Travel to 30 of the Most Popular (and Least Appreciated) National Parks in the United States

With hundreds of National Parks and historic sites to choose from, the National Parks system of the United States has a park close to everyone, no matter where you live in America.

In the east, you'll experience some of the country's best known and most traveled to destinations, like Acadia National Park and the top draw Great Smoky Mountain National Park. To the south, the Everglades and Dry Tortugas are big attractions, while in the midwest and Great Plains, the country shifts from rolling valleys and forests to the rocky cliffs of the Great Lakes to the scenic farmlands and desolate Badlands National Park region of South Dakota.

Heading further west, you'll encounter some of the grand, dramatic scenery of Yellowstone, the Grand Circle, and the majestic granite peaks of Yosemite. To the north, the icy glaciers of Washington state cover Mount Rainier and the Cascades, while the coast varies greatly with the old growth of the Redwoods and Olympic National Park.

As you can see, there are hundreds of historic sites and National Parks desitnations to cover in the United States. Each have their own unique personality, wildlife and charm to call their own. Break them down into sections and explore each area by road trip, or just do it all in one fell swoop by taking an extended road excursion.

I've highlighted 30 of some of the most popular and underrated National Parks in America here, many of which I've personally visited and loved. Don't know where to start with your National Parks journey? Pick one, any one. Choose the closest one if you're under time constraints, or if you have the time, choose one far away. Once you've been bitten by the road trip travel bug, there's no headed back!