parkverdict
A sunset creates a silhouette of a cypress tree with needle-like leaves that is shaped like an 'N'.

Editorial ranking 406 parks ranked

Best national parks for guided tours

Our ranked pick of the best US national parks for guided tours, ordered by Experience Score.

Photo: NPS Photo by Miguel Salas

Parks assessed576
That made the cut406
Ranked onDocumented guided tours

Ranked by how much each unit documents for guided tours in official NPS data (matching activities and topics, plus whether our editors featured it), with the Experience Score as the tie-breaker. No park pays for placement.

1Rank
Top pickA sunset creates a silhouette of a cypress tree with needle-like leaves that is shaped like an 'N'.NPS Photo by Miguel Salas

National Park

Everglades National Park

Florida

100DOES IT ALL

Why it ranks for guided tours: Ranger-led and commercial boat tours reaching open bay and tidal habitats

StargazingHikingCamping
Free
2Rank
A view of Crater Lake and Wizard IslandNPS Photo

National Park

Crater Lake National Park

Oregon

90DOES IT ALL

Why it ranks for guided tours: Boat tours on the lake itself, reaching the water from the rim trail descent

StargazingHikingCamping
$15
3Rank
Large mountains dotted with snow loom above a rocky meadow filled with yellow flowers.NPS Photo

National Park

Glacier National Park

Montana

90DOES IT ALL

Why it ranks for guided tours: Paddling and motorized boating on cold, clear mountain lakes, including guided boat tours

StargazingHikingCamping
$20
4Rank
A geyser erupts steam in front of the bright sun.NPS / Jacob W. Frank

National Park

Yellowstone National Park

Idaho, Montana, Wyoming

90DOES IT ALL

Why it ranks for guided tours: Paddling and boat tours on Yellowstone Lake

StargazingHikingCamping
$20
5Rank
A canon sits in front of an equestrian statue.NPS Photo

National Military Park

Gettysburg National Military Park

Pennsylvania

88DOES IT ALL

Why it ranks for guided tours: Licensed battlefield guide tours that reframe the entire landscape through tactical and human detail

HikingGood with kidsWildlife watching
Free
6Rank
blue cannon sits in front of park's visitor centerNPS Photo / Vester Marable

National Military Park

Horseshoe Bend National Military Park

Alabama

88DOES IT ALL

Why it ranks for guided tours: Living history demonstrations including historic weapons presentations

StargazingHikingGood with kids
Free
7Rank
sun rising on Black CanyonNPS Photo/Andrew Cattoir

National Recreation Area

Lake Mead National Recreation Area

Arizona, Nevada

100DOES IT ALL

Why it ranks for guided tours: Documents boat tour, guided tours and self-guided tours - walking among its National Park Service activity and topic listings.

HikingCampingGood with kids
Free
8Rank
Ferry in the Pensacola BayNPS/Doggrell

National Seashore

Gulf Islands National Seashore

Florida, Mississippi

90DOES IT ALL

Why it ranks for guided tours: Ranger-led and living history programs that give the coastal fortifications real context

HikingCampingGood with kids
$15
9Rank
A cannon sits out in front of a replica of part of the wooden stockade walls once at AndersonvilleNPS Photo

National Historic Site

Andersonville National Historic Site

Georgia

98DOES IT ALL

Why it ranks for guided tours: Self-guided and guided tours of the original Camp Sumter prison site with earthwork remnants

CampingGood with kidsScenic drives
Free
10Rank
Men in reproduction uniforms talk around a campfireCharles Dischinger

National Battlefield

Wilson's Creek National Battlefield

Missouri

88DOES IT ALL

Why it ranks for guided tours: Self-guided auto tour road covering the core battlefield terrain with interpretive stops

HikingGood with kidsWildlife watching
Free
11Rank
The bow and masts of a 19th century sailing ship.NPS Photo

National Historical Park

San Francisco Maritime National Historical Park

California

86DOES IT ALL

Why it ranks for guided tours: First-person and living history interpretation that goes beyond static displays

Good with kidsWater activitiesGuided tours
Free
12Rank
A row of cannon with Fort Moultrie in the background. A US flag is flying in the fort.NPS Photo

National Historical Park

Fort Sumter and Fort Moultrie National Historical Park

South Carolina

78WIDE RANGE

Why it ranks for guided tours: Boat tour to Fort Sumter across Charleston Harbor, the only way to reach the site where the Civil War opened

StargazingGood with kidsWater activities
$10
13Rank
Kelley CabinNPS Photo

National Military Park

Chickamauga & Chattanooga National Military Park

Georgia, Tennessee

77WIDE RANGE

Why it ranks for guided tours: Living history demonstrations and historic weapons programs that bring the 1863 campaigns to life

HikingGood with kidsWater activities
$10
14Rank
A line of four cannons placed in front of crescent shaped earthen gun pits.Buddy Secor

National Military Park

Fredericksburg & Spotsylvania National Military Park

Virginia

76WIDE RANGE

Why it ranks for guided tours: Self-guided auto tours that allow flexible, in-depth coverage of the dispersed battlefield sites

HikingGood with kidsBiking
Free
15Rank
Entrance sign against the historic Ford buidling.NPS photo, Luther Bailey

National Historical Park

Rosie the Riveter WWII Home Front National Historical Park

California

57GOOD RANGE

Why it ranks for guided tours: Living history interpretation that personalizes individual home front experiences beyond the standard exhibit format

Good with kidsGuided toursHistory & culture
Free
16Rank
slave cabins made of tabby with wooden roofsNPS Photo/Darryl Herring

Ecological & Historic Preserve

Timucuan Ecological & Historic Preserve

Florida

88DOES IT ALL

Why it ranks for guided tours: Kingsley Plantation, with living history programming and exhibits on antebellum plantation life and the enslaved community who lived and worked there

HikingGood with kidsWater activities
Free
17Rank
People walk to barracks framed by mountain peaks.Dorothea Lange

National Historic Site

Manzanar National Historic Site

California

76WIDE RANGE

Why it ranks for guided tours: Self-guided auto tour covering the full extent of the former relocation center

Good with kidsWildlife watchingBiking
Free
18Rank
Snow dusted granite formations jut up from a mountainous juniper covered landscape.NPS Photo

National Reserve

City Of Rocks National Reserve

Idaho

100DOES IT ALL

Why it ranks for guided tours: Mountain biking and scenic auto touring through the dramatic spire landscape

StargazingHikingCamping
Free
19Rank
A tall ship sails on the water.Pride of Baltimore, Inc.

National Historic Trail

Star-Spangled Banner National Historic Trail

Maryland, Virginia, District of Columbia

100DOES IT ALL

Why it ranks for guided tours: Living history reenactments and historic weapons demonstrations at battlefield sites

HikingCampingGood with kids
Free
20Rank
luminaries placed by Maryland Monument with dramatic orange red cloudsNPS Antietam/BBaracz

National Battlefield

Antietam National Battlefield

Maryland

93DOES IT ALL

Why it ranks for guided tours: Self-guided auto tour threading the full battlefield with interpretive stops at key engagement sites

HikingCampingGood with kids
Free
21Rank
Painting of the Battle of the River RaisinPainting by Tim Kurtz

National Battlefield Park

River Raisin National Battlefield Park

Michigan

88DOES IT ALL

Why it ranks for guided tours: Living history reenactments and historic weapons demonstrations recreating the January 1813 battles

HikingGood with kidsWater activities
Free
22Rank
Ruggles Battery at ShilohNPS Photo/Mekow

National Military Park

Shiloh National Military Park

Tennessee, Mississippi

88DOES IT ALL

Why it ranks for guided tours: Self-guided auto tour through the full Shiloh battlefield, interpretable at your own pace

Good with kidsWildlife watchingBiking
Free
23Rank
The sun rises behind a green field with a cannon in the foreground.NPS Photo / Buddy Secor

National Battlefield

Stones River National Battlefield

Tennessee

88DOES IT ALL

Why it ranks for guided tours: Self-guided auto tour through key battle positions including McFadden Farm and Redoubt Brannan

HikingGood with kidsWater activities
Free
24Rank
Federal style house with trees behind it during the fall season.NPS Photo

National Battlefield

Monocacy National Battlefield

Maryland

83WIDE RANGE

Why it ranks for guided tours: Self-guided auto tour covering the battlefield terrain where Federal troops held against a force three times their size

HikingGood with kidsWater activities
Free
25Rank
Historic Fort DavisNPS photo

Park

Civil War Defenses of Washington

District of Columbia, Maryland, Virginia

78WIDE RANGE

Why it ranks for guided tours: Self-guided auto and walking tours that let you sequence your own multi-site Civil War itinerary

HikingGood with kidsWildlife watching
Free
26Rank
Cannon at sunset at Yorktown BattlefieldNPS Photo/Linda Williams

Part of Colonial National Historical Park

Yorktown Battlefield Part of Colonial National Historical Park

Virginia

78WIDE RANGE

Why it ranks for guided tours: Auto tour route connecting key battlefield positions, accessible by car or bike

HikingGood with kidsWildlife watching
$15
27Rank
A large two story white building with pillars. Several windows with green shuttersChase Swift Photography/Chase Swift

National Historic Site

Fort Laramie National Historic Site

Wyoming

74WIDE RANGE

Why it ranks for guided tours: Living history programs and historic weapons demonstrations that animate the military post era

StargazingGood with kidsWater activities
Free
28Rank
Bronze and granite monument of General Nathanael Greene on horsebackNPS Photo

National Military Park

Guilford Courthouse National Military Park

North Carolina

74WIDE RANGE

Why it ranks for guided tours: Self-guided auto tour following the actual phases of the March 1781 battle across the preserved landscape

Good with kidsBikingScenic drives
Free
29Rank
Two replica victorian age steam locomotives face each other on the original railroad gradeNPS Photo

National Historical Park

Golden Spike National Historical Park

Utah

64GOOD RANGE

Why it ranks for guided tours: Living history and reenactment programs depicting the spike ceremony

HikingGood with kidsGuided tours
$10
30Rank
The sun is coming up on the battlefield in the direction that the Americans would have been facing.NPS Photo

National Battlefield

Cowpens National Battlefield

South Carolina

57GOOD RANGE

Why it ranks for guided tours: Self-guided auto and walking tours tracing troop positions across the open pasture

Good with kidsBikingGuided tours
Free
31Rank
Northern Lights over Voyageurs National Park watersNPS /Dimse

National Park

Voyageurs National Park

Minnesota

100DOES IT ALL

Why it ranks for guided tours: Certified dark skies for stargazing, with ranger-led astronomy programs offered

StargazingHikingCamping
Free
32Rank
Wingate Sandstone cliffs behind historic barn and farmhouseNPS Photo

National Park

Capitol Reef National Park

Utah

90DOES IT ALL

Why it ranks for guided tours: Waterpocket Fold scenic auto tour covering nearly 100 miles of geologic monocline terrain

StargazingHikingCamping
$10
33Rank
Frame one story schoolhouse with most of white paint worn off to show gray.NPS Photo

National Historic Site

Nicodemus National Historic Site

Kansas

39FOCUSED

Why it ranks for guided tours: Ranger-guided tours of a settlement with no close parallel in American history

Good with kidsGuided toursHistory & culture
Free
34Rank
Steep, rugged ocean cliffs extending in an island chain.Tim Hauf, timhaufphotography.com

National Park

Channel Islands National Park

California

100DOES IT ALL

Why it ranks for guided tours: Camping, backcountry hiking, paddling, snorkeling, SCUBA, surfing, stargazing, wildlife watching, and guided tours all exist here in real form.

StargazingHikingCamping
Free
35Rank
Scattered clouds over landscape view of winding river and brown grasslandsNPS Photo

National Preserve

Valles Caldera National Preserve

New Mexico

78WIDE RANGE

Why it ranks for guided tours: Guided tours covering volcanic geology, ancestral Native history, and ranching heritage

StargazingHikingGood with kids
$15
36Rank
A large grey house with dark grey shutters with a green lawn out front under a blue skyNPS / Tom Engberg

National Monument

Charles Young Buffalo Soldiers National Monument

Ohio

50FOCUSED

Why it ranks for guided tours: Tour the recently restored Youngsholm home, the Colonel's personal residence and the heart of the monument

Good with kidsGuided tours
Free
37Rank
The sun sets behind the Indian Memorial.NPS photo

National Monument

Little Bighorn Battlefield National Monument

Montana

49FOCUSED

Why it ranks for guided tours: Self-guided auto tour across the actual 1876 battlefield terrain with marked positions

Good with kidsScenic drivesGuided tours
$15
38Rank
Aerial photograph of trail through lava along the Hawaiian CoastNPS Photo

National Historic Trail

Ala Kahakai National Historic Trail

Hawaii

100DOES IT ALL

Why it ranks for guided tours: Cultural demonstrations and guided tours interpreting living Native Hawaiian traditions

HikingCampingGood with kids
Free
39Rank
Manhattan skyline as seen from Governors Island National MonumentNPS photo

Park

National Parks of New York Harbor

New York

100DOES IT ALL

Why it ranks for guided tours: Boat tours of the harbor providing context for the full scope of the twelve-unit collection

StargazingHikingCamping
Free
40Rank
Field of yellow flowers in the foreground with two log huts and a paved trail in the middle distanceNPS Photo / B. Dhunjisha

National Historical Park

Valley Forge National Historical Park

Pennsylvania

88DOES IT ALL

Why it ranks for guided tours: Living history demonstrations including first-person interpretation and historic weapons programs on scheduled days

HikingGood with kidsWater activities
Free
41Rank
View of the historic well through crabapple treesNPS photo

National Memorial

Roger Williams National Memorial

Rhode Island

66GOOD RANGE

Why it ranks for guided tours: Living history and first-person interpretation of Roger Williams and 17th-century Providence

Good with kidsGuided toursHistory & culture
Free
42Rank
Log buildings, stockade fence and dock near a large lake.NPS

National Monument

Grand Portage National Monument

Minnesota

100DOES IT ALL

Why it ranks for guided tours: Living history reenactments and guided tours with real interpretive depth

HikingCampingGood with kids
Free
43Rank
A glittering sky of stars glows above a historic covered wagon.NPS Photo/Kait Thomas

National Monument

Pipe Spring National Monument

Arizona

90DOES IT ALL

Why it ranks for guided tours: Living history demonstrations inside and around the 1870s fortified ranch complex

StargazingHikingCamping
$10
44Rank
fall wildflowers at the preserveNPS

National Preserve

Tallgrass Prairie National Preserve

Kansas

88DOES IT ALL

Why it ranks for guided tours: Guided tours of the historic ranch structures with living history and cultural demonstrations

StargazingHikingGood with kids
Free
45Rank
Tobacco field being plowed by man with two draft horsesNPS Photo/ VIP Bill Tucker

National Monument

Booker T Washington National Monument

Virginia

74WIDE RANGE

Why it ranks for guided tours: Living history reenactments and craft demonstrations rooted in 1850s Virginia farm life

HikingGood with kidsGuided tours
Free
46Rank
White frescoed church with a stone ruin to the left in the foreground.NPS Photo/Andrew Shirey

National Historical Park

San Antonio Missions National Historical Park

Texas

76WIDE RANGE

Why it ranks for guided tours: Guided ranger tours at Mission San Jose, the largest and most intact of the four missions

HikingGood with kidsWildlife watching
Free
47Rank
Two story stone and brick building. The American flag flies in front of a blue sky backgroundNPS Photo

National Historical Park

Keweenaw National Historical Park

Michigan

68GOOD RANGE

Why it ranks for guided tours: Guided tours of Calumet-area sites that put ruins and architecture into human context

HikingGood with kidsBiking
Free
48Rank
Sunrise over Belle GroveNPS Photo/Buddy Secor

National Historical Park

Cedar Creek & Belle Grove National Historical Park

Virginia

59GOOD RANGE

Why it ranks for guided tours: Auto tour connecting dispersed park properties across the Shenandoah Valley landscape

Good with kidsGuided toursHistory & culture
Free
49Rank
Cannon with front field and Visitor Center in background.Tom Wilson

National Battlefield Park

Kennesaw Mountain National Battlefield Park

Georgia

59GOOD RANGE

Why it ranks for guided tours: Ranger-guided tours that interpret the battlefield positions and tactical decisions

HikingGood with kidsBiking
Free
50Rank
A three mast tall ship on the water under a blue sky with red brick buildings on the shore.NPS Photo / Robert Grant

National Historical Park

Salem Maritime National Historical Park

Massachusetts

59GOOD RANGE

Why it ranks for guided tours: Guided tours that connect twelve historic structures to Salem's global trade networks

