America’s Most Incredible National Monuments Worth Visiting

National monuments are among the most unique and diverse places to explore in the U.S., but they're sometimes overlooked when choosing between visiting a national monument and a national park. Did you know that national parks make up only about 15 percent of the federally protected lands managed by the National Park Service?

That’s right! There are actually over 400 NPS sites covering more than 85 million acres, including national monuments, national memorials, lakeshores, battlefields, historical parks, seashores, and more.

While national parks require an act of Congress to receive their designation, national monuments come into existence through a Presidential proclamation under the Antiquities Act of 1906. They protect everything from incredible landscapes to landmarks, such as historic forts, cultural treasures like petroglyphs and pictographs, and fascinating scientific sites.

With over 150 national monuments spread across the country, some, such as the Statue of Liberty, are highly recognizable, while others are hidden off the beaten path. Our national monuments invite us to dive deeper into America’s story and discover places we might never have found otherwise.

What Makes a National Monument Special?

One of the coolest things about national monuments in the United States is that they aren’t all managed by the same agency. Depending on the site, you may find the National Park Service, Bureau of Land Management, Forest Service, or even the Fish and Wildlife Service in charge of, or co-managing, the area. Since the variety of national monuments is so diverse, protecting everything from ancient cliff dwellings to vast deserts, marine ecosystems to Civil Rights landmarks, the management of the sites can be more complex.

They’re often less crowded than national parks, making them perfect for travelers who love a good hidden gem. And while they might not get the same attention as places like Yellowstone or Yosemite National Park, many have scenery, wildlife, and history that are equally as amazing.

Another really fun fact: national monuments can often serve as the stepping stone to achieving full National Park status. Some of our all-time favorite National Parks that we’ve visited, like Zion, Bryce Canyon, Petrified Forest, Saguaro, and even Grand Canyon National Park, all started out as national monuments. Going from a national monument to a national park isn’t an automatic upgrade, though; it can be a lengthy, multi-step process that involves both politics and public support, including assessments to determine if the national monument meets the stricter criteria of national park status.

A Few of Our Favorite National Monuments

During our travels across the country over the past 7 years, we’ve visited numerous NPS sites, including national parks, seashores, parkways, and more. Some of our most memorable stops were at protected national monuments, such as climbing into ancient cliff dwellings at Bandelier National Monument, camping among the beautiful and unique Organ Pipe Cactus, or hiking through lava fields in Arizona at Sunset Crater. Here are a few of our favorite U.S. national monuments:

• Sunset Crater Volcano National Monument in Arizona: Wander through otherworldly lava fields and cinder cones from eruptions nearly 1,000 years ago.
• Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument in Arizona: A stunning showcase of the Sonoran Desert, where rare cacti tower over sweeping desert vistas. It's also one of Arizona's most underrated stargazing destinations. This is also home to one of our favorite campgrounds!
• Bandelier National Monument in New Mexico: Hike through canyons and climb ladders into ancient cliff dwellings once home to the Ancestral Pueblo people. Bandelier is one of the most extraordinary national monuments to visit for families.
• Castillo de San Marcos National Monument in Florida: Step inside the oldest masonry fort in the continental U.S. and soak up centuries of coastal history while tucked into the walkable St. Augustine, Florida. Check to see if there are any weapons demonstrations or reenactments happening during your visit!
• Statue of Liberty National Monument in New Jersey/New York: One of the most famous national monuments, the Statue of Liberty is a must for anyone in the tri-state area, as this giant statue is a true symbol of freedom and immigration history for our country. Since this is a popular national monument, make sure to book your ferry ticket to the Statue of Liberty with City Cruises, the only authorized ferry service to Ellis Island, well in advance.

Make the Most of Your National Monument Visit

Some of the best national monuments are completely free or have a very low entrance fee, while others require permits or are located far from major towns, so it’s always best to plan ahead. Not every site has a full visitor center, so bring water, snacks, and download offline maps before your trip. You’ll also want to check the national monument’s website for hours, road conditions, trail updates, accessibility information, and any weather-related or construction closures.

We also recommend downloading planning tools, such as the National Park Service app, so you can save maps, directions, and details for offline use. If you can, do a little extra research and pair your national monument stop with nearby towns, scenic drives, or other public lands to turn it into a full road trip adventure! You should also follow the Leave No Trace principles, whether visiting a national park, state park, local park, or hiking trail, and always check the weather before visiting a park on the National Weather Service website.

National Park Service monuments serve as chapters of America’s story while bringing to light the sometimes overlooked corners of the continent’s vast lands. Whether you’re standing under towering rock formations, exploring ancient dwellings, or gazing at a skyline crowned by Lady Liberty, these sites offer travel experiences that are as meaningful as they are memorable. Next time you plan a trip, try swapping the crowds for a lesser-visited national monument. You might just discover a new favorite place.

You can learn more about historic national monuments and other great National Park Service sites here on Only in Your State or at nps.gov. If you're interested in spending some time outdoors, then we'd love to guide you on your journey through our Ranger's Handbook! We cover all sorts of topics regarding outdoor adventures, including why purchasing an America the Beautiful Pass makes all the difference in national park travel. You can purchase them through many retailers, but we recommend buying one along with a National Parks Passport, where you can collect stamps for every site managed by the National Park Service.

For more, discover the most memorable U.S. National Park experiences you can have (and without hiking), along with the top national parks for history buffs.