Are There 62 Or 63 National Parks? Exploring Americas Natural Wonders

As of 2023, the United States boasts a total of 63 national parks, each of which is safeguarded and managed by the National Park Service. Among these, the most recent addition occurred in 2020, with the establishment of New River Gorge National Park in West Virginia. These national parks are distributed across 30 states and span two U.S. territories, making them treasured destinations for nature enthusiasts and conservationists alike. This information was last updated on August 27, 2023.

The smallest national park in the United States, Gateway Arch National Park located in St. Louis, Missouri, spans a mere 192 acres. To put this size into perspective, it’s roughly equivalent to 0.3 square miles of land. For context, Hot Springs National Park is the second smallest national park in the United States, covering an area of 5,549 acres, which translates to about 8.6 square miles of land. This information helps illustrate the significant difference in size between the smallest and second smallest national parks in the country. (Note: The date “21 thg 3, 2021” is unclear and might not be relevant to this topic, so it has been omitted.)

Which national park holds the distinction of being the largest in the contiguous United States? Death Valley National Park, spanning a vast 3.4 million acres, not only boasts this impressive title but also lays claim to the unique distinctions of being the hottest, driest, and lowest point in the entire country. Within its expansive boundaries, Death Valley is home to an astonishing array of plant and animal species, making it a remarkable testament to the biodiversity that can thrive in such extreme conditions.