TOP 100 STATE PARKS IN THE UNITED STATES
Welcome to the Bigroads guide to the best state parks in the United States!
The United States has well over 5,000 state parks, and you can find state parks in each of the 50 states. That's obviously a lot of parks, and so it can be overwhelming to determine which ones to include in your next trip. To help you plan, I have put together an opinionated list of what I feel are the top 100 state parks in the United States. In this list you'll find amazing places to see waterfalls, climb mountains, relax at the beach, witness wildlife, and more.
This top 100 state parks list is sorted alphabetically by state (and not by rating/quality).
If you enjoy state parks, then I recommend picking up a copy of this fantastic guidebook: National Geographic Guide to State Parks of the USA
Here is my list of the top 100 state parks in the U.S. Those marked with an ★ icon represent my selection for the top state park in each state. I have personally visited most of these state parks, and I hope to finish the rest within the next few years. I welcome your feedback (using my email above) if you disagree with any of my choices.
|
STATE |
STATE PARK NAME |
WHAT IS THE STATE PARK KNOWN OR FAMOUS FOR? |
DOES PARK REQUIRE
ADVANCED
RESERVATIONS? |
Alabama |
Gulf State Park ★ |
beach |
NO |
Alaska |
Chugach State Park ★ |
mountain scenery, glaciers, hiking trails |
NO |
Arizona |
Kartschner Caverns State Park ★ |
cave tours |
YES (cave tours) |
Lost Dutchman State Park |
desert scenery, hiking trails, rock-scrambling |
NO |
Slide Rock State Park |
desert scenery, swimming holes, natural waterslides |
NO |
Yuma Territorial Prison State Historic Park |
prison tours |
NO |
Arkansas |
Mount Magazine State Park |
scenic views, mountain accommodations, state highpoint, trails |
NO |
Petit Jean State Park ★ |
hiking trails, waterfalls |
NO |
California |
Anza-Borrego Desert State Park |
desert scenery, 4WD-ing, palm oasis, hiking trails |
NO |
Bodie State Historic Park |
ghost town, mining ruins |
NO |
Crystal Cove State Park |
beach |
NO |
Emerald Bay State Park |
beach |
NO |
Humboldt Redwoods State Park ★ |
redwood trees, hiking trails |
NO |
Jedediah Smith Redwoods State Park |
redwood trees, hiking trails |
NO |
Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park |
waterfall, coastline views |
NO |
McArthur-Burney Falls Memorial State Park |
waterfall, hiking trails |
NO |
Montana de Oro State Park |
hiking trails, wildflowers, scenic views |
NO |
Mount San Jacinto State Park |
hiking trails, scenic views |
NO |
Point Lobos State Reserve |
ocean views, hiking trails, whale-watching, SCUBA diving |
YES (for diving only) |
Prairie Creek Redwoods State Park |
redwood trees, hiking trails |
NO |
Delaware |
Cape Henlopen State Park ★ |
beach |
NO |
Florida |
Bill Baggs Cape Florida State Park |
beach |
NO |
Blue Spring State Park ★ |
freshwater spring, hiking trails, manatee-viewing |
NO |
Edward Ball Wakulla Springs State Park |
freshwater spring, wildlife viewing, boat tours |
NO |
Ellie Schiller Homosassa Springs Wildlife State Park |
wildlife viewing, bird-watching, manatee-viewing |
NO |
Henderson Beach State Park |
beach |
NO |
John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park |
SCUBA diving, boat tours |
NO |
Lovers Key State Park |
beach |
NO |
Silver Springs State Park |
freshwater spring, glass bottom boat tours, manatee-viewing |
NO |
St. Andrews State Park |
beach |
NO |
Stump Pass Beach State Park |
beach |
NO |
Georgia |
Amicalola Falls State Park |
waterfall |
NO |
Tallulah Gorge State Park ★ |
hiking trails, waterfalls, scenic views |
NO |
Hawaii |
Akaka Falls State Park |
waterfalls |
NO |
Nāpali Coast State Wilderness Park |
coastal views, hiking trails, scenic views |
NO |
Wai'anapanapa State Park |
beach |
YES |
Waimea Canyon State Park ★ |
scenic views |
NO |
Illinois |
Giant City State Park |
geologic attractions, hiking trails |
