVILS TOWER–CODY
• Day 9 CODY–YELLOWSTONE NATIONAL PARK
• Day 10 YELLOWSTONE NATIONAL PARK
• Day 11 YELLOWSTONE NATIONAL PARK–GRAND TETON NATIONAL PARK–JACKSON–ALPINE
• Day 12 ALPINE–SALT LAKE CITY
• Day 13 SALT LAKE CITY–BRYCE CANYON NATIONAL PARK
• Day 14 BRYCE CANYON NATIONAL PARK–ZION NATIONAL PARK–LAS VEGAS
• Day 15 LAS VEGAS

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What's Included

• Accommodation
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Where You'll Stay

Operated by cosmos.

The Cosmos Story. For nearly 60 years, Cosmos has done something remarkable: Bringing the world to people; and people to the world. By pioneering value touring vacations, we have a long history of turning travel dreams into reality. We make possible “never thought I would” or “never imagined I could” moments by making travel attainable and easy. And in doing that, we help travelers expand their horizons, clear their heads and open their hearts to the world around them. Cosmos understands that adventure is waiting for us – all of us – out in the world. And there simply is no better time than the present to discover new sights, new sensations and new experiences. That’s why we pride ourselves in turning “what if” moments into “I did” realizations. With our new look and feel, we’re celebrating this ideal and the unparalleled and attainable access we offer our travelers to the globe with value-centric vacations in 64 countries, on six continents. Let the unexpected begin. Let awe-inspiring take over. Adventure is knocking. As a Cosmos traveler, we know you will answer – as you always have – by finding adventure in the world around you.

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Customer Reviews

• Overall Rating Excellent 5.0
• Itinerary Excellent 4.5
• Guide Excellent 4.5
• Transport Excellent 4.5
• Accommodation Good 4.0
• Food Average 3.0
• Tour Operator Cosmos 4.9
• Most Recent
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• A Winifred · 26th October 2023 It was a well organized trip that visited some fantastic places. Trip date: October 2023 Review collected by Cosmos
• A Carole · 26th October 2023 GOOD TOUR GUIDE Trip date: October 2023 Review collected by Cosmos
• A Ann · 25th October 2023 The tour director Matt Ojile and the driver Danny were both excellent and took great care of us making sure we knew everything we needed to know to make the most of the fantastic experiences the tour provided . Trip date: October 2023 Review collected by Cosmos
• A Julie · 23rd October 2023 I have had the most amazing trip with Cosmos and our Guide Mary, our Driver Rod, and all the fellow passengers. Excellent Trip date: October 2023 Review collected by Cosmos
• A Kenneth · 22nd October 2023 Enjoyed my holiday very much. Saw much more than I expected and was impressed with the organisation and commitment involved to ensure a good experience Trip date: October 2023 Review collected by Cosmos
• A Tony · 21st October 2023 The trip was very enjoyable and very ably directed and organised by our tour director, Matt Ojile. Some of the hotels we stayed in were a little underwhelming and could do with improvements but, on the whole, the trip was very enjoyable. Trip date: October 2023 Review collected by Cosmos
• A Celia · 21st October 2023 Very good itinerary, let down by poor tour director. Hotels good. Trip date: October 2023 Review collected by Cosmos
• A Margaret · 20th October 2023 Brilliantly planned itinerary! Tour Director was wonderful and greatly added to our enjoyment of the tour. Hotels were lovely. Driver was super too - safe, and very patient with us all! Trip date: August 2023 Review collected by Cosmos
• A Mary · 20th October 2023 An extremely well organised tour, a tour that met all our requirements and expectations. Trip date: October 2023 Review collected by Cosmos
• A Marie · 19th October 2023 Better than we expected It was amazing Trip date: October 2023 Review collected by Cosmos

Dates & Availability

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• Upcoming departures
• August 2024
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• Monday 29 Apr, 2024 Monday 13 May, 2024 English Sold Out Based on Double Room €2,810 See Similar Tours For These Dates
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• Monday 20 May, 2024 Monday 3 Jun, 2024 English Sold Out Based on Double Room €3,159 See Similar Tours For These Dates
• 2 Other Unavailable Departures
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This Tour Company Brings Travelers—and Their Glamping Gear—Closer to National Parks

By Todd Plummer

All products featured on Condé Nast Traveler are independently selected by our editors. However, when you buy something through our retail links, we may earn an affiliate commission.