Good with kidsGuided toursHistory & culture
Free
51Rank
Group of people around a Russian cross in tall grassNPS Photo

National Historic Area

Aleutian Islands World War II National Historic Area

Alaska

57GOOD RANGE

Why it ranks for guided tours: Guided tours that contextualize the military and Indigenous history beyond what signage alone conveys

Good with kidsWildlife watchingGuided tours
Free
52Rank
Aerial view of the Missouri River and surrounding landscape.NPS Photo

National Recreational River

Missouri National Recreational River

South Dakota, Nebraska

100DOES IT ALL

Why it ranks for guided tours: Living history and guided tour programming that connects the river to its deep historical context

StargazingHikingCamping
Free
53Rank
buildings varying in size on either side of a gravel path.NPS Image

National Historic Site

Hopewell Furnace National Historic Site

Pennsylvania

88DOES IT ALL

Why it ranks for guided tours: Living history and craft demonstrations inside a working iron plantation complex

StargazingHikingGood with kids
Free
54Rank
A large house painted gray with green lawn and trees.NPS/Audrey Tiernan

National Historic Site

Sagamore Hill National Historic Site

New York

88DOES IT ALL

Why it ranks for guided tours: Guided tours of Roosevelt's authentic, period-furnished home - the actual Summer White House

StargazingHikingGood with kids
Free
55Rank
A cannon is in the left foreground with the Maham rifle tower in the distance.NPS photo

National Historic Site

Ninety Six National Historic Site

South Carolina

87DOES IT ALL

Why it ranks for guided tours: Guided tours that connect the Cherokee, colonial, and Revolutionary War layers of the site's history

HikingGood with kidsWater activities
Free
56Rank
2 story tan house with green shutters. Red, white, and blue striped bunting draped below its fenceNPS Photo

National Historic Site

Lincoln Home National Historic Site

Illinois

83WIDE RANGE

Why it ranks for guided tours: Ranger-guided interior tour of Lincoln's only owned home, covering his years there from 1844 to 1861

Good with kidsWildlife watchingGuided tours
Free
57Rank
Two animals are tied to a wooden frame in the interior of a large adobe structure.NPS Photo

National Historic Site

Bent's Old Fort National Historic Site

Colorado

81WIDE RANGE

Why it ranks for guided tours: Living history interpreters demonstrating 1840s crafts including blacksmithing and frontier cooking

HikingGood with kidsWildlife watching
Free
58Rank
View of house with fence. Autumn colored leaves on treesNPS Photo

National Historic Site

Ulysses S Grant National Historic Site

Missouri

78WIDE RANGE

Why it ranks for guided tours: Guided tours of the historic White Haven house with interpretation covering Grant, the Dents, and the enslaved workforce

Good with kidsWildlife watchingBiking
Free
59Rank
Garrison Flag flying over the post.NPS Photo / Max Kandler

National Historic Site

Fort Davis National Historic Site

Texas

76WIDE RANGE

Why it ranks for guided tours: Living history demonstrations and historic weapons programs that recreate frontier Army life

HikingGood with kidsWildlife watching
$10
60Rank
Sun setting behind the Clark MemorialNPS Photo

National Historical Park

George Rogers Clark National Historical Park

Indiana

76WIDE RANGE

Why it ranks for guided tours: Living history demonstrations that reconstruct the 1779 Fort Sackville campaign

StargazingGood with kidsWater activities
Free
61Rank
Cheyenne tipis backlite by sunsetNPS Photo / Gene Eakins

National Historic Site

Washita Battlefield National Historic Site

Oklahoma

74WIDE RANGE

Why it ranks for guided tours: Living history and reenactment programs that periodically bring the site's story to life

HikingGood with kidsGuided tours
Free
62Rank
Men in 19th century U.S. Army uniforms fire a reproduction period cannon.NPS Photo

National Historic Site

Fort Larned National Historic Site

Kansas

66GOOD RANGE

Why it ranks for guided tours: Living history programming rooted in the Santa Fe Trail and Indian Wars era

Good with kidsGuided toursHistory & culture
Free
63Rank
Earthworks at Fort HarrisonNPS

National Battlefield Park

Richmond National Battlefield Park

Virginia

64GOOD RANGE

Why it ranks for guided tours: Living history programs that animate the human experience of the Richmond campaigns

HikingGood with kidsGuided tours
Free
64Rank
The Eisenhower home with Ike's putting green in the foregroundNPS Photo

National Historic Site

Eisenhower National Historic Site

Pennsylvania

61GOOD RANGE

Why it ranks for guided tours: Guided tours of the actual Eisenhower farmhouse, including rooms used for meetings with Cold War-era world leaders

Good with kidsBikingGuided tours
Free
65Rank
The Birthplaces of Presidents John Adams (right) and John Quincy Adams (left)NPS Photo

National Historical Park

Adams National Historical Park

Massachusetts

44FOCUSED

Why it ranks for guided tours: Guided tours through original, furnished Adams family homes spanning four generations

Good with kidsGuided toursHistory & culture
$15
66Rank
An oval gravestone for Maj Patrick Ferguson is in front of his stone covered grave.NPS

National Military Park

Kings Mountain National Military Park

South Carolina

44FOCUSED

Why it ranks for guided tours: Living history demonstrations with period weapons and first-person interpretation

Good with kidsGuided tours
Free
67Rank
Children In Nature Program at Historic JamestownePark Ranger Roger W. Green

Part of Colonial National Historical Park

Historic Jamestowne Part of Colonial National Historical Park

Virginia

27FOCUSED

Why it ranks for guided tours: Ranger-guided tours that contextualize the full colonial story including Indigenous displacement and the 1619 arrival of Africans

Good with kidsGuided toursHistory & culture
$15
68Rank
White buildings with red roofs at Crissy Field with blue bay and Golden Gate Bridge and fog behind.NPS photo/Will Elder

National Recreation Area

Golden Gate National Recreation Area

California

100DOES IT ALL

Why it ranks for guided tours: Living history programs and reenactments at former military sites

HikingCampingGood with kids
Free
69Rank
A purple and pink streaked sky over a mountain peak and forested valley.JD Hascup Photo

National Park

Mount Rainier National Park

Washington

90DOES IT ALL

Why it ranks for guided tours: Recorded activities and topics here include guided tours, self-guided tours - walking and self-guided tours - auto.

StargazingHikingCamping
$15
70Rank
A man wearing 18th-century clothing carrying a musket and a farmhouse are silhouetted by sunrise.NPS Photo

National Historical Park

Saratoga National Historical Park

New York

88DOES IT ALL

Why it ranks for guided tours: Nine-stop auto tour road traversing the actual 1777 battlefield terrain, open April through November

HikingGood with kidsWater activities
Free
71Rank
Colorful painted tipi on green lawnNPS Photo

National Historical Park

Nez Perce National Historical Park

Idaho, Montana, Oregon, Washington

83WIDE RANGE

Why it ranks for guided tours: Self-guided auto tour connecting 38 historically significant sites across Idaho, Montana, Oregon, and Washington

HikingGood with kidsWildlife watching
Free
72Rank
5 story brick factories with a clocktower surrounding a central courtyardNPS Photo

National Historical Park

Lowell National Historical Park

Massachusetts

81WIDE RANGE

Why it ranks for guided tours: Canal boat tours that place the water-power engineering system in direct physical context

Good with kidsWater activitiesGuided tours
Free
73Rank
Plantation home prior to the War. U.S. Quartermaster Headquarters during the Siege.NPS Photo

National Battlefield

Petersburg National Battlefield

Virginia

74WIDE RANGE

Why it ranks for guided tours: The four-mile, eight-stop Eastern Front auto tour road, which traces the siege lines at a walkable, bikeable pace

HikingGood with kidsWater activities
Free
74Rank
Emancipation Group MemorialNPS Photo/Kenneth Chandler

Park

Capitol Hill Parks

District of Columbia

64GOOD RANGE

Why it ranks for guided tours: Guided walking and bus tours that frame the neighborhood's Congressional and residential history

Good with kidsBikingGuided tours
Free
75Rank
Summer view of the Yellowtail Dam from the Ok-A-Beh road.Sharron Genaux

National Recreation Area

Bighorn Canyon National Recreation Area

Montana, Wyoming

100DOES IT ALL

Why it ranks for guided tours: Free admission and 24-hour, year-round access with guided boat tours available

StargazingHikingCamping
Free
76Rank
Woman raises her arms while standing in front of a sandstone butteNPS Photo / T Sigmon

National Recreation Area

Glen Canyon National Recreation Area

Arizona, Utah

100DOES IT ALL

Why it ranks for guided tours: Guided boat tours for first-timers or those without their own watercraft

StargazingHikingCamping
Free
77Rank
Glaciers loom over the ocean with large snowy mountains rising into blue skiesNPS Photo/ Neal Herbert

National Park & Preserve

Wrangell - St Elias National Park & Preserve

Alaska

100DOES IT ALL

Why it ranks for guided tours: Its official NPS record lists guided tours, self-guided tours - walking and self-guided tours - auto for this national park & preserve.

HikingCampingGood with kids
Free
78Rank
Michigan Lake beach with green grassy dunes in the background, under a blue sky.NPS Photo

National Park

Indiana Dunes National Park

Indiana

90DOES IT ALL

Why it ranks for guided tours: Guided interpretive tours that explain the unusual dune ecology and plant diversity

StargazingHikingCamping
$15
79Rank
The sky turns hues of pink and purple over a field of Joshua trees.NPS / Emily Hassell

National Park

Joshua Tree National Park

California

90DOES IT ALL

Why it ranks for guided tours: Families with kids do well here, since the Junior Ranger program and the boulder scrambles are approachable for young ones.

StargazingHikingCamping
$15
80Rank
Organ pipe cactus and mountains at sunsetNPS Photo/ Craig Stocks

National Monument

Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument

Arizona

90DOES IT ALL

Why it ranks for guided tours: Families with kids can build a trip around the Junior Ranger program.

StargazingHikingCamping
$15
81Rank
Sunlit Painted Desert hills of the Petrified Forest National Wilderness AreaNPS Photo

National Park

Petrified Forest National Park

Arizona

90DOES IT ALL

Why it ranks for guided tours: Families with curious kids tend to do well too, particularly with the hands-on activities and Junior Ranger program on offer.

StargazingHikingCamping
$10
82Rank
Bronze status of young George Washington Carver atop a large boulder, on the Carver trail.NPS Photo

National Monument

George Washington Carver National Monument

Missouri

71WIDE RANGE

Why it ranks for guided tours: Ranger-led guided tours that bring Carver's childhood and scientific legacy to life with specific detail

Good with kidsGuided tours
Free
83Rank
A fossil horse stands in the center of a room filled with posters and display casesNPS/S. Lacy

National Monument

Hagerman Fossil Beds National Monument

Idaho

67GOOD RANGE

Why it ranks for guided tours: Guided tours that provide scientific context unavailable from signage alone

HikingGood with kidsWildlife watching
Free
84Rank
A cloud shrouded volcano rises behind a field of yellow flowers.NPS photo/ R. Richman

National Monument

Capulin Volcano National Monument

New Mexico

63GOOD RANGE

Why it ranks for guided tours: There's no admission fee, which makes a detour easy to justify on any road trip.

StargazingHikingGood with kids
Free
85Rank
a cinder cone volcano and ponderosa pine treesNPS Photo / Elliot Schultz

National Monument

Sunset Crater Volcano National Monument

Arizona

51FOCUSED

Why it ranks for guided tours: Self-guided walking tour through a thousand-year-old lava flow with visible plant regrowth

StargazingGood with kidsGuided tours
Free
86Rank
confluence of two riversNPS Photo

National Memorial

Arkansas Post National Memorial

Arkansas

88DOES IT ALL

Why it ranks for guided tours: Living history programming including historic weapons demonstrations and first-person interpretation

HikingGood with kidsWater activities
Free
87Rank
panorama of mission church with green grass and cloudsNPS Photo

National Historical Park

Tumacácori National Historical Park

Arizona

88DOES IT ALL

Why it ranks for guided tours: For a park this size, it fits in a surprising amount: craft demonstrations, living history events, guided tours, astronomy programs, and birdwatching.

StargazingHikingGood with kids
Free
88Rank
A historic cabin stands next to a concrete path that leads to a plow shaped visitor centerNPS Photo/Hunter Hendricks

National Historical Park

Homestead National Historical Park

Nebraska

76WIDE RANGE

Why it ranks for guided tours: Living history programming that animates the daily realities of 19th-century homestead life

HikingGood with kidsWildlife watching
Free
89Rank
Circular stockade in the middle of a meadow. Dramatic clouds build in the blue sky.NPS Photo/Tom Markwardt

National Battlefield

Fort Necessity National Battlefield

Pennsylvania

75WIDE RANGE

Why it ranks for guided tours: Living history demonstrations and historic weapons demonstrations scheduled throughout the season

HikingGood with kidsWildlife watching
Free
90Rank
Union cannon aimed at Confederate linesNPS Photo

National Military Park

Vicksburg National Military Park

Mississippi, Louisiana

71WIDE RANGE

Why it ranks for guided tours: 16-mile auto tour road through preserved siege lines, earthworks, and artillery positions

HikingGood with kidsBiking
Free
91Rank
A child dancing on the beach at duskNPS Photo

National Recreation Area

Boston Harbor Islands National Recreation Area

Massachusetts

100DOES IT ALL

Why it ranks for guided tours: Guided living history tours connecting the military and maritime past

HikingCampingGood with kids
Free
92Rank
A park ranger directs a group of children thorugh the fort.NPS Photo

National Monument

Fort Stanwix National Monument

New York

88DOES IT ALL

Why it ranks for guided tours: Living history and first-person interpretation by costumed rangers inside a reconstructed 18th-century fort

StargazingHikingGood with kids
Free
93Rank
Spanish moss hangs from live oak treeNPS Photo

National Historical Park and Preserve

Jean Lafitte National Historical Park and Preserve

Louisiana

88DOES IT ALL

Why it ranks for guided tours: Free admission across all six sites, with a Junior Ranger program spanning the whole park

Good with kidsWater activitiesWildlife watching
Free
94Rank
Conestoga wagon in front of Eagle RockNPS Photo / Wesley Gant

National Monument

Scotts Bluff National Monument

Nebraska

83WIDE RANGE

Why it ranks for guided tours: Living history and cultural demonstrations that bring the trail era to life

HikingGood with kidsBiking
Free
95Rank
Panorama of Officers RowRon Harvey - Fort Union National Monument

National Monument

Fort Union National Monument

New Mexico

57GOOD RANGE

Why it ranks for guided tours: Scheduled living history programs and historic weapons demonstrations

Good with kidsGuided tours
Free
96Rank
Russell Cave in SpringNPS Photo / Mary Dawson

National Monument

Russell Cave National Monument

Alabama

54FOCUSED

Why it ranks for guided tours: Ranger-guided tours at the cave mouth explaining 12,000 years of continuous human occupation

HikingGood with kidsWildlife watching
Free
97Rank
White house with a concrete deck and flag poll in the front.NPS Photo

National Monument

Tule Lake National Monument

California

45FOCUSED

Why it ranks for guided tours: Guided tours of the Tule Lake Segregation Center, the largest and most contested Japanese American incarceration site of World War II

Guided tours
Free
98Rank
A slightly curvy section of the Natchez Trace Parkway in Early FallNPS Photo

Parkway

Natchez Trace Parkway

Alabama, Mississippi, Tennessee

97DOES IT ALL

Why it ranks for guided tours: Junior Ranger program spanning a multi-state historical corridor, unusual in the NPS system

StargazingHikingCamping
Free
99Rank
Summer view of EarthlodgeNPS photo

National Historic Site

Knife River Indian Villages National Historic Site

North Dakota

88DOES IT ALL

Why it ranks for guided tours: Ranger-led guided tours that bring the archaeology and trade history to life

HikingGood with kidsWater activities
Free
100Rank
Painting of historic ceremony at Puʻukoholā HeiauHerb Kane

National Historic Site

Puʻukoholā Heiau National Historic Site

Hawaii

83WIDE RANGE

Why it ranks for guided tours: Ranger-guided and self-guided walking tours that trace the political and spiritual significance of the site

HikingCampingGood with kids
Free
101Rank
1828 Lowcountry cottage and groundsNPS Photo

National Historic Site

Charles Pinckney National Historic Site

South Carolina

78WIDE RANGE

Why it ranks for guided tours: Guided tours that provide interpretive context not available through self-guided walking alone

HikingGood with kidsWildlife watching
Free
102Rank
A one story wood frame house has board-and-batten exterior siding and a picket fence painted white.NPS Photo/John Eicher

