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9 minutes readContent
- Yosemite National Park, California
- Zion National Park, Utah
- Kruger National Park, South Africa
- Fiordland National Park, New Zealand
- Plitvice Lakes National Park, Croatia
- Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park, Australia
- Los Glaciares National Park, Argentina
- Torres del Paine National Park, Chile
- Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming
- Cairngorms National Park, Scotland
- Wood Buffalo National Park, Canada
- Discover the world’s best national parks with ZenHotels
1. Yosemite National Park, California
Where to stay: Yosemite Valley Lodge Hotel
Yosemite National Park is nestled in California’s Sierra Nevada mountains, a three-hour drive from San Francisco. It’s a year-round destination for hiking enthusiasts with its famous “El Capitan” summit, offering views across California from the top of the mountain. First declared a protected area in 1864, it stretches over 1,200 square miles of wild wilderness, grand meadows, deep valleys, and stunning waterfalls.
Photo by Mick Haupt on Unsplash
John Muir summed up the beauty of this national park best in 1912 when he wrote, “No temple made with human hands can compare with Yosemite.” With over 4 million visitors annually, it’s easy to see why Yosemite’s beauty continues to attract visitors with over 800 miles of hiking trails.
2. Zion National Park, Utah
Where to stay: Zion Mountain Ranch
Another national park topping the list of tourist attractions is Zion National Park in Utah. It was the fourth most-visited U.S. national park in 2019, its popularity driven by its rock-climbing opportunities, with routes ideal for beginners and experienced hobbyists alike. The sandstone cliffs and hiking trails, including “The Narrows” and “Angels Landing,” make it a favorite amongst wildlife enthusiasts.
Photo by Galyna Andrushko / Shutterstock
The Virgin River also flows through this national park, supporting its diverse ecosystems. You can expect to see coyotes, deer, and if you’re lucky, even a California condor. It’s worth noting that large sections of this national park are inaccessible, especially if you don’t want to go swimming or cascading down canyons.
3. Kruger National Park, South Africa
Where to stay: Lukimbi Safari Lodge
Swap the mountain peaks of America for the desert of Africa. Its home to over 300 national parks, so it’s no surprise one of its most popular features on this list. Kruger National Park is considered one of the most beautiful national parks in the world, spread out across over 7,500 square miles. It’s also South Africa’s largest game reserve.
Photo by WC9STOCK / Shuttertock
Famous for its conservation programs, the park has played a crucial role in supporting the “Big Five” African game animals – Cape buffalo, elephants, lions, leopards, and rhinoceros. If you’ve always dreamed of going on safari, this is the national park for you! It has 14 different ecozones and over 250 archaeological sites with almost 150 recorded species of mammals, 507 birds, 114 reptiles, 34 amphibians, and 49 fish.
4. Fiordland National Park, New Zealand
Where to stay: Fiordland Lakeview Motel and Apartments
Fiordland is New Zealand’s largest national park and where you’ll find its three most popular multi-day hiking paths; Milford Track, Kepler Track, and the Routeburn, which ends in Mount Aspiring National Park.
Photo by Greg Brave / Shuttertock
Most of the national park is only accessible by boat or hiking trail, but there’s plenty to see. Doubtful Sound, the largest of the park’s fiords, is almost 1,400ft deep and plays host to everything from Fiordland crested penguins to seals and even bottlenose dolphins as an area of protected water. Be prepared for rain as it’s considered one of the wettest places on Earth. Its more famous cousin, Milford Sound, is part of the Te Wahipounamu World Heritage site and is home to cascading waterfalls, luscious rainforests, and diverse marine life.
5. Plitvice Lakes National Park, Croatia
Where to stay: Plitvice Hotel Resort – Campsite
If you’re looking for a national park in Europe, head to Croatia to the Plitvice Lakes. With 16 lakes and dozens of waterfalls, this national park is also a UNESCO World Heritage Site. This park is the perfect option if you want to travel during the off-peak seasons of spring and autumn and explore the protected areas hidden amongst the waterfalls.
Photo by goran_safarek / Shuttertock
Most of the park consists of forest areas, where you’ll find rare species, including lynx and grey wolves. Stretched across 114 square miles, this is Croatia’s leading tourist attraction, welcoming over a million visitors annually. If you’re visiting from abroad, Zagreb and Zadar airports are the most convenient options if you’re heading straight to the park.
6. Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park, Australia
Where to stay: Discovery Resorts – Kings Canyon
Australia is another country with a famous national park that’s a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Located in the Northern Territory, Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park is known for the intensive red color of its giant monolith, considered the largest in the world, and its 36 domes of Kata Tjuta.
