I've been to all 63 major US national parks. There are 5 I always tell people to visit in the summer.

In my opinion, Alaska's Kenai Fjords National Park is location to immoderate of the astir breathtaking and melodramatic scenery successful the country.

However, if you're driving there, you'll only beryllium capable to participate done Exit Glacier Road, which typically closes from late-October to Mid-May owed to snow. Better accessibility, mixed pinch warmer upwind and longer days, make summertime the champion clip to recreation to this bucket-list park.

Because astir of Kenai Fjords is only accessible by water, I propose taking a vessel circuit aliases kayaking pinch 1 of the galore section vendors.

Due to harsh upwind conditions and its distant location successful the mediate of Lake Superior, Isle Royale National Park is only unfastened from April 16 done October 31 each year.

The parkland is besides only accessible via seaplane aliases ferry, and work connected the second is sporadic aft early September. That's why the summertime months are the cleanable clip to sojourn the island.

While there, I urge hiking to the Minong Ridge and Grace Creek Overlooks.

There are galore sights successful the nationalist parks that are considered bucket-list worthy, and successful my opinion, seeing Mount McKinley firsthand is perfectly 1 of them.

The 20,310-foot highest is the highest successful North America, and connected a clear day, it tin beryllium seen from miles away.

Although the parkland is technically unfastened year-round, immoderate of the roads, visitant centers, campgrounds, and proscription services unopen down aft the summertime months.

For the champion experience, I urge taking a summertime autobus circuit connected Denali Park Road for unthinkable views of the parkland and its wildlife.

If you've ever seen a photograph aliases video of a melodramatic upland roadworthy connected societal media, location is simply a precocious likelihood that it was the iconic Going-To-The-Sun Road successful Glacier National Park.

The astir 50-mile roadworthy makes its measurement done immoderate of the astir photographed spots successful the park. However, owed to dense snow, parts of the roadworthy are typically closed until astatine slightest late-June. So, for the champion experience, I propose visiting successful the summer.

Plus, the warmer upwind intends the chance to return a dip successful 1 of the beautiful upland lakes, and longer days springiness visitors plentifulness of clip to explore.

Grand Teton National Park successful Wyoming is my favorite nationalist parkland in immoderate season, but I deliberation summertime is the champion clip to visit.

The parkland is known for its jagged peaks and ample lakes, which go cleanable for hiking, boating, and moreover swimming successful the warmer summertime months.

I emotion taking a scenic vessel thrust connected Jenny Lake, hiking the Taggart Lake way (parts of which are presently nether construction), and swimming aliases picnicking astatine Colter Bay Swim Beach.

Like others connected this list, the parkland is unfastened year-round, but the incredibly scenic Teton Park Road, which leads to galore of the park's astir well-known areas, is only unfastened seasonally from May 1 to October 31.

This communicative was primitively published connected June 10, 2026, and astir precocious updated connected July 30, 2026.