If you’re planning a trip to a national park, you’re going to want to bring a good book with you! Not only will it keep you entertained while you’re on the road, but it can also help you plan your trip and learn more about the parks you’ll be visiting.
In this post, we’ll recommend some of the best national park books for your next adventure. Whether you’re looking for guidebooks, memoirs, fiction novels, or kids’ books, we’ve got you covered.
If you’re looking for a great read or a national parks book to help you plan your next adventure, look no further!
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Table of Contents
Best National Park Books for Trip Planning
100 Parks, 5,000 Ideas: Where to Go, When to Go, What to See, What to Do
Joe Yogerst, the author of 50 States, 5,000 Ideas, has followed his success with a guidebook published by National Geographic.
In addition to many national parks in every state, Joe covers nearby attractions, state parks, and more. This is a great national park book for anyone looking to venture outside the park boundaries to keep exploring. This includes public lands like national forests and city parks.
Latest edition: 2019
Your Guide to the National Parks: The Complete Guide to All 63 National Parks
There aren’t many national park books that are up-to-date, including all 63 national parks. This book is an exception.
If you’re looking to plan a trip with the best experiences to the newest national parks, such as New River Gorge National Park and White Sands National Park, this is the national park book for you.
Author Michael Joseph Oswald goes into detail with maps, lodging recommendations, popular activities, and more.
National Geographic Complete National Parks of the United States, 3rd Edition: 400+ Parks, Monuments, Battlefields, Historic Sites, Scenic Trails, Recreation Areas, and Seashores
This stunning book about national parks details more than 400 national park sites around the country.
Including maps, fascinating history, stunning photographs, popular attractions, and more, this is one of the best national park books for trip planning. This is especially true if you’re looking to venture beyond the 63 national parks and see the other units in the national park system, like national monuments.
The latest edition will be released in October 2022. If you can’t wait, purchase the second edition here. The second edition was released in 2016.
National Geographic Guide to National Parks of the United States
One of the most trusted sources for national park advice is National Geographic. It’s rare to visit a national park bookstore and not find the familiar yellow border around several options on the racks.
This is for good reason. Over the years, these national park guidebooks have proven themselves to be among the best and most detailed.
While the 9th edition only includes 62 national parks (missing New River Gorge), it is still one of the best national park books on the market.
Latest edition: 2021
Fodor’s The Complete Guide to the National Parks of the USA
Another one of the world’s most trusted sources in travel, this national park books list wouldn’t be complete without this guidebook from Fodor’s.
Recently updated to include all 63 national parks, the book also features a new layout to make trip planning even easier.
In addition to the plethora of valuable insights, the book features some of the most beautiful pictures I have ever seen.
BUY NOW: Fodor’s Complete Guide to the National Parks of the USA
Moon USA National Parks: The Complete Guide to All 63 Parks
Last but not least is my personal favorite: the Moon guide to the national parks.
Written by Becky Lomax, you can trust that this guidebook has everything you need to know to make your national park visits memorable for all the right reasons.
Organized by region, you’ll find over 700 pages of detailed information on each of the 63 national parks.
The latest edition will be released in October. If you can’t wait that long, check out the previous version featuring 62 national parks. It is only missing one park, New River Gorge.
More Trip Planning Resources
Visit Death Valley National Park | Visit Bryce Canyon National Park | Visit Yellowstone National Park
Best National Park Books for the Coffee Table
A Year in the National Parks: The Greatest American Road Trip
In 2016, my friends Jonathan and Stefanie went on an incredible trip to every national park to celebrate the centennial of the National Park Service. They chronicled their national park road trip online and have since published two books.
This is their first. Jonathan, a photographer for National Geographic, and his partner Stefanie display some of their best memories in beautiful images. They also write about their experiences and recommend activities for future park explorers.
This book will never leave my coffee table.
National Geographic Atlas of the National Parks
While this book contains a lot of information about everything national parks-related from archaeology to plate tectonics, its shining feature is the beautiful photographs and graphics.
With a different map for every topic, this atlas is one of the most complete national park books on a variety of interests.
One of my favorite things to learn about from Jon Waterman here is human impacts and climate change. While devastating, it’s such an important part of the future of our parks.
