14 Underrated State Parks You Should Visit

There’s understandably a lot of love for the 63 amazing national parks across the United States. But you can find some real magic in the thousands of state parks in our country as well.

I’ll never forget visiting Custer State Park in South Dakota and feeling such awe at the sight of the granite formations, pine-speckled hills and herds of free-roaming bison. I couldn’t believe I’d barely heard of the park before my trip. The experience made me wonder, what other state parks have people been sleeping on?

With that in mind, I asked parks experts and outdoor enthusiasts to share the underrated state parks they believe more people should visit. Keep scrolling for some travel inspiration for your next adventure.