NO |
Matthiessen State Park |
geologic attractions, hiking trails |
NO |
Starved Rock State Park ★ |
waterfalls, geologic attractions, hiking trails |
NO |
Indiana |
Brown County State Park ★ |
scenic views, hiking trails, mountain biking, horseback riding |
NO |
Indiana Dunes State Park |
sand dunes, beaches, hiking trails |
NO |
Kentucky |
Carter Caves State Resort Park |
cave tours, natural bridges, hiking trails, lodges |
NO |
Cumberland Falls State Resort Park |
waterfall, hiking trails |
NO |
Natural Bridge State Resort Park ★ |
geologic attractions, hiking trails, scenic views |
NO |
Maine |
Baxter State Park ★ |
mountain scenery, hiking trails, waterfalls, scenic views |
YES (certain trailheads) |
Massachusetts |
Mount Greylock State Reservation ★ |
hiking trails, scenic views, waterfalls |
NO |
Michigan |
Ludington State Park |
beach, canoeing/kayaking |
NO |
Mackinac Island State Park ★ |
hiking and biking trails, natural arch, historic landmarks |
NO |
Porcupine Mountains Wilderness State Park |
hiking trails, scenic views |
NO |
Tahquamenon Falls State Park |
waterfalls, hiking trails |
NO |
Minnesota |
Gooseberry Falls State Park ★ |
waterfalls, hiking trails |
NO |
Missouri |
Elephant Rocks State Park ★ |
geologic attraction, hiking trails |
NO |
Montana |
Makoshika State Park ★ |
geologic attraction, hiking trails |
NO |
Nebraska |
Fort Robinson State Park ★ |
hiking trails, mountain biking, Jeep and stagecoach tours |
NO |
Nevada |
Cathedral Gorge State Park |
geologic attraction, hiking trails |
NO |
Valley of Fire State Park ★ |
desert scenery, geologic attractions, hiking trails, scenic views |
NO (this could change) |
New Hampshire |
Crawford Notch State Park |
mountain scenery, hiking trails, waterfalls, scenic views |
NO |
Franconia Notch State Park |
mountain scenery, hiking trails, waterfalls, scenic views |
YES (Echo Lake parking) |
Monadnock State Park |
hiking trails, scenic views, camping |
YES (certain trailheads) |
Mount Washington State Park ★ |
mountain scenery, hiking trails, scenic views |
NO |
New Jersey |
Liberty State Park ★ |
views of NYC & Statue of Liberty, 9/11 memorial, walking paths |
NO |
New York |
Adirondack Park ★ |
scenic drives, hiking trails, mountain scenery |
YES (certain trailheads) |
Buttermilk Falls State Park |
waterfalls, hiking trails |
NO |
Letchworth State Park |
waterfalls, hiking trails, scenic views |
NO |
Minnewaska State Park Preserve |
hiking trails, scenic views |
NO |
Niagara Falls State Park |
waterfalls |
NO |
Robert Treman State Park |
waterfalls, hiking trails |
NO |
Taughannock Falls State Park |
waterfalls, hiking trails |
NO |
Watkins Glen State Park |
waterfalls, hiking trails |
NO |
North Carolina |
Chimney Rock State Park |
geologic attractions, hiking trails, scenic views, waterfall |
NO |
DuPont State Recreational Forest |
waterfalls, hiking trails, mountain biking |
NO |
Fort Macon State Park |
historic fort |
NO |
Grandfather Mountain State Park ★ |
scenic views, hiking trails |
NO |
Ohio |
Hocking Hills State Park ★ |
geologic attractions, hiking trails, waterfalls |
NO |
Oregon |
Ecola State Park |
hiking trails, scenic views, waterfalls |
NO |
Samuel H. Boardman State Scenic Corridor |
ocean views, secluded beaches, rock formations |
NO |
Silver Falls State Park ★ |
waterfalls, hiking trails |
NO |
Smith Rock State Park |
desert scenery, scenic views, rock-climbing, hiking trails |
NO |
Pennsylvania |
Ohiopyle State Park |
hiking trails, mountain biking, whitewater rafting |
NO |
Ricketts Glen State Park ★ |
waterfalls, hiking trails |
NO |
South Carolina |
Huntington Beach State Park ★ |
beach, bird-watching |
NO |
South Dakota |
Custer State Park ★ |
wildlife viewing, hiking trails, scenic views |
NO |
Tennessee |
Burgess Falls |
waterfall |
NO |
Cummins Falls State Park ★ |
waterfalls, swimming hole |
NO |
Fall Creek Falls State Park |
waterfalls, hiking trails |
