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35 National Parks You Can Tour Online Right Now

Exploring the great outdoors just got a whole lot easier with these webcams and virtual tours at America's top national parks.

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Let’s hear it for national parks!

While the world continues to battle the novel coronavirus, many people are sticking close to come, which means we can’t trek through the wonders of nature at America’s national parks. But thanks to technology we can still see the magnificence of many of the country’s national parks through virtual tours, live webcams, and Google Earth images. Virtual tours are taking place at dozens of national parks right now, but we’ve rounded up 35 of the best parks to explore and maybe inspire you to get out there and see the real thing one day! Before you read further check out these photographs of America’s national parks that will leave you awestruck.

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The Clara Barton National Historic Site

With this virtual tour of the Clara Barton National Historic Site in Glen Echo, Maryland, you can explore Barton’s home, which includes three stories and 12 refurbished rooms. The tour is best experienced with headphones so you can listen to recordings of Clara Barton as you tour the house. Kids will even enjoy this tour since there are so many interactive activities and they get a printable certificate of completion after the tour and activities are over. Barton, of course, was the founder and first president of the American Red Cross.

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Hot Springs National Park

Hot Springs National Park in Arkansas is a massive piece of land encompassing over 20 miles of trails, 40 hot springs, and historic Bathhouse Row. The park originally was home to Native Americans as they were searching to quarry novaculite. The virtual tour of Hot Springs National Park will take you through the history, culture, nature, and a tour of Bathhouse Row. For even more national park fun, check out these ones that are off the beaten path.

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Virgin Islands National Park

St. John is mostly considered an island paradise, but almost two-thirds of the land is dedicated as a national park. Virgin Islands National Park has sandy beach lined shores, coral reefs, and even historic petroglyphs, which were carved by the Taino Indians. The majority of this virtual tour shows off the plantations and windmills used when the island was used as a sugar plantation. Be sure not to miss the 3D tour of Annaberg Plantation to see an example of Danish Colonial Era industrial agriculture. Discover more of the most beautiful islands that are in the United States.

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Hamilton Grange National Memorial

For those who love history or the musical Hamilton, virtually touring the Hamilton Grange National Memorial in New York City will be a real treat. The video tour is given by Jordan Fisher, who starred in the Broadway show. The highlights of the tour of Hamilton’s home and final resting place in Harlem include the ornate formal dining room and Hamilton’s private study. Find out facts about America’s founding father that the musical left out.

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Crater Lake National Park

Crater Lake National Park is the only national park located in Oregon and features the deepest lake in the United States. The lake was caused by a volcanic eruption and collapse, and the area was turned into a national park in 1902. During the virtual tour of Crater Lake National Park your guides will be country music star Dierks Bentley and park ranger Charlie. Do not miss the clips of the sunrise over Garfield Peak! Find out more of the most beautiful lakes in America.

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National Mall and Memorial Parks

While your plans to visit Washington, D.C., are likely on hold, you can still enjoy the sights and sounds of the National Mall via this live feed camera. The view from the Bloom Cam based at the National Mall Tidal Basin changes every 60 seconds so you can spot the Washington Monument, The Jefferson Memorial, and Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial. Check out these other national parks that are in full bloom.

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Channel Islands National Park

Channel Islands National Park, a chain of small islands off of the Southern California coast, has a unique biome that allows for all types of plants, animals, and sea life to call this place home. In fact, many of these plants and animals are only found at Channel Islands National Park. You can virtually get up close to some of the underwater creatures by viewing the underwater live ocean webcam. Be on the lookout for the over 1,000 different types of marine species that call this part of the ocean their home. When you’re done, check out these 20 incredible underwater photos.

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Statue of Liberty National Monument

The symbol of freedom is still standing tall in New York Harbor, and you can get a peek at Lady Liberty through the live webcam. The Statue of Liberty National Monument webcam shows off views of the New York City skyline, the Hudson River, ships in the harbor, and of course the Statue of Liberty herself. If you’re an early riser you can catch the sunrise over the city and Statue of Liberty each morning. See if you can guess the original color of the Statue of Liberty.

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Yellowstone National Park

If visiting Old Faithful, the most famous of Yellowstone National Park’s 500+ natural geysers, is on your bucket list, tune into the live webcam of Old Faithful and wait for her to erupt, spewing water up from the ground. The park in Wyoming, Montana, and Idaho has eight other webcams, though they’re all static. While you’re watching, see if you can spot some of Yellowstone’s amazing wildlife.

