63 National Parks Checklist and Trivia
Plan your family’s next adventures with this 63 National Parks checklist!
With its clean, modern design and easy to use formatting, you’ll be excited to check off all of the places you’ve been and imagine the hiking, camping, and exploration that await you at the other sites.
My family and I love to seek out the national parks when we’re traveling as they’re wonderful ways to immerse ourselves in the geography, culture, history, and resources of each region.
Let’s learn more about the amazing places in the U.S. National Parks system before you grab your FREE printable list of US National Parks
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U.S. National Parks Trivia
The author’s husband and daughter at Arches National Park, Utah
1) The first national park ever created in the world was Yellowstone National Park.
Emerald Pool hot springs at Yellowstone National Park
A bill signed by President Ulysses S. Grant created this Western U.S. national park in 1872.
Since then, the U.S. National Parks System has inspired other countries to protect their unique resources, and now, more than 4,000 national parks exist around the world.
Headed west? Check out the best national parks on the west coast!
2) President Theodore Roosevelt added the largest number of sites to the National Parks system.
During his presidency, he saw the need to create expand the existing national lands.
His efforts resulted in the creation of 5 new national parks: Crater Lake National Park, Wind Cave National Park, Mesa Verde National Park, and 2 others that were later redesignated as a game preserve (Sullys Hill) and a national recreation area (Chicksaw).
Additionally, he created the United States Forest Service, and 150 National Forests.
He’s also responsible for creating 51 national bird reserves, 4 national game preserves and 18 national monuments!
His important contribution to U.S. conservation is why The Camping Trip That Changed America, a picture book showing Roosevelt’s first trip to Yosemite, made my list of the best camping gifts for kids!
3) The smallest national park is Hot Springs National Park.
Hot Springs National Park, Arkansas
This urban national park in Arkansas offers hiking, samples of the natural springs, and 3 historic bathhouses.
It only covers 5,500 acres, which is tiny in comparison to the average of all of the parks (829,00 acres)!
Plan the perfect trip to the Grand Canyon with kids with our complete visitors guide!
4) The biggest national park is Wrangell-St. Elias National Park.
Mount Drum in Wrangell-St. Elias National Park
Covering 13 million acres, this Alaskan national park offers months of potential exploration.
This vastness offers a wilderness experience that allows visitors to tailor their visits. For the casual visitor, there’s road access to the main visitors center.
For the more extreme visitor, there are private helicopter flights to take you to the most remote, isolated portions of the park.
5) The most visited park is the Great Smoky Mountains National Park.
The author and her family at the Great Smoky Mountains National Park
Straddling the border of North Carolina and Tennesee, this sprawling park receives more than 14 million visitors annual.
That number has skyrocketed since 2010 by more than 50% nearby Pigeon Forge and Gatlinburg grow into major tourism destinations.
The park’s easy access from those Tennessee cities as well as from Cherokee, North Carolina, means that many visitors add this park on as a day trip within their larger vacation.
Enjoy another great national park with beautiful mountain views when you visit Shenandoah National Park with kids!
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63 National Parks Checklist
Now that you’ve learned a little bit about some of the national parks, I hope that you’re ready to grab your printable list of national parks.
Whether you’re planning to hike among old growth hardwood trees on this Congaree National Park itinerary, snorkel around a 200 year old fort at Dry Tortugas National Park, or walk through Mammoth Cave National Park, you’re sure to find an outdoor adventure that will excite your entire family.
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How many national parks has your family checked off already?
