20 Best State Parks in the US: Fees, Seasons and What to Book
Twenty state parks that hold their own against national parks, with fee types, seasons and the few that require a reservation to get in.
The best state parks in the US rival national parks for scenery: Custer in South Dakota for bison and granite spires, Valley of Fire in Nevada for red rock, Letchworth in New York for a waterfall gorge, and Hāʻena in Hawaii for Kauaʻi’s North Shore. Entry usually costs from nothing to about $25 per vehicle as of November 2026, and the America the Beautiful pass does not cover state parks.
State parks are run by each state, so fees, reservations and rules differ. The table lists 20 standouts with what makes each special, the fee type and the best season; details on reservations and fees follow below.
What are the 20 best state parks in the US?
| State park | State | What makes it special | Fee (as of Nov 2026) | Best season |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Custer | South Dakota | Free-roaming bison, Needles Highway, Wildlife Loop Road | $25 per vehicle for 1–7 days | May–October |
| Valley of Fire | Nevada | Red sandstone, petroglyphs, 1 hour from Las Vegas | $10 Nevada vehicles, $15 others | October–April |
| Dead Horse Point | Utah | Overlook about 2,000 feet above a bend of the Colorado River, near Moab | Per-vehicle day-use fee | Spring and fall |
| Goblin Valley | Utah | Thousands of hoodoos to walk among; certified dark sky park | Per-vehicle day-use fee | Spring and fall |
| Letchworth | New York | Gorge up to 600 feet deep with three major waterfalls | $10 per vehicle in the fee season | Late September–October |
| Watkins Glen | New York | Gorge Trail past a string of waterfalls in the Finger Lakes | New York State Parks vehicle fee | Late spring–fall (Gorge Trail closes in winter) |
| Starved Rock | Illinois | Sandstone canyons with seasonal waterfalls on the Illinois River | No entrance fee | Spring for waterfalls; fall color |
| Hocking Hills | Ohio | Old Man’s Cave, Ash Cave and Cedar Falls | No entrance fee | Spring and fall |
| Fall Creek Falls | Tennessee | 256-foot waterfall on the Cumberland Plateau | Check the park page | Spring and fall |
| Tallulah Gorge | Georgia | Deep gorge with a suspension bridge and limited gorge-floor permits | Georgia ParkPass parking fee | Spring and fall |
| Baxter | Maine | Mount Katahdin, the northern end of the Appalachian Trail | Free for Maine vehicles; fee for nonresident vehicles | Summer–early October |
| Anza-Borrego Desert | California | California’s largest state park; spring wildflowers and slot canyons | Fees at some developed areas | February–April |
| Julia Pfeiffer Burns | California | McWay Falls dropping onto a Big Sur beach | Day-use parking fee | Year-round; check Highway 1 status |
| McArthur-Burney Falls Memorial | California | 129-foot spring-fed falls that flow year-round | Day-use fee | Spring–fall |
| Silver Falls | Oregon | Trail of Ten Falls; a path behind South Falls | $10 Oregon residents, $12–$12.50 nonresidents | Spring and fall |
| Smith Rock | Oregon | Volcanic cliffs above the Crooked River; climbing | $10 Oregon residents, $12–$12.50 nonresidents | Spring and fall |
| Palouse Falls | Washington | 198-foot falls in a basalt canyon | Washington Discover Pass | Spring |
| Palo Duro Canyon | Texas | Billed by the park as the second-largest canyon in the country | $8 per adult per day; 12 and under free | Spring and fall |
| Hāʻena | Hawaii (Kauaʻi) | Kēʻē Beach and the start of the Kalalau Trail on the Nāpali Coast | Nonresident entry and parking fees; reservation required | Year-round; calmer seas in summer |
| Itasca | Minnesota | Walk across the headwaters of the Mississippi River | Minnesota vehicle permit | Summer and early fall |
Fees change; check each park’s official page before you go.
Which state parks are best for desert and canyon scenery?
Valley of Fire, Dead Horse Point, Goblin Valley, Anza-Borrego and Palo Duro Canyon are the top desert choices, and all are best from fall through spring.
- Valley of Fire: Nevada’s first state park, established in 1935. Many trails close each year from May 15 through September 30 because of heat-related rescues, including White Domes, Fire Wave and the Pinnacles loop. See the Valley of Fire park page.
- Dead Horse Point and Goblin Valley: pair with Arches, Canyonlands and Capitol Reef; our guide to Utah’s natural wonders beyond the Mighty 5 covers both, plus flash flood safety.
