Biscayne
A national park that's 95% water: coral reefs, shipwrecks and mangrove keys.
10 national parks
Best Time to Visit Southeast National Parks
Coral reefs, the Everglades, Appalachian ridges and the world's longest cave. Florida's parks shine in the dry winter; the mountains peak with spring wildflowers and October color.
Best overall months for the region: April and May. Each park has its own window below.
Average rating by month
Season calendar
The parks
Dry Tortugas
A massive 19th-century fort on a remote island 70 miles off Key West.
Everglades
A river of grass full of alligators, wading birds and mangrove wilderness.
Congaree
Champion trees, a floodplain forest and synchronous fireflies.
Gateway Arch
A 630-foot stainless steel arch and the smallest national park in the country.
Hot Springs
Historic bathhouses and thermal water in the middle of a small Arkansas city.
Mammoth Cave
The longest known cave system on Earth, at more than 420 miles and counting.
New River Gorge
World-class whitewater, rock climbing and one of the world's longest single-span arch bridges.
Great Smoky Mountains
America's most-visited national park: misty ridges, black bears and wildflowers.
Shenandoah
The 105-mile Skyline Drive along the Blue Ridge, about 75 miles from Washington, D.C.
Questions
When is the best time to visit Southeast national parks?
April and May are the best overall months for the 10 parks in this region. Florida's parks shine in the dry winter; the mountains peak with spring wildflowers and October color.
How many national parks are in the Southeast region?
10: Biscayne, Dry Tortugas, Everglades, Congaree, Gateway Arch, Hot Springs, Mammoth Cave, New River Gorge, Great Smoky Mountains, Shenandoah.
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Last reviewed October 4, 2026. Ratings are editorial. Rules and road openings change each year, so confirm on the official NPS site before you go.