National parks with saltwater swimming
Bright dots offer saltwater swimming. Tap any park to tick it off your checklist.
Quietest picks for saltwater swimming
- 1National Park of American Samoa43,258 visits
- 2Channel Islands National Park227,186 visits
- 3Virgin Islands National Park471,074 visits
By 2025 recreation visits (NPS).
Most parks for saltwater swimming
- California 2
- American Samoa 1
- Florida 1
- Maine 1
- US Virgin Islands 1
- Washington 1
7 parks
Where to go for saltwater swimming
Photo: NPS Photo by Kent MillerAcadia National Park
Maine
4,079,318 visits in 2025Quietest: February$35 / vehicle
Photo: NPS photoBiscayne National Park
Florida
486,567 visits in 2025Quietest: OctoberFree entry
Photo: NPS/Brett SeymourChannel Islands National Park
California
227,186 visits in 2025Quietest: JanuaryFree entry
Photo: NPS Photo / Michael LarsonNational Park of American Samoa
American Samoa
43,258 visits in 2025Quietest: JuneFree entry
Photo: NPS Photo/Jon PrestonOlympic National Park
Washington
3,584,187 visits in 2025Quietest: January$30 / vehicle
Photo: NPS Photo / Steve OlsonRedwood National and State Parks
California
1,202,480 visits in 2025Quietest: DecemberFree entry
Photo: NPS PhotoVirgin Islands National Park
US Virgin Islands
471,074 visits in 2025Quietest: SeptemberFree entry
FAQ
Saltwater Swimming, quickly
- Which national parks offer saltwater swimming?
- 7 of the 63 national parks list saltwater swimming as an activity, according to the National Park Service: Acadia, Biscayne, Channel Islands, American Samoa, Olympic, Redwood, Virgin Islands.
- What's the least crowded national park for saltwater swimming?
- By 2025 recreation visits, National Park of American Samoa (43,258 visits), then Channel Islands (227,186). The busiest park on this list is Acadia, with 4,079,318.
- Which state has the most national parks for saltwater swimming?
- California, with 2, followed by American Samoa (1).
Sources · 2
- 1.NPS Data API — /parks (all park units) · National Park Service (U.S. Department of the Interior)
- 2.NPS Visitor Use Statistics — monthly recreation visits, 2021–2025 (IRMA stats REST service) · National Park Service (U.S. Department of the Interior) — Visitor Use Statistics Program
Activities are the ones each park lists in the NPS Data API. Check the park's own nps.gov page for current trail, water and permit conditions.
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