National Historic Site

Herbert Hoover National Historic Site

Iowa

71WIDE RANGE

Why it ranks for guided tours: Guided tours of the historic buildings with ranger interpretation

HikingGood with kidsWildlife watching
Free
103Rank
The first memorial erected to honor Abraham LincolnNPS Photo

National Historical Park

Abraham Lincoln Birthplace National Historical Park

Kentucky

66GOOD RANGE

Why it ranks for guided tours: Ranger-led guided tours that surface historical context beyond the self-guided experience

StargazingGood with kidsWildlife watching
Free
104Rank
A young brass band musician plays a trumpetNPS Photo

National Historical Park

New Orleans Jazz National Historical Park

Louisiana

51FOCUSED

Why it ranks for guided tours: Ranger-led guided walking tours connecting music history to specific French Quarter locations

Good with kidsGuided toursHistory & culture
Free
105Rank
Lincoln Memorial at DuskNPS Photo

Park

Lincoln Memorial

District of Columbia

50FOCUSED

Why it ranks for guided tours: Ranger-led guided tours that connect the memorial to civil rights history

Good with kidsGuided tours
Free
106Rank
Field of white and yellow wildflowers with a white wall in the distance and blue sky above.NPS/Brendan Wilson

National Memorial

Flight 93 National Memorial

Pennsylvania

46FOCUSED

Why it ranks for guided tours: Ranger-led guided tours that place the site within the documented sequence of events on September 11

HikingGood with kidsScenic drives
Free
107Rank
FairstedNPS Photo

National Historic Site

Frederick Law Olmsted National Historic Site

Massachusetts

46FOCUSED

Why it ranks for guided tours: Guided tours of the historic house and original working office

Good with kidsGuided toursHistory & culture
Free
108Rank
A two story brick building flanked by large live oak treesNPS Photo

National Historical Park

Reconstruction Era National Historical Park

South Carolina

45FOCUSED

Why it ranks for guided tours: Ranger-led guided tours that place Reconstruction history in its specific Beaufort County context

HikingGood with kidsGuided tours
Free
109Rank
Statue of Martin Luther King, Jr.NPS Photo

Park

Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial

District of Columbia

44FOCUSED

Why it ranks for guided tours: Ranger-led guided tours that place the memorial within the broader arc of the civil rights movement

Good with kidsGuided tours
Free
110Rank
Large brick wall with glass windows.NPS

National Historical Park

Klondike Gold Rush - Seattle Unit National Historical Park

Washington

43FOCUSED

Why it ranks for guided tours: Ranger-guided tours that bring the 1897-1898 stampede story to life with personal detail

Good with kidsGuided toursHistory & culture
Free
111Rank
The front facade of Little Rock Central High SchoolNPS Photo

National Historic Site

Little Rock Central High School National Historic Site

Arkansas

41FOCUSED

Why it ranks for guided tours: Guided tours that connect specific physical locations to documented historical events

Good with kidsGuided toursHistory & culture
Free
112Rank
Coral reef with two snorkelers diving below the surfaceNPS image by Shaun Wolfe

National Park

Biscayne National Park

Florida

100DOES IT ALL

Why it ranks for guided tours: Snorkeling and SCUBA diving on a living coral reef accessible by boat tour or private vessel

CampingGood with kidsWater activities
Free
113Rank
Sunrise view of Gila Cliff Dwellings with brilliant sky.NPS/Janice Wei

National Monument

Gila Cliff Dwellings National Monument

New Mexico

100DOES IT ALL

Why it ranks for guided tours: Walking inside the actual 13th-century Mogollon cliff rooms on the self-guided dwelling tour

StargazingHikingCamping
Free
114Rank
Backpackers in North Fork Cascade Canyon, Grand Teton behindNPS Photo / D. Lehle

National Park

Grand Teton National Park

Wyoming

100DOES IT ALL

Why it ranks for guided tours: The NPS data for Grand Teton National Park covers boat tour, guided tours and self-guided tours - auto.

HikingCampingGood with kids
Free
115Rank
A cascade of water pours over a rock ledge. Green foliage is in the background.NPS Photo/ Deb Spillman

National Park

Mammoth Cave National Park

Kentucky

100DOES IT ALL

Why it ranks for guided tours: Guided cave tours ranging from accessible walking routes to demanding wild caving expeditions

StargazingHikingCamping
Free
116Rank
sun rising over the New River GorgeGary Hartley

National Park & Preserve

New River Gorge National Park & Preserve

West Virginia

100DOES IT ALL

Why it ranks for guided tours: The NPS data for New River Gorge National Park & Preserve covers guided tours, self-guided tours - walking and self-guided tours - auto.

StargazingHikingCamping
Free
117Rank
El Morro with SunflowersNPS Photo

National Monument

El Morro National Monument

New Mexico

98DOES IT ALL

Why it ranks for guided tours: Guided tours that add historical depth to the carved inscriptions

StargazingHikingCamping
Free
118Rank
Blooming CenizoNPS

National Park

Big Bend National Park

Texas

90DOES IT ALL

Why it ranks for guided tours: The NPS data for Big Bend National Park covers guided tours, self-guided tours - walking and self-guided tours - auto.

StargazingHikingCamping
$15
119Rank
A red rock landscape and plateau forest glows with the morning sunNPS Photo / Peter Densmore

National Park

Bryce Canyon National Park

Utah

90DOES IT ALL

Why it ranks for guided tours: Ranger-led astronomy and stargazing programs under some of the darkest skies in the U.S.

StargazingHikingCamping
$20
120Rank
Sand and pebbles in foreground with turquoise water in backgroundNPS Photo

National Lakeshore

Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore

Michigan

90DOES IT ALL

Why it ranks for guided tours: The NPS data for Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore covers guided tours, self-guided tours - walking and self-guided tours - auto.

StargazingHikingCamping
$15
121Rank
Yellow sandstone cliff at sunset with dark lava field in backgroundNPS Kristi Rugg

National Monument

El Malpais National Monument

New Mexico

85DOES IT ALL

Why it ranks for guided tours: Cultural and historical depth through guided tours covering generations of human adaptation to this volcanic terrain

StargazingHikingCamping
Free
122Rank
Photo of Giant Dome and Twin Domes in the Big Room.NPS / Michael Larson

National Park

Carlsbad Caverns National Park

New Mexico

83WIDE RANGE

Why it ranks for guided tours: The Big Room self-guided tour, one of the largest accessible cave chambers in North America

StargazingHikingCamping
$1
123Rank
Aerial View of Fort MonroeNPS Photo

National Monument

Fort Monroe National Monument

Virginia

81WIDE RANGE

Why it ranks for guided tours: Living history programs, reenactments, and historic weapons demonstrations tied to the fort's military eras

HikingGood with kidsWildlife watching
Free
124Rank
a large stone pueblo in a desert beneath mostly sunny skies with mountains in backgroundNPS

National Monument

Wupatki National Monument

Arizona

79WIDE RANGE

Why it ranks for guided tours: Junior Ranger Program and hands-on citizen science activities suited for families with children

HikingGood with kidsWildlife watching
Free
125Rank
Pink flowers and green foliage frame the roofless remains of a stone mission.NPS Photo

National Monument

Salinas Pueblo Missions National Monument

New Mexico

76WIDE RANGE

Why it ranks for guided tours: Ranger-guided tours that contextualize the complex Spanish-Pueblo cultural encounter

StargazingHikingGood with kids
Free
126Rank
Two buildings surrounded by green foliage with a brick path leading to the buildings.NPS / Cleo Kantz-Schultz

National Monument

George Washington Birthplace National Monument

Virginia

74WIDE RANGE

Why it ranks for guided tours: Guided tours covering both Washington family history and the 1932 bicentennial memorial story

HikingGood with kidsWater activities
Free
127Rank
Reconstructed stone kiva amidst stone ruinsNPS Photo

National Monument

Aztec Ruins National Monument

New Mexico

66GOOD RANGE

Why it ranks for guided tours: Guided tours that connect the architecture to living Indigenous traditions

HikingGood with kidsGuided tours
Free
128Rank
Patina green statue atop her pedestal on Liberty Island; grey cloudy sky in the distanceNPS Photo

National Monument

Statue Of Liberty National Monument

New York

66GOOD RANGE

Why it ranks for guided tours: Guided tours that connect the monument's history to broader themes of immigration and democracy

Good with kidsGuided tours
Free
129Rank
Beaux-Arts brick and limestone building with large arched windows and cupola-topped towers.NPS Photo

Part of Statue of Liberty National Monument

Ellis Island Part of Statue of Liberty National Monument

New Jersey, New York

62GOOD RANGE

Why it ranks for guided tours: Guided tours that add interpretive depth to the physical spaces of the building

Good with kidsGuided tours
Free
130Rank
Belmont-Paul Women's Equality NM HouseNPS Photo

National Monument

Belmont-Paul Women's Equality National Monument

District of Columbia

57GOOD RANGE

Why it ranks for guided tours: Guided tours that explain Alice Paul's specific organizing strategies inside the actual rooms where they were developed

Good with kidsGuided tours
Free
131Rank
A marsh with open water, cattails, and a masonry dwelling beyond.NPS Photo

National Monument

Tuzigoot National Monument

Arizona

52FOCUSED

Why it ranks for guided tours: Ranger-guided tours that add interpretive depth to the pueblo layout

HikingGood with kidsWildlife watching
$10
132Rank
Walnut Canyon's cliff dwellings are illuminated by the afternoon sun.NPS Photo

National Monument

Walnut Canyon National Monument

Arizona

51FOCUSED

Why it ranks for guided tours: Junior Ranger Program for hands-on engagement with younger visitors

HikingGood with kidsGuided tours
Free
133Rank
A large sandstone arch - a natural bridge.NPS Photo / Scott Dowd

National Monument

Rainbow Bridge National Monument

Utah

49FOCUSED

Why it ranks for guided tours: Boat tour through the canyon arms of Lake Powell, offering lake and canyon scenery on the approach

HikingGood with kidsWater activities
Free
134Rank
Large lawn in front of the memorial.NPS photo

Park

American Memorial Park

Northern Mariana Islands

88DOES IT ALL

Why it ranks for guided tours: Living history and first-person interpretation programs that bring the WWII narrative beyond static displays

Good with kidsWater activitiesWildlife watching
Free
135Rank
a sun setting behind historic parade groundsNPS Photo/Gary Tarleton

National Historical Park

San Juan Island National Historical Park

Washington

88DOES IT ALL

Why it ranks for guided tours: Living history and first-person interpretation of the 1859 Pig War at both American and English Camp

HikingGood with kidsWater activities
Free
136Rank
The Wick House surrounded by colorful fall leavesNPS Photo/Dan Beards

National Historical Park

Morristown National Historical Park

New Jersey

84WIDE RANGE

Why it ranks for guided tours: Living history demonstrations and historic weapons programs at Jockey Hollow

HikingGood with kidsWildlife watching
Free
137Rank
A fifty foot square wooden fort surrounded by tall trees in a forest.NPS Photo

National Historical Park

Lewis and Clark National Historical Park

Oregon, Washington

78WIDE RANGE

Why it ranks for guided tours: Fort Clatsop reconstruction with living history interpreters and historic weapons demonstrations

HikingGood with kidsWater activities
$10
138Rank
A reconstructed Elkhorn Tavern.NPS Photo

National Military Park

Pea Ridge National Military Park

Arkansas

75WIDE RANGE

Why it ranks for guided tours: Self-guided auto tour across 4,400 acres of intact Civil War battlefield terrain

HikingGood with kidsWildlife watching
Free
139Rank
Cabin and smokehouse in the fallNPS Photo/Paula Alexander

National Memorial

Lincoln Boyhood National Memorial

Indiana

73WIDE RANGE

Why it ranks for guided tours: Living history farm with hands-on cultural demonstrations tied to 1820s pioneer life

HikingGood with kidsWildlife watching
Free
140Rank
Engine House and tavernNPS

National Historic Site

Allegheny Portage Railroad National Historic Site

Pennsylvania

71WIDE RANGE

Why it ranks for guided tours: Living history and first-person interpretation that animates the canal era

HikingGood with kidsGuided tours
Free
141Rank
View from Missouri River bottoms of Southwest bastionNPS Photo / Kris Baxter

National Historic Site

Fort Union Trading Post National Historic Site

Montana, North Dakota

66GOOD RANGE

Why it ranks for guided tours: Living history demonstrations that place interpreters in the roles of traders and tribal members from the fur trade era

Good with kidsGuided toursHistory & culture
Free
142Rank
A rider in a red vest on a horse in a grassy patch surrounded by sagebrush with clouds in the sky.NPS photo

National Historic Trail

Pony Express National Historic Trail

California, Colorado, Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska, Nevada, Utah, Wyoming

61GOOD RANGE

Why it ranks for guided tours: Living history events and reenactments held at multiple sites along the route

HikingGood with kidsScenic drives
Free
143Rank
front of clocktower taken looking up with blue sky, sunnyNPS Photo

National Historical Park

Pullman National Historical Park

Illinois

57GOOD RANGE

Why it ranks for guided tours: Ranger-guided tours that connect the neighborhood's architecture to the 1894 Pullman Strike and its national consequences

Good with kidsGuided toursHistory & culture
Free
144Rank
Two story brick mansion with columnsNPS Photo

National Historical Park

Natchez National Historical Park

Mississippi

47FOCUSED

Why it ranks for guided tours: Guided mansion tours at Melrose offered five times daily, covering both planter and enslaved histories

Guided toursHistory & culture
Free
145Rank
Hamilton Grange National MemorialNPS Photo/Kevin Daley

National Memorial

Hamilton Grange National Memorial

New York

45FOCUSED

Why it ranks for guided tours: Ranger-guided tours of Hamilton's restored Federal-style home, offered on a fixed schedule

Good with kidsGuided toursHistory & culture
Free
146Rank
boats on the water with mountains and trees surroundingNPS Photo/D.Dixon

National Park

North Cascades National Park

Washington

100DOES IT ALL

Why it ranks for guided tours: Guided boat tours that reach areas of the complex unreachable by road

HikingCampingGood with kids
Free
147Rank
A brilliant sunset filled with hues of blue, red, orange, magenta, and purple highlight the sky.NPS / Kristi Rugg

National Park

Acadia National Park

Maine

97DOES IT ALL

Why it ranks for guided tours: Ranger-led and self-guided stargazing on a Maine island with low light pollution

StargazingHikingCamping
Free
148Rank
The red masonry walls of Fort Pulaski still show battle damage over 150 years later.NPS Photo / Joel Cadoff

National Monument

Fort Pulaski National Monument

Georgia

76WIDE RANGE

Why it ranks for guided tours: Living history and historic weapons demonstrations tied to the 1862 siege

HikingGood with kidsWater activities
$10
149Rank
Ruin of Soldier Barracks at Fort Frederica NMNPS photo

National Monument

Fort Frederica National Monument

Georgia

46FOCUSED

Why it ranks for guided tours: Guided tours that add interpretive depth beyond what signage alone provides

HikingGood with kidsBiking
Free
150Rank
A heron at sunset in the waters and marshes of Blackwater National Wildlife RefugeNPS Photo / Middleton Evans

National Historic Trail

Captain John Smith Chesapeake National Historic Trail

Virginia, Maryland, Delaware, District of Columbia, Pennsylvania, New York

100DOES IT ALL

Why it ranks for guided tours: Guided boat tours and museum exhibits at partner sites along the trail corridor

HikingCampingGood with kids
Free
151Rank
View from the Bluff OverlookNPS Photo / H. Richards

National Historical Reserve

Ebey's Landing National Historical Reserve

Washington

100DOES IT ALL

Why it ranks for guided tours: Its official NPS record lists guided tours, self-guided tours - walking and self-guided tours - auto for this national historical reserve.

StargazingHikingCamping
Free
152Rank
Aerial view of town in a valley with cruise ships in portNPS Photo/S. Millard

National Historical Park

Klondike Gold Rush National Historical Park

Alaska

100DOES IT ALL

Why it ranks for guided tours: Ranger-led walking tours through one of the best-preserved gold rush era townscapes in North America

HikingCampingGood with kids
Free
153Rank
View from forest floor looking straight up. Ferns as seen close up and redwood trunks meet.NPS Photo / Steve Olson

National and State Parks

Redwood National and State Parks

California

100DOES IT ALL

Why it ranks for guided tours: The NPS data for Redwood National and State Parks covers guided tours, self-guided tours - walking and self-guided tours - auto.