Having guided extensively in the American West for the past 15 years, Andrew Roberts knows his national parks. He can pinpoint the best trails in Yellowstone and the prettiest vistas in Zion , and he's fluent in the logistics of getting visitors into and out of the parks. He also knows how difficult it can be to find the right lodging. Campgrounds inside the parks have amazing access, but they tend to be filled with RVs, noisy generators, and crowds, not to mention the fact that park campsites and lodges can easily book up a year in advance or have limited availability.

That's why in 2010 Roberts created American Safari Camp [ASC], a bespoke camping service that finds isolated spots near (but not in) national parks. Roberts and his team began building pop-up glamping-style accommodations using light-on-the-land principles, with all the creature comforts like en suite toilets and hot water showers, and providing customized itineraries. Think walking out of your tent along the Grand Canyon 's north rim in the morning, hiking the Arizona Trail all day, then returning to camp for s'mores around your own private campfire—with zero other visitors in sight.

Until now, ASC has exclusively sourced commercial permits on federal lands adjacent to national parks. But a new partnership launching this May with Vermejo, a Ted Turner Reserve , brings the ASC concept to one of the largest privately owned land holdings in the United States. Located in New Mexico , Vermejo sprawls out along the Colorado border for 550,000 acres, an area larger than the most-visited national park, Great Smoky Mountains —and one so vast that Vermejo guests often end up seeing only a tiny fraction of it during their stay. “I've spent a total of 40 days there and I haven't even seen half of the property,” said Roberts. One of the more popular excursions for Vermejo guests is to visit abandoned 19th-century kilns that were used to turn wood into charcoal for the railroads. “The kilns are as far as you can go and return to Vermejo's permanent lodge in a day,” Roberts noted, “but we can put a camp by the kilns and guests can explore even more remote corners of the reserve.”

Building out new sites isn't as easy as just pitching a tent, however. On one scouting trip, Roberts and his team inadvertently set up camp in a bison grazing path. The next morning they found themselves in the middle of a herd. While it was thrilling, Roberts learned that there's such a thing as being too up close and personal with nature. “ Bison love to scratch their backs on whatever they can find,” he said. “You don't want a 1,200-pound animal scratching its back on your tent.” And while setting up on private land may provide more leeway to create unique experiences than national parks, there's still a lot of factors to consider. Roberts worked with Ted Turner Reserves' scientists and wildlife managers for over five years to bring the Vermejo partnership to fruition, locating the perfect campsites that allow visitors to best explore—but not disrupt—the landscape. The goal was to create guest experiences that mimic, or even go beyond, what they might do in the national parks.

“Vermejo has bears, coyotes, and mountain lions—but these animals haven't seen or been seen by millions of people like the animals in our national parks have—it's a much more intimate experience here,” said Roberts. “It's the closest thing I've experienced in America to being on a true safari .”

Quick facts about American Safari Camp

Established: 2010

Areas of Operation: Arizona, Utah, New Mexico, Montana

Company Motto: Leave no trace

Wildest place tent pitched: A sandbar in the middle of the Colorado River

This article appeared in the April 2024 issue of  Condé Nast Traveler.  Subscribe to the magazine   here .

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How Much Do You Know About Americas National Parks

Think you know a lot about these American gems? There’s an easy way to find out – just take our quiz!

March 18, 2024

2 minute read

America’s national parks are its natural treasures. As you dream about your next (or first) visit to one, why not test your knowledge of these amazing landscapes?

Which of these was America’s first national park?

• Yosemite National Park
• Yellowstone National Park
• Mackinac National (now State) Park
• Grand Canyon National Park

In which state will you find the Crazy Horse Memorial?

• North Dakota
• South Dakota

Which national park was the first to be established east of the Mississippi?

• Great Smoky Mountains National Park
• Acadia National Park
• Everglades National Park
• Dry Tortugas National Park

The most-visited national park in the U.S. is:

Colorado’s mesa verde national park, the largest archeological preserve in the u.s., is known for its:.

• Rock spires
• Ancient temples
• Cliff dwellings

How many U.S. national parks are also designated UNESCO World Heritage Sites?

Which u.s. president was once a ranger for the national park service.

• Barack Obama
• Gerald Ford
• John F. Kennedy
• Lyndon B. Johnson

About how often does Yellowstone’s Old Faithful geyser erupt?

