The largest national park in the United States is Wrangell-St. Elias National Park and Preserve, located in Alaska. Wrangell-St. Elias covers an immense area of approximately 13.2 million acres (about 53,000 square kilometers).

This vast park is larger than many countries, including Switzerland and the Netherlands combined. Wrangell-St. Elias encompasses a diverse range of ecosystems, including towering mountain ranges, glaciers, rivers, forests, and tundra.

It is home to numerous peaks, including some of the highest mountains in North America, such as Mount St. Elias and Mount Wrangell. The park also contains significant cultural and historical sites, including remnants of past indigenous cultures and early mining settlements.

Wrangell-St. Elias offers visitors opportunities for hiking, camping, wildlife viewing, mountaineering, and exploring the remote wilderness of Alaska.

The smallest national park in the United States is Hot Springs National Park, located in the state of Arkansas. Hot Springs National Park covers an area of approximately 5,550 acres (about 22.5 square kilometers).

Despite its small size, Hot Springs National Park is notable for its thermal springs, which have attracted visitors for centuries seeking the healing properties of the mineral-rich waters. The park preserves a historic bathhouse row along Central Avenue in Hot Springs, Arkansas, where visitors can still experience traditional thermal bathing.

In addition to the thermal springs, the park offers hiking trails, scenic drives, and opportunities to explore the natural beauty of the Ouachita Mountains. Despite its small size, Hot Springs National Park holds significant cultural and historical importance as one of the oldest protected areas in the United States.

The first national park in the United States is Yellowstone National Park, established on March 1, 1872. Located primarily in the state of Wyoming, with portions extending into Montana and Idaho, Yellowstone is renowned for its stunning geothermal features, including geysers, hot springs, mud pots, and fumaroles. It also boasts diverse wildlife, such as bison, elk, grizzly bears, and wolves, as well as spectacular landscapes, including canyons, waterfalls, and forests.

Yellowstone’s designation as the first national park in the world marked a significant milestone in the conservation movement, demonstrating the importance of preserving natural wonders for future generations to enjoy.

Today, Yellowstone remains one of the most iconic and visited national parks in the United States, attracting millions of visitors from around the globe each year.

Determining the most popular national park in the United States can vary depending on the criteria used, such as annual visitation numbers, pass-through traffic, or online searches. However, some of the most visited and well-known national parks in the U.S. include Yellowstone, Grand Canyon, Great Smoky Mountains, and Yosemite. Let’s compare and contrast these parks based on different metrics:

In-Person Visits:

1. • Great Smoky Mountains National Park: With over 12 million visitors annually, Great Smoky Mountains is consistently the most visited national park in the United States. Its accessibility, diverse ecosystems, and scenic beauty attract visitors year-round.
   • Yellowstone National Park: Yellowstone typically sees over 4 million visitors annually, drawn by its iconic geothermal features, wildlife viewing opportunities, and vast wilderness.
   • Grand Canyon National Park: Grand Canyon attracts around 6 million visitors annually, who come to marvel at its breathtaking landscapes, hiking trails, and scenic overlooks.
   • Yosemite National Park: Yosemite welcomes over 4 million visitors annually, known for its towering granite cliffs, waterfalls, and iconic landmarks like Half Dome and Yosemite Falls.

The Great Smokey Mountains National Park is situated one one of the major highways in the area as well as situated  neighboring commercial attractions that elevates visits to the park.

Online Searches:

The Grand Canyon National Park, Zion National Park, and Yellowstone National Park compete for the top positioning in the number of monthly searches.  They each take turns holding the spot at one point or the other.

On the other hand, the Great Smokey Mountains National Park is searched much less frequently.  This suggests that its popularity in visits may be more tied to convenience from other tourist spots that draw visitors as well as the convenience for driving visits from the surrounding area.

In conclusion, while Great Smoky Mountains National Park consistently ranks as the most visited based on in-person visits, the Grand Canyon, Zion, Yellowstone, and Yosemite are also highly popular destinations with significant online interest and traffic due to their iconic status and breathtaking natural landscapes.

Determining the least visited national park in the United States can vary based on annual visitation numbers, accessibility, location, and other factors. While all national parks are cherished and offer unique experiences, some parks receive fewer visitors due to their remote location, limited facilities, or specialized attractions. One such park that tends to have lower visitation is Gates of the Arctic National Park and Preserve in Alaska.

Gates of the Arctic National Park and Preserve encompasses vast wilderness areas in the northern part of Alaska, with no roads or developed infrastructure within the park boundaries. Access to the park is primarily by small aircraft, and visitors must be prepared for remote backcountry travel and wilderness camping.

Due to its extreme northern location, harsh weather conditions, and limited services, Gates of the Arctic receives relatively few visitors compared to other national parks in the United States.

It’s important to note that while Gates of the Arctic National Park and Preserve may have lower visitation numbers, it remains an important wilderness area and offers unparalleled opportunities for solitude, exploration, and adventure in one of the most remote and pristine landscapes in North America.