HikingCampingGood with kids
Free
154Rank
Carter Pond on a sunny day in summerNPS Photo/Cecilia Lynch

Park

Prince William Forest Park

Virginia

90DOES IT ALL

Why it ranks for guided tours: CCC-era Depression history interpreted through guided and self-guided tours

HikingCampingGood with kids
$10
155Rank
Multiple tepee poles and a river are silhouetted against a dawn sky.NPS Photo

National Battlefield

Big Hole National Battlefield

Montana

88DOES IT ALL

Why it ranks for guided tours: Ranger-guided tours of the battlefield that trace the August 9-10, 1877 events in real time and place

HikingGood with kidsWater activities
Free
156Rank
Aerial of the west side of National Mall and Memorial ParksNPS Photo

Park

National Mall and Memorial Parks

District of Columbia

83WIDE RANGE

Why it ranks for guided tours: Ranger-guided tours that provide layered historical context beyond what signage alone delivers

Good with kidsWater activitiesWildlife watching
Free
157Rank
A dirt trail winds along in a forest.NPS

National Historic Trail

Overmountain Victory National Historic Trail

North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia

80WIDE RANGE

Why it ranks for guided tours: Guided and self-guided tour options accommodating different levels of planning

HikingGood with kidsWildlife watching
Free
158Rank
a bench next to a tree with U.S. and Mexican flags flying against a mountain backgroundNPS Photo

National Memorial

Chamizal National Memorial

Texas

76WIDE RANGE

Why it ranks for guided tours: Guided tours that connect the site's history to broader borderlands culture

HikingGood with kidsWildlife watching
Free
159Rank
A stone papamū (Kōnane playing surface) with Hale o Keawe and Hōnaunau Bay in the background.NPS / Chisholm

National Historical Park

Puʻuhonua o Hōnaunau National Historical Park

Hawaii

76WIDE RANGE

Why it ranks for guided tours: Walking the reconstructed royal grounds and ceremonial platforms on a self-guided tour along the lava coastline

HikingGood with kidsWater activities
Free
160Rank
A tipi sits beneath a tree near a walking trailNPS Photo

National Historic Site

Whitman Mission National Historic Site

Washington

75WIDE RANGE

Why it ranks for guided tours: Guided tours that add interpretive depth beyond what the self-guided walking route covers alone

HikingGood with kidsWildlife watching
Free
161Rank
Church and preservation workers in distance, kiva in foreground.jpg (943 kb)NPS Photo

National Historical Park

Pecos National Historical Park

New Mexico

74WIDE RANGE

Why it ranks for guided tours: Guided tours that provide layered interpretation of centuries of cultural exchange

HikingGood with kidsWater activities
Free
162Rank
Slater Mill, Wilkinson Mill and Brown House at Blackstone River Valley NHPNPS Photo

National Historical Park

Blackstone River Valley National Historical Park

Rhode Island, Massachusetts

71WIDE RANGE

Why it ranks for guided tours: Guided tours at Slater Mill in Pawtucket, the birthplace of American industry

Good with kidsWater activitiesWildlife watching
Free
163Rank
Pink lotus flower blooms in a pond.NPS Photo/Miguel A. Marquez

Park

Kenilworth Park & Aquatic Gardens

District of Columbia

71WIDE RANGE

Why it ranks for guided tours: Guided tours that add ecological and cultural context to the gardens

HikingGood with kidsWildlife watching
Free
164Rank
Two brown cows graze in a field(NPS/CLaBarge)

Park

Oxon Cove Park & Oxon Hill Farm

Maryland

71WIDE RANGE

Why it ranks for guided tours: Guided tours covering the park's evolution from plantation to hospital farm to NPS unit

HikingGood with kidsWildlife watching
Free
165Rank
Red cliffs line a highway as seen from a high point with grass in the foreground.NPS photo

National Historic Trail

Mormon Pioneer National Historic Trail

Illinois, Iowa, Nebraska, Utah, Wyoming

62GOOD RANGE

Why it ranks for guided tours: Auto touring a specific state segment to follow the original 1846 to 1847 wagon route across real landscapes

HikingGood with kidsScenic drives
Free
166Rank
A wagon swale is cut deep into limestone rock with trees in background.NPS photo

National Historic Trail

Oregon National Historic Trail

Idaho, Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska, Oregon, Washington, Wyoming

62GOOD RANGE

Why it ranks for guided tours: Scenic auto tour routes that trace the original emigrant path through open plains and mountain terrain

HikingGood with kidsScenic drives
Free
167Rank
Warm light from the setting sun gives an orange glow to a rock bluff overlooking a grassland.NPS Photo

National Historic Trail

Santa Fe National Historic Trail

Colorado, Kansas, Missouri, New Mexico, Oklahoma

62GOOD RANGE

Why it ranks for guided tours: Scenic auto touring routes that follow the historic corridor through dramatically varied landscapes across five states

HikingGood with kidsScenic drives
Free
168Rank
The rehabilitation of Kaloko fishpond started in 1998 and still continues today....NPS Photo

National Historical Park

Kaloko-Honokōhau National Historical Park

Hawaii

60GOOD RANGE

Why it ranks for guided tours: Free admission with a guided tour option that adds real interpretive value

HikingGood with kidsWater activities
Free
169Rank
Photo of Mount Rushmore under a bright blue sky with puffy clouds floating over.NPS Photo

National Memorial

Mount Rushmore National Memorial

South Dakota

60GOOD RANGE

Why it ranks for guided tours: Guided tours that go deeper into the memorial's political and artistic significance

Good with kidsGuided toursHistory & culture
Free
170Rank
large white house, green lawn, two trees in frontNPS

National Historic Trail

Trail Of Tears National Historic Trail

Alabama, Arkansas, Georgia, Illinois, Kentucky, Missouri, North Carolina, Oklahoma, Tennessee

59GOOD RANGE

Why it ranks for guided tours: Auto touring routes that trace the actual removal paths across nine states

Good with kidsScenic drivesGuided tours
Free
171Rank
An early morning sun casting long shadows over grass-covered mounds.NPS / Tom Engberg

National Historical Park

Hopewell Culture National Historical Park

Ohio

58GOOD RANGE

Why it ranks for guided tours: Ranger-guided tours that decode the spatial and ceremonial logic of the earthwork complexes

Good with kidsBikingGuided tours
Free
172Rank
Aerial view of visitor centerNPS Photo

National Historic Site

Fort Smith National Historic Site

Arkansas, Oklahoma

57GOOD RANGE

Why it ranks for guided tours: Guided tours that contextualize the courthouse, frontier law enforcement, and the Trail of Tears history

Good with kidsGuided toursHistory & culture
Free
173Rank
President and Mrs. Johnson stand with their small, white dog in front of the Texas White House.LBJ Library Photo by Frank Wolfe

National Historical Park

Lyndon B Johnson National Historical Park

Texas

57GOOD RANGE

Why it ranks for guided tours: Ranger-guided tours of the LBJ Ranch house, where Johnson effectively ran a second White House

Good with kidsGuided toursHistory & culture
Free
174Rank
MAMCNPS Photo/Kenneth Chandler

National Historic Site

Mary McLeod Bethune Council House National Historic Site

District of Columbia

57GOOD RANGE

Why it ranks for guided tours: Ranger-guided tours of the historic townhouse where Bethune lived and led the National Council of Negro Women

Good with kidsGuided toursHistory & culture
Free
175Rank
An evening photo of the Pearl Harbor Visitor Center Complex looking towards the museums.NPS Photo

National Memorial

Pearl Harbor National Memorial

Hawaii

57GOOD RANGE

Why it ranks for guided tours: Junior Ranger Program structured for children and families

Good with kidsGuided toursHistory & culture
Free
176Rank
Frame house made of wood with U.S. and French flags flying on front porch.NPS/Nick Sacco

National Historical Park

Ste. Geneviève National Historical Park

Missouri

57GOOD RANGE

Why it ranks for guided tours: Ranger-guided tours of rare French Creole vertical log structures

Good with kidsGuided toursHistory & culture
Free
177Rank
large black train with number 6039 painted in white lettering, sitting on turntable trackNPS Photo

National Historic Site

Steamtown National Historic Site

Pennsylvania

57GOOD RANGE

Why it ranks for guided tours: Guided tours that explain the mechanics and human stories behind the machines

Good with kidsGuided toursHistory & culture
Free
178Rank
View of the Christiansted NHS complexNPS Photo: Diaz

National Historic Site

Christiansted National Historic Site

US Virgin Islands

56GOOD RANGE

Why it ranks for guided tours: Ranger-guided tours of original Danish colonial-era structures on the Christiansted waterfront

Good with kidsGuided toursHistory & culture
$10
179Rank
The View from the Upper River BatteryNPS

National Battlefield

Fort Donelson National Battlefield

Kentucky, Tennessee

54FOCUSED

Why it ranks for guided tours: Self-guided auto tour connecting preserved earthworks and fortification positions

HikingGood with kidsScenic drives
Free
180Rank
50th Anniversary Walking Classroom Participants.NPS Photo

National Historic Trail

Selma To Montgomery National Historic Trail

Alabama

54FOCUSED

Why it ranks for guided tours: Montgomery Interpretive Center with park film and guided tour options

Good with kidsGuided toursHistory & culture
Free
181Rank
A desk with paper and two sets of quills frame a person in colonial wear standing in the aisle.NPS Photo

National Historical Park

Boston National Historical Park

Massachusetts

52FOCUSED

Why it ranks for guided tours: Ranger-guided tours that reframe the Revolution as a genuinely contested local struggle, not a foregone conclusion

Good with kidsWater activitiesGuided tours
Free
182Rank
Barn and spring houseNPS

National Memorial

Johnstown Flood National Memorial

Pennsylvania

52FOCUSED

Why it ranks for guided tours: Guided and shuttle tours that connect the landscape to the historical sequence of events

HikingGood with kidsGuided tours
Free
183Rank
Lindenwald, a yellow, 3 story mansion, is surrounded by trees.NPS Photo

National Historic Site

Martin Van Buren National Historic Site

New York

51FOCUSED

Why it ranks for guided tours: Seasonal guided tours of Lindenwald, Van Buren's historic home and the core of the site

Good with kidsWildlife watchingGuided tours
Free
184Rank
The restored facades of three historic Victorian row-homes on an urban street in Washington, DCNPS

National Historic Site

Carter G. Woodson Home National Historic Site

District of Columbia

50FOCUSED

Why it ranks for guided tours: Ranger-guided tours of the actual rowhouse where Woodson lived and worked

Good with kidsGuided toursHistory & culture
Free
185Rank
A picture of the front of the home Jimmy Carter lived in as a young boy.NPS Photo

National Historical Park

Jimmy Carter National Historical Park

Georgia

50FOCUSED

Why it ranks for guided tours: Guided tours that provide context beyond what signage alone conveys

Good with kidsBikingGuided tours
Free
186Rank
John Muir Home at the John Muir National Historic SiteNPS Photo

National Historic Site

John Muir National Historic Site

California

50FOCUSED

Why it ranks for guided tours: Guided tours through Muir's preserved Victorian home, connecting rooms to his actual writing and conservation work

HikingGood with kidsWildlife watching
Free
187Rank
A small cabin sits beneath the branches of a Live Oak in the Oakland Plantation Quarters.NPS Photo

National Historical Park

Cane River Creole National Historical Park

Louisiana

49FOCUSED

Why it ranks for guided tours: Guided ranger tours of Oakland and Magnolia Plantation grounds with historical interpretation

Good with kidsGuided toursHistory & culture
Free
188Rank
Color photo of the Liberty Bell with Independence Hall in the background.NPS Photo

National Historical Park

Independence National Historical Park

Pennsylvania

49FOCUSED

Why it ranks for guided tours: Ranger-guided tours of Independence Hall, a UNESCO World Heritage Site

Good with kidsGuided toursHistory & culture
$1
189Rank
Yorktown BattlefieldNational Park Service

National Historical Park

Colonial National Historical Park

Virginia

48FOCUSED

Why it ranks for guided tours: Guided and self-guided tours that contextualize the convergence of European, Virginia Indian, and African cultures

Good with kidsBikingScenic drives
$15
190Rank
Andrew Johnson Homestead with snowNPS Photo

National Historic Site

Andrew Johnson National Historic Site

Tennessee

47FOCUSED

Why it ranks for guided tours: Ranger-guided tours of the Andrew Johnson Homestead, the centerpiece of the site

Good with kidsGuided toursHistory & culture
Free
191Rank
The Truman home near sunset.NPS Photo/Matt Turner

National Historic Site

Harry S Truman National Historic Site

Missouri

47FOCUSED

Why it ranks for guided tours: Guided tour of the Truman Home with thousands of original personal artifacts in place

Good with kidsGuided toursHistory & culture
Free
192Rank
“Large crowd inside the rotunda of Federal Hall National Memorial”NPS

National Memorial

Federal Hall National Memorial

New York

45FOCUSED

Why it ranks for guided tours: Ranger-guided tours that bring the first Congress and constitutional moment to life

Good with kidsGuided toursHistory & culture
Free
193Rank
Maggie L. Walker's home and adjacent buildingsNPS Photo

National Historic Site

Maggie L Walker National Historic Site

Virginia

45FOCUSED

Why it ranks for guided tours: Guided tour of Walker's preserved historic home with detailed biographical interpretation

Good with kidsGuided toursHistory & culture
Free
194Rank
Visitors take photos in front of a historic houseNPS Photo / Nate Johnson

National Historic Site

Frederick Douglass National Historic Site

District of Columbia

44FOCUSED

Why it ranks for guided tours: Ranger-guided tour of Cedar Hill, Douglass's original Victorian home with period furnishings intact

Good with kidsGuided toursHistory & culture
$1
195Rank
Washington Monument at DuskNPS Photo

Park

Washington Monument

District of Columbia

31FOCUSED

Why it ranks for guided tours: Guided tours that cover the monument's construction history and George Washington's legacy

Good with kidsGuided tours
$1
196Rank
aerial image of Bear GlacierUSGS/Bruce Molnia

National Park

Kenai Fjords National Park

Alaska

100DOES IT ALL

Why it ranks for guided tours: Tidewater glacier viewing and calving ice from a full-day fjords boat tour

StargazingHikingCamping
Free
197Rank
a bison cow and calf on the prairieNPS Photo / Dan Roddy

National Park

Wind Cave National Park

South Dakota

100DOES IT ALL

Why it ranks for guided tours: Guided cave tours into one of the world's longest cave systems, featuring rare boxwork calcite formations

HikingCampingGood with kids
Free
198Rank
Tree-covered red cliffs meet greenish blue water, in a bowl shape.NPS Photo / M. Carlson

National Lakeshore

Apostle Islands National Lakeshore

Wisconsin

97DOES IT ALL

Why it ranks for guided tours: The largest collection of historic lighthouses in the National Park System, accessible by boat tour

HikingCampingGood with kids
Free
199Rank
a white colored sheep standing on a mountainside overlooking a green valleyNPS Photo / Nathan Kostegian

National Park & Preserve

Denali National Park & Preserve

Alaska

90DOES IT ALL

Why it ranks for guided tours: Bus and shuttle tours along the single park road, the primary way most visitors access deep wildlife habitat

StargazingHikingCamping
$15
200Rank
Multi-colored sandstone cliffs rise out of Lake SuperiorNPS Photo

National Lakeshore

Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore

Michigan

90DOES IT ALL

Why it ranks for guided tours: Boat tours offering cliff scenery access for non-paddlers

StargazingHikingCamping
$15
201Rank
A colorfully striped butte in the foreground overlooks a dark green badlands landscapeNPS Photo / Mark Meyers

National Park

Theodore Roosevelt National Park

North Dakota

90DOES IT ALL

Why it ranks for guided tours: Guided tours and museum exhibits connecting the landscape to Roosevelt's conservation legacy

StargazingHikingCamping
$15
202Rank
A 5-story masonry dwelling sits in a cliff alcove.NPS Photo/Sharlot Hart

National Monument

Montezuma Castle National Monument

Arizona

76WIDE RANGE

Why it ranks for guided tours: Guided and self-guided walking tours along the paved loop

StargazingCampingGood with kids
$10
203Rank
'Ahinahina blooms in Haleakala craterNPS

National Park

Haleakalā National Park

Hawaii

52FOCUSED

Why it ranks for guided tours: Guided and shuttle tours for visitors who prefer not to navigate steep mountain roads independently

HikingCampingGood with kids
$1
204Rank
This is the home where Gen. Lee surrendered to Gen. Grant on April 9, 1865NPS Photo

National Historical Park

Appomattox Court House National Historical Park

Virginia

83WIDE RANGE

Why it ranks for guided tours: McLean House, site of the actual 1865 surrender, accessible via guided tour

HikingGood with kidsWildlife watching
Free
205Rank
Shaded structure overlooking the battlefieldNPS

National Historical Park

Palo Alto Battlefield National Historical Park

Texas

83WIDE RANGE

Why it ranks for guided tours: Living history and first-person interpretation programs when staffed

HikingGood with kidsWildlife watching
Free
206Rank
Small waterfall with brown rocks and green mossNPS Photo / Alex Wiles

National Historic Trail

Lewis & Clark National Historic Trail

Iowa, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, North Dakota, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania, South Dakota, Washington, West Virginia

74WIDE RANGE

Why it ranks for guided tours: Living history programs and guided tours at affiliated sites along the route

HikingGood with kidsWater activities
Free
207Rank
A field of sunflowers next to a stone building. Wood frame structures in background.NPS Pnoto

National Historic Site

Fort Scott National Historic Site

Kansas

59GOOD RANGE

Why it ranks for guided tours: Guided tours of the 20 original and restored 19th-century military structures

Good with kidsGuided toursHistory & culture
Free
208Rank
Located on Battle Road, the Smith House was home of Captain John Smith of the Lincoln Militia.NPS Photo

National Historical Park

Minute Man National Historical Park

Massachusetts

59GOOD RANGE

Why it ranks for guided tours: Ranger-guided tours that provide layered historical context

HikingGood with kidsGuided tours
Free
209Rank
Red sandstone obelisk surrounded by post and rail fence.NPS Photo

National Battlefield Park

Manassas National Battlefield Park

Virginia

58GOOD RANGE

Why it ranks for guided tours: Guided tours led by park rangers or interpreters

HikingGood with kidsWater activities
Free
210Rank
A front view of the ranch house.NPS Photo

National Historic Site

Grant-Kohrs Ranch National Historic Site

Montana

56GOOD RANGE

Why it ranks for guided tours: Ranger-guided tours of the historic ranch house and working outbuildings

HikingGood with kidsWater activities
Free
211Rank
View of Lower Town Harpers Ferry as seen from Maryland HeightsNPS Photo/Shenandoah Sanchez

National Historical Park

Harpers Ferry National Historical Park

West Virginia, Virginia, Maryland

44FOCUSED

Why it ranks for guided tours: Ranger-guided tours of John Brown's raid sites in the lower town

HikingGood with kidsGuided tours
$10
212Rank
A frozen lake below snow-covered trees and peakNPS Photo / Scott Arnaz

National Park

Lassen Volcanic National Park

California

100DOES IT ALL

Why it ranks for guided tours: The NPS data for Lassen Volcanic National Park covers guided tours, self-guided tours - auto and living history.