• Every 15 minutes
• Every 90 minutes
• Once an hour

This national park is designated as one of the Seven Natural Wonders of the World:

• Badlands National Park
• Hawaii Volcanoes National Park
• Sequoia National Park

Sequoia National Park is home to the largest single-stem tree on the planet, known as:

• President Lincoln
• General Sherman
• Robert E. Lee

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Amazing Photos of Every National Park in America

Posted: February 24, 2024 | Last updated: February 24, 2024

American Beauty

The United States is home to 63 stunning national parks spread over 30 states. The oldest, Yellowstone National Park, was created by Ulysses S. Grant in 1872. The most recent addition, the New River Gorge National Park and Preserve in West Virginia, joined the club in December 2020. Each of the parks offers uniquely awe-inspiring wild places and represent the best of America’s natural beauty, offering visitors a place for spiritual renewal and the chance to get lost in the splendor of the great outdoors. Even when we can't visit the parks in person, we can still enjoy stunning photos of them from afar.

Channel Islands National Park | California

Channel Islands National Park includes five islands and an ocean environment filled with a variety of animals, plants, and archeological resources. Their preservation lets visitors see and experience a pristine version of coastal Southern California. 

Acadia National Park | Maine

One of the most stunning places to visit in the Northeast, Acadia National Park spans ocean shoreline, coastal forests, remote islands and rocky mountains. There are 45 miles of historic carriage roads where visitors can set off on bikes and 125 miles of trails for hiking enthusiasts. 

American Samoa National Park | American Samoa

Located in the South Pacific and dubbed the islands of sacred Earth, this unique national park is a tropical paradise. The park is 2,600 miles southwest of Hawaii, making it one of the most remote national parks in the country. Highlights include rare plants and animals, coral sand beaches, and picturesque expanses of land and sea. 

Arches National Park | Utah

Utah is home to some of the country's most striking and unusual landscapes, and Arches National Park is one of the best places to take it all in. Often described as a red-rock wonderland, the park is home to some 2,000 natural stone arches as well as many soaring rock pinnacles and giant balanced rocks. There are also plenty of trails for hiking. Don't miss sticking around for sunset over this jaw-dropping landscape. 

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Badlands National Park | South Dakota

A place that contains some of the world's richest fossil beds, Badlands National Park is known for its 244,000 acres of rugged and colorful beauty dominated by mixed-grass prairies. Long ago, saber-toothed cats roamed here; today it's home to bison and bighorn sheep. 

Related:   Historic National Park Photos for Vintage Views

Big Bend National Park | Texas

Big Bend's massive landscape encompasses everything from sea fossils and dinosaur bones to volcanic dikes and meandering rivers. There are also mountain ranges, canyons, and desert to explore.  

Biscayne National Park | Florida

Within the boundaries of Biscayne National Park , visitors can explore aquamarine waters, coral reefs, and islands. Home to four distinct ecosystems, there's a diverse array of wildlife living in the park, including hundreds of species of fish and plants that are unlike anything else in the world. Popular activities at this park include boating, snorkeling, camping, and wildlife observation. 

Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park | Colorado

Get ready for steep cliffs and craggy spires at Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park . A vertical rock wilderness, the canyon offers a place for visitors to hike, take scenic drives, rock climb, and go kayaking. Night sky viewing opportunities are also popular here. 

Related:   Awe-Inspiring Photos of National Parks in Winter

Bryce Canyon National Park | Utah

Bryce Canyon National Park is home to the largest concentration of hoodoos (eroded columns of rock) anywhere on the planet. The unique and otherworldly landscape of this memorable park includes a variety of canyons, natural amphitheaters, and bowls carved along the edge of a high plateau. 

Canyonlands National Park | Utah

Another unforgettable and iconic national park in Utah, Canyonlands showcases more of the unique and dramatic arches, buttes, and expansive desert landscapes that southeastern Utah is so famous for. Its immense desert landscape is home to hundreds of colorful canyons. 

Capitol Reef National Park | Utah

One of Utah's lesser known national parks, Capitol Reef is as striking as many of its neighboring national parks. The desert landscape and canyons at Capitol Reef offer hiking opportunities that take visitors through narrow canyons and gorges, past natural stone arches and along high cliffs. 

Carlsbad Caverns National Park | New Mexico

Perhaps most famous for its 119 caves filled with stalagmites and stalactites, Carlsbad Caverns is also home to an abundance of above-ground treasures in the Chihuahuan Desert including high ancient sea ledges, deep rocky canyons, flowering cactus, and desert wildlife. 

Congaree National Park | South Carolina

Congaree National Park is famous for being home to the largest intact old-growth bottomland hardwood forest in the southeastern U.S. There are more than 25 miles of hiking trails here and 2.4 miles of boardwalk allowing visitors to explore the Congaree floodplain.   

