7 Of The Best Free State Parks In The U.S.

The U.S. is brimming with beautiful national parks, together with ones with free entry that ensures unforgettable recollections. Whereas many vacationers are extra targeted on common parks (they usually actually deserve the eye), there are U.S. state parks which are no much less spectacular and include limitless alternatives for outside recreation.

Whether or not you are all for tenting, historical past, adventures, or a lakeside seaside expertise, there are many choices to discover. As a bonus, a few of these gorgeous jewels don’t cost entry charges for admission.

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7 Beaver Dam State Park, Illinois

Take pleasure in recognizing wildlife on this nature lover’s paradise

Beaver Dam State Park, Illinois

Stretching over 750-acre of house, Beaver Dam State Park is a nature lover’s paradise, with loads of actions, together with farmland, a lake, a marsh, and open fields, which provide a habitat for unbelievable wild creatures, equivalent to hawks, wild turkeys, woodpeckers, deer, and raccoons. Vacationers may also come throughout a wide range of songbirds, together with bluebirds, orioles, and finches. Fishing, mountain climbing, tenting, and picnicking are different enjoyable actions one can take pleasure in right here.

6 Starved Rock State Park, Illinois

Take pleasure in limitless choices for outside adventures on this scenic state park

Starved Rock State Park In Illinois, An Glorious Highway Journey From Chicago To Take

One of many top-rated sights in Illinois, Starved Rock State Park is house to pristine seasonal waterfalls, which might be visited within the spring and after heavy rainfall. There are quite a few scenic sights to explore around and within the park, together with greater than 13 miles of scenic trails. Starved Rock State Park additionally ensures unforgettable fishing and boating experiences.

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If vacationers hear “stunning panorama” and take into consideration towering canyons, cliffs, and waterfalls, then they need to take a look at Starved Rock State Park.

5 Lake Manawa State Park, Iowa

This state park is a haven for outside recreation

Lake Manawa State Park, Iowa

Lake Manawa State Park is an iconic vacation spot for outside lovers and welcomes hundreds of vacationers. The lake was fashioned in 1881 following the Missouri River floods, and its title, a Native American phrase, interprets to “peace and luxury.” It’s an ideal place to calm down and correctly unwind or have a picnic and benefit from the wonderful outside actions, like mountain climbing, boating, and tenting.

4 My Previous Kentucky House State Park, Kentucky

This park comes with a wealthy historical past and outside recreation

The Federal Hill, My Previous Kentucky House State Park, Kentucky

Situated in Bardstown, My Old Kentucky Home State Park is among the many greatest free-entry state parks within the U.S. It has quite a bit to supply, together with Federal Hill, a former plantation, and an inspiration for Stephen Foster’s well-known track “My Previous Kentucky House,” which is the park’s centerpiece.

In the present day, guests can tour the historic mansion, the gardens, and the grounds. Aside from exploring the mansion’s historical past, guests can take pleasure in {golfing}, tenting, picnicking, enjoying tennis, and birdwatching. The state park is likely one of the things you can only see in Kentucky and shouldn’t miss on the bucket listing.

3 Elephant Rocks State Park, Missouri

Discover the distinctive rock formations on this state park

A scenic view of Elephant Racks State Park, Missouri

Situated in southeast Missouri, Elephant Rocks State Park is likely one of the best state parks in Missouri. The rocks have been fashioned over 1.5 billion years in the past, and over time, created distinctive rock formations which have captured the eye of geologists, historical past buffs, and playful kids.

The park is house to picnic tables the place you possibly can calm down and benefit from the view. Vacationers can hike the one-mile-long Braille Path (accessible to guests with bodily and visible disabilities), which winds via the principle space of the big rocks.

2 Ricketts Glen State Park, Pennsylvania

From mountain climbing to snowmobiling within the winter, this park is a haven for outside lovers

A scenic Waterfall in Ricketts Glen State Park, Pennsylvania

Rickets Glen State Park is likely one of the beautiful natural places you need to see to believe in Pennsylvania and among the many U.S. state parks, you possibly can go to it totally free. Protecting 13,193 acres, the park affords loads of alternatives for outside recreation.

Lake Jean has quite a few leisure alternatives, together with swimming on the seaside, picnicking, boating, and fishing. Guests may also hike the Falls Path System, camp, hunt throughout the park, and luxuriate in winter actions, like snowmobiling, cross-country snowboarding, snowshoeing, and extra.

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1 South Cumberland State Park, Tennessee

This U.S. state park is house to spectacular pure options

Greeter Falls behind cairns and rocks within the South Cumberland Hole space of Beersheba Springs, Tennessee, TN, USA

Located on the Cumberland Plateau, within the center and southeast elements of Tennessee, South Cumberland State Park is likely one of the greatest state parks to go to totally free, and some of the stunning locations in Tennessee. There are many wonderful options to expertise within the park, together with rocky gorges, panoramic overlooks, cascading waterfalls, lush slopes, and woodlands.