Blue Ridge Parkway viewpoint in Virginia
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Complete List of ALL 433 National Park Service Sites

ByBram Reusen

America’s national parks system spans the entire country, from Alaska and Hawaii to Florida and Utah. All 50 states and the District of Columbia have one or more National Park Service (NPS) sites. This vast system also includes places in overseas territories like Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands and American Samoa.

Together, all these National Park Service sites—whether they’re battlefields, scenic rivers, historic sites, memorials or something else—conserve and preserve significant parts of America’s natural, cultural and historical heritage.

Currently, there are 433 individual NPS sites in the United States, covering over 85 million acres.

There are no fewer than nineteen different naming designations. From national monuments and national seashores to national memorials, military parks and the “actual” national parks, this variety is the perfect reflection of the diversity of the United States. You can read more about the national park system designations on the NPS website.

Whether you’d like to learn about a certain period of American history, hike in some of the world’s most spectacular landscapes, see iconic wildlife or enjoy beautiful architecture, America’s national parks system covers it all.

Complete List of All 433 U.S. National Park Service Sites

Here’s the full list of all 433 U.S. National Park Service sites, including the 63 national parks.

National Battlefields (11)

One of four types of National Park Service units related to American wars and the military, national battlefields preserve the site(s) of historic battles and skirmishes. They include significant sites from the French and Indian War, the Civil War and the American-Indian War.

National Battlefield Parks (4)

Just like national battlefields, national battlefield parks preserve sites related to major wars in U.S. history. They usually consist of more than one site or at least a relatively large area related to one or more historic battles.

Note that several other important battlefields in the United States are designated as national monuments, national historical parks or national historic sites.

Manassas National Battlefield Park in Virginia

National Battlefield Sites (1)

The only national battlefield site that currently exists is in Mississippi. Although a slightly different designation and smaller, it is similar in features and characteristics to battlefields and battlefield parks.

National Military Parks (9)

National military parks preserve sites and areas related to major events in America’s wars. Most of these parks are Civil War parks. One is related to the Revolutionary War and another to the Creek War of 1813-1814.

Fredericksburg National Military Park, Virginia

National Historical Parks (63)

Larger and more complex than national historic sites, national historical parks preserve areas associated with important historic events, places and/or persons.

This designation includes an extremely wide range of national parks and features, from U.S. presidents to artists and Native Americans, from maritime history to war sites, urban areas and political events.

Independence Hall, Independence National Historical Park, Philadelphia

National Historic Sites (76)

The various national historic sites cover all kinds of significant historic figures, locations and occurrences.

They preserve sites related to American people as different as authors, civil rights leaders, presidents and other historically important persons. These sites range from birthplaces and homes to battlefields, forts and Native American ruins.

Fur Store interior at Fort Vancouver National Historic Site, Vancouver, Washington

International Historic Sites (1)

The only one of its kind in the national parks system, the international historic site is relevant to both American and Canadian history.

National Lakeshores (3)

Preserving natural resources, as well as providing water-based recreation opportunities, national lakeshores are found on the shores of freshwater lakes. They may also include offshore islands. All current national lakeshores are on the Great Lakes.

National Seashores (10)

Similar to lakeshores, national seashores preserve a stretch of coastline and may also encompass islands and islets. They are on the coasts of seas and oceans and you can find them on America’s Pacific, Atlantic and Gulf coasts.

National Rivers (3)

National rivers preserve free-flowing rivers and their shoreline environment. Additionally, according to the National Park Service, they must also contain at least one remarkable natural, cultural or recreational value.

National rivers have to flow naturally and be free from major changes to their appearance, including dams and diversions.

National Wild and Scenic Rivers and Riverways (11)

Essentially the same as national rivers, national wild and scenic rivers and waterways also refer to pristine rivers. These rivers and streams must be unaltered and include at least one value of exceptional cultural, natural or recreational importance.

National rivers, wild and scenic rivers, and scenic riverways also offer hiking, boating and hunting opportunities.

National Scenic Trails (6)

Generally, national scenic trails are long-distance hiking trails that run through places of outstanding natural beauty.

