Editorial Policy & Review Methodology

America’s State Parks exists to help readers discover, compare, and plan visits to state parks and state-managed outdoor destinations across the United States. This page explains how we research park information, how we create recommendations, and how we handle corrections, updates, and affiliate relationships.

Our editorial mission

Our goal is to make state park planning easier for families, campers, hikers, anglers, photographers, RV travelers, and outdoor beginners. We focus on practical questions visitors ask before a trip: where a park is located, what activities are available, what facilities to expect, what rules may apply, and which parks are worth considering for a specific type of outing.

How we research park information

Park information can change. Fees, reservations, trail conditions, campground availability, pet rules, swimming access, closures, and seasonal services may be updated by state agencies at any time. When we create or update a park profile or guide, we use a combination of sources such as:

  • official state park and state agency websites;
  • publicly available park maps, brochures, notices, and reservation pages;
  • park-specific facilities, activity, and location data maintained in our own editorial database;
  • visitor planning signals such as common questions, route context, nearby destinations, and seasonal considerations;
  • editorial review by writers and researchers familiar with outdoor travel and state park planning.

We aim to distinguish between official state parks, broader state-managed park units, recreation areas, historic sites, forests, trails, wildlife areas, and other public lands when that distinction matters for a reader’s decision.

How we count park coverage

Different sources count parks differently. Some states count only official state parks, while others include recreation areas, historic sites, natural areas, state forests, or other managed units. For our own site coverage, we maintain thousands of published park profiles and currently describe our public state park profile coverage as 2,900+ state park profiles across all 50 states. This public figure refers to indexable, visitor-facing profile coverage on America’s State Parks, not a legal definition of every public-land unit in the United States.

For a deeper discussion of state park counts and why totals vary, see our guide: How Many State Parks Are There in the U.S.?

How recommendations and “best of” lists are created

Our recommendation articles are intended to help readers narrow choices, not to replace official park guidance. Depending on the topic, we may consider factors such as:

  • activity fit, such as hiking, camping, fishing, swimming, paddling, RV travel, wildlife viewing, or photography;
  • availability of facilities, including campgrounds, cabins, picnic areas, trails, beaches, marinas, interpretive centers, or accessible amenities;
  • geographic spread, so readers can compare realistic options across a state or region;
  • seasonality, family-friendliness, reservation complexity, and visitor planning usefulness;
  • official park information and our editorial judgment about what makes a destination useful for the stated search intent.

We do not sell rankings to parks, brands, or tourism organizations. If a page contains affiliate links or advertising, those relationships do not determine whether a park, product, or destination is included.

Affiliate links and advertising

America’s State Parks may earn revenue from display advertising and affiliate links. When you buy through certain links, we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. Affiliate income helps support the cost of maintaining and improving the site, but it does not change our responsibility to provide useful and accurate planning information.

For more detail, read our Affiliate Disclosure.

Updates and corrections

We periodically review important guides, park profiles, and high-traffic planning resources. Because state park systems change frequently, readers should always confirm time-sensitive details such as fees, reservations, opening hours, permits, closures, and rules with the official park or state agency before traveling.

If you notice outdated or incorrect information, please tell us. Include the page URL, the detail that appears incorrect, and the official source or firsthand context if available. You can reach us through our Contact Us page.

Who is behind America’s State Parks?

Learn more about our mission and editorial team on our About America’s State Parks page.

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