Best National Parks in the World for 2024 | U.S. News Travel (original) (raw)
Banff National Park
#1 in Best National Parks in the World for 2024
Situated in southwestern Alberta, Canada's oldest national park is also one of its most beautiful. Visitors can explore Banff National Park on foot along more than 1,000 miles of hiking trails – the Lake Agnes Trail features a seasonal European-style tea house – or drive the scenic Icefields Parkway for breathtaking views of glaciers and waterfalls. For an unforgettable experience, take the Banff Gondola to the summit of Sulphur Mountain, where you will find a viewing boardwalk, a restaurant, an interpretive center and a multisensory theater.
Glacier National Park
#2 in Best National Parks in the World for 2024
Glacier National Park is Montana's crown jewel. The expansive 1 million-acre park, which was named after the remains of glaciers estimated to be 7,000 years old, offers captivating mountainous scenery left and right. Here, you'll find more than 700 lakes, six National Historic Landmarks (including Lake McDonald Lodge, Granite Park Chalet and the Two Medicine Store) and the famous Highline Trail, which follows the Continental Divide. Save time for a scenic drive along the Going-to-the-Sun Road, or better yet, join a Red Bus Tour to soak up the sights. Plan to spend at least several days in the park for a well-rounded experience.
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Yellowstone National Park
#3 in Best National Parks in the World for 2024
With numerous attractions scattered throughout its more than 2 million acres, Yellowstone is a national treasure. This protected area in Wyoming, Montana and Idaho is America's first national park (established in 1872), but its age has not dulled its natural beauty. Mammoth Hot Springs and Old Faithful continue to amaze visitors year after year, and less-crowded areas like Hayden Valley – an excellent spot for wildlife viewing – and Yellowstone Lake – perfect for kayaking or canoeing – are also worth a visit.
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Yosemite National Park
#4 in Best National Parks in the World for 2024
Located approximately 170 miles east of San Francisco, Yosemite offers visitors a plethora of impressive natural wonders to behold. Scenic landscapes, such as the famous Tunnel View and Valley View outlooks, and renowned landmarks like Half Dome and El Capitan are just a few of Yosemite's greatest attractions. Don't forget to swing by one of the sequoia groves to gaze at the towering trees. What's more, the California park boasts countless waterfalls and a whopping 750-plus miles of trails for travelers to traverse.
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Grand Canyon National Park
#5 in Best National Parks in the World for 2024
You can't beat the views at this world-famous Arizona national park. The Grand Canyon continually wows visitors with its shifting colors, vast depth and incredible rock formations. Whether you're flying in a helicopter over the canyon, rafting down the Colorado River or simply exploring with your own two feet, the majesty of the Grand Canyon is guaranteed to leave you breathless. To avoid crowds, swap popular South Rim trails for North Rim hikes like the quick-but-captivating Bright Angel Point Trail or the Widforss Trail, where you'll enjoy the canyon and forest scenery. Craving more adventure? Check out Arizona's other top attractions while you're there.
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Serengeti National Park
#6 in Best National Parks in the World for 2024
Tanzania's Serengeti National Park is the world-renowned home of The Great Migration. Every year, roughly 2 million wildebeests and hundreds of thousands of zebras and gazelles cross the park in search of food and breeding grounds. Predicting when this momentous event will occur can be tricky, so if you don't have that kind of flexibility, a traditional safari experience is your best bet. You'll have the chance to see Serengeti's incredible landscape, as well as animals like the Big Five – leopards, lions, elephants, buffaloes and rhinoceroses.
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Khao Sok National Park
#7 in Best National Parks in the World for 2024
Located in the Surat Thani providence of southern Thailand, Khao Sok National Park entices visitors with its vast natural beauty consisting of the rainforest, waterfalls, caves and several rock formations. Travelers have the opportunity to encounter many species of wildlife (some endangered) and over 200 types of plants per every 2.5 acres while trekking through one of the oldest rainforests in the world. What's more, the national park touts a variety of activities, including canoeing the Sok River, a close-up experience with Asian elephants or a boat tour of the Cheow Larn Lake.
