Social Media Reveals the 10 Most Picturesque National Parks in America
What’s the point of traveling without capturing the perfect “Insta’ pic?” Scenic destinations such as the Grand Canyon likely come to mind as being the most visited and photographed places, but the national park in the U.S. with the most hashtags per acre is Gateway Arch National Park.
“New Twist” on the Most Instagrammable National Parks in America
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A recent study by Places to Travel researched the ten most tagged national parks on Instagram and divided those tags by the total acres of each park to get a data point. The data suggests which national parks are the “most picturesque” per acre.
A spokesperson for Places To Travel commented on the findings saying, “Social media continues to play a pivotal role in where we decide to travel to for vacation or for a weekend trip, with many social media users taking to their favorite platform to see the best beauty spots at their chosen destination.
This study provides a great insight into which locations are the most photogenic and can guarantee visitors the ‘perfect Insta pic.'”
1. Gateway Arch National Park – Missouri
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Considering the park’s overall size, Gateway Arch National Park in St. Louis comes first. The reasoning is that sitting on a little over 90 acres and having over 11,000 tags on Instagram means the likelihood of capturing an epic sharable image, free of crowds, is high.
The iconic arch is 630 feet tall and is the tallest monument in the U.S. That alone guarantees remarkable landscape images. Seeing the arch once should be on every national park lover’s bucket list.
2. Bryce Canyon National Park – Utah
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Famous for its hoodoos and breathtaking red rock scenic vistas, Bryce Canyon comes in second place. With over 700,000 hashtags and almost 36,000 acres of wide-open spaces, visitors can likely get the perfect picture while visiting.
There are miles of trails and roads to explore. If visitors only have one day, they should do the iconic drive to all the overlook vistas.
3. Acadia National Park – Maine
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Acadia makes the list for third place. Encompassing roughly 49,000 acres with over 500,000 tags online, outdoor lovers can enjoy the area’s beauty by touring the park’s famous beaches and peaks. Summer and fall are magical times of year for adventures in this protected national treasure.
4. Zion National Park – Utah
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Coming in fourth place is Zion National Park. Millions of visitors flock here to hike, camp, canyoneer, and see the famous towering cliffs. Zion encompasses over 148,000 acres, and over 1.4 million people have tagged the park on Instagram.
If hiking Angels Landing is on your bucket list, don’t forget a permit.
5. Arches National Park – Utah
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Another cherished national park in Utah, Arches, is where to make and capture lasting digital memories. The park is over 76,000 acres and has over 669,000 tags online.
Drive the scenic route and hike to one of the most prized sandstone landmarks in the nation – Delicate Arch.
6. Hot Springs National Park – Arkansas
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You’re missing out if you haven’t been to Hot Springs National Park in Arkansas yet. Upon visiting Bathhouse Row, visitors are greeted by a vibrant historic downtown. Besides the option to soak in two historic bathhouses, there is plenty of hiking, camping, and sightseeing. Be sure to bring a bottle to try the healing waters – you can fill it up yourself.
Hot Springs National Park manages over five thousand acres and has 47,000 tags and counting on Instagram.
Hot Springs National Park is pet-friendly, so tag your furry loved — #barkranger.
7. Haleakalā National Park – Hawaii
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As Maui weighs heavily on the hearts of America and the world, Haleakala is another park that makes the list. The sunsets are like no other, and the trails are epic if backcountry hikes are your thing.
Haleakalā encompasses around 34,000 protected acres and has over 261,000 tags on the ‘gram.
8. National Park of American Samoa
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Visitors to American Samoa must fly to access this cultural gem in the South Pacific. Located on the island of Tutuila, tourists can catch a flight from Honolulu twice a week to access the protected landscape.
The park protects over eight thousand acres and has under 60,000 social media tags.
9. Indiana Dunes National Park – Indiana
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With over 50 miles of trails wandering through the dunes along Lake Michigan, mid-westerners return year after year to camp and enjoy the area. Though the park is smaller, on 15,000 acres, over 90,000 people and counting continue to share their adventures of Indiana Dunes online.
10. Yosemite National Park – California
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Located in the Sierra Nevada mountains, waterfalls and spectacular views around every corner are what visitors anticipate before visiting their first time. Hiking, camping, and backpacking are cherished activities in the park. And if you’re lucky, you can catch golden hour light-up Horsetail Fall near El Capitan.
Yosemite protects over 748,000 acres and has 3.4 million tags on Instagram.
FOMO is Real and Driving the Data
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The fear of missing out (#FOMO) on epic travel destinations is legitimate. So real that millions of people tag their favorite travel destinations for the perfect Insta’ pic to share with their friends, family, and followers.
In today’s culture, if it’s not on someone’s Instagram feed – did they even go? The hype of “doing it for the ‘gram” is so real that people are making a living sharing their epic travel destinations around the world.
15 Epic Travel Experiences Around the World People Swear By, Have You Been?
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The world has no shortage of epic experiences. Every country is ripe with adventure if you have an idea of your interests and are willing to look. For those wondering where to start the search, here are 15 travel experiences people in one online community swear by.
15 Epic Travel Experiences Around the World People Swear By, Have You Been?
15 Dangerous Cities in America You May Reconsider Visiting or Moving To
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You’re excited about planning a trip or considering moving to a new city. Still, you need to learn more about your destination. So it’s beneficial to keep up-to-date about how safe your chosen location is. We all know cities have their vibe and cool stuff, but there’s also the not-so-fun side of potential risks. Violence and property crimes make up the issues currently facing the following cities.
15 Dangerous Cities in America You May Reconsider Visiting or Moving To
15 Incredible Places in the U.S. You Might Not Have Realized Were UNESCO Sites
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There’s nothing better than discovering there’s even more to a place than you thought. Whether you know it or not, these 15 incredible places in the U.S. are UNESCO World Heritage Sites and all worth visiting.
15 Incredible Places in the U.S. You Might Not Have Realized Were UNESCO Sites
“I Love It Here!” 20 Best Small Towns in America for Your Bucket List
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Are you seeking a respite from the busy and noisy urban lifestyle? Look no further than America’s small towns. From the quaint and charming to the downright quirky, small towns across the country offer unique experiences and attractions. Here are 20 of America’s most famous. Where are you going next?
“I Love It Here!” 20 Best Small Towns in America for Your Bucket List
10 Cities That Hold the Title for “Best Mexican Food” in the U.S.
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Who doesn’t love Mexican food?! Over here, we live for tacos. According to a recent online discussion, here are what people think are the best U.S. cities for Mexican cuisine — in no particular order.
10 Cities That Hold the Title for “Best Mexican Food” in the U.S.
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