Mastodon Mastodon

My National Parks quest (#GoQuesting1002)

UPDATE: I completed all 419 national park units on June 28, 2019 in Glacier Bay National Park! (I have some serious updating to do on this page)

I’m on a personal quest to visit all of the National Parks in the country. Not just the ones that have the words “national park” in their names, but all of the special places managed as the National Park System—including the national monuments, seashores, historical sites, recreation areas, battlefields, and so forth…all of them.

My national parks quest was begun years ago after Kim and I started taking some national park road trips as our vacations. After a few years of hitting most of the national parks, monuments, and historic sites, we decided to simply “see them all.” From then on, just about every trip included visits national park units. We created several traditions for these trips—traveling in our Forester, our traveling companion Brownie, our ubiquitous self shots from my outstretched hand—but the most important was probably getting a national parks passport stamp.

After Kim and I split up, I started doing a number of solo national park trips, plus a few with other girlfriends. Eventually, Brownie went away, and I started a tradition of holding up a simple sign marking what national park number I was at in my quest.

Since then, I’ve done a number of National Park trips—including an epic 100 Days visiting 100 Parks to celebrate the 100th Anniversary of the National Parks System in 2016. Most of these trips have been with Jen, who has adopted her own (slightly more limited) national parks quest.

It’s an incredible way to see and better understand America, and I highly recommend it.

Map of National Park units
This (outdated and incomplete) map gives you a sense of the National Parks I’ve visited. I’m just missing a few in Alaska and one in Kentucky.

There are currently 419 national park units. As of May 2019, I’ve visited 408 of them. This is a long list, so feel free to jump to the next section.

