I was surprised when I counted that there are only 45 National Parks in the Midwest. After all, the midwestern states comprise roughly 20% of the land area of the 48 contiguous US States, but make up only roughly 11% of the 420+ parks managed by the US National Park Service.
But don’t discount the beauty and significance of the Midwestern National Parks! That would be a mistake.
In our quest to visit the 420+ National Park Units in the United States, we have learned that the Midwest boasts many diverse experiences from scenic waterways and landscapes, to telling the story of westward expansion and civil rights, to honoring the many contributions of indigenous people in the making of America. So whether you are planning a solo road trip, a Midwest couples vacation, or a vacation spot for your entire family, check out these great national parks!
Where is the Midwest of the United States?
Our definition of Midwest coincides with the National Park Passport which includes the following 10 states: Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, Ohio, and Wisconsin. That’s 10/50 US States (20%).
As you will see in the map below, these states are predominately located in the northeastern and central US. This can be confusing because “west” is in the name. But consider the US in the mid 1800’s when many of the land areas that are now states, were only US territories. At that time, the concept of west was very different. In fact, Kansas, one of the midwestern states, was only admitted to the Union in 1861.
While many of the Midwestern National Parks do not have a “National Park” designation, all 45 of them are official units that are managed by the National Park Service. These designations include (among others) National Monuments, National Historic Sites, and National Lakeshores.
What You May Experience in the Midwest as a Visitor
Both Jason and I grew up in the Midwest. We can attest to the general good nature of Midwesterners. When you travel in the area, you can look forward to creating genuine experiences while getting hands on with all four seasons.
The Midwest boasts several large cities and a lot of dynamic and quirky towns in between. The largest cities in the Midwest are listed below:
- Chicago, Illinois
- Columbus, Ohio
- Indianapolis, Indiana
- Detroit, Michigan
- Kansas City, Missouri
- Minneapolis, Minnesota
Driving in the Midwest is generally easy to do which makes it ideal if you’re considering a road tirp. Cities are not extraordinarily far apart from one another, and even the rural areas are generally not too far from a town that has access to resources in the event that you need to stop for food, gas, or assistance. Furthermore, the roadways are relatively flat when compared to other regions. Rarely will you find yourself in a situation where you are driving at the edge of a massive drop off in the Midwest.
It’s truly a great region to explore! If you’re planning a road trip, check out this guide which provides some of the best road trips in the US by region.
A Few Facts about National Parks in the Midwest
As we visit each Midwest National Park, we develop an even deeper appreciation of the historical contributions and relevance of this part of the US Geography. Consider the following:
- The Midwest was the birthplace to several US Presidents – including Abraham Lincoln who has multiple park sites honoring his contributions to the shaping of our nation.
- The Midwest is also home to several sites that preserve the heritage of westward expansion in this country, often in the form of military sites.
- Midwest states are also home to national park sites that recognize and interpret the tumultuous history that the US has had in the form of racism and the struggle for civil rights.
Pretty diverse, huh?
Also, while I typically don’t associate the Midwest with descriptive cliques like “breath-taking views” or “unparalleled scenery”, these states have their own charm and beauty. I look forward to seeing the Tallgrasses in the Kansas Plains and the lakeshores along the Great Lakes which, I’m sure, have their own midwestern ability to delight.
List of Midwest National Parks by State
If you’re curious about other National Parks in the Midwest by state, we have included the complete list below. We also recommend checking out the beautiful National Geographic guide which introduces each of the 400+ park units managed by the National Park Service.
Illinois (3 National Park Units)
- Lincoln Home National Historic Site
- New Philadelphia National Historic Site
- Pullman National Historical Park
Indiana (3 National Park Units)
- George Rogers Clark National Historical Park
- Indiana Dunes National Park
- Lincoln Boyhood National Memorial
Iowa (2 National Park Units)
- Effigy Mounds National Monument
- Herbert Hoover National Historic Site
Kansas (5 National Park Units)
- Brown vs. Board of Education National Historical Park
- Fort Larned National Historic Site
- Fort Scott National Historic Site
- Nicodemus National Historic Site
- Tallgrass Prairie National Preserve
Michigan (5 National Park Units)
- Isle Royale National Park
- Keweenaw National Historical Park
- Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore
- River Raisin National Battlefield Park
- Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore
Minnesota (5 National Park Units)
- Grand Portage National Monument
- Mississippi National River and Recreation Area
- Pipestone National Monument
- Voyageurs National Park
- Saint Croix National Scenic Riverway (also Wisconsin)
Missouri (7 National Park Units)
- Gateway Arch National Park
- George Washington Carver National Monument
- Harry S Truman National Historic Site
- Ozark National Scenic Riverways
- Ste. Genevieve National Historical Park
- Ulysses S. Grant National Historic Site
- Wilson’s Creek National Battlefield
Nebraska (5 National Park Units)
- Agate Fossil Beds National Monument
- Homestead National Historical Park
- Niobrara National Scenic River
- Scotts Bluff National Monument
- Missouri National Recreational River (also South Dakota)
Ohio (8 National Park Units)
- Charles Young Buffalo Soldiers National Monument
- Cuyahoga Valley National Park
- Dayton Aviation Heritage National Historical Park
- First Ladies National Historic Site
- Hopewell Culture National Historical Park
- James A. Garfield National Historic Site
- Perry’s Victory and International Peace Memorial
- William Howard Taft National Historic Site
Wisconsin (2 National Park Units)
- Apostle Islands National Lakeshore
- Saint Croix National Scenic Riverway (also Minnesota)
Our Favorite Experiences at National Parks in the Midwest
To date, we have visited 8 of these 45 Midwest National Parks – here are a handful of our favorite experiences to date. Note: we’ll continue to expand this list as we visit even more parks in the Midwest.