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Katmai National Park and Reserve

Go brown bear spotting at Katmai National Park and Reserve in King Salmon, Alaska, via one of the park’s six live webcams. Brooks Falls and Riffles are the best places to see them hunting for salmon, while mother bears and their cubs can be spotted on the Lower River cam. The River cam is another favorite; it gives views of the shoreline and below water so you can see salmon swimming and even spot a bear as they swim to catch a few fish. Note that the cams are seasonal and only run in the summer.

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Kenai Fjords National Park

To feel like you’re in the movie Frozen without leaving home, tune in to the 360 virtual tour of the Kenai Fjords in Alaska. The virtual tour is hosted by one of the park’s rangers and allows you to ultimately create your own adventure as you explore the top landmarks of the park including a glacier crevice. The ultimate adventure comes as you virtually kayak through icebergs! Before taking any photos though, think twice about what types of photos you’re taking for your safety.

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Carlsbad Caverns National Park

New Mexico’s Carlsbad Caverns is known for its massive population of bats; in fact, the caverns are home to over one million bats during their migration season. Experience the excitement of the bats leave the caves, some of the stunning natural rock formations, and even trek through the caverns using a headlamp through its 360 virtual tour.

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Hawaii Volcanoes National Park

While some people dream of simply laying on the beaches others look forward to exploring the volcanoes that formed the islands of Hawaii. This 360 virtual tour of Hawaii Volcanoes National Park on the Big Island satisfies both urges as you’ll get up close to a lava tube, fly over an active volcano, and look over volcanic cliffs. The tour’s host is a ranger from the national park who shares lots of fun facts about the volcanoes along the way.

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Bryce Canyon National Park

Bryce Canyon National Park in Utah is known for its stunning nighttime sky that’s lit up by thousands of stars. During this 360 virtual tour of Bryce Canyon National Park, you’ll stargaze with one of the park’s rangers, ride horseback through the canyon, and even get up close to hoodoos.

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Dry Tortugas National Park

Located in the Gulf of Mexico to the west of Key West, Dry Tortugas National Park is overflowing with sea life, a massive unfinished fort, and legends of shipwrecks and treasure. The virtual 360 tour of Dry Tortugas National Park allows you to dive to one of the shipwrecks and look around, swim through one of the world’s largest coral reef to spot unique sea creatures, and tour a Civil War-era fort.

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Mount Rushmore National Memorial

Thanks to Google Earth and 360 camera technology you can take a self-guided tour through Mount Rushmore National Memorial in South Dakota. The park is most well known for is carving of four previous presidents on the side of a cliff, but the park is also home to a variety of nature trails and mountain views. Be sure to virtually walk the presidential trail to get up close to the mountainside carving and spot some of the wildlife that calls this area home.

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Yosemite National Park

Get up close and personal with California’s Yosemite Falls, a massive waterfall that is over 2,425 feet tall with thousands of gallons of water gushing over each second via the live webcam. Be sure to watch the sunset to see the falls light up akin to lava flowing over the edge. Find out the most gorgeous waterfall in your state.

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New Bedford Whaling National Historic Park

Learn about one of the world’s most pertinent 19th-century whaling ports with a virtual tour of the New Bedford Whaling National Historic Park in Massachusetts. Take a virtual tour of the Nathan and Polly Johnson House, which is not open to the public today and was a major part of the Underground Railroad.

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Acadia National Park

Weather watchers will love the live webcam at Acadia National Park in Maine where you’re able to see storms as they come across the horizon. The sunrises are pretty spectacular, too. The feed refreshes once every 60 seconds and changes angles once every two minutes.

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Badlands National Park

Hikers and adventure seekers head to South Dakota’s Badlands National Park, known for its dramatic rock formations and deep canyons, to explore the wonders of nature. You can virtually explore Badlands National Park with the help of Google Earth. Be sure to virtually drive Loop Road, which takes you all the way around the park with scenic pit stops along the way. Want to sleep under the stars? Consider these top places to camp in a national park.

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Death Valley National Park

California’s Death Valley National Park is a place of extremes: It’s the driest and hottest spot in North America with less than two inches of rain each year and has the lowest elevation on the continent at over 280 feet below sea level. Take a self-guided virtual tour keeping an eye out for wildflower fields and towering sand dunes which can be over 680 feet tall.

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Alcatraz Island

One of the most unique locations the National Park Service keeps open for visitors is Alcatraz Island, California, home to the infamous Alcatraz Prison. The virtual tour of the island includes a photo gallery of relics left behind by inmates and stunning views of the Golden Gate Bridge. Though the Golden Gate is one of the most famous bridges, it doesn’t rank as one of the 11 longest bridges in the world.