NO |
Texas |
Big Bend Ranch State Park ★ |
desert scenery, hiking trails, 4WD-ing, scenic views |
NO |
Caddo Lake State Park |
paddling, wetlands, beautiful forests |
NO |
Palo Duro Canyon State Park |
geological attraction, hiking trails, scenic views |
NO |
Utah |
Dead Horse Point State Park |
desert scenery, scenic views, hiking trails |
NO |
Goblin Valley State Park ★ |
desert scenery, geologic attractions, hoodoos |
NO |
Snow Canyon State Park |
desert scenery, geologic attractions, hiking trails, scenic views |
NO |
Virginia |
First Landing State Park |
beach, hiking trails, swamp |
NO |
Grayson Highlands State Park ★ |
hiking trails, scenic views, horseback riding |
NO |
Natural Bridge State Park |
natural bridge, hiking trails, waterfall (Lace Falls) |
NO |
Washington |
Cape Disappointment State Park |
ocean views, old-growth forests, Lewis & Clark history; trails |
NO |
Deception Pass State Park ★ |
hiking trails, scenic views |
NO |
Fort Worden State Park |
historic fort, scenic views, hiking trails |
NO |
Palouse Falls State Park |
waterfall, desert scenery |
NO |
Wisconsin |
Devil's Lake State Park ★ |
beach, hiking trails, mountain biking |
NO |
BEST STATE PARKS FOR WATERFALLS
|
Here is a list of many of the best U.S. state parks for waterfalls:
✮ Alabama - DeSoto Falls State Park
✮ Arkansas - Petit Jean State Park (e.g. Cedar Falls)
✮ California - McArthur-Burney Falls Memorial State Park
✮ Colorado - Rifle Falls State Park
✮ Connecticut - Kent Falls State Park
✮ Georgia - Amicalola Falls State Park
✮ Georgia - Tallulah Gorge State Park
✮ Hawaii- Akaka Falls State Park
✮ Idaho - Thousand Springs State Park
✮ Illinois - Starved Rock State Park
✮ Indiana - Clifty Falls State Park
✮ Kentucky - Cumberland Falls State Resort Park
✮ Maine - Baxter State Park (e.g. Big and Little Niagara Falls, Howe Brook Falls, Katahdin Falls, Little Abol Falls)
✮ Maryland - Swallow Falls State Park
✮ Massachusetts - Bash Bish Falls State Park
✮ Michigan - Laughing Whitefish Falls State Park
✮ Michigan - Porcupine Mountains Wilderness State Park
✮ Michigan - Tahquamenon Falls State Park
✮ Minnesota - Gooseberry Falls State Park
✮ Minnesota - Grand Portage State Park
✮ Minnesota - Tettegouche State Park
✮ Nebraska - Smith Falls State Park
✮ New Hampshire - Crawford Notch State Park (e.g. Arethusa Falls, Ripley Falls, Silver Cascade)
✮ New Hampshire - Franconia Notch State Park (e.g. Falls on the Flume-Pool Loop, Falls on the Falling-Waters Trail, The Basin)
✮ New York - Buttermilk Falls State Park
✮ New York - Chittenango Falls State Park
✮ New York - Letchworth Falls State Park (e.g. Lower Falls, Middle Falls, Upper Falls)
✮ New York - Niagara Falls State Park
✮ New York - Robert Treman State Park (e.g. Lower Falls, Lucifer Falls)
✮ New York - Taughannock Falls State Park
✮ New York - Watkins Glen State Park
✮ North Carolina - DuPont State Recreational Forest
✮ North Carolina - Gorges State Park
✮ North Carolina - South Mountains State Park
✮ Ohio - Hocking Hills State Park (e.g. Cedar Falls, Upper Falls at Old Man's Cave)
✮ Oklahoma - Natural Falls State Park (e.g. Dripping Springs)
✮ Oregon - Silver Falls State Park
✮ Oregon - White River Falls State Park
✮ Pennsylvania - Ohiopyle State Park (e.g. Cucumber Falls, Ohiopyle Falls, Sugar Run Falls)
✮ Pennsylvania - Ricketts Glen State Park
✮ Tennessee - Burgess Falls State Park
✮ Tennessee - Cummins Falls State Park
✮ Tennessee - Fall Creek Falls State Park
✮ Washington - Palouse Falls State Park
✮ Washington - Wallace Falls State Park
✮ West Virginia - Blackwater Falls State Park
✮ Wisconsin - Amnicon Falls State Park
✮ Wisconsin - Cooper Falls State Park
✮ Wisconsin - Willow River State Park
If you visit Niagara Falls State Park, I also highly recommend either walking or driving into Canada and seeing the falls from their perspective. There are also a lot of hotels and tourist services on the Canadian side.
