A Gen Xer visited all 63 national parks. Here are his 7 favorites — and 6 that didn't impress him.

Maria NoyenApr 15, 2024, 21:23 IST

Lee Abbamonte started blogging about his travels in 2006.Courtesy of Lee Abbamonte

Travel blogger Lee Abbamonte has visited all 63 national parks in the US.
Abbamonte, 45, prefers parks with epic hikes, stunning views, and ample activities for visitors.

The United States' 63 national parks draw huge crowds.

In 2023, the National Park Service reported more than 325 million visits, up 4% from the previous year.

And if there were a national parks fan club, Lee Abbamonte would at least be a member — or maybe president. Abbamonte, a 45-year-old travel blogger, has been to all 63 national parks, as well as every US state and every country in the world.

When he reflected on his favorite and least favorite national parks, Abbamonte admitted that, like any other traveler, he has personal preferences and biases. He loves parks with awe-inspiring views, stunning hikes, and exciting activities. In his ranking, he also factors how hard it is to get to each park and the costs involved.

Abbamonte told Business Insider why he's ranked seven parks at the top of his list of favorite US national parks, and why another six don't quite "do it" for him.

Yosemite embodies what a national park should be, Abbamonte said.

Yosemite National Park in California.Michael Gerard Santos Ceralde/Getty Images

Canyonlands is a more compact version of the Grand Canyon, he said.

Canyonlands National Park in Utah.Jeff R Clow/Getty Images

Arches in Utah is incredibly accessible and popular — for good reason, Abbamonte said.

Arches National Park in Utah.Getty Images

Awe-inspiring Wrangell-St. Elias is a perfect national park for visitors of all ages.

Wrangell-St. Elias National Park in Alaska.Alan Majchrowicz/Getty Images

Crater Lake may be the most beautiful site anywhere in the US.

Crater Lake National Park in Oregon.Greg Clay/Getty Images

Anyone who says the Grand Canyon is overrated is fooling themselves, Abbamonte said.

Grand Canyon National Park in Arizona.Amanda Mohler/Shutterstock

Zion has some of the best hiking in the US, he said.

Zion National Park in Utah.Nico De Pasquale/Getty Images

Abbamonte ranked Gateway Arch 58th on his list of 62 national parks — mostly because he doesn't think it should be called a national park at all.

Gateway Arch National Park in Missouri.Mike Kline/Getty Images

Congaree is worth a visit if you're into swamps, but Abbamonte isn't.

Congaree National Park in South Carolina.Mark C Stevens/Getty Images

Cuyahoga Valley doesn't feel or look like a national park, Abbamonte said.

Cuyahoga Valley National Park in Ohio.Arpad Benedek/Getty Images

Pinnacles is a letdown compared to other national parks in California, he said.

Pinnacles National Park in California.tanagamine/500px/Getty Images

Indiana Dunes is another relatively new national park that Abbamonte isn't convinced should be one at all.

Indiana Dunes National Park in Indiana.Jon Lauriat/Getty Images

Abbamonte was the least impressed by Hot Springs.

Hot Springs National Park in Arkansas.zrfphoto/Getty Images

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A Gen Xer visited all 63 national parks. Here are his 7 favorites &mdash; and 6 that didn't impress him.