7 Best National Parks to Visit This Year
Travel Guide · Velora Travels
Planning a US national parks trip usually starts with one question: which parks, and in what order. The right combination depends on how much driving you're willing to do, the season you're traveling in, and whether you want dramatic scenery, wildlife, or both.
1. Grand Canyon National Park, Arizona
The South Rim is the most accessible entry point and stays open year-round. Sunrise and sunset at Mather Point are the classic first views, and a guided rim hike is an easy way to get a sense of scale without a strenuous descent.
2. Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming
Geothermal features and wildlife viewing make Yellowstone worth 3–4 full days rather than a quick pass-through. Early morning is consistently the best window for spotting wildlife along the northern range.
3. Zion National Park, Utah
Zion's canyon floor trails are manageable for most fitness levels, while routes like Angels Landing require permits and a head for heights. Spring and fall avoid both summer heat and winter trail closures.
4. Glacier National Park, Montana
Going-to-the-Sun Road is typically open only from early summer to early fall, so timing matters more here than at most parks on this list.
5. Yosemite National Park, California
Yosemite Valley gets crowded in peak summer; a shoulder-season visit or an early arrival makes a noticeable difference to the experience.
6. Rocky Mountain National Park, Colorado
Trail Ridge Road offers one of the highest paved routes in the country, with alpine tundra views that most first-time visitors don't expect from a "mountain" park.
7. Acadia National Park, Maine
A smaller, more compact park than the others on this list, Acadia pairs coastal scenery with easier day-hike options — a good fit for a shorter add-on trip.
Planning the Trip
Most travelers combine two to three of these parks into a single itinerary rather than attempting all seven in one trip. If you'd like help sequencing parks around flight times and seasonal road closures, our team can build the itinerary around your dates.
Plan a National Parks Trip