StargazingHikingCamping
Free
213Rank
Granite dome with trace amounts of snow.NPS / Cindy Jacoby

National Park

Yosemite National Park

California

100DOES IT ALL

Why it ranks for guided tours: Guided tours, living history programs, museum exhibits, and Junior Ranger activities for families

StargazingHikingCamping
Free
214Rank
A white canvas wagon sits in front of a large rock buttress with mountains in the distance.NPS Photo

National Historic Trail

California National Historic Trail

California, Colorado, Idaho, Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska, Nevada, Oregon, Utah, Wyoming

62GOOD RANGE

Why it ranks for guided tours: Self-guided auto tours that structure the experience across specific regional segments

HikingGood with kidsScenic drives
Free
215Rank
Crowds of people populate the White House South Lawn on a sunny day with the White House in viewNPS / Kelsey Graczyk

Park

The White House and President's Park

District of Columbia

62GOOD RANGE

Why it ranks for guided tours: Guided interpretive tours of the grounds and surrounding park areas

Good with kidsGuided tours
Free
216Rank
Picture of FDR in a wheel chair within his memorialNPS Photo

Park

Franklin Delano Roosevelt Memorial

District of Columbia

47FOCUSED

Why it ranks for guided tours: Junior Ranger Program providing structured engagement for children

Good with kidsWildlife watchingGuided tours
Free
217Rank
Cruising Glacier BayNPS / T. VandenBerg

National Park & Preserve

Glacier Bay National Park & Preserve

Alaska

100DOES IT ALL

Why it ranks for guided tours: Concessionaire boat tour into the upper bay for close views of active tidewater glaciers

HikingCampingGood with kids
Free
218Rank
the village of TyuonyiNPS Photo/Sally King

National Monument

Bandelier National Monument

New Mexico

90DOES IT ALL

Why it ranks for guided tours: Families with kids who can handle ladders and short hikes will find it excellent, and the Junior Ranger program is a real draw.

StargazingHikingCamping
$15
219Rank
View from above the trees looking down at Duncan Bay Narrows, trees, Lake Superior, and Canada.NPS / Paul Brown

National Park

Isle Royale National Park

Michigan

90DOES IT ALL

Why it ranks for guided tours: Guided boat tours providing an accessible way to explore the island's coastline

StargazingHikingCamping
$7
220Rank
Wisps of fog hang over the forests in the mountains.Kristina Plaas

National Park

Great Smoky Mountains National Park

North Carolina, Tennessee

84WIDE RANGE

Why it ranks for guided tours: You can pull off at a scenic overlook, take it in, and drive on - plenty of people do - but there is much more here than a windshield tour.

StargazingHikingCamping
Free
221Rank
The visitor center sits in the middle of mixed grass prairie.NPS Photo

National Monument

Agate Fossil Beds National Monument

Nebraska

78WIDE RANGE

Why it ranks for guided tours: Small footprint, high substance, and worth the detour if you are paying attention.

StargazingHikingGood with kids
Free
222Rank
cliff dwelling in the spring with desert plants and wildflowers.NPS Photo

National Monument

Tonto National Monument

Arizona

61GOOD RANGE

Why it ranks for guided tours: Ranger-led Upper Cliff Dwelling tours available October through May for deeper access

HikingGood with kidsBiking
Free
223Rank
Cannon on a hill on a winter day. American flag to the left of the cannonNPS Photo

National Battlefield

Moores Creek National Battlefield

North Carolina

74WIDE RANGE

Why it ranks for guided tours: Living history and historic weapons demonstrations on scheduled event days

Good with kidsWater activitiesGuided tours
Free
224Rank
Snowcapped mountains surrounded by bright blue skies and frames by gold wildflowers on a valley flooNPS

National Park

Death Valley National Park

California, Nevada

100DOES IT ALL

Why it ranks for guided tours: Come in the right season and this ranks among the most rewarding parks in the entire NPS system, earning a perfect Experience Score through an extraordinary range of documented activities - dark-sky stargazing, backcountry canyoneering, front-country car camping, and guided tours.

StargazingHikingCamping
Free
225Rank
A snowy day on top of Shasta BallyNPS Matthew Switzer

National Recreation Area

Whiskeytown National Recreation Area

California

90DOES IT ALL

Why it ranks for guided tours: Living history and first-person Gold Rush interpretation programming

StargazingHikingCamping
$15
226Rank
A few of the stars at night with a view of Fort Jefferson.NPS Photo / Brett Seymour

National Park

Dry Tortugas National Park

Florida

85DOES IT ALL

Why it ranks for guided tours: Guided tours that place the fort and its history in full context

StargazingCampingGood with kids
$15
227Rank
The Gateway Arch and Old Courthouse with a row of pink blooming cherry trees in frontNPS photo/Jennifer Clark

National Park

Gateway Arch National Park

Missouri

66GOOD RANGE

Why it ranks for guided tours: Boat tours on the Mississippi River from the riverfront

StargazingGood with kidsBiking
$19
228Rank
A walkway with a fountainNPS

National Monument

César E. Chávez National Monument

California

52FOCUSED

Why it ranks for guided tours: Guided tours of the actual UFW organizing compound at La Paz

Guided tours
Free
229Rank
Silhouette of a man with backpack standing on McAfee Knob at sunset with mountains in the distance.Photo Credit: ATC/Benjamin Hays

National Scenic Trail

Appalachian National Scenic Trail

Connecticut, Georgia, Massachusetts, Maryland, Maine, North Carolina, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Virginia, Vermont, West Virginia

95DOES IT ALL

Why it ranks for guided tours: Junior Ranger Program for families, making it one of the few long-distance trails with structured kids programming

StargazingHikingCamping
Free
230Rank
The rushing river cascades over the rocks of the PotomacNPS photo

National Historical Park

Chesapeake & Ohio Canal National Historical Park

District of Columbia, Maryland, West Virginia

90DOES IT ALL

Why it ranks for guided tours: Boat tours that demonstrate the historic canal lock system in operation

HikingCampingGood with kids
$10
231Rank
moundsNPS

National Historical Park

Ocmulgee Mounds National Historical Park

Georgia

74WIDE RANGE

Why it ranks for guided tours: Junior Ranger program that gives kids a structured, hands-on framework for engaging with the site's history

HikingGood with kidsWater activities
Free
232Rank
The Main ArsenalNPS Photo

National Historic Site

Springfield Armory National Historic Site

Massachusetts

59GOOD RANGE

Why it ranks for guided tours: Ranger-led guided tours that contextualize the armory's two-century role in American manufacturing and military history

Good with kidsGuided toursHistory & culture
Free
233Rank
Gallatin House - Stone House and South Wing in snow with blue skyNPS Photo/Rene Benson

National Historic Site

Friendship Hill National Historic Site

Pennsylvania

58GOOD RANGE

Why it ranks for guided tours: Junior Ranger Program for families with children

HikingGood with kidsWildlife watching
Free
234Rank
Mausoleum and flags in sunny weatherNPS Photo

National Memorial

General Grant National Memorial

New York

49FOCUSED

Why it ranks for guided tours: Ranger-guided tours that place Grant's Civil War command and Reconstruction presidency in sharp historical context

Good with kidsGuided toursHistory & culture
Free
235Rank
Wind blows US Flag and surrounding areaNPS Photo/ Terry McKenna

National Historical Park

Paterson Great Falls National Historical Park

New Jersey

40FOCUSED

Why it ranks for guided tours: Ranger-guided tours that connect the industrial ruins to the broader arc of American manufacturing history

Good with kidsGuided toursHistory & culture
Free
236Rank
A small alligator basking on top of dry vegetation.NPS Photo

National Preserve

Big Cypress National Preserve

Florida

100DOES IT ALL

Why it ranks for guided tours: Recorded activities and topics here include boat tour, guided tours and junior ranger program.

StargazingHikingCamping
Free
237Rank
the fossilized skull of camarasaurus dinosaurNPS Photo / Dan Johnson

National Monument

Dinosaur National Monument

Colorado, Utah

100DOES IT ALL

Why it ranks for guided tours: The NPS data for Dinosaur National Monument covers guided tours, self-guided tours - auto and junior ranger program.

StargazingHikingCamping
Free
238Rank
El Capitan with blooming claret cup cactiNPS/Bieri

National Park

Guadalupe Mountains National Park

Texas

100DOES IT ALL

Why it ranks for guided tours: Its official NPS record lists guided tours, self-guided tours - walking and junior ranger program for this national park.

HikingCampingGood with kids
Free
239Rank
Photo of blue sky with fluffy white clouds reflect in calm lake with mountains in the background.NPS Photo / James Kramer

National Park & Preserve

Lake Clark National Park & Preserve

Alaska

100DOES IT ALL

Why it ranks for guided tours: Its official NPS record lists guided tours, self-guided tours - walking and junior ranger program for this national park & preserve.

StargazingHikingCamping
Free
240Rank
The Fire Island Lighthouse against a vibrant sunset.NPS Photo

National Seashore

Fire Island National Seashore

New York

95DOES IT ALL

Why it ranks for guided tours: The Fire Island Lighthouse, a functioning historic structure with guided tours available

StargazingCampingGood with kids
Free
241Rank
A curling wave breaks against the backdrop of a pink sunrise.NPS image

National Seashore

Cape Cod National Seashore

Massachusetts

90DOES IT ALL

Why it ranks for guided tours: The NPS data for Cape Cod National Seashore covers guided tours, bus/shuttle guided tour and junior ranger program.

HikingCampingGood with kids
$15
242Rank
Sunrise at Lava BedsNPS Photo / Nathan Charlton

National Monument

Lava Beds National Monument

California

90DOES IT ALL

Why it ranks for guided tours: Its official NPS record lists guided tours, self-guided tours - walking and junior ranger program for this national monument.

StargazingHikingCamping
$15
243Rank
A herd of elk crossing a river.NPS Photo/Jon Preston

National Park

Olympic National Park

Washington

90DOES IT ALL

Why it ranks for guided tours: Documents guided tours, self-guided tours - auto and junior ranger program among its National Park Service activity and topic listings.

StargazingHikingCamping
$15
244Rank
A crowd of people sit and watch the sunset at delicate arch.NPS/Veronica Verdin

National Park

Arches National Park

Utah

84WIDE RANGE

Why it ranks for guided tours: Guided tours available for visitors who want structured interpretation of the geology

StargazingHikingCamping
$15
245Rank
Pink wall of rock next to path and grassJ.Borden

National Monument

Pipestone National Monument

Minnesota

76WIDE RANGE

Why it ranks for guided tours: The NPS data for Pipestone National Monument covers guided tours, self-guided tours - walking and junior ranger program.

Good with kidsWildlife watchingWinter sports
Free
246Rank
Saguaro flowersNPS Photo

National Park

Saguaro National Park

Arizona

76WIDE RANGE

Why it ranks for guided tours: Junior Ranger Program and guided tours for families and first-timers

StargazingHikingCamping
$15
247Rank
Miller's Chapel at Oregon CavesNPS

National Monument & Preserve

Oregon Caves National Monument & Preserve

Oregon

74WIDE RANGE

Why it ranks for guided tours: Guided tours through a rare, active marble cave system in the Siskiyou Mountains

HikingCampingGood with kids
$20
248Rank
Fossil redwood stumpNPS Photo

National Monument

Florissant Fossil Beds National Monument

Colorado

67GOOD RANGE

Why it ranks for guided tours: Recorded activities and topics here include guided tours, self-guided tours - walking and junior ranger program.

StargazingHikingGood with kids
$10
249Rank
eathern building under modern roof structureNPS Photo

National Monument

Casa Grande Ruins National Monument

Arizona

66GOOD RANGE

Why it ranks for guided tours: Ranger-guided tours that explain the engineering and social context behind the structure and the surrounding canal system

Good with kidsGuided tours
Free
250Rank
Bridge over dry moat leading into a gated fort.NPS photo / Michael B. Shaver

National Monument

Governors Island National Monument

New York

64GOOD RANGE

Why it ranks for guided tours: Guided tours of Fort Jay and Castle Williams, two of the oldest American fortifications in New York Harbor

Good with kidsBikingGuided tours
Free
251Rank
White dunes in foreground with sun setting behind mountain.NPS Photo

National Park

White Sands National Park

New Mexico

63GOOD RANGE

Why it ranks for guided tours: Guided tours that put the geology and wildlife of the basin in real context

HikingCampingGood with kids
$15
252Rank
Bear Effigy Mounds with visitor walking nearby.NPS Photo

National Monument

Effigy Mounds National Monument

Iowa

62GOOD RANGE

Why it ranks for guided tours: Ranger-guided tours that provide cultural and historical context unavailable elsewhere

HikingGood with kidsWildlife watching
Free
253Rank
The target room inside Jewel Cave.NPS Staff Photo

National Monument

Jewel Cave National Monument

South Dakota

60GOOD RANGE

Why it ranks for guided tours: Ranger-guided tours through one of the world's longest cave systems, over 220 mapped miles

HikingGood with kidsWildlife watching
Free
254Rank
Farm in the canyonRavis Henry

National Monument

Canyon de Chelly National Monument

Arizona

59GOOD RANGE

Why it ranks for guided tours: Canyon-floor guided tours by vehicle, ATV, or foot that access areas completely off-limits to solo visitors

HikingCampingGood with kids
Free
255Rank
Turtle Petroglyph at Antelope Creek Village SiteNPS Photo

National Monument

Alibates Flint Quarries National Monument

Texas

55GOOD RANGE

Why it ranks for guided tours: Ranger-guided tours to the actual 13,000-year-old quarry pits, the only way to access them

CampingGood with kidsGuided tours
Free
256Rank
African Burial Ground MemorialNPS Photo

National Monument

African Burial Ground National Monument

New York

53FOCUSED

Why it ranks for guided tours: Ranger-guided tours that bring deep context to the burial ground's discovery and significance

Good with kidsGuided tours
Free
257Rank
Wooden sign and entrance to Muir Woods National MonumentNPS Photo

National Monument

Muir Woods National Monument

California

48FOCUSED

Why it ranks for guided tours: Guided tours that explain the ecology and history of the forest

HikingGood with kidsWildlife watching
$15
258Rank
Still river in the winter with leafless trees on either sideTim Kiser