Crater Lake National Park | Oregon

Created some 7,700 years ago through an eruption that caused the collapse of the volcano Mount Mazama, Crater Lake National Park is home to the deepest lake in the country and one of the most unspoiled in the world. Its stunning jewel-blue waters are simply unforgettable. 

Cuyahoga Valley National Park | Ohio

In addition to protecting 22 miles of the Cuyahoga River, this national park includes forests, rolling hills, waterfalls, wetlands, and even a few historic buildings. There are more than 900 plant species to be found in Cuyahoga, 194 species of birds, 32 mammals, 22 amphibians, and 20 species of reptiles. 

Death Valley National Park | California and Nevada

Death Valley's  main claims to fame are that it's the hottest, driest, and lowest national park in the country. Located below sea level and famous for brutal summer heat and non-stop droughts, Death Valley is also where visitors will find expanses of wildflowers after a rain and even a rare oasis. 

Denali National Park | Alaska

Spread over 6 million acres, Denali's natural beauty includes taiga forest, high alpine tundra, and snowy mountains. It's also home to the continent's tallest peak. Visitors are awed by the many wild animals that live freely here. 

Dry Tortugas National Park | Florida

The remote Dry Tortugas National Park , about 70 miles west of Key West, is 100 square miles made up primarily of open water. There are also seven small islands. This park can only be explored by boat, or perhaps seaplane. Its highlights include Fort Jefferson, coral reefs, and a variety of bird life.

Related:   Bucket-List Experiences in America's National Parks

Everglades National Park | Florida

The special place is the most expansive subtropical wilderness in the United States. Everglades National Park provides critical habitat for many rare and endangered species including the beloved manatee and the rare Florida panther. This park has the distinctions of being a World Heritage Site, an International Biosphere Reserve, a Wetland of International Importance, and a specially protected area under the Cartagena Treaty. 

Gates of the Arctic National Park | Alaska

A remote landscape north of the Arctic Circle, there are no roads or trails in Gates of the Arctic National Park . Instead visitors, who visit primarily by plane, will find ecosystems that have existed for thousands of years. There are wild rivers, valleys created by glaciers, and skies illuminated by the aurora borealis. 

Gateway Arch National Park | Missouri

Nicknamed the "Gateway to the West," St. Louis' Gateway Arch was built as a memorial to honor Thomas Jefferson's role in opening up America's western frontier. It is the tallest humanmade monument in the country. 

Glacier Bay National Park | Alaska

A 3.3 million-acre park typically explored by cruise ship, Glacier Bay features some of the planet's most impressive remaining tidewater glaciers. The bay, which has experienced about four major glacial advances and four major retreats, has more than 50 named glaciers. There are also rugged mountains, rainforest, and fjords. 

Glacier National Park | Montana

Named a national park in 1910, Glacier National Park has about 25 active glaciers dispersed among its 1 million acres and is home to "Going-to-the-Sun Road," a 50-mile drive said to offer some of the most unforgettable views in Montana. Other park highlights include pristine forests, alpine meadows, and lakes. 

Related: Money-Saving Tips for Visiting National Parks 

Grand Canyon National Park | Arizona

Grand Canyon National Park is one of the most famous national parks in the country. By some accounts, the Colorado River began carving the Grand Canyon about 6 million years ago. Other studies suggest this stunning canyon, which is 6,093 feet deep in some places, may date back as far as 70 million years. 

Grand Teton National Park | Wyoming

Often visited in conjunction with nearby Yellowstone National Park, Grand Teton offers 310,000 sweeping acres made up of meadows, lakes, and, of course, the namesake Teton Range. There are also 200 miles of trails here and the Snake River, offering yet another way to take-in this  breathtaking landscape. 

Great Basin National Park | Nevada

With its alpine lakes, limestone caverns, and some of the oldest trees on the planet, Great Basin National Park is a nature lover's dream. Park visitors will also find some of the darkest night skies in the country.

Great Sand Dunes National Park | Colorado

Spread over 30 square miles in southern Colorado, Great Sand Dunes National Park has the unique claim of being home to the tallest sand dune in North America, which is 750-feet high and takes five hours to hike round-trip. This diverse park also contains grasslands, wetlands, conifer and aspen forests, alpine lakes, and even tundra. 

Great Smoky Mountains National Park | Tennessee and North Carolina

Famous for its picturesque expanses of forest, as well as its diverse plant and animal life, Great Smoky Mountains National Park protects an ancient mountain range and is the most visited national park in the country. 

Guadalupe Mountains National Park | Texas

Within the boundaries of Guadalupe Mountains National Park , visitors will find the four highest peaks in Texas. There's also a diverse array of flora and fauna here, as well as canyons, desert, and dunes.

