National parks in American Samoa

American Samoa's two National Park Service units sit in the middle of the South Pacific, and together they make a case for one of the most remote and rewarding corners of the entire NPS system. The National Park of American Samoa anchors the experience with a score of 85, combining jungle hiking, family-friendly exploration, and warm-water activities across volcanic islands that most Americans will never visit. Paired with the National Marine Sanctuary of American Samoa, a quieter and less-documented unit scoring 68, the focus stays on the ocean, on wildlife, and on landscapes shaped by Polynesian culture rather than the canyon-and-geyser drama visitors expect elsewhere. This is not a destination for a quick weekend trip or a bucket-list tick. American Samoa rewards travelers who are genuinely comfortable with long-haul flights, limited infrastructure, and the slower, more immersive rhythms that come with being somewhere truly far from the mainland crowd.