Recreational Areas: State and National Parks

A park is a reserve of land preserved because of its natural beauty, historical interest, and/or recreational opportunities , and protected from most human development and pollution. The federal government administers national parks, which generally prohibit hunting , mining, and other consumptive uses such as grazing. State parks are similar to national parks, but are under state rather than federal administration. Many state parks also allow hunting, fishing , and other recreational activities.

For information on state parks, contact the state's tourism office or fish and wildlife agency . Links to individual state park websites are also available.

For information on national parks, contact the National Park Service (NPS) . You may also locate a national park by name, location, activity, or topic on the NPS's website.

For additional information on national parks, as well as other federal recreational areas, please use Recreation.gov's advanced search engine , which allows you to find a recreational area by keyword, state, agency, or activity.

Additional Resources:

• Get a Pass to a State or National Park
• Make Reservations for Recreational Facilities
• Recreational Areas: Fee-Free Entrance Days
• Obtaining a Federal Recreation Pass
• National Wildlife Refuge System (NWRS)
• National Monuments
• National Historic Landmarks
• Marine Protected Areas (MPAs)
• Firearm Policies on FWS and NPS Lands