Park

Great Egg Harbor River

New Jersey

100DOES IT ALL

Why it ranks for guided tours: Guided tours connecting the river to its Revolutionary War privateering history

StargazingHikingCamping
Free
259Rank
Hiking on trailNCTA

National Scenic Trail

North Country National Scenic Trail

Michigan, Minnesota, North Dakota, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Vermont, Wisconsin

95DOES IT ALL

Why it ranks for guided tours: Guided tours available through the North Country Trail Association for structured entry points

HikingCampingWildlife watching
Free
260Rank
Aerial view of Anacostia Drive and the playgroundNPS Photo/Miguel Marquez

Park

Anacostia Park

District of Columbia

76WIDE RANGE

Why it ranks for guided tours: Guided tours offering structured context for the park and river

Good with kidsWater activitiesWildlife watching
Free
261Rank
Two people and a dog walk down a dirt trail that cuts into a grassy hill with large trees

National Historic Trail

Juan Bautista de Anza National Historic Trail

Arizona, California

74WIDE RANGE

Why it ranks for guided tours: Living history events and reenactments staged at sites along the corridor

HikingGood with kidsBiking
Free
262Rank
Fort Vancouver GardenNPS Photo / Troy Wayrynen

National Historic Site

Fort Vancouver National Historic Site

Oregon, Washington

66GOOD RANGE

Why it ranks for guided tours: Living history and craft demonstrations that animate daily 1840s life

Good with kidsWildlife watchingBiking
$10
263Rank
Rows of grave markers in the green grass of the cemetery as light shafts through misty trees.NPS photo/Will Elder

Park

Presidio of San Francisco

California

64GOOD RANGE

Why it ranks for guided tours: Self-guided walking tours through architecture spanning three centuries of military occupation

HikingWildlife watchingBiking
Free
264Rank
Rebecca Turner gravesiteNPS photo

National Historic Site

Saint Paul's Church National Historic Site

New York

62GOOD RANGE

Why it ranks for guided tours: Guided tours of the historic stone chapel that served as a Revolutionary War military hospital

Good with kidsGuided toursHistory & culture
Free
265Rank
A bronze statue of Theodore Roosevelt standing and pointing.NPS

Park

Theodore Roosevelt Island

District of Columbia

55GOOD RANGE

Why it ranks for guided tours: Free guided tours that connect the ecology of the island to TR's conservation legacy

HikingWater activitiesWildlife watching
Free
266Rank
theatre curtain painted with Japanese characters advertising local businessesLindsay Kennedy

Affiliated Area

Wing Luke Museum Affiliated Area

Washington

40FOCUSED

Why it ranks for guided tours: Guided tour of a preserved historic hotel in the Chinatown-International District

Guided tours
Free
267Rank
A three story house with large porch across the front and flight of steps leading to the ground.Photo by Escape Brooklyn

National Historic Site

Thomas Cole National Historic Site

New York

30FOCUSED

Why it ranks for guided tours: Guided tours of Cedar Grove, including Cole's original painting studios

Wildlife watchingGuided toursHistory & culture
Free
268Rank
a broad stone arch with rock pinnacles in the distanceNPS/Neal Herbert

National Park

Canyonlands National Park

Utah

90DOES IT ALL

Why it ranks for guided tours: Recorded activities and topics here include guided tours, boat tour and junior ranger program.

StargazingHikingCamping
$15
269Rank
large red brick mansion with white lattice porch and lush green lawnTom Remp

National Historical Park

Marsh - Billings - Rockefeller National Historical Park

Vermont

88DOES IT ALL

Why it ranks for guided tours: Guided tours contextualizing the park's conservation history and the families who shaped it

HikingGood with kidsWildlife watching
Free
270Rank
Stone bridge and fall leavesNPS Photo

Park

Rock Creek Park

District of Columbia

88DOES IT ALL

Why it ranks for guided tours: The NPS data for Rock Creek Park covers guided tours, self-guided tours - walking and junior ranger program.

StargazingHikingGood with kids
Free
271Rank
Looking toward Aspet from the Pan GardenNPS Photo

National Historical Park

Saint-Gaudens National Historical Park

New Hampshire

78WIDE RANGE

Why it ranks for guided tours: Guided tours of Saint-Gaudens's historic studios and residence, connecting the man to his most celebrated bronze works

StargazingHikingGood with kids
$10
272Rank
Agave stalks and wildflowers with mountains in the distanceNPS Photo / D. Bly

National Memorial

Coronado National Memorial

Arizona

68GOOD RANGE

Why it ranks for guided tours: Junior Ranger Program and ranger-guided tours that unpack the complex Coronado expedition history

HikingGood with kidsWildlife watching
Free
273Rank
Yellow three-story mansion with symmetrical facade. Steps and large lawn in foreground. Framed by brNPS Photo / James P. Jones | Photography RI

National Historic Site

Longfellow House Washington's Headquarters National Historic Site

Massachusetts

62GOOD RANGE

Why it ranks for guided tours: Guided interior tours connecting Washington's headquarters to Longfellow's literary home in a single space

Good with kidsGuided toursHistory & culture
Free
274Rank
Entrance way into historic Fort WashingtonNPS Photo

Park

Fort Washington Park

Maryland

59GOOD RANGE

Why it ranks for guided tours: Guided tours offering context on the fort's role defending the Potomac river approach to Washington, D.C.

Water activitiesGuided tours
Free
275Rank
5 part Mansion at HaberdeventureNPS Photo / Stephen Girimont

National Historic Site

Thomas Stone National Historic Site

Maryland

54FOCUSED

Why it ranks for guided tours: Guided tours of Habre de Venture, the Stone family plantation home

HikingGood with kidsWildlife watching
Free
276Rank
A view of the south side of the Weir House with porch visable, showing a fence in front of the homeNPS Photo

National Historical Park

Weir Farm National Historical Park

Connecticut

54FOCUSED

Why it ranks for guided tours: Guided tours of Weir's historic studio and farm buildings

Good with kidsGuided toursHistory & culture
Free
277Rank
The Wesleyan Chapel in summerNPS Photo

National Historical Park

Women's Rights National Historical Park

New York

54FOCUSED

Why it ranks for guided tours: Guided tours that provide interpretive depth beyond the exhibits alone

Good with kidsGuided toursHistory & culture
Free
278Rank
a front view of the Ida Saxton McKinley HouseNPS Photo

National Historic Site

First Ladies National Historic Site

Ohio

53FOCUSED

Why it ranks for guided tours: Guided tours of the historic Saxton House, offered three times daily at fixed hours

Good with kidsGuided toursHistory & culture
Free
279Rank
Fajada Butte's silhoutte shown under a timelapse image of stars appearing in a vibrant circle above.B Davis

National Historical Park

Chaco Culture National Historical Park

New Mexico

52FOCUSED

Why it ranks for guided tours: Ranger-guided tours that provide interpretive context unavailable from self-guiding alone

StargazingHikingCamping
Free
280Rank
A three-story brick building with tall green windows and a tall photo mural on the glass wallNPS / Tom Engberg

National Historical Park

Dayton Aviation Heritage National Historical Park

Ohio

51FOCUSED

Why it ranks for guided tours: Guided tours that connect the Wright Brothers' aviation story and Paul Laurence Dunbar's literary legacy in their shared Dayton context

Good with kidsBikingGuided tours
Free
281Rank
The birthplace home of President Bill Clinton illuminated at dusk.NPS Photo

National Historic Site

President William Jefferson Clinton Birthplace Home National Historic Site

Arkansas

51FOCUSED

Why it ranks for guided tours: Guided tours inside the actual birthplace home with period-specific historical context

Good with kidsGuided toursHistory & culture
Free
282Rank
A view of docks and boats in the waterside town of Cape Charles VANPS Photo

Park

Chesapeake Bay

District of Columbia, Delaware, Maryland, New York, Pennsylvania, Virginia, West Virginia

50FOCUSED

Why it ranks for guided tours: Junior Ranger Program designed to connect kids to bay ecology and stewardship

Good with kidsWater activitiesWildlife watching
Free
283Rank
Front porch of Garfield home showing red front doorNPS Photo

National Historic Site

James A Garfield National Historic Site

Ohio

49FOCUSED

Why it ranks for guided tours: Guided tours of the preserved Lawnfield Victorian home with period furnishings and family artifacts

Good with kidsGuided toursHistory & culture
Free
284Rank
Glass structure over the silo allows visitors to look down at the missileNPS Photo

National Historic Site

Minuteman Missile National Historic Site

South Dakota

49FOCUSED

Why it ranks for guided tours: Ranger-guided tour of Delta-09 with direct views down into the actual Minuteman missile silo

Good with kidsGuided toursHistory & culture
Free
285Rank
Several wooden structures amid green fields and trees under partly cloudy sky and beside river.NPS Photo / Don Woods

National Historic Site

Saugus Iron Works National Historic Site

Massachusetts

47FOCUSED

Why it ranks for guided tours: Guided tours connecting the ironmaking process to broader colonial American history

Good with kidsGuided toursHistory & culture
Free
286Rank
The Filene Center House full of patronsNPS Photo / N. Adams

Park

Wolf Trap National Park for the Performing Arts

Virginia

47FOCUSED

Why it ranks for guided tours: Guided tours covering the park's unusual history as the nation's only national park for the performing arts

HikingGood with kidsGuided tours
Free
287Rank
Castillo San Felipe del Morro Aereal ViewCourtesy: Aerofoto

National Historic Site

San Juan National Historic Site

Puerto Rico

46FOCUSED

Why it ranks for guided tours: Ranger-guided tours that decode centuries of Spanish colonial military strategy

HikingGood with kidsWildlife watching
$10
288Rank
Eugene O'Neill Home in Danville, CaliforniaNPS Photo/Luther Bailey

National Historic Site

Eugene O'Neill National Historic Site

California

45FOCUSED

Why it ranks for guided tours: Guided tour of the restored Tao House where O'Neill wrote his final masterpieces

Good with kidsGuided toursHistory & culture
Free
289Rank
Visitor center and the "I Have a Dream" Internrational World Peace RoseNPS Photo

National Historical Park

Martin Luther King, Jr. National Historical Park

Georgia

44FOCUSED

Why it ranks for guided tours: Guided tours that provide interpretive depth beyond what self-guided visits offer

Good with kidsGuided toursHistory & culture
Free
290Rank
A yellow two-story brick building with tall windows and green shutters on themNPS / Tom Engberg

National Historic Site

William Howard Taft National Historic Site

Ohio

43FOCUSED

Why it ranks for guided tours: Guided tour of the restored Greek Revival birthplace and boyhood home of the 27th President and 10th Chief Justice

Good with kidsGuided toursHistory & culture
Free
291Rank
Spring lambs with their Navajo-Churro ewe.NPS Photo/LHenio

National Historic Site

Hubbell Trading Post National Historic Site

Arizona

41FOCUSED

Why it ranks for guided tours: Ranger-guided tour of the Hubbell homestead and grounds, the primary interpretive experience

Good with kidsGuided toursHistory & culture
Free
292Rank
John Fitzgerald Kennedy National Historic SiteNPS Photo

National Historic Site

John Fitzgerald Kennedy National Historic Site

Massachusetts

41FOCUSED

Why it ranks for guided tours: Guided house tour shaped directly by Rose Kennedy's personal memories and restoration choices

Good with kidsGuided toursHistory & culture
Free
293Rank
A stucco and fieldstone house with white trim and circular portico.NPS Photo

National Historic Site

Home Of Franklin D Roosevelt National Historic Site

New York

30FOCUSED

Why it ranks for guided tours: Guided tours of the Roosevelt family home, offered daily with the first departure at 9:30 AM

Good with kidsGuided toursHistory & culture
$15
294Rank
A pink sky above gentle white buildingsMitch Smith

National Park

Hot Springs National Park

Arkansas

100DOES IT ALL

Why it ranks for guided tours: Touring the restored Fordyce Bathhouse, the park visitor center, with its stained glass, fountains, and intact bathing halls

HikingCampingGood with kids
Free
295Rank
Waves wash in from the left onto a long, straight stretch of undeveloped, low-lying coastline.NPS Photo

National Seashore

Point Reyes National Seashore

California

95DOES IT ALL

Why it ranks for guided tours: Guided tours that layer Coast Miwok cultural history and natural history onto the landscape

HikingCampingGood with kids
Free
296Rank
blue sky with green trees in mountain cirqueNPS Photo

National Park

Great Basin National Park

Nevada

91DOES IT ALL

Why it ranks for guided tours: Guided cave tours offering a rare underground experience in a marble show cave

StargazingHikingCamping
Free
297Rank
Large cliff dwelling in cliff alcoveNPS Photo

National Park

Mesa Verde National Park

Colorado

89DOES IT ALL

Why it ranks for guided tours: Ranger-guided tours into the cliff dwellings, the single most important experience the park offers

StargazingHikingCamping
$15
298Rank
Dune plants, beach, and ocean.NPS Photo Lord

National Seashore

Canaveral National Seashore

Florida

75WIDE RANGE

Why it ranks for guided tours: Guided tours that unlock context around the seashore's ecology and archaeological sites

HikingCampingGood with kids
$15
299Rank
Red, yellow, and green leaves lay on the grass in front of a colonial building.NPS Photo

National Historical Park

First State National Historical Park

Delaware, Pennsylvania

76WIDE RANGE

Why it ranks for guided tours: Guided tours of the New Castle Court House Museum on a structured hourly schedule

HikingGood with kidsWater activities
Free
300Rank
Turquoise water laps white sandy shore fringed with lush green vegetation.NPS Photo

National Park

Virgin Islands National Park

US Virgin Islands

100DOES IT ALL

Why it ranks for guided tours: Recorded activities and topics here include guided tours and self-guided tours - walking.

StargazingHikingCamping
Free
301Rank
A room with wooden floors, blue wall paper, two windows, some furniture and a dress hanging.Courtesy of the Tenement Museum

National Historic Site

Lower East Side Tenement Museum National Historic Site

New York

49FOCUSED

Why it ranks for guided tours: Guided apartment tours reconstructing the lives of documented real families

Guided toursHistory & culture
$30
302Rank
Misty April MorningNPS Photo/Bill Urbin

National Historic Site

Vanderbilt Mansion National Historic Site

New York

41FOCUSED

Why it ranks for guided tours: Guided mansion interior tours offering room-by-room interpretation of Gilded Age aristocratic life

HikingGood with kidsGuided tours
$15
303Rank
salmon jumping at waterfallNPS/David Jacob

National Park & Preserve

Katmai National Park & Preserve

Alaska

100DOES IT ALL

Why it ranks for guided tours: Guided bus tours to the Valley of Ten Thousand Smokes, a surreal volcanic landscape formed by the 1912 Novarupta eruption

HikingCampingGood with kids
Free
304Rank
View of the Delaware River cutting between two low mountain peaksCourtesy of James Hicks

National Recreation Area

Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area

New Jersey, Pennsylvania

90DOES IT ALL

Why it ranks for guided tours: Families have the Junior Ranger program, picnic areas, and freshwater swimming to keep everyone occupied.

HikingCampingGood with kids
$10
305Rank
A boat travels across Lake Meredith on a sunny day. The lake is light blue.NPS Photo

National Recreation Area

Lake Meredith National Recreation Area

Texas

89DOES IT ALL

Why it ranks for guided tours: Junior Ranger Program providing structured engagement for kids

HikingCampingGood with kids
Free
306Rank
The ground falls away from the viewer creating brilliant rock formations of pink, red, and orange.NPS Photo

National Monument

Cedar Breaks National Monument

Utah

86DOES IT ALL

Why it ranks for guided tours: The place holds up across all four seasons, which is a big part of why it deserves a dedicated trip rather than a quick detour.

