National Park Week begins this Saturday, April 16th, and runs through Sunday, April 24th. In celebration, the National Park Service is offering free admission to all of the USA’s beautiful national parks on the first day of National Park Week, Saturday April 16th.
Which one of the nation’s Top 10 most visited national parks would you like to visit first?
1. Blue Ridge Parkway
The leaves are changing along the scenic Blue Ridge Parkway, which is the most visited national park in 2021.
2. Great Smoky Mountains National Park
Sunrise Landscape Great Smoky Mountains National Park Gatlinburg TN and Oconaluftee Valley Cherokee NC. It’s the second most visited park in the USA in 2021 according to the National Park Service.
3. Golden Gate National Recreation Area
A cargo ship near the iconic Golden Gate bridge with the Marin Hills in the background against a blue sky in San Francisco California. The Golden Gate National Recreation Area was the third most visited national park in 2021.
4. Gateway National Recreation Area
Dunes and vegetation scene, Gateway National Park, Sandy Hook, NJ. This national park, fourth most visited in 2021, includes land in New York City and Monmouth County, NJ.
5. Lake Mead National Recreation Area
Lake Mead, Hoover Dam water level, Nevada, USA. Our very own Lake Mead National Recreation Area was the fifth most visited national park in 2021 according to the National Park Service.
6. George Washington Memorial Parkway
President George Washington home at Mount Vernon in Virginia. The sixth most visited national park in 2021, the George Washington Memorial Parkway runs along the south bank of the Potomac River from Mount Vernon, VA, northwest to McLean, VA.
7. Natchez Trace Parkway
Natchez Trace Parkway Bridge in Tennessee. This is part of the 7th most visited national park in 2021 according to the National Park Service.
8. Lincoln Memorial
Abraham Lincoln Memorial in Washington DC, United States at night. Surprisingly, this national park was the 8th most visited in 2021. We thought it would rank higher.
9. Gulf Islands National Seashore
Dune fence and sea oats on the dunes at Pensacola Beach, Florida on Gulf Islands National Seashore. The 9th most visited national park in 2021 according to the National Park Service.
10. Zion National Park
Zion National Park entrance monument sign on a beautiful sunny day with blue sky in summer, Utah, USA, which rounds out the Top 10 most visited national parks in 2021 according to the National Park Service.