Parks I’ve visited

  1. Abraham Lincoln Birthplace National Historic Park
  2. Acadia National Park
  3. Adams National Historical Park
  4. African Burial Ground National Monument
  5. Agate Fossil Beds National Monument
  6. Alibates Flint Quarries National Monument
  7. Allegheny Portage Railroad National Historic Site
  8. Amistad National Recreation Area
  9. Andersonville National Historic Site
  10. Andrew Johnson National Historic Site
  11. Antietam National Battlefield
  12. Apostle Island National Lakeshore
  13. Appalachian National Scenic Trail
  14. Appomattox Court House National Historical Park
  15. Arches National Park
  16. Arkansas Post National Memorial
  17. Arlington House, The Robert E. Lee Memorial
  18. Assateague Island National Seashore
  19. Aztec Ruins National Monument
  20. Badlands National Park
  21. Bandelier National Monument
  22. Belmont-Paul Women’s Equality National Monument
  23. Bent’s Old Fort National Historic Site
  24. Bering Land Bridge National Preserve
  25. Big Bend National Park
  26. Big Cypress National Preserve
  27. Big Hole National Battlefield
  28. Big South Fork National River & Recreation Area
  29. Big Thicket National Preserve
  30. Bighorn Canyon National Recreation Area
  31. Birmingham Civil Rights National Monument
  32. Biscayne National Park
  33. Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park
  34. Blackstone River Valley National Historical Park
  35. Blue Ridge Parkway
  36. Bluestone National Scenic River
  37. Booker T. Washington National Memorial
  38. Boston African American National Historic Site
  39. Boston Harbor Islands National Recreation Area
  40. Boston National Historical Park
  41. Brices Cross Roads National Battlefield Site
  42. Brown vs. Board of Education National Historic Site
  43. Bryce Canyon National Park
  44. Buck Island Reef National Monument
  45. Buffalo National River
  46. Cabrillo National Monument
  47. Camp Nelson National Monument
  48. Canaveral National Seashore
  49. Cane River Creole National Historical Park
  50. Canyon de Chelly National Monument
  51. Canyonlands National Park
  52. Cape Cod National Seashore
  53. Cape Hatteras National Seashore
  54. Cape Krusenstern National Monument
  55. Cape Lookout National Seashore
  56. Capitol Reef National Park
  57. Capulin Volcano National Monument
  58. Carl Sandburg Home National Historic Site
  59. Carlsbad Caverns National Park
  60. Carter G. Woodson Home National Historic Site
  61. Casa Grande Ruins National Monument
  62. Castillo de San Marcos National Monument
  63. Castle Clinton National Monument
  64. Castle Mountains National Monument
  65. Catoctin Mountain Park
  66. Cedar Breaks National Monument
  67. Cedar Creek & Belle Grove National Historical Park
  68. César E. Chávez National Monument
  69. Chaco Culture National Historical Park
  70. Chamizal National Memorial
  71. Channel Islands National Park
  72. Charles Pinckney National Historic Site
  73. Charles Young Buffalo Soldiers National Monument
  74. Chattahoochee River National Recreation Area
  75. Chesapeake & Ohio Canal National Historical Park
  76. Chickamauga & Chattanooga National Military Park
  77. Chickasaw National Recreation Area
  78. Chiricahua National Monument
  79. Christiansted National Historical Park
  80. City of Rocks National Reserve
  81. Clara Barton National Historic Site
  82. Colonial National Historical Park
  83. Colorado National Monument
  84. Congaree National Park
  85. Constitution Gardens
  86. Coronado National Memorial
  87. Cowpens National Battlefield
  88. Crater Lake National Park
  89. Craters of the Moon National Monument
  90. Craters of the Moon National Preserve
  91. Cumberland Gap National Historical Park
  92. Cumberland Island National Seashore
  93. Curecanti National Recreation Area
  94. Cuyahoga Valley National Park
  95. Dayton Aviation Heritage National Historical Park
  96. De Soto National Memorial
  97. Death Valley National Park
  98. Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area
  99. Denali National Park
  100. Devils Postpile National Monument
  101. Devils Tower National Monument
  102. Dinosaur National Monument
  103. Dry Tortugas National Park
  104. Ebey’s Landing National Historical Reserve
  105. Edgar Allan Poe National Historic Site
  106. Effigy Mounds National Monument
  107. Eisenhower National Historic Site
  108. El Malpais National Monument
  109. El Morro National Monument
  110. Eleanor Roosevelt National Historic Site