|
|
BEST STATE PARKS FOR MOUNTAIN HIKING |
Here is a list of many of the best U.S. state parks for mountain hiking:
✮ Alaska - Chugach State Park (e.g. Flattop Mountain)
✮ Arizona - Lost Dutchman State Park (e.g. The Flatiron)
✮ Arizona - Picacho Peak State Park
✮ Arkansas - Pinnacle Mountain State Park
✮ California - Mount San Jacinto State Park
✮ California - Mount Tamalpais State Park
✮ Maine - Baxter State Park (e.g. Doubletop, Katahdin, The Owl, Traveler Mountain Loop)
✮ Maine - Camden Hills State Park (e.g. Mount Battie)
✮ Maine - Grafton Notch State Park (e.g. Baldplate Mountain)
✮ Massachusetts - Mount Greylock State Reservation
✮ New Hampshire - Cardigan Mountain State Park (e.g. Cardigan Mountain)
✮ New Hampshire - Crawford Notch State Park (e.g. Mount Willard)
✮ New Hampshire - Dixville Notch State Park (e.g. Table Rock)
✮ New Hampshire - Franconia Notch State Park (e.g. Mount Lincoln, Mount Lafayette, Cannon Mountain, Mount Pemigewasset)
✮ New Hampshire - Major Mountain State Forest (e.g. Mount Major)
✮ New Hampshire - Monadnock State Park (e.g. Mount Monadnock)
✮ New Hampshire - Winslow State Park (e.g. Mount Kearsarge)
✮ New Jersey - Worthington State Forest (e.g. Mount Tammany)
✮ New York - Adirondack Park (e.g. Algonquin Peak, Cascade Mountain, Dix Mountain, Mount Haystack, Mount Marcy)
✮ New York - Bear Mountain State Park
✮ New York - Catskill Forest Preserve
✮ North Carolina - Mount Mitchell State Park
✮ South Dakota - Bear Butte State Park
✮ South Dakota - Custer State Park (e.g. Black Elk Peak)
✮ Texas - Enchanted Rock State Park
✮ Vermont - Camel's Hump State Park
✮ Vermont - C.C. Putnam State Forest (e.g. Mount Hunger, Stowe Pinnacle)
✮ Vermont - Mount Ascutney State Park
✮ Vermont - Willoughby State Forest (e.g. Mount Pisgah)
For more peak-bagging fun, visit my Classic Summit Hikes in the U.S. guide.
|
BEST STATE PARKS FOR DESERT SCENERY
|
Here is a list of many of the best U.S. state parks for desert scenery:
✮ Arizona - Catalina State Park
✮ Arizona - Lost Dutchman State Park
✮ Arizona - Picacho Peak State Park
✮ Arizona - Red Rock State Park
✮ Arizona - Slide Rock State Park
✮ California - Anza-Borrego Desert State Park
✮ California - Red Rock Canyon State Park
✮ Nevada - Cathedral Gorge State Park
✮ Nevada - Valley of Fire State Park
✮ New Mexico - Bottomless Lakes State Park
✮ New Mexico - City of Rocks State Park
✮ Texas - Big Bend Ranch State Park
✮ Texas - Palo Duro Canyon State Park
✮ Utah - Antelope Island State Park
✮ Utah - Coral Pink Sand Dunes State Park
✮ Utah - Dead Horse Point State Park
✮ Utah - Goblin Valley State Park
✮ Utah - Goosenecks State Park
✮ Utah - Gunlock State Park
✮ Utah - Kodachrome Basin State Park
✮ Utah - Sand Hollow State Park
✮ Utah - Snow Canyon State Park
|
BEST STATE PARKS FOR BEACHES
|
Here is a list of many of the best U.S. state parks for beaches. Some of these are ocean beaches, and some are lake beaches.