- Driving a Golf Cart around Put-In-Bay while visiting Perry’s Victory and International Peace Memorial in Ohio
- Witnessing our nephew (then 6 years old) reciting his Junior Ranger pledge at Charles Young Buffalo Soldiers National Monument – the volunteer, a student at the nearby Wilberforce University, the Historically Black College / University (HBCU) where Coronel Charles Young taught, made our visit particularly memorable by lavishing attention upon our nephew. While he has collected a few Junior Ranger badges over the years, he has said that this was his favorite visit!
- Enjoying live music and ice cream at Szalay’s Farm and Market along the Towpath Trail at Cuyahoga Valley National Park
- Craning my neck to see a massive Bald Eagle nest while enjoying lunch on the Cuyahoga Valley Scenic Railroad ride at Cuyahoga Valley National Park
- Visiting the Ledges and Brandywine falls with our siblings at Cuyahoga Valley National Park.
- Observing the reverence and sincere interest that my little sister (then 10 years old) showed at the Hopewell Culture National Historical Park after visiting the mounds
- Being in awe at the floor-to-ceiling oak finishing in the James A. Garfield Presidential Library – this may be a nerd moment for me, but I loved seeing this – the first Presidential library established
- Visiting the wax figure of Michelle Obama at First Ladies National Monument – the first African American woman to hold that distinguished station. Am I proud? Yes! I am an unashamed Michelle Obama fangirl!
- Discovering the reason that the Cincinnati home of the 27th President of the US, William Howard Taft, was so narrow due to the historical calculation of tax (based on the frontage of the property). Who would have thought?
- Learning about the history related to Tecumseh, the famed leader that united indigenous people, at River Raisin National Battlefield Park and Fallen Timbers Battlefield (an affiliated site managed by the NPS)
Experiences in Midwestern National Parks that We are Looking Forward To
We are planning a road trip in 2023 to Missouri, Kansas, Nebraska and Colorado that will include visits to 10 park units in the Midwest. This will be our first big National Park road trip since the pandemic started. Here are a few things that we’re looking forward to checking out:
- Gateway Arch Riverboat Cruise in St. Louis – while we don’t think the tram to the top of the Arch is our speed, we are looking forward to some relaxing and educational time on the water
- Fishing at Tallgrass Prairie National Preserve – I was super-excited to see that catch and release fishing is one of the NPS recommended activities at Tallgrass Prairie. I’m hopeful that the weather is good when we’re there so that we can add Kansas to our list of states where we catch a fish. We might just make a quest out of catching (and releasing) a fish in each of the 50 US States as our travels have already fished in Ohio, North Carolina, Arkansas, South Dakota, and Florida.
- Learning more about African American history in Kansas at the Nicodemus National Historic Site and Brown vs. Board of Education National Historical Park.
Other Experiences in the Midwest We are Anticipating
I am also super excited about some of the “other” experiences that we are looking forward to that will accompany our visits to the National Park sites. Along the way, we are planning to see / experience the following:
- the Kansas City Royals play in their home stadium
- the St. Louis Cardinals play in their home stadium (Jason is interested in seeing all of the active MLB stadiums)
- the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum during our visit to Kansas City
- the action at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway
- Real Kansas City Bar-b-que!
Conclusion
There are many great memories to be had at National Parks in the Midwest. These 10 states will welcome you and make you feel at home!
Feel free to bookmark this page. We will update it as we visit more Midwest National Parks. We’d love to hear your most meaningful experiences at a Midwest park – feel free to share in the comments below.
Happy exploring!