  111. Eugene O’Neill National Historic Site
  112. Everglades National Park
  113. Federal Hall National Memorial
  114. Fire Island National Seashore
  115. First Ladies National Historic Site
  116. First State National Monument
  117. Flight 93 National Memorial
  118. Florissant Fossil Beds National Monument
  119. Ford’s Theatre National Historic Site
  120. Fort Bowie National Historic Site
  121. Fort Caroline National Memorial
  122. Fort Davis National Historic Site
  123. Fort Donelson National Battlefield
  124. Fort Frederica National Monument
  125. Fort Laramie National Historic Site
  126. Fort Larned National Historic Site
  127. Fort Matanzas National Monument
  128. Fort McHenry National Monument & Historic Shrine
  129. Fort Monroe National Monument
  130. Fort Necessity National Battlefield
  131. Fort Point National Historic Site
  132. Fort Pulaski National Monument
  133. Fort Raleigh National Historic Site
  134. Fort Scott National Historic Site
  135. Fort Smith National Historic Site
  136. Fort Stanwix National Monument
  137. Fort Sumter and Fort Moultrie National Historical Park
  138. Fort Union National Monument
  139. Fort Union Trading Post National Historic Site
  140. Fort Vancouver National Historic Site
  141. Fort Washington Park
  142. Fossil Butte National Monument
  143. Franklin Delano Roosevelt Memorial
  144. Frederick Douglass National Historic Site
  145. Frederick Law Olmstead National Historic Site
  146. Fredericksburg & Spotsylvania County Battlefields Memorial National Historical Park
  147. Freedom Riders National Monument
  148. Friendship Hill National Historic Site
  149. Gates of the Arctic National Park
  150. Gates of the Arctic National Preserve
  151. Gateway Arch National Park
  152. Gateway National Recreation Area
  153. Gauley River National Recreation Area
  154. General Grant National Memorial
  155. George Rogers Clark National Historical Park
  156. George Washington Birthplace National Monument
  157. George Washington Carver National Monument
  158. George Washington Memorial Parkway
  159. Gettysburg National Military Park
  160. Gila Cliff Dwellings National Monument
  161. Glacier National Park
  162. Glen Canyon National Recreation Area
  163. Golden Gate National Recreation Area
  164. Golden Spike National Historical Park
  165. Governors Island National Monument
  166. Grand Canyon National Park
  167. Grand Portage National Monument
  168. Grand Teton National Park
  169. Grant-Kohrs Ranch National Historic Site
  170. Great Basin National Park
  171. Great Egg Harbor Scenic & Recreational River
  172. Great Sand Dunes National Park
  173. Great Sand Dunes National Preserve
  174. Great Smoky Mountains National Park
  175. Greenbelt Park
  176. Guadalupe Mountains National Park
  177. Guilford Courthouse National Military Park
  178. Gulf Islands National Seashore
  179. Hagerman Fossil Beds National Monument
  180. Haleakalā National Park
  181. Hamilton Grange National Memorial
  182. Hampton National Historic Site
  183. Harpers Ferry National Historic Park
  184. Harriet Tubman National Historical Park
  185. Harriet Tubman Underground Railroad National Monument
  186. Harry S Truman National Historic Site
  187. Hawai’i Volcanoes National Park
  188. Herbert Hoover National Historic Site
  189. Hohokam Pima National Monument
  190. Home of Franklin D. Roosevelt National Historic Site
  191. Homestead National Monument of America
  192. Honouliuli National Historic Site
  193. Hopewell Culture National Historical Park
  194. Hopewell Furnace National Historic Site
  195. Horseshoe Bend National Military Park
  196. Hot Springs National Park
  197. Hovenweep National Monument
  198. Hubbell Trading Post National Historic Site
  199. Independence National Historical Park
  200. Indiana Dunes National Park
  201. Isle Royale National Park
  202. James A. Garfield National Historic Site
  203. Jean Lafitte National Historical Park and Preserve
  204. Jewel Cave National Monument
  205. Jimmy Carter National Historic Site
  206. John D. Rockefeller Jr. Memorial Parkway
  207. John Day Fossil Beds National Monument
  208. John Fitzgerald Kennedy National Historic Site
  209. John Muir National Historic Site
  210. Johnstown Flood National Memorial
  211. Joshua Tree National Park
  212. Kalaupapa National Historical Park
  213. Kaloko-Honokōhau National Historical Park
  214. Katahdin Woods and Waters National Monument
  215. Kenai Fjords National Park
  216. Kennesaw Mountain National Battlefield Park
