All 385 US National Park Service Units

Frequently asked questions

How many national parks are there?

59 units here carry a "National Park" or "National Park & Preserve" designation — the ones most people mean by the phrase. The National Park Service manages far more than that, and this directory covers all 385 NPS units that report monthly visitation, including monuments, seashores, historic sites, recreation areas and parkways.

What is the difference between a national park and a national monument?

National parks are designated by an act of Congress and generally protect large areas for their scenic and recreational value. National monuments can be created by presidential proclamation under the Antiquities Act and often protect a specific historic, cultural or geologic feature. Both are managed by the National Park Service and both report visitation.

Which national park is the least crowded?

Crowding is easier to reason about per park than across the system, because a quiet month at a busy park can still mean more people than a peak month at a remote one. Each park page here shows a crowd index where 1.0 is that park's own average month, so you can see its quietest window directly.