Although you should spend as much time as possible in each park to experience it fully, sometimes you’ll be short on time. And some parks don’t require a multi-day adventure. Here are ten national parks you can see in just one day.
What National Parks Can You See in One Day?
- Cuyahoga Valley National Park
- Indiana Dunes National Park
- Mammoth Cave National Park
- Congaree National Park
- Biscayne National Park
- Gateway Arch National Park
- Wind Cave National Park
- Great Sand Dunes National Park
- Hot Springs National Park
- Dry Tortugas National Park
If you want the highlights, here are some of the things you can do to experience these parks. Everything here can be done in one day.
Cuyahoga Valley National Park
Located between Cleveland and Akron, Ohio, Cuyahoga Valley National Park has plenty of recreational opportunities that you can experience in a day. With over 100 miles of trails, you can choose a short hike or a more rigorous path.
Check out Brandywine Falls, the highest waterfall in Ohio. A wooden walkway will take you down near the falls. Or explore the popular Ledges Trail, where you can see striking, moss-covered rock formations that will impress you any time of year.
For biking or easier hiking, the Towpath runs through the park along the path of the old Ohio Canal. The flat path of crushed-rock is perfect for a leisurely stroll, a bike ride or a chance to see the park’s Great Blue Herons.
For more history, you can tour the Canal Exploration Center. The Center provides a comprehensive historical overview of the Ohio Canal and the early settlers who lived in the area. And the best things about all of the above is that it is all free.
Finally, for a small cost, the Cuyahoga Valley Scenic Railroad runs through the park. You can ride the train, transport your bike or sign up for one of the railroads theme rides.
Indiana Dunes National Park
Located on the southern shore of Lake Michigan in northern Indiana, Indiana Dunes National Park has a wide variety of ecosystems that you can experience in a day. Here you can find glacier dunes 250 feet high, as well as over 50 miles of hiking trails.
There are also nine different beaches where you can swim or relax if you want some down time. West Beach is the largest and has the most amenities.
If you go at the right time of year, it’s also great for bird-watching. If you want to get away from the beach, there are some great trails that will take you through wetlands and forests as well.
You’ll also find some great historical remnants where you can learn about some of the areas earliest settlers.
Mammoth Cave National Park
Mammoth Cave is located in southern Kentucky and is the home to the largest known cave system in the world. Most of the park is unassuming since the real highlights are underground. Although above ground there are some great trails, including one with a great overview of the Green River.
For the caves, there are several guided tours available of various lengths. During the summer, there are ten tours that will give you a chance to see various parts of the cave. Fewer are available in the winter, but temperatures in the caves are generally consistent year-round.
I visited Mammoth Cave National Park for one day in 2022 and took two tours (Historic and Domes & Dripstones), each lasting about two hours. It seemed to give a sufficient overview of the cave system, so two seemed enough.
During the summer months there is also a limited self-guided tour. This is designed, however, to be more of an overflow option for those who couldn’t get a tour reservation.
Congaree National Park
One of the newest national parks, Congaree National Park is located outside of Columbia, South Carolina. Here you’ll find the largest intact expanse of old growth cypress and hardwood forest in the country.
Sitting on the floodplain of the Congaree and Wateree Rivers, the park is unlike any other. When the rivers haven’t spilled over, you can try out one of the park’s ten trails that will take you through the swamp that is home to alligators, turkeys, otters, turtles and others.
If you want to get out on the water, you can kayak down Cedar Creek. You can bring your own or rent equipment from some local retailers. One day is more than enough time to walk some of the trails, paddle down the creek and experience Congaree National Park.
Biscayne National Park
Off the coast of south Florida is Biscayne National Park. Accessible only by boat, the park the home to beautiful coral reefs, tropical fish, dolphins, and manatees among others. Onshore, you can visit the iconic Boca Chita Lighthouse, which has become a symbol of the park.
The clear and warm waters around the park are one of the ideal spots in the country for snorkeling. Here you’ll find shipwrecks, abundant marine life (including dolphins, sea turtles or rays) and tropical habitats.
If you want to get on the water and see something else, some of the largest concentrations of mangrove forests are located within the park. They provide a sheltered habitat for much of the park’s wildlife, including birds, manatees, and other marine life.
Gateway Arch National Park
You shouldn’t need more than a day to see the country’s smallest national park. Gateway Arch National Park is located in downtown St. Louis, Missouri. While there, you can take a tram to the top of the world-famous Gateway Arch. There is also a museum at the bottom that details the history of the area. Entrance to the museum is free.
Also part of the park is the Old Courthouse. The Courthouse was the site of two infamous trials. In 1847, the Dred Scott case which ruled that those of African descent, free or otherwise, were not citizens and were not entitled to certain constitutional protections.
In 1873 Virginia Minor, a woman, was arrested for trying to vote. The court ultimately decided that restrictions of the right of women to vote were constitutional.
You can find out more about these cases and other history by touring the courthouse.
Wind Cave National Park
In western South Dakota, you’ll find Wind Cave National Park. The expansive underground cave system gets its name from the sound emanating from the wind that blows both into and out of the cave. The only way into the cave is on a ranger-guided tour. During the summer there are three tours, varying from an hour to three hours.
You can also hike around the grounds outside the caves. There are over 30 miles of trails traversing the low hills and grasslands.
Most people combine a trip to Wind Cave with a trip to Badlands National Park. They are only about an hour apart, and you can camp near Badlands and make it a day trip to visit Wind Cave.
Great Sand Dunes National Park
You’ll find the highest sand dunes in North America in Great Sand Dunes National Park, located in southern Colorado. There are no trails through the dunes, so you can wander about and climb whichever you wish. Hidden Dune and Star Dune were tied as of 2021 as the tallest dune in North America at 741 feet.
If you visit in late spring, you may get to experience Medano Creek. It’s a seasonal creek that’s good for some fun recreational activities, especially for kids. The peak is in late spring. After that, it’s gone until next year.
And no visit to Great Sand Dunes National Park would be complete without stargazing. It’s a certified International Dark Sky Park and has some of the best views in the country. You’ll usually find clear skies and you should get a great look at the constellations, stars, and Milky Way.
Hot Springs National Park
One park you can easily experience in one day is located in Hot Springs, Arkansas. It is, of course, Hot Springs National Park.
The park is composed of a combination of natural and man-made historic features. There are a number of trails that will take you through the park, most of which are very short. Here you can see the ancient hot springs that give the park its name. You can also visit the Hot Springs Mountain Tower, which rises over 200 feet and gives you a panoramic view of the area.
The hot springs started drawing visitors in the 1800s for their supposed healing powers. Wealthy visitors built elaborate bathhouses that survive today. Throughout the bathhouses you’ll find museums, cultural centers, spas, and places you can eat. Behind the row is the Grand Promenade. The wide promenade is handicap accessible and passes many of the fountains and springs that make the park famous.
Dry Tortugas National Park
Situated in the Gulf of Mexico off of Key West, you’ll find one of the most isolated national parks in the continental United States. Dry Tortugas National Park is accessible only by boat.
And unless you plan on spending the night, you’ll have to do the park in one day. You’ll have to board a boat in Key West for the approximately two hour and fifteen minute voyage. There is usually only one departure a day.
With most tours, you’ll have about five hours to explore the park before returning to Key West. While there, you’ll see historic Fort Jefferson. It’s also a great opportunity to snorkel in the warm, shallow water of the Gulf.
