National Parks in the United States

Template:Infobox US-topic The United States is home to some of the most diverse and breathtaking natural landscapes in the world, many of which are protected under the National Park System. As of today, there are 63 official national parks, managed by the National Park Service (NPS), an agency of the U.S. Department of the Interior.

Purpose and Mission

National Parks are established to:

• Preserve natural beauty, wildlife, and ecosystems
• Protect historical and cultural landmarks
• Provide public access for education, recreation, and inspiration

The mission of the National Park Service is to "conserve the scenery and the natural and historic objects... for the enjoyment of future generations."

History

• The first national park in the world, Yellowstone National Park, was created in 1872
• The National Park Service was established in 1916
• Over time, the system has expanded to include parks, monuments, battlefields, historic sites, and more

Most Visited National Parks

Some of the most visited parks in the U.S. include:

• Great Smoky Mountains National Park – Tennessee/North Carolina
• Grand Canyon National Park – Arizona
• Zion National Park – Utah
• Rocky Mountain National Park – Colorado
• Yosemite National Park – California

Categories of National Park Units

While “National Parks” refer to 63 specially designated parks, the broader system includes over 400 protected areas, such as:

• National Monuments
• National Seashores
• National Historic Sites
• National Battlefields
• National Preserves

Fun Facts

• The largest national park is Wrangell–St. Elias in Alaska
• The smallest is Gateway Arch National Park in Missouri
• Over 300 million people visit U.S. national parks each year

List of U.S. National Parks

A few examples of iconic national parks:

• Yellowstone National Park – Wyoming, Montana, Idaho
• Grand Canyon National Park – Arizona
• Yosemite National Park – California
• Acadia National Park – Maine
• Everglades National Park – Florida
• Denali National Park – Alaska

➡️ See: List of National Parks of the United States for the full breakdown

See Also

• Nature in the United States
• Tourism in the United States
• National Park Service
• Wildlife of the United States
• Conservation in the United States