Haleakalā National Park | Hawaii

This 34,000-acre landscape includes everything from subtropical, coastal rain forest to volcanoes, and there are animal species in Haleakalā National Park that are not found anywhere else on the planet — including the Hawaiian hoary bat and the Haleakalā flightless moth. 

Hawaii Volcanoes National Park | Hawaii

As the name indicates, this unique and fascinating national park offers a place to experience volcanoes up close (if you're bold enough). There's also a variety of other striking geological, biological, and cultural landscapes to be seen in this sprawling, 335,259-acre preserve that begins at sea level and rises to 13,677 feet. Scalded deserts, rainforests, and petroglyphs are among the diverse highlights here.

Hot Springs National Park | Arkansas

Hot Springs National Park  surrounds part of the city of Hot Springs. There are 47 hot springs as well as miles of hiking trails winding through the Ouachita Mountains.

Indiana Dunes National Park | Indiana

A natural wonder created by glacial sand from the east and west sides of a 300-mile Lake Michigan, the Indiana Dunes have been carved over time by wind and waves nearly as powerful as those generated by an ocean. The 15,000-acre park is home to rare birds, sandy beach, and 50 miles of trails that wind through rugged dunes, wetlands, prairies, and forests. 

Isle Royale National Park | Michigan

This national park has the distinction of being both the least visited and the most revisited national park. Located in Lake Superior and accessible only by boat or plane, the park's landscape was created by glaciers and the world's largest lava flow. 

Joshua Tree National Park | California

Named after the odd, prickly wonder that is the Joshua Tree, this Southern California park encompasses the Colorado and Mojave deserts. Within its striking and vast expanses (the park is some 800,000 acres), there's a variety of plants and animals as well as sand dunes, dry lakes, and rugged mountains. 

Katmai National Park | Alaska

A national park that dates back to 1918, Katmai was created to protect a volcanically devastated region. Today, it is perhaps best known as an important habitat for salmon and brown bears. 

Kenai Fjords National Park | Alaska

If there's any place left on the planet where the Ice Age can be said to survive, it is perhaps Kenai Fjords National Park . About 40 glaciers are found within among lush forests and thriving wildlife. Even here, though, glaciers are shrinking as global warming takes its toll. 

Kings Canyon National Park | California

Home to the deepest canyon in the country, Kings Canyon is more than just valleys. There are towering sequoia trees and striking rock outcroppings in a park that some say rivals Yosemite in its offerings. 

Kobuk Valley National Park | Alaska

Lake Clark National Park | Alaska

Named after a dramatic, turquoise-colored lake that's fed by glaciers, waterfalls, rivers, and streams, this national park  includes volcanoes, mountains, tundra, forest, and meadows. 

Lassen Volcanic National Park | California

As its name implies, Lassen Volcanic National Park includes a number of volcanic features ranging from fumaroles (steam and volcanic-gas vents), to thumping mud pots, boiling pools, and steaming ground. Perhaps its most famous feature is Lassen Peak, a volcano that last erupted in 1914 and continued showing its fury for three long years.

Mammoth Cave National Park | Kentucky

Mammoth's more than 400-mile cave system is the longest on Earth. The park is also home to an expansive 53,000 acres of forest crisscrossed by 70 miles of trails. As a bonus, there are more than 20 miles of river to be explored. 

Mesa Verde National Park | Colorado

One of the finest examples in the country of how the ancestral Pueblo people lived, Mesa Verde National Park protects some 5,000 archeological sites tied to a people who made their homes in the region from the years A.D. 600 to 1300. 

Mount Rainier National Park | Washington

Mount Rainier rises more than 14,410 feet above sea level and has spawned five major rivers. Mount Rainier National Park is also famous for its picturesque subalpine meadows of wildflowers. There's an abundance of wildlife here, and ancient forests. 

New River Gorge National Park and Preserve | West Virginia

New River Gorge was upgraded to national park status in December 2020, making it the system’s most recent addition, and includes some 70,000 acres in south central West Virginia where biking, hiking, and white-water rafting are just some of the activities. Visitors can marvel at the New River Gorge Bridge, the longest arch bridge in the Western Hemisphere, and the park has developed a self-guided African American Heritage Auto Tour examining black history in the New River Gorge area. 

North Cascades National Park | Washington

North Cascades National Park , established in 1968, is another national park famous for its glaciers, and there are more than 300 here. Visitors will also find forested valleys, steep mountains, and waterfalls.