Jasper National Park
#8 in Best National Parks in the World for 2024
As the largest national park in the Canadian Rockies, Jasper offers no shortage of outdoor fun. Come to this Alberta, Canada, national park to enjoy an array of adventure activities in summer, including hiking, biking and boating, plus snowshoeing, cross-country skiing and ice climbing in winter. A spring visit will give you a front-row look at rushing waterfalls and offers prime wildlife viewing opportunities, while a fall trip lends itself well to camping. No matter when you visit, be sure you take some time to stargaze: Jasper is the second-largest dark sky preserve in the world. Note: Due to active wildfires that began in July 2024, Jasper National Park is closed indefinitely.
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Torres del Paine National Park
#9 in Best National Parks in the World for 2024
You may spot animals like penguins, pumas and whales here, but the beautiful landscape is the true star of the show. Located in Chilean Patagonia, Torres del Paine National Park encompasses more than 448,000 acres of stunning geographical features, such as Grey Glacier and the famous Cuernos del Paine, a set of awe-inspiring granite peaks that will make your jaw drop. The most popular hikes include the W Trek and the O Circuit, which are both journeys that take a few days to complete and are best explored with professional guides.
Plitvice Lakes National Park
#10 in Best National Parks in the World for 2024
The UNESCO World Heritage Site of Plitvice Lakes National Park is Croatia's oldest, largest national park. Situated between the Mala Kapela and Li?ka Plješivica mountains, the park is known for its 16-plus cascading lakes and multiple hiking trails. Visitors can explore the area aboard the park's electric boats or enjoy a panoramic train ride, both of which are included in the price of admission. During the winter, go skiing or sleighing at the Mukinje Ski Resort; in the summer, row through the park's largest lake, Kozjak. After a day of exploring, enjoy a traditional meal at the on-site Li?ka Ku?a Restaurant.
Grand Teton National Park
#11 in Best National Parks in the World for 2024
Often overlooked for its northern neighbor, Yellowstone, Grand Teton National Park is a not-so-hidden gem. This Wyoming destination offers enviable scenery along its miles of hiking trails, including the picturesque pathways by Jenny Lake and the popular Cascade Canyon Trail, which is accessible from the Jenny Lake Loop trail. The park also features plenty of outdoor activities for all seasons, plus opportunities to spot wildlife ranging from grizzly and black bears to bison and moose. What's more, the park sits just 5 miles from the popular mountain town of Jackson Hole, which features charming accommodations and mouthwatering restaurants.
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Zion National Park
#12 in Best National Parks in the World for 2024
Most visitors travel to Utah's first national park to see the stunning Zion Canyon, but the park's trails are just as impressive. Experienced hikers should traverse sky-high Angels Landing (though you'll need to get a permit in advance) or brave The Narrows, which is the slimmest section of Zion Canyon and involves wading through the Virgin River. For a less strenuous climb, try the popular Canyon Overlook Trail or the Pa'rus Trail. Avid adventurers should also consider canyoneering for a unique view of Zion's geology.
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Manuel Antonio National Park
#13 in Best National Parks in the World for 2024
With about 7 square miles of protected green space, Manuel Antonio National Park is smaller than others on this list – but don't let that fool you. The park touts an abundance of wildlife, beaches, rainforests and coral reef systems. Take a two- to three-hour guided tour to explore the park's tropical flora and fauna, including the butterfly garden, followed by some time at the beach. If you want to bypass the tour altogether to spend the day snorkeling and lounging on the sand, visit the popular Playa Manuel Antonio or quieter Playa Espadilla Sur. At the end of the day, catch a scenic sunset at Nahomi Park.