Latest Edition: 2019
National Parks of America
Doubling as a trip planner, this national park book features some of the most breathtaking photographs from around the country.
Inside, you’ll find planning resources that include fully written itineraries.
Written in 2021, it features three of the four newest parks (missing New River Gorge).
As usual, Lonely Planet doesn’t disappoint with this great book.
The Art of the National Parks
Featuring an introduction to each of the 59 national parks included, this book doubles as a brief overview and stunning piece of art.
While the information about each park is riveting, the truly captivating element of this book is the artwork. The works have been featured on postcards, posters, calendars, and more to continue inspiring people to visit their nation’s parks.
The Picture Book of National Parks: Breathtaking Images of America’s National Parks
On the surface, this may look like any other national park book. In reality, it serves a much greater purpose.
This picture book is designed to connect and engage readers with Alzheimer’s and dementia. It can help loved ones engage and help patients stay calm when emotions run high.
Worthwhile for any reader, the mission of this book is what makes it so special and coffee-table-worthy.
The National Parks: America’s Best Idea
A companion book to the famous 12-hour documentary, America’s Best Idea features some of the best photographs of our nation’s parks.
It’s amazing to skim through the pages and view the parks through the eyes of some of the parks’ most passionate explorers.
Best National Park Books for Kids
National Parks of the USA
This national park book features stunning illustrations that will captivate children and parents alike.
Featuring beautiful maps of the national parks in addition to park-specific pages, this book will teach children all about their national parks. From locations to wildlife to history, it has it all.
National Parks of the USA: Activity Book: With More Than 15 Activities, A Fold-out Poster, and 50 Stickers!
A companion to the activity book above, this book allows you to make the reading experience even more interactive.
Recommended for ages 3-9, the book includes stickers, trivia, fun facts, and more activities.
Mystery In Rocky Mountain National Park
The first book in Aaron Johnson’s National Park Mystery series, Mystery in Rocky Mountain National Park follows the story of Jake on a scavenger hunt in Rocky Mountain National Park.
Picture National Treasure, but entirely based in one of the nation’s most beautiful places.
Reviewers say that even parents will find this one hard to put down.
Recommended age is around 8-11 years old.
National Parks Journal for Kids: Log and Remember Your Awesome Outdoor Adventures
While we feature some amazing journals for adults below, it’s important to remember the kids and allow them to creatively record their memories, too.
This book is recommended for travelers aged 6-9.
Unfortunately, there is only room to log four park visits. If you are frequent national park travelers, this may not be the right purchase for your family.
One of the benefits is the journal is not park-specific, so you can write about wherever it is you travel to.
If I Were a Park Ranger
Have you ever imagined what it would be like to become a park ranger? I know I have, and I bet your kids have, too.
The idea of working and living in America’s most important places is idyllic, and this book explores the possibility.
Best National Park Memoirs and Books Inspired by True Stories
The Last Season
This book had me on the edge of my seat, frantically flipping through the pages anxious and eager to learn more about Ranger Ranger Morgenson.
Randy was a ranger for Sequoia and Kings Canyon national parks for almost two decades. Until one day when he went missing. The mystery took years to solve and is beautifully (and devastatingly) detailed in this novel.
Leave Only Footprints: My Acadia-to-Zion Journey Through Every National Park
After having his heart broken, CBS Sunday Morning correspondent Conor Knighton healed in the best way he knew how: he visited every national park over the course of one year.
In his memoir, you’ll hear funny and inspirational stories from his journey. Conor’s personal reflections offer unique experiences not read about in any other national park book.
Perhaps it’ll even inspire a journey of your own?
Campfire Stories: Tales from America’s National Parks
This book explores a variety of short stories that taken place in America’s national parks.
Some are from famous authors, like John Muir. Some are told by park rangers. Some have been passed down through indigenous cultures.
No matter which stories you prefer, each of these will pique the interest of any national park enthusiast.
Ranger Confidential: Living, Working, and Dying in the National Parks
I love this book so much that I used to own two copies, having forgotten I’d already purchased it. Eventually, I donated the second copy to a used books store hoping someone else would be as enthralled as I was.
Andrea Lankford, a retired park ranger, beautifully tells her life story through the window of many national parks. She worked in a variety of places, including Grand Canyon National Park.
