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I'm a former park ranger at state and national parks. Here are my 6 favorite national parks to visit.

Danielle JacksonApr 4, 2024, 20:11 IST

While working as a park ranger, I was often asked which national park was my favorite.Kelly vanDellen/Shutterstock

I worked as a park ranger at state and national parks for six years.
When asked which park was my favorite, I often responded with places like Bryce Canyon and Zion.

While working as a park ranger in state and national parks, I was often asked which national park was my favorite.

Although this was a hard question to answer, I understood why people asked. With national park visitation on the rise, travelers want to know which locations are worth their hard-earned PTO.

So many national parks and national park sites have special places in my heart, but here are the six I always recommend to travelers.

Bryce Canyon National Park in Utah tops my list of favorite parks.

The tall rock formations in Bryce Canyon National Park are called hoodoos.LordRunar/Getty Images

Virginia's Shenandoah National Park offers a great variety of short hikes.

On my days off, I loved exploring the northern half of Skyline Drive.Danielle Jackson

Yosemite National Park is popular for a reason.

My favorite spot in Yosemite National Park is Cathedral Beach.Danielle Jackson

Visiting Craters of the Moon feels like stepping onto another planet.

Craters of the Moon is technically a national monument but is part of the National Park System.Tucker James/Shutterstock

Congaree National Park is another park that's filled with natural beauty.

Congaree National Park was my go-to spot while I was in graduate school.Kelly vanDellen/Shutterstock

There's so much to see and do in Zion National Park.

Zion National Park is about a two-hour drive from Bryce Canyon.Marcia Straub/Getty Images

I booked shared and private sleeper cabins on overnight trains in Europe. Only one was worth the price.