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By Billy Hathorn – Wikimedia

10 Best National Parks on the East Coast

Although a good number of national parks are found on the west coast, the East Coast has its fair share of national parks and reserves. The east side has marine reserves, trails and great monuments.

When planning your trip to the east coast, you will not only get a tour of their historic cities but also spend some time at their national parks.

The beauty about these parks is that they are less crowded on some seasons, so you can experience the best nature has to give peacefully and quietly.

There are options to choose from such as forest and mountainous parks to marine and coral parks.

Here are the best national parks to visit in the East Coast.

1. Acadia National Park, Maine

By Maddie.d. photography – Wikimedia

Acadia national park was the first one on the east coast and has remained to be one of the most scenics.

There is so much that one can do in this park, you can hike up Cadillac Mountain. This is the highest point on the Atlantic coast.

It is perfect for sunrise, additionally, you can kayak with the seals and spot bald eagles and also head out whale-watching from the main town of Bar Harbour.

Alternatively, you can drive through the park or ride your bike and take breaks at the many viewing points such as the Otter Cliff standing at 34 metres high.

Being a coastal national park, Acadia is a true representation of the Atlantic natural beauty. There are charming beaches and beautiful coastlines for you to enjoy.

2. Shenandoah National Park

This national park is well known for its splendid waterfalls, rolling hills, and lush valleys. The park has more than 70 viewing points that give a panoramic view of the park and mountain ranges.

The park sits on 200,000 acres of land filled with beautiful wildlife, natural wonders and endless views. If you would like to go for a drive, ensure your tank is full since there is only one gas station in the park.

Hikers love this park and the 500-mile trail is marked and maps are available too. The park has four camping sites and free backcountry camping permits. If you prefer comfort, then head over to Skyland resort.

3. Great Smoky Mountains National Park

You will find this park along the border of North Carolina and Tennessee. It is one of the most visited national parks in the United States. This park is famous for its flora and fauna, magnificent vistas and history.

It is a four seasons park with diverse activities that the visitors enjoy such as hiking, biking, fishing, beautiful drives, and horseback riding.

A variety of animals call this park home including white-tailed deer, black bears, coyotes and bald eagles.

Before the park became the property of the State, Cherokee Indians were the inhabitants of this land. You will find information about their history and culture at Cherokee town in North Carolina.

As you walk through the park you will find old buildings dating back to the 1800s that have been renovated and are open for tours.

Popular activities in the park include biking and hiking on designated trails.

4. Congaree National Park

By Jtmartin57 – Wikimedia

This national park is the largest forest with hardwood in South Carolina and the remaining ones in the United States. When you visit this park, you will notice lots of bald cypress trees and Spanish moss.

Being an all-season park, many visitors flood this park to see both land and water wildlife. You can spot river otters and alligators. The land animals include bobcats, deer, and birdlife like woodpeckers.

For perfect bird watching head over to Kingsnake trail which is 119 kilometres long and will lead you deep into the park. The Weston lake trail that is 7 kilometres long gives an overall view of the park.

Head over to the boardwalk loop to see the hardwood forests and the wildlife within. The trail is wheelchair and stroller friendly. The swamps close by having turtles, river otters.

5. Mammoth Cave National Park

The mammoth cave in this park attracts millions of visitors who get awed by its grand and peculiar sight. The cave stretches for more than 400 miles, making it the longest cave in the world. Only 10 miles are accessible to the public.

Those that visit this park have several accommodation options to choose from. There are camping options in the camping grounds or by the river.

For ultimate comfort, you can stay in the Mammoth Cave Hotel that has cottages and budget-friendly rooms.

You can also choose to take tours around the park such as frozen Niagara cave that is an hour-long, alternatively take the wild cave tour that takes longer.

6. Cape Cod National Seashore, Massachusetts

For a seashore national reserve, head over to Cape Cod which is 64 kilometres long along the Atlantic coastline. The park has lots of sea life, sandy beaches and it is safe to swim in.

There are historic lighthouses, wild cranberry bogs and beautiful dunes. You can choose to explore the coastline on a bike following the bike trails.

The coastline is lined with trees and ponds, it truly is filled with natural beauty. You can also swim in the designated pools, stroll along the beach, hike up to the marshes and ponds.

7. Everglades National Park, Florida

By Everglades NPS – Wikimedia

This is one of the largest national parks on the east coast with 1.5 million acres of forested land in southern Florida. The park has a variety of ecosystems, like freshwater sloughs, pinelands, cypress, and mangrove forests.

Many tourists that visit this park come to see the manatees, dolphins, crocodiles and the alligators. The crocodiles and alligators are found both in water and on land.

The popular activities in this park include hiking, canoeing and kayaking, bike rides, bird watching, and geocaching.

If you are up for more adventure then slough slogging through the water in a cypress forest is what you need to do. Do not worry there are park rangers that will guide you through the marshes.

8. Biscayne National Park, Miami

This park is best for underwater exploration involving you getting mostly your feet wet. To get here, you will need to hop onto a boat in Miami to access the northern entrance of this park

You can also opt to take a guided canoe trip through the mangrove forest and count yourself lucky if you spot a manatee.

There are snorkelling and diving trips at the coral reef where you can swim with turtles, jellyfish, sharks, rays and several other beautiful tiny fishes.

As you wind your day you can do it in style by taking an evening cruise guided by the park rangers.

9. Dry Tortugas National Park, Florida

By U.S. National Park Service – Wikimedia

This park is located about 70 miles west of Key West and has seven small islands. You can access this park through boat or by seaplane.

If you wish to spend some time in the park, you are required to bring with you all the necessary supplies. The camping grounds at Garden Key has all the amenities you will need during your stay.

The teal waters are inviting for snorkelling, diving or swimming. There are several colourful marine lives that you can see. Along the coral reef are many shipwrecks that you can explore.

The beach here is lined with Palm trees, white sand, and coral reefs making Dry Tortugas an excellent vacation destination.

10. Appalachian National Scenic Trail

By Billy Hathorn – Wikimedia

If you love to take long hikes through the forest while spotting wildlife and birds, this is the best park to go to. This park is made up of several others that lie across the Appalachian mountain range, there are 14 states in total.

The hiking trail through the park is 2,190 miles long and may take you months to walk through the park. You could choose to take shorter hikes.

If you happen to be in New York, you could take the half-day hike at Anthony’s Nose for scenic views of the city’s skyline.

Hiking through Mau-Har loop in Virginia will lead you to cascade waterfalls and swimming holes.