StargazingHikingCamping
$10
307Rank
Hensley SettlementNPS Photo

National Historical Park

Cumberland Gap National Historical Park

Kentucky, Tennessee, Virginia

78WIDE RANGE

Why it ranks for guided tours: Guided cave tour, a rare and concrete activity that distinguishes this park from most historical units

HikingCampingGood with kids
Free
308Rank
People in bright orange kayaks paddle around a bend in a river, past green trees and a rocky shore.NPS Photo / D.J. Reiser

National Park

Cuyahoga Valley National Park

Ohio

88DOES IT ALL

Why it ranks for guided tours: Live music, craft demonstrations, living history, and cultural events that go well beyond a typical park visit

HikingGood with kidsWater activities
Free
309Rank
Tent at Floyd Bennett Field campsite in Gateway's Jamaica Bay unit.NPS Photo

National Recreation Area

Gateway National Recreation Area

New York, New Jersey

74WIDE RANGE

Why it ranks for guided tours: Guided tours of historic military fortifications at Fort Tilden and Sandy Hook

CampingWater activitiesBiking
Free
310Rank
Fort Matanzas, a fortified watch tower made form coquina.NPS Photo

National Monument

Fort Matanzas National Monument

Florida

57GOOD RANGE

Why it ranks for guided tours: Living history programs and historic weapons demonstrations that contextualize the fort's military role

Good with kidsWater activitiesGuided tours
Free
311Rank
Sand dunes covered with shrubs and grassesNPS Photo

National Seashore

Cumberland Island National Seashore

Georgia

55GOOD RANGE

Why it ranks for guided tours: Guided tours connecting the island's layered history from Indigenous peoples through the Carnegie era

HikingCampingWater activities
$15
312Rank
A deep canyon with a forested floor and steep granite cliffsNPS/Rick Cain

National Parks

Sequoia & Kings Canyon National Parks

California

90DOES IT ALL

Why it ranks for guided tours: Guided cave tours offering a completely different geological dimension inside the parks

StargazingHikingCamping
$20
313Rank
A totem pole in the foreground with a sunset over water in the background.NPS Photo

National Historical Park

Sitka National Historical Park

Alaska

78WIDE RANGE

Why it ranks for guided tours: Junior Ranger program and hands-on activities suited to families with children

HikingGood with kidsWater activities
Free
314Rank
Bluestone RiverNPS Photo

National Scenic River

Bluestone National Scenic River

West Virginia

75WIDE RANGE

Why it ranks for guided tours: Junior Ranger Program for families with children

HikingGood with kidsWater activities
Free
315Rank
Wild horses on the dunes at AssateagueNPS Photo

National Seashore

Assateague Island National Seashore

Maryland, Virginia

99DOES IT ALL

Why it ranks for guided tours: Its official NPS record lists guided tours and junior ranger program for this national seashore.

StargazingHikingCamping
Free
316Rank
Grasslands, large dunes, and snow-capped peaks at sunsetNPS/Patrick Myers

National Park & Preserve

Great Sand Dunes National Park & Preserve

Colorado

90DOES IT ALL

Why it ranks for guided tours: Documents guided tours and junior ranger program among its National Park Service activity and topic listings.

StargazingHikingCamping
$15
317Rank
A triangular sandstone mountain overlooks green and yellow foliage. A cloudy blue sky is overhead.NPS/Shane Carte

National Park

Zion National Park

Utah

90DOES IT ALL

Why it ranks for guided tours: Its official NPS record lists guided tours and junior ranger program for this national park.

StargazingHikingCamping
$20
318Rank
The canyon glows orange as people visit Mather Point, a rock outcropping that juts into Grand CanyonNPS/M.Quinn

National Park

Grand Canyon National Park

Arizona

84WIDE RANGE

Why it ranks for guided tours: Documents guided tours and junior ranger program among its National Park Service activity and topic listings.

StargazingHikingCamping
$20
319Rank
Rocky coastline with palm trees and a cliff beyonCourtesy of J. Frank

National Park

Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park

Hawaii

83WIDE RANGE

Why it ranks for guided tours: The NPS data for Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park covers guided tours and junior ranger program.

HikingCampingGood with kids
$15
320Rank
Large canoes and crews paddle down the river amidst autumnal color.NPS photo/Gordon Dietzman

National River & Recreation Area

Mississippi National River & Recreation Area

Minnesota

88DOES IT ALL

Why it ranks for guided tours: Living history demonstrations and first-person interpretation covering Indigenous and European river history

HikingGood with kidsWater activities
Free
321Rank
Four white Indian lodges on a grassy plain.NPS Photo/Shawn G. Gillette

National Historic Site

Sand Creek Massacre National Historic Site

Colorado

54FOCUSED

Why it ranks for guided tours: Ranger-guided tours that interpret the specific events of November 29, 1864 on the actual ground where they occurred

HikingWildlife watchingGuided tours
Free
322Rank
groups of families, adults and children strolling in Glen Echo Park near Carousel BuildingNPS Photo/Bruce Douglas

Park

Glen Echo Park

Maryland

44FOCUSED

Why it ranks for guided tours: Guided tours interpreting the site's history from Chautauqua assembly through desegregation

Guided tours
Free
323Rank
Val-Kill Cottage in the SummerNPS Photo / Bill Urbin

National Historic Site

Eleanor Roosevelt National Historic Site

New York

42FOCUSED

Why it ranks for guided tours: Free guided tours inside Val-Kill Cottage, Eleanor Roosevelt's personal retreat and only home she ever owned

HikingGood with kidsGuided tours
Free
324Rank
Water pouring down rocks at Great FallsNPS

Park

Great Falls Park

Virginia

42FOCUSED

Why it ranks for guided tours: Guided tours connecting the landscape to early American history

HikingGood with kidsWater activities
$10
325Rank
Tidepools at CabrilloNPS Photo / Dan Zeller

National Monument

Cabrillo National Monument

California

66GOOD RANGE

Why it ranks for guided tours: Living history reenactments and historic weapons demonstrations

HikingGood with kidsWildlife watching
$10
326Rank
A beautiful, if short, waterfall empties into the side of the Niobrara NSR.NPS Photo

National Scenic River

Niobrara National Scenic River

Nebraska

100DOES IT ALL

Why it ranks for guided tours: Its official NPS record lists guided tours and junior ranger program for this national scenic river.

StargazingHikingCamping
Free
327Rank
Sunset picture with high vantage point overlooking river with fall colors and sun setting in distancBrock Davis

National Scenic Riverways

Ozark National Scenic Riverways

Missouri

100DOES IT ALL

Why it ranks for guided tours: Its official NPS record lists guided tours and junior ranger program for this national scenic riverways.

StargazingHikingCamping
Free
328Rank
A large bluff shelter near Buffalo Point.NPS Photo

National River

Buffalo National River

Arkansas

97DOES IT ALL

Why it ranks for guided tours: Recorded activities and topics here include guided tours and junior ranger program.

HikingCampingGood with kids
Free
329Rank
9-3'x5' international flags line sidewalk that leads to a white building with green roof. Tall stoneNPS Photo

Memorial

Perry's Victory & International Peace Memorial

Ohio

78WIDE RANGE

Why it ranks for guided tours: Living history programming including first-person interpretation and historic weapons demonstrations

StargazingGood with kidsWater activities
$10
330Rank
Gold Belt Scenic BywayRecreation.gov

Recreation Area

Gold Belt Recreation Management Area

Colorado

86DOES IT ALL

Why it ranks for guided tours: Interpretive programs and guided tours connecting the landscape to mining history

HikingCampingWater activities
Free
331Rank
Tuafanua TrailNPS Photo / Michael Larson

Park

National Park of American Samoa

American Samoa

85DOES IT ALL

Why it ranks for guided tours: Living history and first-person interpretation woven into authentic Samoan fa'a Samoa cultural programming

HikingGood with kidsWater activities
Free
332Rank
Sherburne National Wildlife RefugeTina Shaw/USFWS

National Wildlife Refuge

Sherburne National Wildlife Refuge

Minnesota

77WIDE RANGE

Why it ranks for guided tours: Auto tour route through oak savanna, prairie, and wetland habitats in a single loop

HikingWater activitiesWildlife watching
Free
333Rank
Reenactor Bill Boston on his horse Dixie in front of the De Soto Monument.Tim Ohr

National Memorial

De Soto National Memorial

Florida

56GOOD RANGE

Why it ranks for guided tours: Living history reenactments recreating the 1539 Spanish landing on Tampa Bay

Water activitiesGuided toursHistory & culture
Free
334Rank
Hoosier National ForestShare the Experience, Raymond Lee

National Forest

Hoosier National Forest

Indiana

93DOES IT ALL

Why it ranks for guided tours: Scenic auto touring routes through rolling rural terrain and small crossroads communities

HikingCampingWater activities
Free
335Rank
Little Pend Oreille National Wildlife RefugeDiana Douglass, Share the Experience

National Wildlife Refuge

Little Pend Oreille National Wildlife Refuge

Washington

89DOES IT ALL

Why it ranks for guided tours: Auto touring through remote northeastern Washington highlands with virtually no crowds

HikingCampingWater activities
Free
336Rank
Okefenokee RefugeStacy Shelton, USFWS

National Wildlife Refuge

Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge

Georgia

89DOES IT ALL

Why it ranks for guided tours: Auto touring routes that provide accessible wildlife viewing without requiring a boat

HikingCampingWater activities
Free
337Rank
Seney National Wildlife RefugeJason Goldberg/USFWS

National Wildlife Refuge

Seney National Wildlife Refuge

Michigan

89DOES IT ALL

Why it ranks for guided tours: Auto tour route through managed wetland pools with consistent wildlife sightings

HikingCampingWater activities
Free
338Rank
Desoto National Wildlife RefugeUSFWS

National Wildlife Refuge

DeSoto National Wildlife Refuge

Iowa

84WIDE RANGE

Why it ranks for guided tours: Auto touring the refuge loop through Missouri River floodplain habitats

HikingWater activitiesWildlife watching
Free
339Rank
Great Dismal Swamp National Wildlife RefugeRebecca Wynn

National Wildlife Refuge

Great Dismal Swamp National Wildlife Refuge

Virginia

82WIDE RANGE

Why it ranks for guided tours: Auto touring refuge roads for accessible wildlife viewing without a boat or long hike

HikingCampingWater activities
Free
340Rank
Blackwater National Wildlife RefugeUSFWS

National Wildlife Refuge

Blackwater National Wildlife Refuge

Maryland

77WIDE RANGE

Why it ranks for guided tours: Wildlife Drive auto tour through open tidal marsh with frequent eagle and waterfowl sightings

HikingWater activitiesWildlife watching
Free
341Rank
Deer Flat National Wildlife RefugeAddison Mohler/USFWS

National Wildlife Refuge

Deer Flat National Wildlife Refuge

Idaho

77WIDE RANGE

Why it ranks for guided tours: Free auto touring route providing accessible wildlife viewing without leaving your vehicle

HikingWater activitiesWildlife watching
Free
342Rank
Montezuma National Wildlife RefugeDoug Racine/USFWS

National Wildlife Refuge

Montezuma National Wildlife Refuge

New York

77WIDE RANGE

Why it ranks for guided tours: Auto tour route through managed wetland impoundments for close wildlife viewing from your vehicle

HikingWater activitiesWildlife watching
Free
343Rank
Trempealeau National Wildlife RefugeUSFWS

National Wildlife Refuge

Trempealeau National Wildlife Refuge

Wisconsin

77WIDE RANGE

Why it ranks for guided tours: Auto tour route through wetland and upland habitat for accessible wildlife viewing

HikingWater activitiesWildlife watching
Free
344Rank
Anahuac National Wildlife RefugeShare the Experience, Julio Zaga

National Wildlife Refuge

Jocelyn Nungaray National Wildlife Refuge

Texas

74WIDE RANGE

Why it ranks for guided tours: Auto touring through managed marsh impoundments with dense concentrations of waterfowl and shorebirds

HikingWater activitiesWildlife watching
Free
345Rank
Shiawassee National Wildlife RefugeJim Hudgins/USFWS

National Wildlife Refuge

Shiawassee National Wildlife Refuge

Michigan

73WIDE RANGE

Why it ranks for guided tours: Auto tour route for accessible wildlife scanning without leaving your vehicle

HikingWater activitiesWildlife watching
Free
346Rank
Bosque del Apache National Wildlife RefugeJessie Jobs/USFWS

National Wildlife Refuge

Bosque del Apache National Wildlife Refuge

New Mexico

70WIDE RANGE

Why it ranks for guided tours: Auto tour loop offering close-up wetland and riparian wildlife viewing from your vehicle

HikingWater activitiesWildlife watching
Free
347Rank
Mattamuskeet National Wildlife RefugeShare the Experience, Leah Weikert

National Wildlife Refuge

Mattamuskeet National Wildlife Refuge

North Carolina

70WIDE RANGE

Why it ranks for guided tours: Auto touring the refuge roads for close-range views of waterfowl, wading birds, and marsh wildlife

HikingWater activitiesWildlife watching
Free
348Rank
Rocky Mountain Arsenal National Wildlife RefugeJohn Carr - USFWS

National Wildlife Refuge

Rocky Mountain Arsenal National Wildlife Refuge

Colorado

70WIDE RANGE

Why it ranks for guided tours: Resident bison herd viewable on the auto tour and from hiking trails

HikingWater activitiesWildlife watching
Free
349Rank
Audubon National Wildlife RefugeShare the Experience, Lara Trozzo

National Wildlife Refuge

Audubon National Wildlife Refuge

North Dakota

69GOOD RANGE

Why it ranks for guided tours: Auto tour route covering mixed-grass prairie and wetland habitats

HikingWater activitiesWildlife watching
Free
350Rank
Bear River Migratory Bird RefugePeter Padesky

Recreation Area

Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge

Utah

60GOOD RANGE

Why it ranks for guided tours: Auto tour loop through active wetland impoundments, one of the best ways to observe migratory waterfowl from your vehicle

HikingWater activitiesWildlife watching
Free
351Rank
Bitter Lake National Wildlife RefugeRobert Laremore, Share the Experience

National Wildlife Refuge

Bitter Lake National Wildlife Refuge

New Mexico

60GOOD RANGE

Why it ranks for guided tours: Auto touring the refuge loop for close wildlife viewing without leaving your vehicle

HikingWildlife watchingBiking
Free
352Rank
Flint Hills National Wildlife RefugeShare the Experience, John Kenkel

National Wildlife Refuge

Flint Hills National Wildlife Refuge

Kansas

60GOOD RANGE

Why it ranks for guided tours: Auto tour route covering diverse habitat from wetlands to bottomland hardwood forest

Water activitiesWildlife watchingScenic drives
Free
353Rank
Upper Souris National Wildlife RefugeJennifer Jewitt/USFWS

National Wildlife Refuge

Upper Souris National Wildlife Refuge

North Dakota

60GOOD RANGE

Why it ranks for guided tours: Auto touring the 35-mile Souris River corridor during spring and fall waterfowl migrations

HikingWater activitiesWildlife watching
Free
354Rank
Fort Point with visitors approaching on road in front and Golden Gate Bridge above.NPS photo/Will Elder

National Historic Site

Fort Point National Historic Site

California

57GOOD RANGE

Why it ranks for guided tours: Living history programs that bring the garrison experience to life

Good with kidsWater activitiesGuided tours
Free
355Rank
Eufaula National Wildlife Refuge, AlabamaRobin Koch - USFWS Volunteer

National Wildlife Refuge

Eufaula National Wildlife Refuge

Alabama

56GOOD RANGE

Why it ranks for guided tours: Auto tour route through a mosaic of wetlands, pine stands, and croplands purpose-built for wildlife observation

HikingWater activitiesWildlife watching
Free
356Rank
William L. Finley National Wildlife Refuge, ORGeorge Gentry/USFWS

National Wildlife Refuge

William L. Finley National Wildlife Refuge

Oregon

56GOOD RANGE

Why it ranks for guided tours: Auto touring route for wildlife viewing when trails are wet or time is short

HikingWater activitiesWildlife watching
Free
357Rank
Channel Islands National Marine SanctuaryClaire Fackler/NOAA

Recreation Area

Channel Islands National Marine Sanctuary

California

78WIDE RANGE

Why it ranks for guided tours: Admission is free, but realistically you need a boat, a guided tour, or at least a kayak to get anything meaningful out of a visit.

Water activitiesWildlife watchingGuided tours
Free
358Rank
Hoover Dam at NightMichael McCook, Share the Experience

Recreation Area

Hoover Dam

Nevada

56GOOD RANGE

Why it ranks for guided tours: Guided powerplant tours running since 1937, offering rare access inside a working National Historic Landmark

HikingWater activitiesWildlife watching
Free
359Rank
A view of marsh land at Grand Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve, MississippiGrand Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve

Recreation Area

Grand Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve

Mississippi

49FOCUSED

Why it ranks: Wildlife photographers, kayakers, and anglers who prefer low-key reserves will find the trip worthwhile.

Water activitiesWildlife watchingGuided tours
Free
360Rank
Share the Experience Photo Contest - Photo Courtesy of Peter RealiShare the Experience Photo Contest - Photo Courtesy of Peter Reali

National Monument

Craters of the Moon National Monument

Idaho

79WIDE RANGE

Why it ranks for guided tours: Ranger-led interpretive programs that unpack the active volcanic geology underfoot

StargazingHikingCamping
Free
361Rank
Mokupāpapa Discovery Center for Papahānaumokuākea Marine National MonumentAndy Collins/NOAA

National Monument

Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument

Hawaii

60GOOD RANGE

Why it ranks for guided tours: Casual tourists expecting easy park access should know going in: you drive to the trailhead, then you walk.

