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On March 1, 1872, President Ulysses S. Grant signed the Yellowstone National Park Protection Act into law, creating the first federal public park in North America. On August 25, 1916, President Woodrow Wilson signed an act to create the National Park Service. At the time, there were only 35 national park units in the country.
Today, there are 431.
The Roosevelt Arch still towers over the entrance to Yellowstone National Park. Etched into stone, the phrase “for the benefit and enjoyment of the people” comes from the 1872 act signed by Grant. The mission of the National Park Service is to preserve nature and history alike, maintaining land and historic buildings for interpretation and recreation by anyone.
This list is more than just the 63 national parks that so many other list. It’s a list of all 431 national park units. The national parks for each state are listed first followed by the remaining national park units. Each listing includes links to the park’s website and social media accounts. That’s a lot of information!
Last Updated on April 4, 2024
How to use this map: Click the icon in the top-left corner to open the Map Legend, then click on any of the legend items to display more information. If you have a Google account, click the star beside the map’s name to save this map to your account, then access the map from your smartphone during your trip.
The official National Park Service app is an all-in-one tool for planning a national park adventure and finding your way around the park. The app has information about every national park site across the country, essentially putting all the online information at your fingertips.
The free app features interactive maps, self-guided tours, amenities like restrooms, and lists of things to do. The powerful app has an offline mode – with a single tap, you can save the park for offline use to access all the information later. You’ll also have access to important information like alerts, contacts, fees, and operating hours.
Most of the National Park Service’s units are free to visit, but some require an entrance fee. Fortunately, there are ways to save money on those fees if you frequent the units.
The Standard Pass allows one person to enter one park for seven consecutive days. The Annual Pass provides entrance to one park for a year.
The America the Beautiful Pass is the golden ticket hidden in a chocolate bar. This pass covers the entrance and day-use fees for up to one vehicle or four adults for all National Park Service units.
There are several types of America the Beautiful Passes catering to different segments of society and with different price tags:
The best place to purchase an America the Beautiful Pass is at a national park unit. Visit the National Park Service’s website to learn more about interagency passes.
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Read More | 11 Florida National Park Units You Must Visit | Things to Do + Interactive Map
Read More | The 8 National Parks in Ohio You Need to Visit
Read More | 22 National Park Units in Virginia You Need to Visit | Things to Do + Interactive Map
There are 63 national parks in the National Park System, and there are 424 national park units in the entire system.
The newest national park is New River Gorge National Park in West Virginia. Established in 2020, it is the Mountaineer State’s first national park.
Yellowstone National Park is the oldest national park in the world. The park was established in 1872 when President Ulysses S. Grant signed the Yellowstone National Park Protection Act into law.
The National Park Service was founded on August 25, 1916 when President Woodrow Wilson signed an act of Congress.
California has the most national parks with a total of 9, although Sequoia and King Canyon National Park are managed together.
California has the most national park units in the country with 28.
Only 30 states have a national park. However, there is at least one national park unit in every state in the country.
The primary difference between the National Park Service and US Forest Service is the management of their properties. The National Park Service’s mission is the preserve natural landscapes and historical places as they were. The US Forest Service is a steward of public lands, facilitating mining, logging, and development while also maintaining balance in the ecosystem.
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