(Additionally, there are also numerous national historic trails, which run along original travel routes of national significance. Examples are the Oregon Trail, the Trail of Tears, the Lewis and Clark Trail, and the Santa Fe Trail. These national historic trails, however, are not officially a part of the NPS system, but are considered “related areas”.)

Appalachian Trail sign, Mount Rogers National Recreation Area

National Memorials (31)

The national memorial designation is typically used for areas that are mainly commemorative. They don’t necessarily have to be historically associated to the person they commemorate, but can also be built after their subject has died, such as the Lincoln Memorial.

The names of several of these National Park Service units don’t include the full “national memorial”, but they’re still official national memorials.

Lincoln Memorial statue, Washington, D.C. - Presidential National Parks

National Parkways (4)

National parkways preserve the stretch of land lining scenic roads. Not designed for high-speed travel, they run “through areas of scenic interest” and are meant for sightseeing.

Note that other national parks may also include a national parkway, such as the Colonial Parkway in Colonial National Historical Park and the Foothills Parkway in Great Smoky Mountains National Park.

Blue Ridge Parkway in Virginia, USA

National Monuments (86)

The largest of all National Park Service designations, national monuments preserve one or more resource of national significance. This could be a cultural, historical, urban, architectural or natural area.

National monuments are generally smaller than national parks and less diverse. Yet, they do include numerous major U.S. landmarks, from Devils Tower and Muir Woods to the Statue of Liberty and Little Bighorn Battlefield.

Broken Top Loop Trail view in Craters of the Moon National Monument

National Recreation Areas (18)

National recreation areas originally encompassed the land surrounding reservoirs created by dams, which were built by other federal agencies. Great examples of such man-made lakes are Lake Mead and Ross Lake.

Nowadays, however, this designation is much broader and includes areas set aside for recreation, often in or near major cities like New York City, Boston, San Francisco and Los Angeles.

Kayaking on Diablo Lake, North Cascades, Washington

National Preserves (19)

The first national preserves ever created were Big Thicket and Big Cypress in 1974. This designation is for areas with resources that deserve extra protection.

However, if they don’t cause harm to the area’s natural values, activities like hunting, fishing and sometimes even mining are allowed in national preserves. They’re one of only a few National Park Service designations where you may be able to hunt.

National Reserves (2)

Similar to national preserves, national reserves offer additional protection to a certain area. These parks consist of land managed by a variety of agencies, including federal land, state parks, local parks and even private property.

National Parks (63)

The “actual” national parks are the crown jewels in the National Park Service system. Currently, there are 63 national parks in America.

With only a couple of exceptions, these iconic parks generally encompass various resources, both natural and cultural, and preserve large areas of land and/or water. They include some of the world’s greatest landscapes and natural landmarks, such as Yellowstone, the Grand Canyon, Denali, the Everglades and Death Valley.

View of Mount Rainier from Yakima Park at Sunrise in Mount Rainier National Park, WA

Other Park Designations (11)

In addition to all National Park Service units above, there are almost a dozen other categories, too. These range from gardens and parks to urban areas. All are located in the greater Washington, D.C. area, including sites in Maryland and Virginia.

How Many of the 433 National Park Service Sites Have You Visited? Share Your National Parks Experience Below!

Based in Oregon, Bram is the founder and CEO of The National Parks Experience.

For well over a decade, he has been passionate about America's national parks, forests, and other public lands. Bram is an avid landscape photographer, wildlife enthusiast, as well as an experienced hiker and cyclist.

His love for U.S. national parks keeps bringing him to some of the nation's most spectacular places, where he enjoys camping, stargazing, exploring trails, and immersing himself in the great outdoors in a multitude of ways.

Bram is an expert on all things related to America's national parks and is on a mission to visit all National Park Service sites. He documents this fascinating and incredibly fulfilling journey on this website.

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2 Comments

  2. Thanks for this list – I like how it’s broken out by type of site. Out of the 63 National Parks, we have visited 40, so far.

    Reply

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