Olympic National Park | Washington

Spread among its nearly 1 million acres are several distinct ecosystems to explore at Olympic National Park . The stunning variety includes glacier-capped mountains, old-growth rainforest, and in excess of 70 miles of coast. 

Petrified Forest National Park | Arizona

Some of the petrified trees within this park are as much as 218 million years old. About 110 miles east of Flagstaff, this land was designated a national park in 1962. Beyond petrified wood, there are also 13,000 years of human history on display and a protected stretch of Route 66.

Pinnacles National Park | California

Born of volcanoes 23 million years ago, this national park is dominated by towering rock spires, chaparral, oak woodlands, and canyon bottoms. Among the wildlife calling this place home are golden eagles, prairie and peregrine falcons, and even the California condor.

Redwood National Park | California

Sure, Redwood National Park is home to some of the tallest trees on Earth. But visitors will also find expansive prairies, oak woodlands, and even spectacular coastline. 

Rocky Mountain National Park | Colorado

The majestic natural beauty within Rocky Mountain National Park's 415 square miles includes subalpine and alpine forests, tundra, alpine lakes, forested valleys, and a variety of wildflowers and wildlife. 

Saguaro National Park | Arizona

A national park dedicated to the unique cacti found here, Saguaro National Park  was created in 1994 and includes some 91,327 acres spread over the Eastern Rincon Mountain District, which rises to more than 8,000 feet, and the Western Tucson Mountain District, home to the saguaro forest. The giant saguaro has long been associated with the American West. 

Sequoia National Park | California

Known for the towering redwood trees found within its boundaries, Sequoia National Park is one of the oldest national parks in the United States. Created in 1890, the park spans more than 400,000 acres and includes the Crystal Cave, where there are underground streams and striking rock formations.

Shenandoah National Park | Virginia

Less than 100 miles from the nation's capital, nature lovers will find 200,000 acres of protected land that features waterfalls, expansive vistas, and peaceful woodlands. Its famed Skyline Drive, punctuated by panoramic views from overlooks, runs 105 miles. The park's expansive and uninterrupted swath of nature is also a haven for deer and home to everything from bears to songbirds. 

Theodore Roosevelt National Park | North Dakota

Located in the Badlands of western North Dakota and named in honor of the 26th president, this park is famous for its diversity of wildlife, and particularly for the bison and elk that call the region home. There are also nearly 100 miles of hiking trails and Roosevelt's own ranch, which dates back to the 1880s. 

Virgin Islands National Park | U.S. Virgin Islands

A paradise for beach lovers, Virgin Islands National Park  includes ruins of a sugar plantation, ancient petroglyphs carved by the Taino Indians, and coral reefs teeming with marine life. A full two-thirds of the island of St. John is part of this national park. 

Voyageurs National Park | Minnesota

Voyageurs National Park is made up of water highways, so exploring here requires bringing watercraft or reserving one ahead of time — or at least participating in a ranger boat tour. While water makes up more than one-third of the park's 218,000 acres, there are also more than 27 miles of scenic trails, hidden waterfalls, and ancient petroglyphs. 

White Sands National Park | New Mexico

One of the most recent additions to our national park system, White Sands National Park is made up of 275 square miles of blindingly white gypsum sand dunes. The largest gypsum dunefield on the planet, this park is also home to many plants and animals that have adapted to survive in such a harsh environment.

Wind Cave National Park | South Dakota

Known for its 33,581 acres of rolling prairie grasslands and forested hillsides aboveground, Wind Cave National Park is also home to the first cave to be named a national park — one of the longest and most complex in the world. It contains weblike “boxwork” rock formations not found in many other places in the world.

Wrangell—St. Elias National Park | Alaska

Known as America's largest national park, Wrangell – St. Elias National Park boasts a whopping 13.2 million acres. This park is the same size as Yellowstone National Park, Yosemite National Park, and Switzerland combined. 

Yellowstone National Park | Wyoming, Montana, and Idaho

In the first national park , there's a fascinating variety of geologic wonders and an abundance of wildlife. Covering some 3,450 square miles — the park is so large it includes parts of three states within its boundaries — visitors can find lakes, geysers, canyons, rivers, and mountain ranges. 

Yosemite National Park | California

One of the most famous tourist destinations in California and the location of some of the most iconic pictures taken by famed photographer Ansel Adams, Yosemite offers everything from waterfalls to meadows and ancient sequoias within its vast and unforgettable wilderness. 

Zion National Park | Utah

The first national park to be created in Utah, Zion has massive sandstone cliffs, narrow slot canyons, and a diversity of plants and animals. 

