U.S. States Ranked by State and National Park Coverage (2024)

Which state in the U.S. has the highest percentage of land covered in state parks and national parks? Many assume that the state with the most land would take the top spot, but the state with the highest percentage is actually one of the smallest in the country!

This interactive map compares the total acreage of each state with the combined acreage of both state and national parks to determine each state’s ranking. Not every state in the U.S. has a national park within its borders, but they make up for it with many state parks for residents to explore and enjoy.

Which State Has the Highest Percentage of State and National Park Coverage?

The state with the highest percentage of state and national park coverage is Hawaii, with parks covering 9.41% of the state’s 4,134,000 acres. Its 50 state parks cover 30,000 acres, while the two national parks in Hawaii make up 358,870 acres.

The state that ranked last was Kansas, with just 0.06% of the state’s 52,660,000 acres made up of 26 state parks (32,000 acres) and 0 national parks.

What Is the Difference Between a State Park and a National Park?

The biggest difference between a state park and a national park is the governing body that oversees them. State parks are operated by state governments and national parks by the federal government. State parks also often have more amenities to offer than national parks.

Both state and national parks are deemed protected lands in order to preserve their natural beauty, historical or scientific importance, or recreational potential.

Which States Have the Most State Parks?

California has the most state parks in the country, with 270. There are a total of 3,729 state parks in the United States, with 11 states having more than 100 state parks each. Rhode Island comes in last with just 15 state parks.

Top 10 States With the Most State Parks

  1. California: 270
  2. New York: 215
  3. Washington: 212
  4. Oregon: 195
  5. Florida: 191
  6. Massachusetts: 154
  7. Illinois: 142
  8. Pennsylvania: 121
  9. Alaska: 119
  10. Connecticut: 109

What Is the State With the Most National Parks?

That state with the most national parks is California, with nine of the nation’s 61 national parks within its borders. The total acreage of these nine national parks in California is more than 6.3 million acres.

States With the Most National Parks

  1. California: 9
  2. Alaska: 8
  3. Utah: 5
  4. Colorado: 4
  5. Washington, Florida, and Arizona (tied): 3

U.S. States Ranked by State and National Park Coverage: The Infographic

The infographic below takes an in-depth look at each state’s total coverage of state parks and national parks, and how the state’s ranking was determined by acreage. You’ll also discover the ten states with the most state parks, all of which boast an impressive 100+ parks, as well as the seven states with the most national parks within their borders.

Click to view the full-size infographic

U.S. States Ranked by State and National Park Coverage (1)

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Watch Our Video on the Largest and Smallest National Parks in the United States:

U.S. States Ranked by State and National Park Coverage (2024)

FAQs

What state ranked by the most national parks? ›

The 10 states with the highest number of national parks are:
  • California – 9.
  • Alaska – 8.
  • Colorado – 4.
  • Arizona – 3.
  • Florida – 3.
  • Washington – 3.
  • Hawaii – 2.
  • Montana – 2.

What are the top 5 states with the most national parks? ›

The state with the most national parks is California with nine, followed by Alaska with eight, Utah with five, and Colorado with four. The largest national park is Wrangell–St. Elias in Alaska: at over 8 million acres (32,375 km2), it is larger than each of the nine smallest states.

Can you tell me 5 states without a national park? ›

In fact, 20 states don't have any national parks at all. These include Alabama, Connecticut, Delaware, Georgia, Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Louisiana, Maryland, Massachusetts, Mississippi, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, and Wisconsin.

What percent of the U.S. is covered in national parks? ›

Today, a total of 84.9 million acres has been designated national park land, approximately 3.6% of all land in the United States.

What is America's number 1 national park? ›

1. Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming, Montana, and Idaho.

Which 3 states have the most national parks? ›

California has the most with nine, followed by Alaska with eight, Utah with five, and Colorado with four.

What U.S. state has the most wildlife? ›

California has more native species than any other state in the U.S. and has the greatest number of endemic species that don't occur anywhere else. Animals in America you can't miss.

What is the most visited national park in the USA? ›

Great Smoky Mountains remains America's most visited national park by a long shot. Nearly 13 million people visited the park straddling North Carolina and Tennessee last year, according to newly released National Park Service numbers.

Which state has no national parks? ›

Delaware is the only state in the country without a National Park, but maybe not for long. National parks showcase natural beauty like Yosemite and historic venues like Independence Park.

What is the only free national park in the US? ›

Free national parks in the U.S.
  • North Cascades National Park, Washington. ...
  • Redwood National Park, California. ...
  • Channel Islands National Park, California. ...
  • Great Basin National Park, Nevada. ...
  • Hot Springs National Park, Arkansas. ...
  • Voyageurs National Park, Minnesota. ...
  • Cuyahoga Valley National Park, Ohio.
Aug 17, 2022

What state has the smallest national park? ›

Hot Springs National Park, Arkansas

Hot Springs is the smallest of the 61 national parks in the country. The Arkansas park is so small – just 5,550 acres – that it could fit into Wrangell-St.