Water activitiesWildlife watchingGuided tours
Free
362Rank
Cow CreekRecreation.gov

Recreation Area

Cow Creek Back Country Byway

Oregon

100DOES IT ALL

Why it ranks for guided tours: The NPS data for Cow Creek Back Country Byway covers auto touring.

HikingCampingWater activities
Free
363Rank
Autumn colors at Crab OrchardJim Osborne/Friends of CONWR

National Wildlife Refuge

Crab Orchard National Wildlife Refuge

Illinois

96DOES IT ALL

Why it ranks for guided tours: Recorded activities and topics here include auto touring.

HikingCampingWater activities
Free
364Rank
Kayakers on the North Umpqua Wild and Scenic RiverBob Wick, BLM

Recreation Area

North Umpqua Wild and Scenic River

Oregon

83WIDE RANGE

Why it ranks for guided tours: Its official NPS record lists auto touring for this recreation area.

HikingCampingWater activities
Varies
365Rank
Camping at Snow CanyonUtah Office of Tourism

State Park

Snow Canyon State Park

Utah

73WIDE RANGE

Why it ranks for guided tours: Recorded activities and topics here include auto touring.

CampingWildlife watchingClimbing & caving
Varies
366Rank
Red Rock CanyonHoward & Linda Payne

National Conservation Area

Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area

Nevada

64GOOD RANGE

Why it ranks for guided tours: Recorded activities and topics here include auto touring.

HikingWildlife watchingBiking
Free
367Rank
Sunset at the Jupiter Inlet Lighthouse Outstanding Natural AreaKenneth Henke, BLM

Recreation Area

Jupiter Inlet Lighthouse Outstanding Natural Area

Florida

81WIDE RANGE

Why it ranks for guided tours: Environmental education programming for structured, ranger-led exploration

HikingWater activitiesWildlife watching
Free
368Rank
Tamarac National Wildlife RefugeTina Shaw/USFWS

National Wildlife Refuge

Tamarac National Wildlife Refuge

Minnesota

72WIDE RANGE

Why it ranks: Birders, wildlife photographers, anglers, and hunters will get the most from Tamarac.

HikingWater activitiesWildlife watching
Free
369Rank
National Marine Sanctuary of American SamoaWendy Cover/NOAA

Recreation Area

National Marine Sanctuary of American Samoa

American Samoa

68GOOD RANGE

Why it ranks for guided tours: The park pays off for serious divers, snorkelers, and underwater photographers chasing rare reef ecosystems well off the beaten tourist path, as long as they go in knowing the logistics are genuinely demanding.

HikingWater activitiesWildlife watching
Free
370Rank
White Pelicans at Pea Island National Wildlife RefugeEve Turek

National Wildlife Refuge

Pea Island National Wildlife Refuge

North Carolina

66GOOD RANGE

Why it ranks for guided tours: Free interpretive and educational programs through the visitor center, a rare value on a busy tourist corridor

HikingWater activitiesWildlife watching
Free
371Rank
Greater Farallones National Marine SanctuarySara Heintzelman/NOAA

Recreation Area

Greater Farallones National Marine Sanctuary

California

63GOOD RANGE

Why it ranks: Divers, kayakers, wildlife photographers, and anglers who are comfortable on or in cold Pacific water will find this deeply rewarding.

Water activitiesWildlife watchingGuided tours
Free
372Rank
New River at 4-Mile CreekBureau of Land Management

Recreation Area

New River Area of Critical Environmental Concern

Oregon

60GOOD RANGE

Why it ranks for guided tours: If you're already driving the Pacific Coast, the detour is worth it.

HikingWater activitiesWildlife watching
Free
373Rank
Evening Light on River Below Citadel RockRecreation.gov

Recreation Area

Upper Missouri National Wild and Scenic River

Montana

60GOOD RANGE

Why it ranks for guided tours: Ranger-led interpretive programs that put the Lewis and Clark history in genuine geographic context

HikingWater activitiesWildlife watching
Free
374Rank
Alligator - Merritt Island National Wildlife RefugeUSFWS - Stacy Shelton

National Wildlife Refuge

Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge

Florida

59GOOD RANGE

Why it ranks for guided tours: Casual tourists expecting polished amenities or dramatic scenery may leave disappointed by the flat, sparse landscape.

HikingWater activitiesWildlife watching
Free
375Rank
A dirt path leads through a wooded area of trees covered in Spanish mossThamara Hernandez, FWS

National Wildlife Refuge

Santa Ana National Wildlife Refuge

Texas

57GOOD RANGE

Why it ranks: Birders and wildlife photographers will find few refuges in the country that pack this many targets into a single acre.

HikingWildlife watchingBiking
Free
376Rank
Alaska Maritime National Wildlife RefugeGary Drew/USFWS

National Wildlife Refuge

Alaska Maritime National Wildlife Refuge

Alaska

51FOCUSED

Why it ranks for guided tours: Casual tourists will probably find the effort hard to justify.

HikingWater activitiesWildlife watching
Free
377Rank
Elizabeth Hartwell Mason Neck National Wildlife RefugeBill Wallen/USFWS

National Wildlife Refuge

Elizabeth Hartwell Mason Neck National Wildlife Refuge

Virginia

49FOCUSED

Why it ranks: Birders, wildlife photographers, and families within driving distance of Northern Virginia who want a meaningful, free outdoor outing.

HikingWater activitiesWildlife watching
Free
378Rank
View of marsh at Waquoit Bay National Estuarine Research ReserveWaquoit Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve

Recreation Area

Waquoit Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve

Massachusetts

89DOES IT ALL

Why it ranks: Paddlers, kayakers, and anglers looking for an active Cape Cod trip without fees or crowds will find it hard to do better than Washburn Island.

HikingCampingWater activities
Free
379Rank
Aerial view of the Delaware National Estuarine Research Reserve, DelawareDelaware National Estuarine Research Reserve

Recreation Area

Delaware National Estuarine Research Reserve

Delaware

79WIDE RANGE

Why it ranks: Spring migration pulls birders, paddlers, and wildlife photographers to this place for good reason.

HikingWater activitiesWildlife watching
Free
380Rank
Florida Keys National Marine SanctuaryMatt McIntosh/NOAA

Recreation Area

Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary

Florida

78WIDE RANGE

Why it ranks: Divers, snorkelers, kayakers, boaters, anglers, and wildlife photographers all have solid reasons to make the trip.

Water activitiesWildlife watchingGuided tours
Free
381Rank
Bogue Chitto National Wildlife RefugeLana Gramlich, Share the Experience

National Wildlife Refuge

Bogue Chitto National Wildlife Refuge

Louisiana

72WIDE RANGE

Why it ranks: Paddlers, hunters, anglers, and birders who want genuine wildness and minimal development in the Pearl River Basin will feel at home here.

HikingCampingWater activities
Free
382Rank
Wertheim National Wildlife RefugeUSFWS

National Wildlife Refuge

Wertheim National Wildlife Refuge

New York

72WIDE RANGE

Why it ranks: Birders, paddlers, and families who want a free, structured nature outing within reach of Long Island and New York City will find the trip worth making.

HikingWater activitiesWildlife watching
Free
383Rank
Wheeler National Wildlife Refuge, AlabamaBill Gates - USFWS

National Wildlife Refuge

Wheeler National Wildlife Refuge

Alabama

70WIDE RANGE

Why it ranks: Wheeler works best for birders and waterfowl enthusiasts, particularly during fall and winter migration.

HikingWater activitiesWildlife watching
Free
384Rank
Minnesota Valley National Wildlife RefugeSarah McNamara - USFWS

National Wildlife Refuge

Minnesota Valley National Wildlife Refuge

Minnesota

68GOOD RANGE

Why it ranks: Birders, families with kids, urban hikers, photographers working wetland and river corridor habitat, and anyone wanting winter recreation near the Twin Cities will get real value here.

HikingWater activitiesWildlife watching
Free
385Rank
Billy Frank Jr. Nisqually National Wildlife RefugeShare the Experience, Jana Schoenberg

National Wildlife Refuge

Billy Frank Jr. Nisqually National Wildlife Refuge

Washington

67GOOD RANGE

Why it ranks: Birders, wildlife photographers, and families looking for a free, low-key outing will find a lot to enjoy here.

HikingWater activitiesWildlife watching
Free
386Rank
Kodiak National Wildlife RefugeLisa Hupp, USFWS

National Wildlife Refuge

Kodiak National Wildlife Refuge

Alaska

67GOOD RANGE

Why it ranks: Seasoned backcountry travelers, bear photographers, serious salmon anglers, and hunters who know remote Alaska logistics will feel right at home.

Water activitiesWildlife watchingGuided tours
Free
387Rank
Owyhee Wild and Scenic RiverRecreation.gov

Recreation Area

Owyhee Wild & Scenic River

Oregon

67GOOD RANGE

Why it ranks: Seasoned paddlers, horse riders, anglers, and backcountry campers will find this dramatic canyon country right in their wheelhouse.

HikingCampingWater activities
Varies
388Rank
Loosestrife removal in Chesapeake Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve, MarylandChesapeake Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve

Recreation Area

Chesapeake Bay Maryland National Estuarine Research Reserve

Maryland

66GOOD RANGE

Why it ranks: Paddlers, birders, and anglers get genuine estuarine access here without crowds or entry fees.

HikingWater activitiesWildlife watching
Free
389Rank
Escalante Petrified Forest State ParkUtah Office of Tourism

State Park

Escalante Petrified Forest State Park

Utah

66GOOD RANGE

Why it ranks: Travelers driving between Bryce Canyon and Capitol Reef have more options here than a gas stop.

HikingCampingWater activities
Varies
390Rank
West Eugene WetlandsBLM

Recreation Area

West Eugene Wetlands

Oregon

64GOOD RANGE

Why it ranks: Eugene residents, cyclists, birders hunting waterfowl during the wet season, and disc golf players will all feel at home here.

HikingWildlife watchingBiking
Free
391Rank
Fishermen's BendRecreation.gov

Recreation Area

Fishermen's Bend Recreation Area

Oregon

62GOOD RANGE

Why it ranks: Families and RV travelers passing through Oregon who want a decent night by the river without paying resort prices will find this spot worth considering.

CampingWater activitiesGuided tours
Free
392Rank
Cape Romain National Wildlife RefugeJennifer Koches - USFWS

National Wildlife Refuge

Cape Romain National Wildlife Refuge

South Carolina

60GOOD RANGE

Why it ranks: Birders, kayakers, anglers, and photographers who know coastal waterways will find this refuge worth the effort.

HikingWater activitiesWildlife watching
Free
393Rank
Florida Manatees at Crystal River National Wildlife Refuge, FloridaJim Reid - USFWS

National Wildlife Refuge

Crystal River National Wildlife Refuge

Florida

60GOOD RANGE

Why it ranks: Snorkelers, divers, kayakers, and wildlife photographers who want a rare, legal, and ethical encounter with wild manatees in their natural winter habitat.

HikingWater activitiesWildlife watching
Free
394Rank
John Heinz at Tinicum National Wildlife RefugeUSFWS

National Wildlife Refuge

John Heinz National Wildlife Refuge at Tinicum

Pennsylvania

60GOOD RANGE

Why it ranks: Urban birders, paddlers, and families who want real nature without a long drive will find plenty here.

Water activitiesWildlife watchingGuided tours
Free
395Rank
Early springtime view of Lava Pit CraterGreg Shine, BLM

Recreation Area

Diamond Craters Outstanding Natural Area

Oregon

58GOOD RANGE

Why it ranks: Desert photographers, geology hunters, and anyone who prefers camping without hookups or crowds will find a lot to like here.

HikingCampingGuided tours
Free
396Rank
Parker River National Wildlife RefugeMatt Poole - USFWS

National Wildlife Refuge

Parker River National Wildlife Refuge

Massachusetts

58GOOD RANGE

Why it ranks: Birders, wildlife photographers, and anglers tend to get the most out of a visit, particularly during spring and fall migration.

HikingWater activitiesWildlife watching
Free
397Rank
Apalachicola National Estuarine Research Reserve, FloridaApalachicola National Estuarine Research Reserve

Recreation Area

Apalachicola National Estuarine Research Reserve

Florida

57GOOD RANGE

Why it ranks: Paddlers, birders, and anyone curious about estuary science will find genuine substance here.

Water activitiesWildlife watchingGuided tours
Free
398Rank
St. Marks National Wildlife RefugeSteve Hillebrand - USFWS

National Wildlife Refuge

St. Marks National Wildlife Refuge

Florida

56GOOD RANGE

Why it ranks: If you can read a landscape and work without hand-holding, this place rewards you.

HikingWater activitiesWildlife watching
Free
399Rank
Cache River National Wildlife RefugeEric C. Johnson

National Wildlife Refuge

Cache River National Wildlife Refuge

Arkansas

53FOCUSED

Why it ranks: Waterfowl hunters, serious birders, and paddlers comfortable navigating a working wetland on their own will find plenty to love here.

Water activitiesWildlife watchingGuided tours
Free
400Rank
National Elk Refuge, WyomingTony Hough - USFWS Volunteer

Recreation Area

National Elk Refuge

Wyoming

53FOCUSED

Why it ranks: Wildlife photographers, birders, and casual visitors wanting a free, easy look at iconic Wyoming animals will find plenty to work with here.

Water activitiesWildlife watchingBiking
Free
401Rank
Wapanocca National Wildlife RefugeUSFWS

National Wildlife Refuge

Wapanocca National Wildlife Refuge

Arkansas

53FOCUSED

Why it ranks: Birdwatchers, photographers, and waterfowl hunters will get a lot out of a winter visit here.

Water activitiesWildlife watchingGuided tours
Free
402Rank
Gray's Reef National Marine SanctuaryGreg McFall/NOAA

Recreation Area

Gray's Reef National Marine Sanctuary

Georgia

52FOCUSED

Why it ranks: Scuba divers, offshore anglers, and wildlife photographers with underwater gear will find the most to do here.

Water activitiesWildlife watchingGuided tours
Free
403Rank
Baskett Slough National Wildlife RefugeJoseph Sands/USFWS

National Wildlife Refuge

Baskett Slough National Wildlife Refuge

Oregon

50FOCUSED

Why it ranks: Birders, wildlife photographers, and families looking for a relaxed outing will find plenty to work with here.

HikingWildlife watchingGuided tours
Free
404Rank
Occoquan Bay National Wildlife Refuge wetlandDavid Wagner - USFWS

National Wildlife Refuge

Occoquan Bay National Wildlife Refuge

Virginia

50FOCUSED

Why it ranks: Birders, wildlife photographers, and families who live within driving distance of Northern Virginia will find a free, low-effort outing that actually delivers.

HikingWater activitiesWildlife watching
Free
405Rank
Silhouette of birds flying over the Atlantic Ocean as the sun rises above the cloudy horizon.U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

National Wildlife Refuge

Nathaniel P. Reed Hobe Sound National Wildlife Refuge

Florida

49FOCUSED

Why it ranks: Wildlife photographers, sea turtle enthusiasts, and anyone craving undeveloped Florida coastline will find real value here.

HikingWater activitiesWildlife watching
Free
406Rank
Prime hook National Wildlife RefugeBill Butcher/USFWS

National Wildlife Refuge

Prime Hook National Wildlife Refuge

Delaware

48FOCUSED

Why it ranks: Prime Hook is a solid destination for birders, wildlife photographers, and waterfowl hunters.

Water activitiesWildlife watchingGuided tours
Free

How this ranking is built

The order is auditable, so here is the recipe.

This list ranks by documented guided tours relevance first: how many guided tours-related activities and topics each unit records in the official NPS data, plus whether our editors featured that theme in the write-up. When two units are level on guided tours, the parkverdict Experience Score below breaks the tie. So the top of this page is genuinely the strongest guided tours parks, not just the ones that document the most of everything.

The Experience Score itself weighs:

  • 48Activity breadth
  • 16Topic breadth
  • 14Imagery
  • 12Camping
  • 10Free access

parkverdict is independent. No park pays for placement, and scores use an honest spread, so you will see real 60s and 70s here, not a wall of 90s. Read the full methodology.

The honest limits

What this ranking cannot tell you

This order reflects what each unit documents for guided tours in official public data, not a day spent on the ground. It cannot weigh scenery, how crowded a place gets, trail or road conditions, seasonal timing, or the quality of a specific tour. A unit that records fewer guided tours activities can still be the better guided tours trip for you, so treat the ranking as a documented-breadth shortlist and read each park verdict for who it actually suits.