From the Appalachian Trail in western North Carolina to the beautiful Cape Lookout National Seashore on the coast, the Tar Heel State is home to a variety of National Park units that every North Carolinian should visit at least once. From the most-visited National Park in the country to the Blue Ridge Parkway and more, check out seven must-see National Parks below -- and then start planning some visits this year! Which do you think is the best national park to visit in North Carolina?

1. Appalachian Trail

A total of 95 miles of the Appalachian Trail traverse North Carolina's interior, but an additional 224 miles follow the North Carolina/Tennessee border. The trail is managed, in part, by the National Park Service. Those wanting to visit a part of the trail on the Tennessee border should drive up Roan Mountain to Carver's Gap, where the A.T. crosses the highway as it passes along the ridge of this mountain chain. For another beautiful reason to visit Roan Mountain, keep reading here.

2. Blue Ridge Parkway

Spanning 469 miles through Virginia and North Carolina, the Blue Ridge Parkway is one of the most visited national park units in the country. With so much to see and cover, it would be easy to spend up to two weeks exploring this scenic route and the towns and attractions along the way. You can learn more about, and specifically about the famous tunnels of the parkway, right here.

3. Cape Hatteras National Seashore

A crown jewel of the east coast, Cape Hatteras National Seashore brings families together exploring the sun, sand, surf, sound, and the lighthouses. For a wonderful adventure while here, visit the Bodie Island Lighthouse. Read more about it in this previous article.

4. Cape Lookout National Seashore

North Carolina's second national seashore was established in 1966, some 13 years after Cape Hatteras National Seashore was opened. Among the many sights to see in this one: the famous horses found at Shackleford Banks and the historic ghost town of Portsmouth.

5. Carl Sandburg National Historic Site

This 246-acre site preserves the home of Pulitzer Prize-winning poet and writer, Carl Sandburg, who moved here with his wife in 1945. Sandburg was quite prolific while living here in North Carolina, publishing about one-third of his works while living at this residence. Visitors can explore the residence, the goat farm, five miles of hiking trails, and various sheds.

6. Great Smoky Mountains National Park

When pinpointing the best national park to visit in North Carolina, Great Smoky Mountains National Park seems like an obvious contender. The crown jewel of the national parks system, GSMNP is the most visited national park ever. In 2020, visitors to this park quadrupled those visiting the number two park in the system (Yellowstone), as people clamored to have a socially distant vacation in this park where driving safe and sound within the confines of one's own vehicle is such a big part of the experience. The park straddles the Tennessee/North Carolina border and that's precisely where you'll find Clingman's Dome (seen here).

7. Wright Brothers National Memorial

The Wright brothers migrated from Dayton, Ohio, to Kill Devil Hills in 1900 because the National Weather Service indicated there were steady winds at this location. Here, they conducted the first sustained flight in a heavier-than-air machine. The memorial includes a memorial tower (shown), a visitor center complete with a museum featuring models and actual tools used by the brothers, and a field with a hangar. The total complex is quite large, clocking in at 428 acres to explore.

If you grew up in the Tar Heel State, then you've undoubtedly already visited some of these. What do you consider to be the best national park to visit in North Carolina? Let us know in the comments below -- we would love to hear from you! And now that we've explored some of the top national parks in the state, let's focus on the best state parks to visit in North Carolina. Here are 10 amazing parks to add to your bucket list.