Guilin and Lijiang River National Park
#14 in Best National Parks in the World for 2024
Southern China's Guilin and Lijiang River National Park stuns visitors with its misty peaks and tranquil river scenes. You'll encounter jagged limestone-formed karst hills, as well as impressive caves, rice terraces and cliffs across the park that have inspired Chinese legends, artists and poets throughout history. Explore by river cruise (a 52-mile trip from Guilin to Yangshuo) for the best views of can't-miss sights like Elephant Trunk Hill, which resembles an elephant bending over the river to drink water with its trunk, and Mural Hill, with natural frescoes that look like horses.
Masai Mara National Reserve
#15 in Best National Parks in the World for 2024
Located just north of Serengeti National Park, Masai Mara National Reserve is easily one of the most popular safari parks in Africa. That's because the Kenyan reserve plays host to the famous wildebeest migration, which takes place from July to October (depending on Mother Nature). If you can't travel at that time of year, take a safari for the chance to see lions, cheetahs and leopards. What's more, Masai Mara's comparatively compact size and concentrated wildlife make it a great year-round destination. For an interesting vantage point of the savanna, consider splurging on a hot air balloon ride.
Arches National Park
#16 in Best National Parks in the World for 2024
As the name suggests, you'll find a bounty of natural arches in this eastern Utah national park – more than 2,000, to be exact. The most iconic of these stone structures are Landscape Arch (the longest arch in North America) and Delicate Arch (often seen on Utah postcards and the state's license plates). However, Arches National Park visitors are equally wowed by Balanced Rock and The Windows Section, the latter of which is home to the tallest arch in the park.
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Kruger National Park
#17 in Best National Parks in the World for 2024
South Africa's iconic Kruger National Park is one of the most tourist-friendly game parks on the continent. Kruger, which features paved roads for increased accessibility, is home to hundreds of animal species, including the Big Five and birds like eagles, storks and vultures. What's more, the national park boasts a variety of excursions and luxury lodges, as well as camping spots and specialty packages for honeymooners and families, meaning travelers with various budgets will be able to find something that suits their needs.
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Sequoia National Park
#18 in Best National Parks in the World for 2024
Vacationers travel to this California park in the Sierra Nevada mountain range for photos of its striking, massive sequoias – the largest trees in the world. If you're taking on a stop at Sequoia National Park during your next West Coast road trip, be sure to visit the Giant Forest grove. There, you'll see the largest living organism on Earth (by volume), the General Sherman Tree, which stands 275 feet tall and has a base diameter of 36-plus feet.
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Fiordland National Park
#19 in Best National Parks in the World for 2024
New Zealand's largest national park is awash with glacier-carved fjords so stunning, they'll put Norway's famous natural attractions to shame. The fjords can be found at multiple points throughout the park, though the most popular places to see them are Milford Sound Piopiotahi and Doubtful Sound Patea. The park also features lakes, rainforests, waterfalls, mountains and plenty of wildlife, including some of New Zealand's rare and endangered flightless birds like the takahe, as well as seals, penguins and dolphins, making it the getaway of choice for adventure travelers.
Olympic National Park
#20 in Best National Parks in the World for 2024
Olympic National Park offers snow-capped mountains, moss-covered rainforests and more than 70 miles of coastline across its nearly 1 million acres. You'll need more than a few days to see all of this Washington park's majesty, as it can take hours to cover the distance between attractions. Must-visit spots include dreamy Hoh Rain Forest, where you'll find a few short hikes; stately Hurricane Ridge, which has challenging downhill hikes and opportunities for skiing; and beautiful Kalaloch Beach, where visitors can check out tide pools at its Beach 4 section.
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Hawai'i Volcanoes National Park
#21 in Best National Parks in the World for 2024
Kilauea volcano in Hawai'i Volcanoes National Park last erupted in September 2023, creating pools of lava and releasing plumes of gases into the air. Nevertheless, this shouldn't discourage vacationers from planning a visit. Travelers can take in the views along Chain of Craters Road, hike parts of Crater Rim Trail and explore the Kahuku Unit, a grassy area and former ranch situated on the side of Mauna Loa, the largest active volcano in the world. Be sure to check the park's website before arriving for up-to-date information about closures and air quality.
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