Photo by Henrique Felix on Unsplash
This park is steeped in history as a sacred site of the Anangu, who lived there for over 30,000 years. You can take part in tours led by Anangu people to learn about the natural landscape and the national park’s history.
Sunrise and sunset are not to be missed here. You’ll find five dedicated viewing areas to give you the best experience – and photo opportunities! Birdwatching is also one of the most popular activities at this park with 178 recorded bird species.
7. Los Glaciares National Park, Argentina
Where to stay: Andino Aparts – El Chalten
Patagonia in Argentina is somewhere every nature enthusiast wants to visit. If it’s on your list, you’ll already be familiar with the ice paradise that is the Los Glaciares National Park and its 48 glaciers, including Perito Moreno Glacier, considered one of the wonders of the natural world. It borders Torres de Paine National Park, the next recommendation on our list.
Photo by Niccolo Bertoldi / Shutterstock
Plan your visit between December and February for the best conditions, especially if you want to go hiking or kayaking. The park has two major lakes, Lake Argentino and Lake Viedma. Most tourists visiting the park start their trip at El Calafate, just 90 minutes from the park.
8. Torres del Paine National Park, Chile
Where to stay: Explora en Torres del Paine
If you’re searching for a multi-day hiking route, head to Chile to the Torres del Paine National Park. The W and O treks navigate the Paine Massif and cover highlights like the Grey Glacier. With its diverse wildlife, you can expect to see huemul deer, guanacos, and armadillos. It’s one of the best places to visit if you’re looking to see pumas in the wild, due to the park’s higher population of the species.
Photo by Dmitry Pichugin / Shuttertock
If you’re planning to visit this park, make sure to play your part in helping conserve it for the next generation. The national park has experienced three devastating man-made forest fires since 1985 with its lack of financial resources making it difficult to carry out necessary conservation work to maintain its forests.
9. Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming
Where to stay: Wander Camp Yellowstone Island Park
Yellowstone was the world’s first national park and continues to attract millions of tourists every year. It’s seen a bump in popularity thanks to the show it gave its name to, starring Kevin Costner and Kelly Reilly. The 2.2 million acres cover Montana, Idaho, and Wyoming, giving it a vastly diverse landscape that includes forests, rocky mountains, hot springs, and alpine lakes.
Photo by Danita Delimont / Shuttertock
What makes Yellowstone so popular is its variety of walking trails, giving you everything from a short walk to a multi-hour or multi-day hike. Lamar Valley is one of Yellowstone’s most famous areas, the focus of the national park’s reintroduction of wolves in 1995. Bison, bears, elk, and moose are also located throughout the park’s grasslands.
10. Cairngorms National Park, Scotland
Where to stay: Ravenscraig Guest House
Most of us don’t think of the UK when planning to visit a national park, but there’s no shortage of stunning destinations in all four corners. Nestled in the Scottish Highlands, you’ll find Cairngorms National Park, the largest in the UK. It’s even larger than the entirety of Luxembourg.
Photo by Milosz Maslanka / Shuttertock
You can explore the area on foot, on horseback, or on a mountain bike. Described as a “natural playground,” this park can even offer snow sports during winter and is home to the UK’s first permanent bridge-based bungee jump. Cycling is one of the major activities at this park with family-friendly routes and quieter roads for those who are less confident on two wheels.
Get the authentic Scottish experience by staying at a local B&B and refueling with a traditional Sunday lunch at one of the local pubs. You can also visit the open-air Highland Folk Museum. It’s just under 130 miles from Edinburgh and 140 miles from Glasgow, making it the perfect addition to a tour around Scotland.
11. Wood Buffalo National Park, Canada
Where to stay: Best Western Plus Sawridge Suites
Located across 17,300 miles in Canada’s Alberta province, you’ll find Wood Buffalo National Park. It’s larger than Switzerland, crossing several territories of the southern Northwest of North America. It was given national park status due to the free-roaming bison that lived there and plays a crucial conservation role as the only place where the whooping crane nests.
Photo by Cliff LeSergent / Shuttertock
Today, the national park is home to half the world’s endangered wood bison population. If you’ve always dreamt of seeing the Northern Lights, this national park might be one of your best chances of doing it. In 2013, it was designated by the Royal Astronomical Society of Canada as the world’s largest “Dark Sky Preserve.” While the Northern Lights aren’t guaranteed, you’ll want to bring your binoculars or telescope for some of the best stargazing anywhere on Earth.
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Discover the world’s best national parks with ZenHotels
Whether you’re a wildlife enthusiast or want to get away from your laptop, everyone should visit a national park at least once. At ZenHotels, we’re here to help you curate your dream vacation – wherever it is in the world. Whether you’re traveling solo, as a couple, or as a group, we’ll help you find accommodation close to the most visited national parks to suit every budget.
