America has a favorite national park—and it’s not even close
New Google search data reveals the most-searched national park in every state, and one iconic park dominates the map.
If you could visit just one national park this year, where would you go?
For Americans in most states, the answer appears to be Yellowstone.
New Google search data reveals the most-searched national park in every state in 2026, and one park absolutely dominates the map: Yellowstone National Park is the No. 1 searched park in 33 of the 50 states, meaning two-thirds of the country is searching for Yellowstone more than any other national park.
Perhaps unsurprisingly, Yellowstone also takes the top spot in all three states it calls home: Wyoming, Montana and Idaho.
But Yellowstone's popularity stretches far beyond the Mountain West. It's the most-searched national park everywhere from Florida and Oregon to North Dakota and New York.
The data, based on Google search trends from Jan. 1 through July 27, 2026, also reveals some interesting regional loyalties and a handful of national parks that manage to beat Yellowstone on their home turf.
Interestingly, Yellowstone isn't the most visited national park, though. That crown belongs to the Great Smoky Mountains, which drew 11.5 million visitors in 2025. Zion National Park is the second most-visted national park, with 5 million visitors last year and Yellowstone comes in at No. 3 with 4.8 million visitors.
Just 15 national parks are the most searched in at least one state
There are 63 official national parks in the United States, but only 15 rank as the No. 1 searched national park in at least one state this year.
Yellowstone accounts for the overwhelming majority of the map, while Acadia National Park has carved out its own corner of New England. Acadia is the most-searched national park in Maine, New Hampshire and neighboring Massachusetts.
Shenandoah National Park also has some regional pull. It's the top-searched national park in Virginia as well as Washington, D.C.
Eleven other national parks claim the No. 1 spot in just one state: Denali in Alaska, Grand Canyon in Arizona, Yosemite in California, Rocky Mountain in Colorado, Hawaiʻi Volcanoes in Hawaii, Indiana Dunes in Indiana, White Sands in New Mexico, Badlands in South Dakota, Big Bend in Texas, Mount Rainier in Washington and New River Gorge in West Virginia.
In many cases, residents appear especially interested in exploring the spectacular national park right in their own backyard.
California is sticking with Yosemite
California has an embarrassment of riches when it comes to national parks. The state is home to nine of them, more than any other state in the country.
Still, Californians appear to have a clear favorite.
Yosemite National Park is the most-searched national park in California in 2026, and California is the only state where Yosemite takes the top spot.
Read More: 7 of America's least-visited national parks that belong on your bucket list
Other search trends suggest travelers are digging deeper into Yosemite trip planning, too. Nevada Fall ranks as California's top-trending waterfall, while the Mist Trail is its top-trending hike.
It's easy to see why those searches overlap: The famously scenic Mist Trail takes hikers past Vernal Fall and toward Nevada Fall, making it one of Yosemite's quintessential adventures.
Texans are searching for Big Bend
Texas is another state bucking the Yellowstone trend.
Big Bend National Park is the most-searched national park in Texas this year, and, like Yosemite, it only claims the No. 1 spot in its home state.
Searches also suggest Texans aren't merely daydreaming about the park's enormous desert landscapes. They're researching what to do once they get there.
Hot Springs Trailhead ranks as the state's top-trending hike, while Ross Maxwell Scenic Drive is its top-trending scenic drive.
The latter is one of the best ways to appreciate the sheer scale of Big Bend, winding through the Chihuahuan Desert toward some of the park's most recognizable scenery.
Yellowstone still has America's attention
Plenty of national parks can make a convincing case for a spot on your travel bucket list, from the soaring granite cliffs of Yosemite to the otherworldly gypsum dunes at White Sands.
But when it comes to search interest in 2026, Yellowstone, which, established in 1872, is also the country's first national park, is playing in a league of its own.
The world's first national park encompasses more than 2.2 million acres and packs in an almost absurd number of natural wonders: erupting geysers, colorful hot springs, waterfalls, canyons and some of the country's best opportunities to spot wildlife such as bison, elk, bears and wolves.
But Yellowstone does have a built-in advantage: It spans three states, giving it three different home-state audiences that may be more likely to search for it.
Frequently asked questions about national parks
What is the most-searched national park in America?
Yellowstone National Park comes out on top in this analysis, ranking as the most-searched national park in more states than any other park. It does have a bit of a built-in advantage: Yellowstone stretches across Wyoming, Montana and Idaho, giving it three different home-state audiences who may be especially likely to search for it.
What is the most visited national park in the U.S.?
Great Smoky Mountains National Park is the most visited national park in the country. The park, which straddles Tennessee and North Carolina, routinely draws more than 12 million recreational visits a year. Keep in mind that the most-visited and most-searched parks aren't necessarily the same: This ranking looks at Google search interest rather than actual park visitation.
Which state has the most national parks?
California has more national parks than any other state, with nine: Channel Islands, Death Valley, Joshua Tree, Kings Canyon, Lassen Volcanic, Pinnacles, Redwood, Sequoia and Yosemite. Alaska comes in second with eight national parks.