The United States of America was the first country in the world to designate a national park! Now, there are 63 official national parks in the U.S. Here is a list of U.S. National Parks by the date they were established (oldest to newest):
List of the U.S. National Parks by Date Established
1. Yellowstone (Wyoming): March 1, 1872
2. Sequoia (California): September 25, 1890
3. Yosemite (California): October 1, 1890
4. Mount Rainier (Washington): March 2, 1899
5. Crater Lake (Oregon): May 22, 1902
6. Wind Cave (South Dakota): January 9, 1903
7. Mesa Verde (Colorado): June 29, 1906
8. Glacier (Montana): May 11, 1910
9. Rocky Mountain (Colorado): January 26, 1915
10. Hawai’i Volcanoes (Hawai’i): August 1, 1916
11. Lassen Volcanic (California): August 9, 1916
12. Denali (Alaska): February 26, 1917
13. Acadia (Maine): February 26, 1919
14. Grand Canyon (Arizona): February 26, 1919
15. Zion (Utah): November 19, 1919
16. Hot Springs (Arkansas): March 4, 1921
17. Bryce Canyon (Utah): February 25, 1928
18. Grand Teton (Wyoming): February 26, 1929
19. Carlsbad Caverns (New Mexico): May 14, 1930
20. Everglades (Florida): May 30, 1934
21. Great Smoky Mountains (Tennessee/North Carolina): June 15, 1934
22. Shenandoah (Virginia): December 26, 1935
23. Olympic (Washington): June 29, 1938
24. Kings Canyon (California): March 4, 1940
25. Isle Royale (Michigan): April 3, 1940
26. Mammoth Cave (Kentucky): July 1, 1941
27. Big Bend (Texas): June 12, 1944
28. Virgin Islands (U.S. Virgin Islands): August 2, 1956
29. Haleakala (Hawai’i): July 1, 1961
30. Petrified Forest (Arizona): December 9, 1962
31. Canyonlands (Utah): September 12, 1964
32. North Cascades (Washington): October 2, 1968
33. Redwood (California): October 2, 1968
34. Arches (Utah): November 12, 1971
35. Capitol Reef (Utah): December 18, 1971
36. Guadalupe Mountains (Texas): September 30, 1972
37. Voyageurs (Minnesota): April 8, 1975
38. Badlands (South Dakota): November 10, 1978
39. Theodore Roosevelt (North Dakota): November 10, 1978
40. Channel Islands (California): March 5, 1980
41. Biscayne (Florida): June 28, 1980
42. Gates of the Arctic (Alaska): December 2, 1980
43. Glacier Bay (Alaska): December 2, 1980
44. Katmai (Alaska): December 2, 1980
45. Kenai Fjords (Alaska): December 2, 1980
46. Kobuk Valley (Alaska): December 2, 1980
47. Lake Clark (Alaska): December 2, 1980
48. Wrangell-St. Elias (Alaska): December 2, 1980
49. Great Basin (Nevada): October 27, 1986
50. American Samoa: October 31, 1988
51. Dry Tortugas (Florida): October 26, 1992
52. Saguaro (Arizona): October 14, 1994
53. Death Valley (California): October 31, 1994
54. Joshua Tree (California): October 31, 1994
55. Black Canyon of the Gunnison (Colorado): October 21, 1999
56. Cuyahoga Valley (Ohio): October 11, 2000
57. Congaree (South Carolina): November 10, 2003
58. Great Sand Dunes (Colorado): September 24, 2004
59. Pinnacles (California): January 10, 2013
60. Gateway Arch (Missouri): February 22, 2018
61. Indiana Dunes (Indiana): February 15, 2019
62. White Sands (New Mexico): December 20, 2019
63. New River Gorge (West Virginia): December 27, 2020
Free Printable Map of the U.S. National Parks
What is the Oldest National Park in the USA?
The oldest national park in the U.S. is Yellowstone National Park in Wyoming. It was designated as a national park on March 1, 1872. That’s 44 years before the National Park Service was even created!
What is the Newest National Park in the USA?
The newest national park in the U.S. is New River Gorge National Park in West Virginia. It was designated as a national park on December 27, 2020.
Before it became a national park, New River Gorge was a national river established by President Jimmy Carter in 1978.
How is a U.S. National Park Established?
U.S. national parks are designated by an act of Congress. If a new national park is to be created, the National Park Service (which manages the national parks) first gathers critical information about the area, including its significance, history, and land use.
That information is then passed on to the Secretary of the Interior and other members of Congress. Committees will hold hearings to determine the particulars of the designation, including whether it will be established as a national park, lakeshore, battlefield, recreation area, seashore, trail, or historic site.
The proposed area is then put to a vote in Congress, and if it passes, a new national park is created!
One way that has historically been used to “fast track” a national park designation is by using the Antiquities Act of 1906. A president can unilaterally create a national monument using the Antiquities Act, which puts that area under federal protection. That area may remain a national monument, but it can also be presented to Congress for a vote. Congress can re-designate a presidentially proclaimed monument as a national park.
Free Printable U.S. National Parks Checklist
Easily keep track of where you’ve been and where you still need to go with this free printable checklist of all of the national parks in the U.S.A.!
Which U.S. State Has the Most National Parks?
California is the U.S. state with the most national parks — there are nine! Here is a list of the California National Parks in order from oldest to newest:
- Sequoia: established September 25, 1890
- Yosemite: established October 1, 1890
- Lassen Volcanic: established August 9, 1916
- Kings Canyon: established March 4, 1940
- Redwood: established October 2, 1968
- Channel Islands: established March 5, 1980
- Death Valley: established October 31, 1994
- Joshua Tree: established October 31, 1994
- Pinnacles: established January 10, 2013
Hey there, I’m Ash!
I worked as a park ranger in Alaska, Utah, and Wyoming, and I am so excited to help you plan your next national park trip. I think that every national park is unique and beautiful, and you never know which one will speak to your soul the most (which is why the parks should never be ranked from best to worst)!
I would love to hear from you, so please leave a comment on this post if you have any questions as you turn your dream trip into a reality!
I live in Utah’s Salt Lake City Area and would love to visit all national parks. Do you have a good idea of what order I should see them in? I have not visited any of them (minus flying over Crater Lake and Mount Rainier on a plane from San Francisco to Seattle). I would also like to know what I should see in each national park because I dont want to miss anything!
You’ll love this podcast episode to get you started! https://www.dirtinmyshoes.com/epic-10-day-utah-national-parks-road-trip-itinerary/
Ash, It’s probably a typo. I read Everglades was established on December 6, 1947. On your list, it shows May 30, 1934.
“It was this name she used for her book, Everglades: River of Grass, which was published in 1947 the exact same year that the Everglades became a national park.”
https://www.nps.gov/ever/learn/kidsyouth/a-beginning-for-the-park.htm#:~:text=On%20December%206th%2C%201947%2C%20the,and%20was%20a%20slow%20process.
So, the dates can get a little mucky! But Congress designated Everglades as a national park in 1934 (which is why some sites like mine list that as the date), but it took them 13 years to get the land set aside and to officially dedicate it, which is why some dates say 1947!
I just want to say thank you for this!!! It’s the information I needed. Love it!!!
Thank you so much! Glad it was helpful!
Welcome the New River Gorge . Will remember on our birthdays on December 27. Will sure to visit
Nice!