  217. Keweenaw National Historical Park
  218. Kings Canyon National Park
  219. Kings Mountain National Military Park
  220. Klondike Gold Rush National Historical Park
  221. Knife River Indian Villages National Historic Site
  222. Kobuk Valley National Park
  223. Korean War Veterans Memorial
  224. Lake Chelan National Recreation Area
  225. Lake Mead National Recreation Area
  226. Lake Meredith National Recreation Area
  227. Lake Roosevelt National Recreation Area
  228. Lassen Volcanic National Park
  229. Lava Beds National Monument
  230. Lewis & Clark National Historic Park
  231. Lincoln Boyhood National Memorial
  232. Lincoln Home National Historic Site
  233. Lincoln Memorial
  234. Little Bighorn Battlefield National Monument
  235. Little River Canyon National Preserve
  236. Little Rock Central High School National Historic Site
  237. Longfellow House-Washington’s Headquarters National Historic Site
  238. Lowell National Historical Park
  239. Lyndon B. Johnson National Historical Park
  240. Lyndon Baines Johnson Memorial Grove on the Potomac
  241. Maggie L. Walker National Historic Site
  242. Mammoth Cave National Park
  243. Manassas National Battlefield Park
  244. Manhattan Project National Historical Park
  245. Manzanar National Historic Site
  246. Marsh-Billings-Rockefeller National Historical Park
  247. Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial
  248. Martin Luther King Jr. National Historic Site
  249. Martin Van Buren National Historic Site
  250. Mary McLeod Bethune Council House National Historic Site
  251. Mesa Verde National Park
  252. Middle Delaware National Scenic River
  253. Minidoka National Historic Site
  254. Minute Man National Historical Park
  255. Minuteman Missile National Historic Site
  256. Mississippi National River & Recreation Area
  257. Missouri National Recreational River
  258. Mojave National Preserve
  259. Monocacy National Battlefield
  260. Montezuma Castle National Monument
  261. Moores Creek National Battlefield
  262. Morristown National Historical Park
  263. Mount Rainier National Park
  264. Mount Rushmore National Memorial
  265. Muir Woods National Monument
  266. Natchez National Historical Park
  267. Natchez Trace National Scenic Trail
  268. Natchez Trace Parkway
  269. National Capital Parks
  270. National Mall
  271. National Park of American Samoa
  272. Natural Bridges National Monument
  273. Navajo National Monument
  274. New Bedford Whaling National Historical Park
  275. New Orleans Jazz National Historical Park
  276. New River Gorge National River
  277. Nez Perce National Historical Park
  278. Nicodemus National Historic Site
  279. Ninety Six National Historic Site
  280. Niobrara National Scenic River
  281. Noatak National Preserve
  282. North Cascades National Park
  283. Obed Wild & Scenic River
  284. Ocmulgee Mounds National Historical Park
  285. Olympic National Park
  286. Oregon Caves National Monument
  287. Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument
  288. Ozark National Scenic River
  289. Padre Island National Seashore
  290. Palo Alto Battlefield National Historic Park
  291. Paterson Great Falls National Historical Park
  292. Pea Ridge National Military Park
  293. Pearl Harbor National Memorial
  294. Pecos National Historical Park
  295. Pennsylvania Avenue National Historic Site
  296. Perry’s Victory & International Peace Memorial
  297. Petersburg National Battlefield Park
  298. Petrified Forest National Park
  299. Petroglyph National Monument
  300. Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore
  301. Pinnacles National Monument
  302. Pipe Spring National Monument
  303. Pipestone National Monument
  304. Piscataway Park
  305. Point Reyes National Seashore
  306. Port Chicago Naval Magazine National Memorial
  307. Potomac Heritage National Scenic Trail
  308. Poverty Point National Monument
  309. President Willaim Jefferson Clinton Birthplace Home National Historic Site
  310. Prince William Forest Park
  311. Pu’uhonua o Hōnaunau National Historical Park
  312. Pu’ukoholā Heiau National Historic Site
  313. Pullman National Monument
  314. Rainbow Bridge National Monument
  315. Reconstruction Era National Historical Park
  316. Redwood National Park
  317. Richmond National Battlefield Park
  318. Rio Grande Wild & Scenic River
  319. River Raisin National Battlefield Park
  320. Rock Creek Park
  321. Rocky Mountain National Park
  322. Roger Williams National Memorial
  323. Rosie the Riveter/WWII Home Front National Historical Park
