Celebrating National Parks Day with Our Picks for Best Midwest National Parks

Aug 24, 2025

We’ve focused quite a bit on our nation’s gorgeous National Parks this summer, and today we’re paying homage to some of our favorites in the midwest. If you were looking for a primer to Midwest National Parks, this is the perfect blog for you!We’ll start this post off with a crash course history lesson on the National Parks Service and its founding, followed by our recommendations on great parks.

During the Act of March 1st, 1872, Congress established the grounds of Yellowstone Park in the territories of Montana and Wyoming, which kickstarted the whole National Parks Movement. Later, in August 1916, President Woodrow Wilson signed the act which created the National Park Service, a federal bureau in the Department of the Interior responsible for protecting the 35 national parks and monuments then managed by the department, as well as future ones not yet designated. The Executive Order in 1933 helped transfer 56 national monuments and military sites to the National Park Service. Today, the National Park system is made up of more than 400 designated areas, including the 50 US States and Territories.

How many national parks have you been to? Here’s a starting point to mark off a few Midwest destinations on your National Parks map:

Apostle Islands National Lakeshore in Bayfield, WI encompasses 21 islands and 12 miles of mainland coastal protected areas. In addition to the incredible bluffs on the shores of Lake Superior, it’s also home to the largest collection of historic lighthouses in the nation!
Badlands National Park in South Dakota sprawls across 244,000 acres of mixed-grass prairie, steep canyons, and rock formations like buttes, pinnacles, and spires. It’s a stunning mix of sculptural peaks and forms made of colorful sediment and fossil beds.
Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest in Rhinelander WI spans a jaw dropping 1.5 million acres of unspoiled wilderness across Wisconsin’s Northwoods. You’ll find no shortage of outdoorsy activities such as canoeing, hiking, cycling, paddling, cross-country skiing, camping, fishing, and more.
Cuyahoga Valley National Park in Ohio sits between Cleveland and Akrok and features a restored section of the historic Ohio and Erie Canal Towpath, as well as being a throughway for the Cuyahoga Valley Scenic Railroad. It features several waterfalls and abundant wildlife.
Indiana Dunes National Park in Porter IN has 15 miles of gorgeous shoreline along the southern banks of Lake Michigan. The park is home to some of the highest dunes towering over the lake at nearly 200 feet high with impressive views and landscapes of the area! It’s also an incredible destination for birdwatching, wildlife enthusiasts, and nature photography!
Lewis & Clark Historic Trail (Spans 16 states including IA, ID, IL, IN, KS, KY, MO, MT, NE, ND, OH, OR, PA, SD, WA, WV) winds through almost 4,900 miles of the homelands from over 60 Tribal nations. It follows the inbound and outbound routes of the Lewis and Clark Expedition of 1803-1806 from Pittsburg through to the Pacific Ocean
Mormon Pioneer National Historic Trail (In IL, IA, NE, UT, WY) follows the 1,300 mile path of the Mormons who fled Nauvoo and settled down in the Great Salt Lake Valley from 1846-1847.
Pullman National Historic Park in Chicago, IL is located on the far south side of Chicago. The visitor center offers tours at 11AM and 2PM daily.
Shawnee National Forest in Herod IL encompasses 289,000 stunning acres of parkland located in Southern Illinois and nestled between both the Ohio and Mississippi Rivers. Visitors will find breathtaking scenic views from the top of great canyons and sandstone cliffs, and stunning crystal clear waters and rocky streams. The many lakes, ponds, waterfalls, rivers, and streams of the area are perfect for fishing and swimming, and the sprawling prairies and woodland trails are perfect for hiking, cycling, trail running and more.
Theodore Roosevelt National Park in North Dakota in the western portion of the state at the point where the Great Plains meet Badlands. The park is known for its Painted Canyon, and the former home of President Roosevelt, Maltese Cross Cabin. We highly recommend taking a drive along The Scenic Loop Drive which makes its way through several sections of the park with scenic overlooks.
Upper Mississippi River National Wildlife and Fish Refuge in Thomson IL is the longest, contiguous river refuge in the continental US at 261 miles in length! The refuge includes protected wetlands, islands, marshes, and floodplain forests, many of which are accessible only by boat. Some portions of the refuge are open to seasonal hunting, trapping, and fishing but they do have very restrictive regulations.