There are currently 6600 state parks or areas governed by State Park Management in the United States. State parks encompass a staggering 14 million acres of land. California has the most state parks with 270 parks in its jurisdiction. Rhode Island has the least state parks with only 15.
State parks are found far more commonly than their big brothers the National Parks. Visiting one of these parks can be the ideal place to take your family camping, hiking and on many other exciting outdoor adventures. We have found that these parks are a lot less busy during peak season but still offer many of the wonderful benefits afforded by national parks.
What is a State Park?
A state park is protected and preserved area of nature that is set aside for recreation and for the protection of wildlife and plant life or of historical significance
State parks are managed and cared for by the state government in the state that they reside in. A national park on the other hand is governed by the federal government.
There are many reasons for an area to be classified as a state park. One of the prevailing reasons is because of its beauty. These parks are usually located in places of great beauty, the title allows for the protection of this beauty from development and destruction. It is vital for both communities and nature on a whole to have access to these sites.
Sometimes it is the historic significance of the area that deems it worthy of the title. Maintaining historical sites has always and will always be a priority for governments and citizens alike.
Which US State has the Most State Parks?
California has the most state parks in the country. It has 270 state managed parks and sites in its boundaries. New York follows closely behind with 215 state parks. The state with the least state parks is Rhode Island with only 15 state parks.
Based on size Kansas has the least amount of state or national parks per landmass. Kansas currently has no national parks and only 26 state parks. These parks occupy 0.06% of the state’s area.
When you compare this to Hawaii which has the greatest number of state and national parks based on land size, you can see a vast difference. Hawaii has 2 national parks along with 50 state parks. These parks take up a total of 9.4% of the state. That is a whopping 358,870 acres of land!
10 States with the Most State Parks
| California | 270 |
| New York | 215 |
| Washington | 212 |
| Oregon | 195 |
| Florida | 191 |
| Massachusetts | 154 |
| Illinois | 142 |
| Pennsylvania | 121 |
| Alaska | 119 |
| Connecticut | 109 |
What is the Largest State Park?
The largest state park is Wood-Tikchik State Park located in Alaska. At 1.6 million acres it alone accounts for 15% of the total state park land in the entire country. Wood-Tikchik became a state park in 1978 after being voted in by the Alaska State Legislature.
Prior to Wood-Tikchik becoming a state park it had in its earliest history been occupied by the Yup’ik people. They had called this place home for many centuries before it was discovered in 1918 by a Russian exploration team.
It soon became a busy trading post for fur. This established fur trading post continued until the late 1860’s when Alaska was turned over by the Russians to the United States under what is known as The Alaska Purchase.
It is very difficult to reach Wood-Tikchik by road. There is only one road into the park, with most visitors choosing to fly in instead. The park boasts many stunning lakes, which allow the landing of float planes in order to access the many remote areas in the park.
Wood-Tikchik State park plays a vital role in the preservation of the salmon colonies. Within the park there are five species of salmon which use rivers for spawning and breeding. The unique looking sockeye salmon is heavily reliant on Wood-Tikchik for its continued survival.
The name of the park comes from an amalgamation of the two major lake systems within the park. In the northern part of the park you will find Tikchik lakes, in the southern part of the part the lakes all flow into the Wood River.
What is the Most Visited State Park?
Over 800 million people visit state parks every year. There is surely going to be some discrepancy over which is the most popular state park depending on who you ask.
Due to their sheer number it is difficult to determine a clear winner when it comes to the allocation of the title “most visited state park”.
Overall the most visited state park is Niagara Falls State Park. This state park was the first established as a state park in 1885. Every year it welcomes over 8 million visitors, locals and tourists alike.
Niagara falls beckons visitors from all corners of world to experience the formidable Niagara Falls. Many tourists having a visit as one of their bucket list items. It is not hard to see why as the falls offer something not found in any other part of the world.
Niagara falls State Park was designed by Frederick Law Olmsted. Frederick was also the designer of Central Park in New York City.
Not only is the park home to the jaw-dropping falls, but also many stunning hiking trails, historical monuments and information centres and places to enjoy a meal with some of the most memorable views one can experience.
Which States Don’t Have State Parks?
All states in the United States have state parks. There are however, 21 states without national parks. Delaware is the only state that has no national monument or area managed by the National Parks System.
Although Delaware does not have any national parks it is home to 17 state parks.
State parks are far more common in the United States than national parks. The state park system also incorporates state forests, state monuments, state reserves and state beaches.
Are State Parks Free to Visit?
In general state parks are not free to visit. Most states offer either a day pass or annual pass for purchase. An annual pass costs between $50-$195 depending on the state and type of pass required.
There are discounts available for veterans and seniors which can greatly reduce the rate. An annual pass generally includes the holder of the pass along with all those in their vehicle.
Some states such as Texas also provide a youth group pass which allows groups of 100 to enter the park on a single pass. This is a great option for those with large groups of youth who are after great recreation areas.
California has various passes depending on what you require. For example their cheapest park pass includes only the state historic sites for $50. The most expensive pass is $195 and is all inclusive of all state owned parks and sites. If you are only going to one area in California there are passes for specific areas. This a great middle ground.
There are some parks that require no pass at all. It is important to check before you leave as to what pass if any is required for your visit.