A page-turner from beginning to end, this book had me laughing out loud and weeping.
I highly recommend it.
Best Novels in National Parks
The Anna Pigeon Series by Nevada Barr
Nevada Barr, a former park ranger, has written 19 mysteries set in the national parks. These mysteries are some of the most popular national park books out there.
The series follows Anna Pigeon, a park ranger with a love of nature and a keen sense of problem-solving.
Featured national parks include Guadalupe Mountains, Cumberland Island, Glacier, Dry Tortugas, Yosemite, Big Bend, and Acadia.
History Comics: The National Parks: Preserving America’s Wild Places
To be honest, I have never been interested in history. Even while I love national parks, I find learning about their history to be trivial. That was until I discovered these comics.
A new and fun way to learn, this graphic novel details the natural history of many of America’s national parks. It is positively one of the best national park books for diving deep into the past.
Best National Park Journals
The National Parks Journal: Plan & Record Your Trips to the US National Parks
In 2016, my friends Jonathan and Stefanie went on an incredible trip to every national park to celebrate the centennial of the National Park Service. They chronicled their journey online and have since published two books.
The first is my favorite coffee table book, listed above. The second is Stefanie’s amazing National Parks Journal.
In addition to journaling pages, this amazing book also features travel advice from a true park savant, history, planning resources, fun facts, and so much more.
I find Stefanie and Jonathan, with their combined experiences and talents, write the best books on national parks.
U.S. National Parks: Adventure Planner & Passport Stamp Book
One of the most popular national park journals is this one, likely because it is one of the few to be updated with all 63 national parks.
Featuring checklists, maps, and more, this is a great national parks journal with promising reviews.
Check it out to document your journey from Acadia to Zion.
BUY NOW: U.S. National Parks Adventure Planner and Passport Stamp Book
National Parks Book: National Park Passport & Bucket List
Published in 2021, this passport and bucket list national parks book features all 63 national parks.
In addition to its journaling pages, you’ll also find a hiking log, packing lists, QR codes to take you to the official national park websites, and more.
Fun National Park Books
Knitting the National Parks: 63 Easy-to-Follow Designs for Beautiful Beanies Inspired by the US National Parks
Here’s something you may not know about the Parks Expert: I love crafting. While I do not knit, I have always wanted to learn, and this fun national park book might finally give me the inspiration I need to pick up some knitting needles.
This book by Nancy Bates includes beautiful knitting patterns for beanies inspired by all 63 national parks.
Even if you don’t knit, this would make a great national park gift for a friend!
Subpar Parks: America’s Most Extraordinary National Parks and Their Least Impressed Visitors
While we probably believe everyone loves their national parks, some visitors are less enthusiastic than others.
Featuring some of the funniest poor reviews of national parks, Subpar Parks takes the text and adds them to posters. The result is nothing short of hilarious.
In fact, you’ve probably seen some of Amber’s work on social media. Her posters and parodies have gone viral several times.
If you need a good laugh, this is the national park book for you.
National Parks Travel Size Coloring Book for Adults
Spending time outdoors has been linked with improving mental health and alleviating stress.
So has completing coloring pages.
Why not combine the two?
This stunning book allows adults to complete national park coloring pages on their travels. Or, you can allow it to inspire your next trip!
No matter where you choose to color, allow the national parks to lead you to relaxation.
National Park Quarters: 50 States + District of Columbia & Territories
If you find yourself saving every national park quarter you come across, this is the national park book for you.
Finally store them in a place easy to access, admire, and brag about.
National Parks: 300 Crossword Puzzles
How much do you really know about America’s national parks?
It’s time to find out.
Put your knowledge to the test by completing national parks-themed crossword puzzles in this fun new book.
As someone who does the New York Times puzzle every morning, I personally cannot wait to try this out.
Pin Our Favorite Books on National Parks
Whether you’re looking for a guidebook to help you plan your national park trip, a memoir about someone’s experience in the parks, or a fiction novel set in one of these beautiful places, we hope you’ve found something on this list that strikes your fancy. Grab one of these national park books and enjoy your next adventure!
For more ideas, check out our gift guide for national park lovers.
