The Midwest is often underestimated, but its landscapes are vast and varied—glacial lakes, rolling prairies, dense forests, and dramatic badlands. Its state parks offer peaceful escapes and surprising geological wonders.
National Parks of the Midwest
- Cuyahoga Valley National Park (OH)
- Isle Royale National Park (MI)
- Voyageurs National Park (MN)
- Badlands National Park (SD)
- Wind Cave National Park (SD)
- Theodore Roosevelt National Park (ND)
- Gateway Arch National Park (MO)
State Park Highlights
- Hocking Hills (OH): Waterfalls, caves, and sandstone gorges.
- Devil’s Lake (WI): Quartzite bluffs and clear water.
- Starved Rock (IL): Canyons and waterfalls carved by glaciers.
- Pictured Rocks (MI): Colorful cliffs along Lake Superior.
Why the Midwest Matters
The Midwest offers some of America’s most peaceful and underrated natural spaces. From the Great Lakes to the Great Plains, its state parks preserve landscapes found nowhere else.