The National Park system includes a remarkable 425 units across the country, with 63 of them holding the prestigious title of National Parks. These parks are considered the “crown jewels,” offering the highest levels of protection and prestige within the federal system.
National Parks encompass an astonishing variety of landscapes and vary dramatically in size. The largest, Wrangell-St. Elias National Park & Preserve in Alaska, is as expansive as Bosnia and Herzegovina, while the smallest, Gateway Arch National Park in Missouri, is about the size of Vatican City.
Exploring the diverse sizes, visitor experiences, and abundant information about these parks is truly fascinating. Some parks are so remote they lack roads, while others are primarily water-based. There’s an incredible array of adventures waiting within the National Park system.
List of National Parks by Size
Here’s a rundown of National Parks, from the largest to the smallest. For parks that include both a National Park and a Preserve, you’ll see them labeled as “NP & Preserve.”
| Rank | Name | State | Acres | Sq. Miles | Comparable To |
|——|——|——-|——-|———–|—————-|
| 1 | Wrangell-St Elias NP & Preserve | Alaska | 13,175,791 | 20,587 | Bosnia and Herzegovina |
| 2 | Gates of the Arctic NP & Preserve | Alaska | 8,472,506 | 13,238 | Moldova |
| 3 | Wrangell–St. Elias | Alaska | 8,323,146 | 13,005 | Moldova |
| 4 | Gates of the Arctic | Alaska | 7,523,897 | 11,756 | Maryland |
| 5 | Denali NP & Preserve | Alaska | 6,045,153 | 9,446 | North Macedonia |
| … | … | … | … | … | … |
Understanding Sizes
Determining the exact sizes of these parks can be challenging due to variations in measurement methods. Discrepancies arise from different sources using varying criteria. For this list, I’ve done extensive research, relying on primary National Park Service references and public documents.
Factors like NPS fee areas, private land, and public land influence the reported sizes, making it a complex puzzle of numbers. I aimed to align these figures with other public sources as accurately as possible.
National Parks and National Preserves
The 63 National Parks include some that are designated as both National Parks and Preserves, such as the Great Sand Dunes and Katmai. These units are managed together, and visitors might not even realize when they transition from a park to a preserve.
Interesting Facts
Isle Royale National Park’s size includes water. The land alone accounts for 132,018 acres (206 sq. miles).
Redwood National Park combines both National and State Park lands, with the federal portion spanning 77,715 acres (121 sq. miles).
New River Gorge National Park comprises about 10% of the total area, with the remaining managed as a National Preserve to allow ongoing activities like hunting.
Frequently Asked Questions
– What is the Largest National Park?
Wrangell-St. Elias National Park & Preserve, covering a massive 13,175,791 acres, is larger than countries like Bosnia and Herzegovina and Denmark. If it were a country, it would rank as the 125th largest in the world.
– What is the Smallest National Park?
The smallest is Gateway Arch National Park in St. Louis, Missouri, covering just 91 acres, roughly equivalent to Vatican City. On an even smaller scale, the Thaddeus Kosciuszko National Memorial in Philadelphia is a mere 0.2 acres, encompassing just the house where he lived.
Other Resources You May Enjoy
– Guides to National Parks in the USA
– Complete List of US National Monuments
– Guide to Western US National Parks
– Ultimate Colorado National Park Road Trip
Exploring these parks offers an extraordinary opportunity to witness nature’s diversity and grandeur, from the vast Alaskan wilderness to monumentally historic sites. Dive in and discover the wonders of America’s National Parks!