✮ Alabama - Gulf State Park
✮ California - Crystal Cove State Park
✮ California - Emerald Bay State Park
✮ California - Huntington State Beach
✮ Connecticut - Hammonasset Beach State Park
✮ Delaware - Cape Henlopen State Park
✮ Florida - Bahia Honda State Park
✮ Florida - Bill Baggs Cape Florida State Park
✮ Florida - Caladesi Island State Park
✮ Florida - Grayton Beach State Park
✮ Florida - Henderson Beach State Park
✮ Florida - Lovers Key State Park
✮ Florida - St. Andrews State Park
✮ Florida - Stump Pass Beach State Park
✮ Hawaii - Makena State Park
✮ Hawaii - Wai'anapanapa State Park
✮ Indiana - Indiana Dunes State Park
✮ Maine - Popham Beach State Park
✮ Maryland - Assateague State Park
✮ Michigan - Holland State Park
✮ Michigan - Ludington State Park
✮ New Hampshire - Hampton Beach State Park
✮ New Jersey - Island Beach State Park
✮ North Carolina - Carolina Beach State Park
✮ North Carolina - Hammocks Beach State Park
✮ Pennsylvania - Presque Isle State Park
✮ Ohio - Headlands Beach State Park
✮ Oregon - Harris Beach State Park
✮ South Carolina - Hunting Island State Park
✮ South Carolina - Huntington Beach State Park
✮ South Carolina - Myrtle Beach State Park
✮ Virginia - False Cape State Park
✮ Virginia - First Landing State Park
✮ Wisconsin - Harrington Beach State Park
|
BEST STATE PARKS FOR WILDLIFE VIEWING |
Here is a list of many of the best U.S. state parks for wildlife viewing:
✮ California - Jedediah Smith Redwoods State Park (e.g. Roosevelt elk)
✮ California - Point Lobos State Natural Reserve (e.g. whale-watching)
✮ Florida - Blue Spring State Park (e.g. manatees)
✮ Florida - Edward Ball Wakulla Springs State Park (e.g. manatees)
✮ Florida - Ellie Schiller Homosassa Springs Wildlife State Park (e.g. manatees)
✮ Florida - Manatee Springs State Park (e.g. manatees)
✮ Maine - Baxter State Park (e.g. moose)
✮ South Dakota - Custer State Park (e.g. bison, burros, pronghorn, prairie dogs, mountain goats, bighorn sheep)
✮ Utah - Antelope Island State Park (e.g. bison, pronghorn, bighorn sheep)
|
BEST STATE PARKS FOR CAVE TOURS |
These state parks offer excellent guided cave tours. Some of these require advance reservations that often sell out (e.g. Kartchner Caverns)
✮ Alabama - Cathedral Caverns State Park
✮ Alabama- Rickwood Caverns State Park
✮ Arizona - Kartchner Caverns State Park
✮ Florida - Florida Caverns State Park
✮ Illinois - Cave-In-Rock State Park
✮ Iowa - Maquoketa Caves State Park
✮ Kentucky - Carter Caves State Resort Park
✮ Missouri - Lake of the Ozarks State Park (e.g. Ozark Caverns)
✮ Missouri - Meramec State Park (e.g. Fisher Cave)
✮ Missouri - Onondaga Cave State Park (e.g. Onondaga Cave and Cathedral Cave)
✮ Montana - Lewis and Clark Caverns State Park
✮ Nebraska - Indian Cave State Park
✮ Oklahoma - Alabaster Caverns State Park
✮ Oklahoma- Robbers Cave State Park
✮ Texas - Kickapoo Cavern State Park
✮ Texas - Longhorn Cavern State Park
To discover more places to take cave tours, visit my Top 25 Cave Tours in the U.S. guide.
|
STATE PARKS WORTHY OF BEING A NATIONAL PARK |
Here is a list of U.S. state parks that are worthy of being a national park. Although they are worthy, my hope is that they do not become national parks as visitation would swell too quickly for the park to handle it well. It could also lead to closed areas and/or timed entry/advanced reservation requirements.
