What are the most-searched state parks according to Google? That’s no longer a mystery. Last month, the search engine giant recently shared the most popular state parks according to user search counts.
While many RVers have the goal of seeing all the national parks, state parks can likewise offer incredible experiences. Often state parks area may be less crowded than their national park brethren. Also, they tend to be less expensive to get into.
So, which state parks were the most sought-after in Google search? Let
No. 10: Jones Beach State Park – Wantagh, New York
World-famous Jones Beach State Park is the home of over six miles of beautiful white-sand beach on the Atlantic Ocean. The location is made up of more than 2,400 acres of maritime terrain on the south shore of Long Island. Among the eight million visitors to the park each year, families can enjoy their own piece of the beach for a day. (With many returning dozens of times through the summer.)
With a design based on the theme of an ocean liner, Jones Beach offers many activities to those who visit the park. They can fish, swim in the ocean, and stroll the boardwalk. Visitors can also get a bite to eat at one of the many concession stands and restaurants, attend concerts, play sports, and so much more.
At the Jones Beach Energy & Nature Center, guests can learn more about the ecosystem of the park. Naturally, they can also partake in swimming, sunbathing, bicycling, surfing, and visiting the playgrounds and splashpad.
No. 9: Blue Spring State Park – Orange City, Florida
Conservation measures can produce astounding results. In 1970, two years before Blue Spring State Park was established, researchers tracked 14 manatees in the spring run. By 2005, after years of park improvements and manatee protection efforts, wintering manatee numbers exceeded 20. By 2023 that number skyrocketed to a record 729.
To see the park’s wonders, visitors can hike along the spring run or on the 4.5-mile Pine Island Trail. Fish abound in the spring run and attract a variety of wading birds, ospreys, eagles and kingfishers. Visitors can also launch a canoe or kayak (rentals are available at the park), or take a guided river boat cruise.
No. 8: Warren Dunes State Park – Sawyer, Michigan
Warren Dunes State Park provides 1,500 acres of recreational opportunities along the beautiful shore of Lake Michigan. Its rugged dune formation, rising 260 feet above the lake, offers spectacular views. This makes it particularly excellent for hang gliding. (A permit is required.) The park is home to three miles of shoreline, six miles of hiking trails, and two popular campgrounds.
The unofficial gateway to Michigan’s state park system from the West, the park is home to an extensive network of richly forested dunes, large open dunes, and interdunal wetlands. It also features significant bird diversity because it is a stopover location on a bird migration route.
No. 7: Point Lobos State Natural Reserve – Carmel, California
Point Lobos State Natural Reserve has often been called the crown jewel of the California State Park system. Landscape Painter Francis McComas called Point Lobos “the greatest meeting of land and water in the world.” World-class photographers Edward Weston and Ansel Adams spent years of their lives walking the woods and shores of Point Lobos for the perfect photograph.
Originally known to indigenous people as “Isxhenta,” Point Lobos is considered a sacred place to be cherished. Today, people come from all over the world to become inspired by this unique place.
Point Lobos SNR is outstanding for sightseeing, photography, painting, nature study, picnicking, scuba diving, and jogging. The offshore area, part of the Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary, forms one of the richest underwater habitats in the world popular with divers. On land there are rare plant communities, unique geological formations and incredibly rich flora and fauna.
What is perhaps most remarkable is the ecological recovery of Point Lobos. Once the site was home to countless industrial activities, from whaling operations and gravel quarries to the largest abalone cannery on the West Coast. Now, Point Lobos is classified as a State Natural Reserve, allowing visitors to witness its incredible ecological recovery after years of heavy resource extraction.
No. 6: Hammonasset Beach State Park – Madison, Connecticut
With a two-mile sandy stretch of beach, a bustling campground, and serene nature preserve, Connecticut’s largest shoreline park offers prime real estate. Activities include swimming, surfcasting, and strolling the boardwalk. (Or just soaking in the rays and sweeping views of the Long Island Sound.)
“Hammonasset” means, “where we dig holes in the ground” — an eastern woodland Indian term used to describe the farming area along the Hammonasset River.
No. 5: Letchworth State Park – Castile, New York
Letchworth State Park, renowned as the “Grand Canyon of the East,” is one of the most scenically magnificent areas in the eastern U.S. The Genesee River roars through the gorge over three major waterfalls between cliffs — as high as 600 feet in some places — surrounded by lush forests.
Hikers can choose among 66 miles of hiking trails. Trails are also available for horseback riding, biking, snowmobiling, and cross-country skiing. Letchworth offers nature, history and performing arts programs, guided walks, tours, a summer lecture series, whitewater rafting, kayaking, a pool for swimming and hot air ballooning. Experiencing Letchworth by hot air balloon is unforgettable. (You can catch a glimpse in this video clip.)
No. 4: Starved Rock State Park – Utica, Illinois
A few hours outside of Chicago is Starved Rocks State Park. This place features seasonal waterfalls, day hikes and beautiful sandstone canyons. Its 13 miles of trails take visitors through magnificent rock formations carved out of the earth by flowing water.
No. 3: Silver Falls State Park – Salem, Oregon
People call it the crown jewel of the Oregon State Parks system. On visiting, travelers know why. Silver Falls State Park is the kind of standout scenic treasure that puts Oregon firmly onto the national — and international — stage. Its beauty, boundless recreational opportunities and historic presence keep it there.
No. 2: Liberty State Park – Jersey City, New Jersey
With the Manhattan skyline, Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island as a spectacular backdrop, Liberty State Park is one of the state’s most dramatic parks. A green oasis in the heart of metropolitan northern New Jersey, Liberty State Park serves as the gateway to the region’s rich natural, cultural, and historical resources.
No. 1: Watkins Glen State Park – Watkins Glen, New York
Watkins Glen State Park is the most famous of the Finger Lakes State Parks. Within two miles, the glen’s stream descends 400 feet past 200-foot cliffs. This generates 19 waterfalls along its course. The gorge path winds over and under waterfalls and through the spray of Cavern Cascade. Rim trails overlook the gorge.
Campers and day-visitors can enjoy the Olympic-size pool, scheduled summer tours through the gorge, tent and trailer campsites, picnic facilities ,and excellent fishing in nearby Seneca Lake or Catherine Creek. (The latter is renowned for its annual spring run of rainbow trout.)
Feeling inspired? These parks’ presence on Google’s list means they are top of mind for travelers. (Just like you.) So, crowds are almost guaranteed. But these destinations are popular for a reason, and if you spot a place you’ve thought about, maybe give it a second look. Whether you’re drawn to waterfalls, beaches, or quiet hiking trails, these top-searched parks prove that adventure is often closer than you think.