This article was originally published on Cheapism

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What is the most visited national park in the US? Answers to your biggest park questions

Most people have heard of Yosemite’s Half Dome or Yellowstone's Old Faithful , but how about the largest national park? Or which gets the most visitors each year? 

USA TODAY rounded up answers to the most popular park questions to help travelers better understand these national treasures and share some fun trivia with family and friends on their next park visit.

Here are 10 things to know about America’s national parks .

What is the most visited national park in the US? 

Great Smoky Mountains is the most visited national park in America, by far. Last year, it drew nearly three times the visitors as the second-most visited park, Grand Canyon , according to National Park Service data .

These were the 15 most visited national parks in 2023:

• Great Smoky Mountains in North Carolina and Tennessee - 13,297,647
• Grand Canyon in Arizona - 4,733,705
• Zion in Utah - 4,623,238
• Yellowstone in Idaho, Montana, Wyoming - 4,501,382
• Rocky Mountain in Colorado - 4,115,837
• Yosemite in California - 3,897,070
• Acadia in Maine - 3,879,890
• Grand Teton in Wyoming - 3,417,106
• Joshua Tree in California  - 3,270,404
• Olympic National Park in Washington - 2,947,503
• Glacier National Park in Montana - 2,933,616
• Cuyahoga Valley in Ohio - 2,860,059
• Indiana Dunes in Indiana - 2,765,892
• Hot Springs in Arkansas - 2,502,967
• Bryce Canyon in Utah - 2,461,269

The least visited national park is Gates of the Arctic in Alaska, which drew 11,045 visitors last year even though there are no roads to get there.“Even for Alaska, Gates of the Arctic is sort of above all the rest in terms of difficulty of reaching it, solitude, remoteness,” Peter Christian, chief spokesperson for Public Affairs for the National Park Service’s Alaska region, previously told USA TODAY.  

'Finding hidden gems': America's least visited national parks

What are the big 3 national parks?

When people think of national parks, three loom large in many minds: Grand Canyon, Yellowstone and Yosemite. 

However, they’re neither the three most visited national parks nor the largest in size. 

What is the largest US national park?

Wrangell-St. Elias is the biggest of all. It’s more than three times the size of Grand Canyon, Yellowstone and Yosemite national parks combined. 

The three biggest national parks are all in Alaska:

• Wrangell-St. Elias National Park & Preserve - 13.2 million acres
• Gates of the Arctic National Park & Preserve - nearly 8.5 million acres
• Denali National Park & Preserve - more than 4.7 million acres

The smallest national park is Gateway Arch in Missouri, at roughly 91 acres.

What is the newest national park?

New River Gorge , in West Virginia, became America’s newest national park in December 2020.

It was previously designated a national river. 

Story continues below.

How many national parks are in the US?

There are 63 national parks across the country, including two in U.S. territories.

USA TODAY has been spotlighting each one in a yearlong series that shares insights and tips from the park rangers who know them best.

Has anyone been to all 63 national parks?

Yes. Multiple people have accomplished this bucket list feat, including Stefanie Payne, who visited all 63 parks within one year and wrote about them in " 100 Things to See in the National Parks ."

“The Alaska parks are the ones that are deepest in my heart because they are in such a remote and rugged landscape,” she previously told USA TODAY . “It's really just mind-bending to be in some of those areas, especially when the mountains are so big and the glaciers and the terrain is really challenging and you start to see what you're made of.”

What state has the best national parks?

Many national parks fans point to Utah’s Mighty Five : Arches, Bryce Canyon, Canyonlands, Capitol Reef and Zion, but best is subjective. 

“I'm sure every park is like, ‘Everywhere is the best.’ It's all so good, right?” Petrified Forest National Park park ranger Jessica Barnett told USA TODAY.

Which state has the most number of national parks?

California has the most national parks, with nine: Channel Islands, Death Valley, Joshua Tree, Kings Canyon, Lassen Volcanic, Pinnacles, Redwood, Sequoia, and Yosemite.

Death Valley actually straddles California and Nevada. A number of America’s national parks span multiple states.

What state has no national park? 

There are no national parks in Alabama, Connecticut, Delaware, Georgia, Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Louisiana, Maryland, Massachusetts, Mississippi, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont or Wisconsin.

However, all 50 states are home to other National Park Service units , like national battlefields and seashores, which are sometimes called parks.

The National Park System currently has 429 units. The most recent addition is Amanche National Historic Site in Colorado. Travelers can find sites by state on the National Park Service’s website .

