- When many people think of typical US landscapes, they think of the most visited large national parks.
- As someone who has visited all 10, I can say they are all worth seeing – but I still have my favorites.
- Because of the crowds, the Great Smoky Mountains were the last place to go, but my favorite place to visit was the Grand Teton.
After visiting 59 of the 63 largest national parks in the U.S., it’s easy to see how each one earned this prestigious award—and that’s why it feels wrong to pick favorites. Each park is unique in its own way, with incredible diversity and sights worth visiting.
The 10 most visited national parks are no exception. Visited by between about 2.5 million and over 13 million people in 2023, these parks are probably what most people imagine when they think of a U.S. national park.
As visitor numbers to national parks increase, I’m often asked which of the most popular parks are my favorites. While I enjoyed my time at all of the most visited parks, there are some I’d rather visit again than others. Here’s my ranking.
