The USA's Ten Most Visited National Parks | HuffPost Life

If asked to name National Parks in the USA which attract most visitors, I bet most people would opt for the Grand Canyon, with maybe Yellowstone or Yosemite next. Here are the ten most visited National Parks, with the latest 2012 visitor figures as provided by the National Parks Service. Each park also has a suggestion as to how you might visit it from the UK.

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Award-winning Travel and Drinks Writer

Award-winning Travel and Drinks Writer

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If asked to name National Parks in the USA which attract most visitors, I bet most people would opt for the Grand Canyon, with maybe Yellowstone or Yosemite next. In fact there's one National Park which attracts over twice as many visitors as the Grand Canyon, and more than the Grand Canyon and Yosemite combined. It's the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, which straddles the border between Tennessee and North Carolina.

Here are the ten most visited National Parks, with the latest 2012 visitor figures as provided by the National Parks Service. Each park also has a suggestion as to how you might visit it from the UK.

Mike Gerrard is an award-winning travel writer who also publishes the Pacific Coast Highway Travel website with his wife, Donna Dailey. They also co-edit the 101 USA Holidays website. Mike has also written about the Great Smoky Mountains

for The Huffington Post.

The USA's 10 Most Visited National Parks

10: Cuyahoga Valley National Park (Ohio)(01 of10)

Cuyahoga Valley National Park in the Fall. Cuyahogo Valley is Ohio's only National Park, and its name means 'crooked river' in the Mohawk language. It was only established as a National Park in October, 2000, and according to the National Park Service attracted 2,299,722 visitors in 2012.Visiting Cuyahoga ValleyFrontier Motorhomes offer a motorhome rental holiday that can include the Cuyahoga Valley.

9: Acadia National Park (Maine)(02 of10)

Acadia National Park in Maine. The Acadia National Park was first established as a National Monument by President Woodrow Wilson in 1916 and became a National Park in 1919. It was known then as Lafayette National Park, and became Acadia in 1929. In 2012 it received 2,431,052 visitors. Visiting AcadiaYou can book a walking/camping holiday in Acadia through Grand American Adventures.

8: Grand Teton National Park (Wyoming)(03 of10)

Grand Teton National ParkAccording to the National Park Service, Grand Teton had 2,705,256 visitors in 2012. It was established as a National Park in 1929. It's named for the highest peak in the Teton mountain range, Grand Teton, which is 13,775 feet (4,199 m) high. Visiting the Grand Teton National ParkNorth America Travel Service has fly-drives visiting Grand Teton.

7: Olympic National Park (Washington State)(04 of10)

The Olympic National Park in Washington State2,824,908 people visited the Olympic National Park in 2012. It contains the only rain forest in the USA, and is the wettest region in the continental United States. The park was established as a National Monument in 1909, and became a National Park in 1938. Visiting the Olympic National ParkA Key to America fly-drive holiday to the NW USA includes the Olympic National Park.

6: Zion National Park (Utah)(05 of10)

Zion National Park in Utah. Zion National Park is noted, like many places in Utah, for its remarkable rock formations. It was established in 1919 and in 2012 had 2,973,607 visitors.Visiting Zion National ParkBlack Tomato offers an unusual luxury holiday option for Zion.

5: Rocky Mountain National Park(06 of10)

Emerald Lake in Rocky Mountain National ParkThe Rocky Mountain National Park was visited by 3,229,617 people in 2012, according to the National Park Service statistics. It includes the Continental Divide of the USA, as well as being the source of the Colorado River. It became a National Park in 1915.Visiting the Rocky Mountain National ParkNorth American Highways has a tailor-made fly-drive whose suggested route visits the National Park.

4: Yellowstone National Park (Wyoming, Montana and Idaho)(07 of10)

Yellowstone National ParkYellowstone was established way back in 1872, making it the world's first National Park. The bill making it a National Park was signed by President Ulysses S. Grant. In 2012 it attracted 3,394,326 visitors, according to the National Park Service, making it the 4th most-visited National Park in the USA.Visiting YellowstoneWildlife Worldwide have an exciting trip tracking wolves in Yellowstone.

3: Yosemite National Park (California)(08 of10)

Yosemite National ParkYosemite was established in 1890, 18 years after Yellowstone became the world's first National Park. It's noted for its waterfalls, Giant Sequoia trees, mountains (Mt. Lyell reaches 13,120 ft/4,000m) and dramatic cliff faces: El Capitan is one of the world's great challenges for rock climbers. The park received 3,853,404 visitors in 2012.Visiting YosemiteIntrepid Travel operates hiking holidays in Yosemite.

2: Grand Canyon National Park (Arizona)(09 of10)

Grand Canyon National ParkWith 4,421,352 visitors in 2012, the Grand Canyon is America's 2nd most-popular National Park and one of the world's greatest natural wonders. The North Rim is much less-visited than the South Rim, where Grand Canyon Village sits right on the edge of this genuinely breathtaking natural phenomenon.Visiting the Grand CanyonAmerican Sky has an escorted tour to the Grand Canyon.

1: Great Smoky Mountains National Park (North Carolina and Tennessee)(10 of10)

Great Smoky Mountains National ParkWith 9,685,829 visitors in 2012, over twice as many as the Grand Canyon, the Great Smoky Mountains National Park is easily the most visited in the USA. Some of those visitors traverse the park on foot, as the Appalachian Trail runs through it. The park was established in 1934, and is also a UNESCO World Heritage Site.Visiting the Great Smoky MountainsTake a fly-drive holiday through the South with Trailfinders.

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