An aerial image shows the undulating pattern of the dunes across the landscape. Courtesy/NPS
TRAVEL News:
In HomeToGo’s 2026 National Parks Report, two New Mexico parks ranked as top destinations for US travelers to enjoy the national beauty of the American wilderness. With Americans showing great interest in National Parks this year, demonstrated by data-backed research from an exclusive internal HomeToGo survey, the following locations ranked among the top 51 national parks in the contiguous United States.
- #13 – White Sands National Park
- #24 – Carlsbad Caverns National Park
The study evaluated multiple categories to determine rankings, including Affordability, Crowds and Convenient Accessibility.
Additional key takeaways from HomeToGo’s 2026 National Park Index include:
- Top-Tier Performance in Arizona: All three national parks in Arizona ranked within the top 10, the highest share of top-ranked parks of any state.
- Southwest Parks Lead the Ranking: National parks across Arizona, Utah, New Mexico, and Nevada claim seven of the top 20 spots, meaning nearly two-thirds of the Southwest region’s parks rank among the contiguous nation’s best.
- Most Affordable Stays: Death Valley in California (#1) offers the most budget-friendly nightly accommodation prices at $41 per person. White Sands in New Mexico and Congaree in South Carolina closely follow with accommodation prices under $43 per night.
For the full HomeToGo 2026 Beach Index, including an interactive map and report methodology, visit www.hometogo.com/news/national-parks-report-2026.