How many National Park sites are in the Midwest Region?
The Midwest Region has 44 total National Park sites. Four of those 44 sites are major parks: Indiana Dunes NP, Isle Royale, Voyageurs, and Cuyahoga Valley. If I’m being honest, except for a few parks, I have little desire to visit this region. Pictured Rocks NL is high on my list, as is Isle Royale. I also love anything to do with presidents, so the Lincoln Home, and sites dedicated to James Garfield and William Taft seem interesting.
In this region, I have only been to one park in one state. If my fall 2023 trip ends up being to Hocking Hills State Park, I do plan on visiting Hopewell Culture NHP while I’m out there.
Illinois – 3 sites
Indiana – 3 sites
Iowa – 2 sites
Kansas – 5 sites
Michigan – 5 sites
Minnesota – 4 sites
Missouri – 7 sites
Nebraska – 5 sites
Ohio – 8 sites
Wisconsin – 2 sites
Must-see sites in the Midwest Region
Cuyahoga Valley National Park
Cuyahoga Valley is an amazing little National Park. It’s not one of the more popular parks, but it’s a great place to escape if you want to do any hiking, biking, boating, or take a train ride. I had 1.5 days here and I thought it was perfect. I highly recommend visiting the farmer’s market, hiking the Ledges Trail, and taking a train ride.
Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore
I have not been to Pictured Rocks NL, but of all the parks in the Midwest Region, it’s number one on my list. The water is so blue, I can’t get over it! My top priorities up there are kayaking, hiking, and camping.
Isle Royale National Park
I have not been to Isle Royale either, but for some reason, the parks that are hard to get to are always high on my list. I like to be different and go places that aren’t easily accessible, because most of the time, there aren’t a lot of people there. Isle Royale is an island in Lake Superior and you can get there by ferry from either Michigan or Minnesota. Check the NPS website for all your options while visiting!
Last Updated: April 30, 2023
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