What state has 200 national parks? ›

What Is the State With the Most National Parks? That state with the most national parks is California, with nine of the nation's 61 national parks within its borders.

Which U.S. national park is 95% water? ›

Biscayne National Park is 95% water.

How many states have 1 national park? ›

Thirty states have at least one national park within their borders. California is home to nine national parks, more than any other U.S. state. Death Valley National Park is the largest national park in the continental United States.

What is the smallest national park? ›

What is the largest national park site? Smallest?
  • Largest: Wrangell-St. Elias National Park and Preserve, AK, at 13.2 million acres.
  • Smallest: Thaddeus Kosciuszko National Memorial, PA, at 0.02 acres.
May 3, 2023

What is the most expensive national park? ›

Save even more by visiting the most-expensive parks:

Glacier National Park, Montana. Grand Canyon National Park, Arizona. Grand Teton National Park, Wyoming. Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks, California.

What is America's most remote national park? ›

When you're located 70 miles west of an island that's 150 miles south of the mainland, you're pretty remote. That's where you'll find the Dry Tortugas National Park and the historic Fort Jefferson. The cluster of seven small islands is accessible from Key West via the high-speed Yankee Freedom ferry.

What are the 4 newest national parks? ›

for fun!
  • New River Gorge National Park - December 27, 2020.
  • White Sands National Park - December 20, 2019.
  • Indiana Dunes National Park - February 15, 2019.
  • Gateway Arch National Park - February 22, 2018.
  • Pinnacles National Park - January 10, 2013.
Feb 12, 2023

Are there 62 or 63 national parks? ›

The National Park System encompasses 424 national park sites in the United States. They span across more than 84 million acres, with parks in each state and extending into the territories, including parks in Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands, American Samoa, and Guam.

Which national park has the tallest waterfall? ›

YOSEMITE NATIONAL PARK, CA

Yosemite Falls is the most famous and most photographed of Yosemite's waterfalls. It is a three-tiered, 2,425ft waterfall which makes it the highest waterfall in North America.

What US state has the least predators? ›

Vermont, North Dakota, and New Hampshire have had no reports of animal attacks in 20 years
RankStateFatal Attacks
1Vermont0
2North Dakota0
3New Hampshire0
4Rhode Island1
1 more row
Jun 10, 2022

Which state has the best state parks? ›

The Best State Parks in the United States
  • Fall Creek Falls State Park, Tennessee.
  • Anza Borrego Desert State Park, California.
  • Dead Horse Point State Park, Moab, Utah.
  • Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park, Big Sur, California.
  • Valley of Fire State Park, Overton, Nevada.
  • Chugach State Park, Girdwood, Alaska.

What state has the most invasive species? ›

The state that has the most invasive species is Florida. Florida has a warm, tropical climate that makes it suitable to a wide range of species from other ecosystems.

What is the least visited US national park? ›

1. National Park of American Samoa: The least-visited US national park in 2022 saw just 1,887 visits. Most visitors will need a passport to travel to American Samoa.

What national park has the biggest trees? ›

Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks boast many of the world's largest trees by volume. The General Sherman Tree is the largest in the world at 52,508 cubic feet (1,487 cubic meters).

What is the newest national park? ›

The New River in West Virginia may be one of the oldest rivers in the world, but it's also the namesake of America's newest national park: New River Gorge National Park and Preserve.

What states have two national parks? ›

California has the most National Parks with nine; Alaska has eight National Parks. Utah has five; Colorado has four; Arizona, Florida, and Washington have three; Hawaii, Texas, Wyoming, and South Dakota have two.

Why doesn t ny have a national park? ›

Since much of the land is privately-owned, it doesn't require direct National Park Service management. The public land is also currently managed by state agencies, including the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation.

Which national park was named after a president? ›

Today, the 70,448-acre Theodore Roosevelt National Park is home to a variety of plants and animals, and continues to memorialize the 26th president for his enduring contributions to the safekeeping and protection of our nation's resources. Looking for more information?

Why is Redwood National Park free? ›

National Park: Redwood National Park is free to visit! We have no entrance stations, and thus we do not sell the "Senior Pass" or the "Annual Pass" of the federal America the Beautiful Passes.

Can you camp for free in national parks USA? ›

Free camping, or dispersed camping, is allowed in all national forests, unless noted otherwise. You can find places to camp on the side of main roads, or follow forest access roads (often gravel or dirt) to more remote sites.

What is the only US national park in the southern hemisphere? ›

It is comprised of 9,100 acres of land and ocean, leasing the land from seven villages to create a unique partnership of preservation and protection. The National Park of American Samoa, meaning “sacred earth,” is the only US national park located in the Southern Hemisphere.