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Joshua Tree National Park

Two deserts come together to create a diverse biome that is unique to the small piece of land that makes up Joshua Tree National Park. The Mojave and Colorado deserts collide in the middle of California bringing with it dark night skies, strong wind, rain, and an abundance of unique species. Virtually tour Joshua Tree National Park by watching videos about the natural life in the park and exploring Key’s Ranch.

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Mount Rainier National Park

Washington state’s Mount Rainier National Park is best known for its hiking trails and natural beauty. Wake up early to catch the sunrise over the mountain, then try to see how many of the park’s various waterfalls you can spot on the live webcams.

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Everglades National Park

Everglades National Park, a marshy wetland area that covers over two million square miles across central and south Florida, is home to hundreds of animal species including birds, reptiles, and mammals. While watching the park’s live webcam see how many of the park’s 347 animal species you can spot. Everglades National Park is a popular place to hike—get familiar with the best hiking trails in your state.

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Wupatki National Monument

Head to the virtual tour of Wupatki National Monument in Arizona’s Painted Desert to spy red rock hills that roll on forever, prairies filled with wildlife, and ancient pueblos. The tour will teach you about the lives of the Hopi people who called the area home 1,000 years ago. These are more of the best virtual day trips you can now take online.

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Arches National Park

Arches National Park in Utah is named for its 2,000+ unique rock formations that look like arches that you can walk through and stand under. You can experience them for yourself on its virtual tour—a highlight is a balanced rock, a massive boulder balanced upon a very thin pillar.

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Big Bend National Park

Nestled in the wide-open plains of southwest Texas, Big Bend National Park invites you to take a virtual tour of the ever-changing landscape. The park’s live webcam looks out over Panther Junction, where you can spot rolling storms coming in, and the occasional animal strolling past. The camera view is updated every 15 minutes and on clear days you can mountains that are up to 80 miles in the distance.

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Denali National Park

Denali National Park is one of the most untouched landscapes in all of Alaska and it’s known for its population of grizzly bears, beautiful mountain views, hiking trails, and glaciers. There are a variety of webcams to use to peek in at the park, a favorite is the one for Wonder Lake, where every morning. you can see the sunrise over the lake and mountains. The webcams are turned on during the summer months. Don’t miss these stunning images of national parks covered in snow.

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Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park

Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park in Colorado features some of the steepest and oldest rock formations inside a United States national park. You can take a virtual tour of the park to watch the sunrise over Grizzly Ridge and do some bear spotting.

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Glacier National Park

Located in the heart of Montana, Glacier National Park is filled with the wonder of nature, including multiple glass-like lakes, tall snow-capped mountains, and hiking trails edged by towering trees. The park has multiple webcams so you can experience the park from different angles; favorites are Apgar Mountain, Lake McDonald, and the St. Mary’s Visitors Center.

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Grand Canyon National Park

As one of the most famous American national parks, Arizona’s Grand Canyon National Park barely needs an introduction. You can virtually hike Phantom Ranch Trail or head on a river raft tour down the Colorado River. Hiking in the Grand Canyon is on many people’s bucket list—find out the bucket list idea for every state.

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Sequoia National Park

Virtually explore California’s Sequoia National Park with Google Earth 360 on a tour that will take you up close to some of the largest and tallest sequoia trees, including the General Sherman Tree. You can also virtually hike up to Crystal Cave, where you’ll experience caverns and caves with bright with marble karst. The wonder of nature is on full display in the sequoias and these other amazing trees.

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Cuyahoga Valley National Park

Cuyahoga Valley National Park is celebrated for its views of the Cuyahoga River in Ohio. The park itself has multiple waterfalls and hiking trails. On your virtual visit be sure to admire Brandywine Falls from the boardwalk and bask in the glory of Blue Hen Falls.

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Wind Cave National Park

One of America’s oldest national parks, Wind Cave National Park, sits below the prairies of South Dakota and features one of the most complex cave systems in the world. On your virtual tour lookout for bison that still roam the prairie and bats as they fly in and out of the caves.

Megan duBois
Megan is a travel and lifestyle writer who specializes in Disney, cruising and family travel experiences. She's been going to Disney theme parks for almost 30 years and visits a Disney park at least twice a month. Megan has taken 50 cruises across various brands as she travels to dream destinations. She's also traveled to more than a dozen countries, with her favorites being France and Peru. Megan's work has appeared in print and online at Condé Nast Traveler, Insider, Forbes, Family Vacationist, Travel + Leisure, The Points Guy and Delish.