What is a national park a park for? 

When Yellowstone became America’s first national park in 1872, Congress designated it “a public park or pleasuring ground for the benefit and enjoyment of the people,” but national parks have come to offer and protect much more.

“The National Park Service preserves unimpaired the natural and cultural resources and values of the National Park System for the enjoyment, education, and inspiration of this and future generations,” according the mission shared on its website. 

To help protect these spaces, visitors are asked to leave no trace .

Contributing: Bailey Schulz, USA TODAY

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Free Entrance Day for National Park Week 2024

Did you know national parks have their own holiday? They do! And this year’s nine-day celebration starts April 20 with waived entrance fees — plus a variety of park events through April 28.

Mount Rainier National Park in spring. 

National parks come in different shapes, sizes and naming designations. The National Park Service sponsors National Park Week each year to celebrate all of them — and everything about them.

Here are six ways park supporters can join the celebration April 20-28.

1. Get in parks for free April 20.

A child chases a grown-up on Beetle Rock in Sequoia National Park.

Yes, you read that correctly! Saturday, April 20, is a free entrance day at parks that normally charge a fee to enter.

What a great way to explore a new park or an old favorite while kicking off the National Park Service’s annual celebration. Just be aware that visitors still need to pay user fees associated with camping, boat launches and other amenities while in the park.

2. Celebrate ParkRx Day on April 20 — it will do your body good (and mind, too!).

People exercise with Hula-Hoops at Gateway Arch National Park.

The outdoors offer a healing power, which is why a growing number of healthcare providers refer patients to nature and national parks for their health. Research indicates that spending time in nature lowers cortisol and blood pressure, as well as levels of stress, depression and anxiety.

On ParkRx Day April 20, the Park Service encourages folks to boost their well-being by getting outside. Whether it’s for 10 minutes, 30 minutes or an hour or more, you can fill your “park prescription” in your favorite park with self- or ranger-led activities. The Park Service’s Healthy Parks Healthy People initiative shares more information on how nature benefits us and how to get a dose of it.

3. Join the fun at ‘Camp NPCA’ on social media all week.

“Camp NPCA” graphic for National Park Week. 

NPCA’s National Park Week theme, “Camp NPCA,” will evoke all the nostalgia and fun of summer camp with a national park protection twist. Activities packed into April 20-28 include two free in-person park events (they’re currently full, but you’re welcome to join the waitlist ), campfire chats with NPCA’s resident experts, giveaways of camp essentials on social media, and more.

Keep an eye out for a brand-new T-shirt design from NPCA’s Park Store. And if you’re one of the 200 first members to join NPCA during Park Week, we’ll have something extra special for you. Be sure to keep up with the fun on your favorite social media platforms: Instagram , TikTok , LinkedIn, YouTube , Pinterest, Twitter/X and Facebook .

4. Honor Earth Day and national parks at the same time April 22.

Earth Day is Monday, April 22, and exploring national parks is a natural way to celebrate.

Brandywine Falls is one of the top attractions of Cuyahoga Valley National Park.

The first Earth Day was in 1970, created in part because of a pollution-caused fire on the Cuyahoga River the year before. Greater attention to our natural resources since then — thanks to the Clean Water Act, Environmental Protection Agency and ongoing work by environmental organizations, including NPCA — this Ohio river and other waterways in the U.S. are much, much cleaner.

You can see for yourself at Cuyahoga Valley National Park.

You can listen to an NPCA podcast to learn more about restoration efforts at Cuyahoga.

5. Get children involved in National Junior Ranger Day April 27.

Junior Rangers holding badges from Herbert Hoover National Historic Site.

The Park Service’s Junior Ranger program gets its own special day Saturday, April 27. Many parks will have special programming for youngsters as part of National Park Week. Check out the activities and events .

6. Volunteer at a national park — or say ‘thank you’ to someone who does.

A reenactor volunteer talks with visitors at Minute Man National Historical Park.

National Volunteer Week coincides with National Park Week, and there are thousands of volunteer projects and special events April 21-27, whether online, at a visitor center or on a trail.

You can learn more about volunteering with the Park Service or find a volunteer event. If you’re visiting a national park, offer a word of thanks to the volunteers you meet for the work they do to support our parks. If you’re a proud volunteer, the Park Service encourages you to share your experience on social media with the tags #NPSVolunteer, #MyParkStory and #NVW.

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About the author

As staff writer on the Communications team, Linda Coutant manages the Park Advocate blog and coordinates the monthly Park Notes e-newsletter distributed to NPCA’s members and supporters.

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