State parks are having a genuine moment. According to fresh Google Maps data tracking direction requests since Memorial Day, Americans are choosing state parks over the big name national parks in growing numbers this year, and the park topping the list is a two mile gorge in upstate New York that most visitors had never heard of a decade ago.
The appeal is easy to understand once the numbers are laid out. State parks tend to be closer to home, cheaper to visit, lighter on crowds than the national park circuit and often just as spectacular. The ten parks below are proof of that shift, each one drawing serious visitor numbers this year for very good reasons.
The ten parks Americans are driving to most this year
Google Maps ranked these ten parks using direction requests logged since Memorial Day, a real-time signal of where travelers are actually headed rather than simply where they say they would like to go.
| Rank | Park | State |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Watkins Glen State Park | New York |
| 2 | Liberty State Park | New Jersey |
| 3 | Silver Falls State Park | Oregon |
| 4 | Starved Rock State Park | Illinois |
| 5 | Letchworth State Park | New York |
| 6 | Hammonasset Beach State Park | Connecticut |
| 7 | Point Lobos State Natural Reserve | California |
| 8 | Warren Dunes State Park | Michigan |
| 9 | Blue Spring State Park | Florida |
| 10 | Jones Beach State Park | New York |
A gorge with 19 waterfalls in two miles
Watkins Glen has become the most sought-out park in the country for good reason. Its Gorge Trail packs 19 waterfalls into just two miles, winding beneath cascades and through hand-carved stone tunnels built by the Civilian Conservation Corps nearly a century ago. Visitors can combine the hike with a swim in the park’s Olympic-size pool, a picnic, or a stay at the campground, and the surrounding Finger Lakes wine country makes it an easy base for a longer trip. Timing a visit for a weekday morning or outside peak summer season rewards travelers with a quieter version of the same spectacular scenery.
Statue of Liberty views without the ferry line
Liberty State Park in New Jersey has become one of the most visited spots in the entire metro region, and it is easy to see the draw. The park offers some of the best skyline and Statue of Liberty views in the country from its waterfront promenade, all without a boat ticket, all free to access, and all paired with wide green lawns that make it a genuine picnic destination rather than just a photo stop.
A rainforest built around ten waterfalls
Oregon’s Silver Falls State Park centers on the Trail of Ten Falls, a loop that takes hikers behind and beneath cascading water through old growth forest. It is consistently ranked among the most beautiful state parks in the country, and its popularity this year reflects a broader surge in interest in the Pacific Northwest’s waterfall trails as an alternative to the more crowded corners of nearby national forests.
Two million visitors and free admission
Starved Rock State Park pulls in more than two million visitors a year to see its 18 sandstone canyons along the Illinois River, and it does so with no entrance fee and no reservation requirement for day use. That accessibility is a large part of the appeal. Spring is the standout season, when rain-fed waterfalls like St. Louis Canyon run at full force and wildflowers bloom along the canyon floors before the peak summer crowds arrive.
The Grand Canyon of the East
Letchworth State Park earns its nickname honestly. The Genesee River carves a gorge more than 600 feet deep past three major waterfalls, with the historic Glen Iris Inn perched on the rim offering meals with a view most restaurants cannot match. The park’s popularity has grown alongside a wider appreciation for New York’s upstate scenery, and its size, more than 14,000 acres, means it rarely feels as crowded as its visitor numbers might suggest.
Connecticut’s favorite stretch of shoreline
Hammonasset Beach is Connecticut’s largest shoreline park, and demand for it has climbed sharply, with the state reporting record crowds this year. Its long sandy beach, boardwalk and nature trails through coastal marshland make it a rare combination of beach day and nature walk in a single visit, which explains why it draws visitors from across the wider New York and Boston corridor.
Sea otters, seals and dramatic coastline
Point Lobos on California’s central coast is treasured for its sea otters, harbor seals and windswept cypress groves, all visible at close range along accessible cliffside trails. It is often described as the crown jewel of the state park system, offering a taste of Big Sur’s scenery in a compact, walkable setting that suits a morning visit rather than a full day expedition.
Dunes that rival any national lakeshore
Warren Dunes State Park in Michigan is known for sand dunes rising roughly 260 feet above Lake Michigan, with sweeping lake views from the top that rival anything found at the region’s national lakeshores. The beach below draws sunbathers and swimmers all summer, and the dunes themselves have become a favorite for the kind of dramatic sunset photography that keeps travelers coming back year after year.
A winter gathering of hundreds of manatees
Blue Spring State Park has become one of Florida’s most beloved wildlife destinations, drawing crowds each winter when hundreds of manatees gather in its warm, crystal clear spring run to escape the cold St. Johns River. The park has recorded counts well into the hundreds in recent winters, and boat tours and viewing platforms let visitors watch the gathering without disturbing it. Warmer months bring a different draw entirely, with the spring run open for swimming, tubing and kayaking in some of the clearest water in the state.
Six million visitors to the East Coast’s favorite beach
Jones Beach on Long Island is the most heavily visited beach on the entire East Coast, drawing an estimated six million visitors a year. Its two mile boardwalk, band shell concerts and wide Atlantic shoreline have made it a New York institution for nearly a century, and its scale means it can absorb enormous crowds while still leaving room to find a quiet patch of sand.
Why this matters for a trip this year
The surge in interest in these ten parks points to a real shift in how Americans are choosing to travel. State parks offer big scenery at a fraction of the cost and crowd level of the national park circuit, and the parks on this list prove the range on offer, from waterfall gorges to wildlife sanctuaries to some of the best beaches on either coast.
A few simple habits help make the most of a visit. Going early in the day or outside peak season brings a noticeably quieter experience at every park on this list. Checking each park’s website ahead of time confirms current hours, seasonal closures and any wildlife viewing restrictions. Pairing a park visit with a nearby town, whether that is Finger Lakes wine country near Watkins Glen or the historic river towns near Starved Rock, turns a single stop into a full day trip worth the drive.
Sourcing note: rankings are based on Google Maps direction request data as reported by Time Out, with additional detail from Florida State Parks and each park’s official visitor information.
Amanda O’Brien is the creator and editor of The Boutique Adventurer. She has visited 80 countries and is a member of the British Guild of Travel Writers as well as the IFTWTA. She is passionate about wine had has just completed Level 3 of the WSET. Born in Australia, she lives in London.