  324. Ross Lake National Recreation Area
  325. Russell Cave National Monument
  326. Sagamore Hill National Historic Site
  327. Saguaro National Park
  328. Saint Croix Island International Historic Site
  329. Saint Croix National Scenic Riverway
  330. Saint Paul’s Church National Historic Site
  331. Saint-Gaudens National Historical Park
  332. Salem Maritime National Historic Site
  333. Salinas Pueblo Missions National Monument
  334. Salt River Bay National Historical Park & Ecological Preserve
  335. San Antonio Missions National Historical Park
  336. San Francisco Maritime National Historical Park
  337. San Juan National Historic Site
  338. San Juan Island National Historical Park
  339. Sand Creek Massacre National Historic Site
  340. Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area
  341. Saratoga National Historical Park
  342. Saugus Iron Works National Historic Site
  343. Scotts Bluff National Monument
  344. Sequoia National Park
  345. Shenandoah National Park
  346. Shiloh National Military Park
  347. Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore
  348. Springfield Armory National Historic Site
  349. Statue of Liberty National Monument (includes Ellis Island)
  350. Steamtown National Historic Site
  351. Stones River National Battlefield
  352. Stonewall National Monument
  353. Sunset Crater Volcano National Monument
  354. Tallgrass Prairie National Preserve
  355. Thaddeus Kosciuszko National Memorial
  356. Theodore Roosevelt Birthplace National Historic Site
  357. Theodore Roosevelt Inaugural National Historic Site
  358. Theodore Roosevelt Island National Memorial
  359. Theodore Roosevelt National Park
  360. Thomas Edison National Historic Park
  361. Thomas Jefferson Memorial
  362. Thomas Stone National Historic Site
  363. Timpanogos Cave National Monument
  364. Timucuan Ecological & Historic Preserve
  365. Tonto National Monument
  366. Tule Lake National Monument
  367. Tule Springs Fossil Beds National Monument
  368. Tumacacori National Historical Park
  369. Tupelo National Battlefield
  370. Tuskegee Airmen National Historic Site
  371. Tuskegee Institute National Historic Site
  372. Tuzigoot National Monument
  373. Ulysses S. Grant National Historic Site
  374. Upper Delaware Scenic & Recreational River
  375. Valles Caldera National Preserve
  376. Valley Forge National Historical Park
  377. Vanderbilt Mansion National Historic Site
  378. Vicksburg National Military Park
  379. Vietnam Veterans Memorial
  380. Virgin Islands Coral Reef National Monument
  381. Virgin Islands National Park
  382. Voyageurs National Park
  383. Waco Mammoth National Monument
  384. Walnut Canyon National Monument
  385. War in the Pacific National Historical Park
  386. Washington Monument (National Memorial)
  387. Washita Battlefield National Historic Site
  388. Weir Farm National Historic Site
  389. Whiskeytown-Shasta-Trinity National Recreation Area
  390. White House, The
  391. White Sands National Monument
  392. Whitman Mission National Historic Site
  393. William Howard Taft National Historic Site
  394. Wilson’s Creek National Battlefield
  395. Wind Cave National Park
  396. Wolf Trap National Park for the Performing Arts
  397. Women’s Rights National Historical Park
  398. (National) World War II Memorial
  399. World War I Memorial
  400. Wrangell-St Elias National Park
  401. Wrangell-St Elias National Preserve
  402. Wright Brothers National Memorial
  403. Wupatki National Monument
  404. Yellowstone National Park
  405. Yosemite National Park
  406. Yucca House National Monument
  407. Yukon-Charley Rivers National Preserve
  408. Zion National Park

Whew, that’s a lot of parks!

What I have left to visit

As you can see, I’ve already completed the entire Contiguous US (edit: except the new Camp Nelson National Monument) and have just 11 park units left to visit. That leaves me with just Camp Nelson and the rest of Alaska left to complete. I have plans to complete Camp Nelson in the spring and Alaska in June. If all goes to plan (fingers crossed for good weather in Alaska!) and there aren’t any new additions, I should finish the quest on June 28, 2018.

Be sure to check out my other personal quests.

4 thoughts on “My National Parks quest (#GoQuesting1002)”

  1. If you’re interested in starting your own national parks quest, please drop me a line. I’d love to chat about it. In addition, you should check out the National Park Travelers Club at parkstamps.org.

    Reply

Leave a Reply