✮ Alaska - Chugach State Park
✮ Arizona - Kartchner Caverns State Park
✮ California - Anza-Borrego Desert State Park
✮ California - Humboldt Redwoods State Park
✮ California - Jedediah Smith Redwoods State Park
✮ Florida - Blue Spring State Park
✮ Florida - John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park
✮ Hawaii - Waimea Canyon State Park
✮ Illinois - Starved Rock State Park
✮ Maine - Baxter State Park
✮ Nevada - Cathedral Gorge State Park
✮ Nevada - Valley of Fire State Park
✮ New Hampshire - Franconia Notch State Park
✮ New Hampshire - Mount Washington State Park
✮ New York - Adirondack Park
✮ Maine - Baxter State Park
✮ Michigan - Porcupine Mountains Wilderness State Park
✮ Montana - Makoshika State Park
✮ Ohio - Hocking Hills State Park
✮ Oregon - Ecola State Park
✮ Oregon - Silver Falls State Park
✮ Pennsylvania - Ricketts Glen State Park
✮ South Dakota - Custer State Park
✮ Texas - Big Bend Ranch State Park
✮ Texas - Caddo Lake State Park
✮ Utah - Dead Horse Point State Park
✮ Utah - Goblin Valley State Park
✮ Utah - Snow Canyon State Park
✮ Wisconsin - Devil's Lake State Park
|
GREAT STATE PARKS NEAR MAJOR CITIES |
You can find some fantastic state parks that are reasonably close to major U.S. cities. Some of the best state parks close to our major cities include:
✮ Austin - Enchanted Rock State Park, Longhorn Cavern State Park, McKinney Falls State Park, Pedernales Falls State Park
✮ Boston - Blue Hills Reservation, Middlesex Fells Reservation, Walden Pond State Reservation
✮ Denver - Eldorado Canyon State Park, Golden Gate Canyon State Park
✮ Chicago - Illinois Beach State Park, Indiana Dunes State Park, Matthiessen State Park, Starved Rock State Park
✮ Las Vegas - Valley of Fire State Park
✮ Miami - Big Baggs Cape Florida State Park
✮ New York City - Liberty State Park, Harriman State Park, Rockefeller State Park Preserve, Wawayanda State Park
✮ Orlando - Blue Spring State Park, Wekiwa Springs State Park
✮ Phoenix - Lost Dutchman State Park, Picacho Peak State Park, Tonto Natural Bridge State Park
✮ Salt Lake City - Antelope Island State Park
✮ San Francisco - Angel Island State Park, Mount Diablo State Park, Mount Tamalpais State Park
|
|
PHOTOGRAPHS OF VARIOUS STATE PARKS
|
Here are a few photographs from my travels to various state parks across the U.S. over the years:
unnamed Arch on the White Dome Loop in Valley of Fire State Park, Nevada
Taughannock Falls in Taughannock Falls State Park, New York
beach and seastacks at Ecola State Park, Oregon
Natural Bridge State Park, Virginia
Burney Falls at McArthur-Burney Falls Memorial State Park, California
the tablelands on Katahdin in Baxter State Park, Maine
one of the ghost town buildings of Bodie State Historic Park, California
desert scenery in Snow Canyon State Park, Utah
ocean views from Mount Battie in Camden Hills State Park, Maine
looking down on Chimney Rock in Chimney Rock State Park, North Carolina
views from the Webster Cliffs during foliage in Crawford Notch State Park, New Hampshire
views from Dead Horse Point State Park, Utah
potholes at the top of Enchanted Rock State Park, Texas
a palm oasis in Anza-Borrego State Park, California
weird rock formations in Goblin Valley State Park, Utah
McWay Falls in Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park, California
Middle Falls in Letchworth State Park, New York
swimming at Slide Rock State Park in Sedona, Arizona
As an Amazon Associates affiliate, this website contains affiliate links. If you choose to purchase any products after clicking any Amazon.com link, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you. I only endorse products that I have personally used or those that come highly recommended by trusted peers.
|