State parks had a real moment in 2025 as more people looked to experience the great outdoors. According to Google Maps search trends, interest in several U.S. state parks jumped sharply over the past year, driven by travelers looking for big, bold scenery without the crowds of national parks.
Topping the list of trending state parks is Watkins Glen State Park in New York’s Finger Lakes. The park’s main gorge trail offers views of a whopping 19 waterfalls, stone staircases carved into rock and sheer cliffs rising nearly 200 feet overhead. The park offers dramatic but accessible scenery, and nature enthusiasts are taking notice. Though Watkins Glen has been open for more than a century, travelers appear to be rediscovering it, drawn by fairytale photos of outstanding natural beauty in upstate New York.
Valley of Fire State Park in Nevada is the number two trending state park. Its sweeping red sandstone formations ripple across the desert like frozen waves, the result of ancient sand dunes shaped over millions of years. For travelers who’ve been unable to secure permits for Arizona’s famously elusive Wave, Valley of Fire offers a visually similar payoff with far fewer hoops to jump through.
Rounding out the top three is Liberty State Park in New Jersey. It may not be rugged, but it comes with some incredible views. Set along the Hudson River, Liberty State Park offers an unforgettable glimpse of Manhattan’s skyline and the Statue of Liberty. It already welcomes millions of visitors each year, but interest surged again in 2025 as more people sought out easy-access green space with a sense of place.
The rest of the trending list covers the country from coast to coast, from lush parks in the Pacific Northwest to subtropical landscapes in Florida. In a year when travelers seem more intentional about where they go, state parks are winning by offering unforgettable outdoor experiences without a lot of hassle.
Top ten trending state parks in 2025, according to Google
- Watkins Glen State Park—New York
- Valley of Fire State Park—Nevada
- Liberty State Park—New Jersey
- Starved Rock State Park—Illinois
- Silver Falls State Park—Oregon
- Letchworth State Park—New York
- Blue Spring State Park—Florida
- Palo Duro Canyon State Park—Texas
- Point Lobos State Natural Reserve—California
- Crater of Diamonds State Park—Arkansas