What is the hardest national park to get to? ›

The 5 Hardest National Parks to Visit
  • Gates of the Arctic National Park.
  • Dry Tortugas National Park.
  • Isle Royale National Park.
  • Katmai National Park and Preserve.
  • Kobuk Valley National Park.
Sep 22, 2022

What is the longest state park? ›

Adirondack Park is the largest park in the continental U.S. and all 50 states, boasting around 6 million acres of land. Located only hours from NYC, Adirondack is also the largest protected land in the continental states, helping to preserve mountain and forest wildlife in New York.

Is Death Valley bigger than Yellowstone? ›

Death Valley is 3.4 million acres of epic landscape to explore. The 2nd largest national park in the lower 48 is Yellowstone National Park with 2.2 million acres.

What state has the most lakes? ›

Top 10 States with the Most Lakes
  • #1: Alaska Lakes (3,000,000) ...
  • #2: Wisconsin Lakes (15,000) ...
  • #3: Minnesota Lakes (11,842) ...
  • #4: Michigan Lakes (11,000) ...
  • #5: Washington Lakes (8,000) ...
  • #6: New York Lakes (7,600) ...
  • #7: Florida Lakes (7,500) ...
  • #8: Texas Lakes (6,700)

What state has the most national forests? ›

Alaska has the most national forest land, with 21.9 million acres (8.9 million ha), followed by California (20.8 million acres, 8.4 million ha) and Idaho (20.4 million acres, 8.3 million ha).

Is Niagara Falls part of the National Park System? ›

Niagara Falls National Heritage Area (U.S. National Park Service)

What park is 99% underwater? ›

Dry Tortugas National Park, located about 70 miles west of Key West in the Gulf of Mexico, covers 100 sq miles of ocean and seven small islands. A whopping 99% of the park is actually underwater.

What is the largest underwater National Park in the world? ›

The largest marine sanctuary is located in the middle of the Pacific Ocean. Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument— larger than all of America's national parks combined!

What National Park is 90% underwater? ›

But a national park that's 99 percent underwater, located 70 miles from civilization, and accessible only by seaplane or boat? That's a next-level national park. Enter Dry Tortugas National Park, one of just three designated national parks in Florida — and one of the most remote in the entire U.S. National Park System.

Which state has highest national parks? ›

The correct answer is Madhya Pradesh. A national park is an area that has been formally protected by the administration system of a nation. There are more than 500 sanctuaries in India, which are called wildlife sanctuaries. Madhya Pradesh and Andaman and Nicobar have the highest number of national parks (9 each).

Which state has the most national parks world? ›

Which state has the most national parks? California has the most national parks with nine total in the state. The next state with the most parks is Alaska, which has eight national parks.

What was the first national park? ›

Among those who played key roles in establishing Yellowstone as the Nation's first national park was Ferdinand Vandiveer Hayden. His accomplishments in 1871-72 were the high point of a long and distinguished career in public service.

What is the easiest national park to visit? ›

Yellowstone National Park, United States

Yellowstone is easily one of the most famous and top-visited parks across the country, making it a great place for beginners to get their feet wet *cough*not in the burning hot waters *cough*.

What is the largest and oldest national park in the US? ›

Yellowstone National Park - 1872

Grant designated Yellowstone as the first national park in the United States and the world. Today, the park is home to the world's largest collection of geysers, including the iconic Old Faithful.

Which state has 7 of the 10 largest national parks? ›

Look to Alaska

Wrangell-St. Elias National Park & Preserve may be the largest national park in the U.S., but some of its neighbors aren't too far behind. In fact, seven of the 10 biggest national parks can be found in Alaska.

Which state has the least national parks? ›

Delaware is the only state in the country that does not have anational park, national monument, national historic site or anyother unit of the National Park Service.

Which state has the least number of national parks? ›

Detailed Solution. ∴ Gujarat has least number of National parks.

What is smallest national park in USA? ›

What is the largest national park site? Smallest?
  • Largest: Wrangell-St. Elias National Park and Preserve, AK, at 13.2 million acres.
  • Smallest: Thaddeus Kosciuszko National Memorial, PA, at 0.02 acres.

What US state has the most wildlife? ›

California has more native species than any other state in the U.S. and has the greatest number of endemic species that don't occur anywhere else. Animals in America you can't miss.

What is the most untouched national park? ›

American Samoa National Park – South Pacific

While not located in the United States, the US territories of American Samoa National Park are arguably the most remote.

Do any states have zero national parks? ›

There are 20 states with no National Park. In addition, the District of Columbia also does not have a National Park.

What is the least visited national park in the contiguous US? ›

Channel Islands NP. Located in the state of California, this string is mere miles off the coasts of Los Angeles and Santa Barbara, but seemingly in a entirely different time and place.

What US national park has the most wildlife? ›

Not only does Yellowstone have the highest population of wildlife in the contiguous 48, it also allows guests to witness the vital predator-prey relationships that persist and impact the greater ecosystem inside the park and beyond.

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