- Anza-Borrego: flowers depend on winter rain, so check bloom reports before driving out.
- Palo Duro Canyon: the park often reaches capacity, so reserve day passes; trails may close in extreme heat.
In hot months, hike only in the early morning, carry at least a gallon of water per person and follow posted closures.
Which state parks have the best waterfalls and gorges?
Letchworth and Watkins Glen in New York, Silver Falls in Oregon, Starved Rock in Illinois, Hocking Hills in Ohio and Fall Creek Falls in Tennessee are the strongest picks for waterfalls.
- Letchworth: the Genesee River drops over Upper, Middle and Lower Falls in a gorge up to 600 feet deep, with 66 miles of trails. Fees and seasons are on the Letchworth State Park page.
- Silver Falls: the Trail of Ten Falls loop takes about half a day.
- Watkins Glen: the Gorge Trail climbs stone stairs past many waterfalls in a short distance; wet and slippery, so wear good shoes.
- Starved Rock: waterfalls flow best in spring or after heavy rain and can freeze in winter.
- Burney Falls and Palouse Falls: easy viewpoints; see our best waterfalls in the US for more.
Oregon’s Silver Falls and Smith Rock are also in our Oregon natural wonders guide.
Which state parks need reservations?
Hāʻena State Park on Kauaʻi is the strictest: nonresidents need an entry and parking reservation (or a shuttle seat) for every visit, released 30 days ahead. Palo Duro Canyon recommends reserving day passes, and Baxter State Park uses day-use parking reservations for Katahdin trailheads in season.
| Park | What to book | When |
|---|---|---|
| Hāʻena (HI) | Entry and parking, or shuttle; Hawaii residents exempt | Opens 30 days ahead |
| Palo Duro Canyon (TX) | Day pass to guarantee entry | Before you go, especially weekends |
| Baxter (ME) | Katahdin trailhead parking | Well ahead for summer weekends |
| Tallulah Gorge (GA) | Free gorge-floor permit | Limited daily, first come at the visitor center |
| Most parks | Campsites, cabins, lodges | Often several months to a year ahead, by state |
Hāʻena reopened on October 15, 2026, after storm closures; check the Hāʻena State Park page for the latest notices. Going past Hanakāpīʻai on the Kalalau Trail requires a separate camping permit.
How much do state parks cost compared with national parks?
State park fees are usually lower than national park fees, from free entry in Illinois and Ohio parks to about $25 per vehicle at Custer as of November 2026. National parks with fees mostly charge $30–$35 per vehicle.
- Per vehicle: the most common model, such as Custer, Valley of Fire, Letchworth and Oregon’s parks.
- Per person: Texas parks such as Palo Duro charge per adult.
- Annual state passes: worth it if you return often; Custer’s annual license costs $40 for residents and $60 for nonresidents.
- Out-of-state surcharges: Nevada, Oregon, Hawaii and South Dakota all charge visitors from other states more at some parks.
- Federal passes: the America the Beautiful pass is not accepted at state parks.
How do you plan a state park trip?
- Check the season: desert parks in winter, northern parks in summer and fall.
- Read the fee page: know whether you pay per vehicle or per person, and in which payment forms.
- Book early: campsites and cabins at popular parks fill as soon as they open.
- Pair parks: Custer with Mount Rushmore and the Devils Tower area, or Dead Horse Point with Arches and Canyonlands.
- Follow closures: heat, storm and trail closures are common and enforced.
Bottom line
For a national-park-level experience at a lower price, start with Custer, Valley of Fire, Letchworth, Dead Horse Point or Hāʻena. Expect to pay from nothing to about $25 per vehicle, reserve where required, especially at Hāʻena and Palo Duro, and visit desert parks from fall to spring.
FAQ
Does the America the Beautiful pass work at state parks?
No. The pass covers federal recreation sites only. State parks charge their own fees and sell their own annual passes.
Which state has the best state parks?
California, Utah, New York and Oregon each have several parks on this list. The best choice depends on the scenery you want, from desert canyons to waterfall gorges.
Do state parks require reservations to enter?
Most do not. Hāʻena in Hawaii requires them for nonresidents, Palo Duro Canyon recommends them on busy days, and campsites nearly everywhere should be booked ahead.
Are state parks less crowded than national parks?
Often, but not always. Parks close to big cities, such as Valley of Fire near Las Vegas or Starved Rock near Chicago, can be very busy on weekends.
