Charting America Wilderness: More Than Just Parks Drops Exclusive 2024 National Park Rankings Ahead of National Park Week

Tuesday, April 16, 2024

With National Park Week on the horizon, kicking off April 20, the Pattiz Brothers-led More Than Just Parks proudly unveils their highly awaited 2024 national park rankings. Since its inception in 2021, this list has emerged as the premier global authority, shaping countless visitor itineraries annually. Drawing from extensive user input gathered over the past three years, the 2024 rankings reflect significant refinements.

This year’s updated methodology prioritizes aspects like scenic beauty and mitigating overcrowding, directly addressing the concerns voiced by park visitors. In contrast, factors like accessibility and amenities are given lesser weight. These adjustments aim to better mirror current visitor preferences, ensuring the rankings serve as a reliable and pertinent resource for prospective park visitors.

Will Pattiz, co-founder, explained the importance of these changes: “After receiving an overwhelming amount of feedback since our first release, we’ve tailored our 2024 rankings to better reflect the realities of today’s national park experiences. By adjusting our criteria to more heavily weight the awe factor as well as the detrimental effects of overcrowding, we aim to provide a tool that guides visitors towards making the most informed decisions for upcoming trips.”

Jim Pattiz added, “The influence of our national park rankings has grown beyond anything we ever anticipated. With so many people all over the world relying on our expertise every day, we feel like the exhaustive approach we take in creating these rankings is really justified. As we look towards National Park Week, it’s more clear than ever that our work offers more than just guidance; it’s about connecting families with their ideal adventures and ensuring the sustainability of our park system for generations to come.”

The top three national parks for 2024 are Olympic National Park, retaining its number one spot from the previous year, Mount Rainier National Park, renowned for its easily accessible breathtaking mountain views, and Grand Teton National Park, beloved for its striking landscapes and diverse wildlife. On the other end of the spectrum, Gateway Arch is rated as the least favored national park in America, with critics asserting that it doesn’t meet the criteria to be designated a national park. Feedback on these rankings is welcomed from the public.

Here are the top and bottom 5 national parks:

Top 5 National Parks:

1. Olympic National Park – 44.5/50 (Washington)
2. Mount Rainier National Park – 44.5/50 (Washington)
3. Grand Teton National Park – 44/50 (Wyoming)
4. Death Valley National Park – 43.5/50 (California)
5. Glacier National Park – 42/50 (Montana)

Bottom 5 National Parks:

1. Gateway Arch National Park – 15.5/50 (Missouri)
2. Indiana Dunes National Park – 25/50 (Indiana)
3. Hot Springs National Park – 29/50 (Arkansas)
4. Carlsbad Caverns National Park – 29.5/50 (New Mexico)
5. Dry Tortugas National Park – 29.5/50 (Florida)

The Scoring System:

• Accessibility (8pts) – Considers ease of access to the park and within the park, including transportation options, proximity to major airports, lodging, and ADA accessibility.
• Recreation (10pts) – Evaluates recreational opportunities such as hiking trails, biking routes, boating access, and climbing.
• Crowds (10pts) – Measures the level of crowding based on visitation, traffic, limited campsite availability, and long lines.
• Amenities (8pts) – Assesses developed amenities like visitor centers, campgrounds, bathrooms, lodges, and dining.
• Scenery (14pts) – Subjectively rates the scenic beauty of the park, considering it a crucial factor for most visitors.

The 2024 rankings not only showcase the finest aspects of America’s national parks but also reflect More Than Just Parks’ commitment to responsibly disseminating information about these natural treasures. The rankings aim to guide, inspire, and educate the public, ensuring that these remarkable places are cherished and preserved through informed and respectful visitation.

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