by Mia Taylor
Last updated: 4:00 PM ET, Wed August 5, 2026
The United States is home to a long list of iconic national parks that deservedly attract a great deal of attention. But the often overlooked state parks throughout this country are places where travelers can have an equally great experience.
In fact, state parks may have some benefits that national parks, for all their jaw-dropping glory, may not. State parks, for instance, are often less crowded, easier to get into and many offer the ability to truly experience seclusion and immersion in nature.
Equally important, particularly as inflation impacts household budgets far and wide, state parks are often less expensive.
With all of these benefits in mind, HomeToGo recently released the 2026 State Park Index, a ranking of the 150 most affordable state parks from coast to coast. The ranking shortlists parks based on a variety of criteria including offering great-value accommodations nearby, size, trails, wildlife, scenic wow-factor, and their likelihood to help visitors to savor some solitude.
Using these factors, each state park is awarded a score of up to a perfect 100. The final ranking also includes such helpful information for travelers as median price per night to visit, an affordability score, a visitor satisfaction score and a scenic score.
The result is a what HomeToGo says is a ranking of “America’s most spectacular outdoor getaways that won’t drain your vacation budget.” Meaning, your new handy guide for affordable, peaceful, nature-focused vacations.
Here’s a closer look at some of the state parks that topped the list.
Best state parks for affordable, nature-filled vacations
1.Humboldt Redwoods, California
It’s no surprise Humboldt tops the ranking. This spectacular 53,000-acre state park is home to largest remaining old-growth redwood forest in the entire world.
Taking up an area almost twice the size of San Francisco, about one-third or 17,000 acres within Humboldt is entirely old-growth redwood forest. As the park’s website explains, that’s the “largest expanse of ancient redwoods left on the planet.”
2.Valley of Fire, Nevada
Another unforgettable state park, the 40,000 acre Valley of Fire State Park is the location of bright red Aztec sandstone outcrops that contain ancient, petrified trees and petroglyphs dating back more than 2,000 years.
Custer State Park, South Dakota (Photo Credit: Courtesy AdobeStock)
3.Custer State Park, South Dakota
A massive 71,000 acre state park located South Dakota’s Black Hills, Custer is known for its abundant wildlife. The park also offers a variety of opportunities for visitors to experience the park including via camping, hiking, biking, swimming, or fishing.
4.Silver Falls, Oregon
A 9,200-acre property, Silver Falls State Park has been dubbed the “crown jewel” of Oregon’s state park system. Known for its scenic beauty, the park includes the 177-foot South Falls waterfall, which visitors can view from behind thanks to the park’s Trail of Ten Falls, a nationally recognized hiking trail that weaves through a dense forested landscape.
5.Oak Mountain State Park, Alabama
A park that offers an abundance of activities for those seeking a more adventure driven getaway, Oak Mountain visitors can engage in everything from mountain biking to horseback riding and hiking. There’s more than 100 miles of trails to choose ranging from a short loop to overnight hikes. The park’s Red Trail has even been included on the International Mountain Biking Association’s (IMBA) list of EPIC rides.
Franconia Notch State Park, New Hampshire (Photo Credit: Courtesy AdobeStock)
6.Franconia Notch State Park, New Hampshire
Home of a mountain scape that has been named the Old Man of the Mountain, Franconia Notch State Park is an especially picturesque mountain pass that can be explored by a parkway that extends eight miles, winding between the peaks of the Kinsman and Franconia mountain ranges.
Among the top highlights along this route is Flume Gorge, a natural gorge extending 800 feet that’s lined by walls of Conway granite, which rise to a height of 70 to 90 feet. Visitors can explore the gorge on a two-mile loop walk.
The additional state parks rounding out the top 10 include State Forest State Park in Colorado; Minnesota's Itasca State Park; Gulf State Park in Alabama and Tahquamenon Falls, Michigan.
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