Southeast National Parks

The Southeast NPS passport region spans nine states and two territories — and no other region comes close to matching its range. America’s most visited national park (Great Smoky Mountains) and one of its most remote (Dry Tortugas) are both here. So are the first shots of the Civil War, the heart of the Civil Rights Movement, the oldest masonry fort in the continental US, and the largest old-growth bottomland forest in the eastern US. You could spend years exploring this region and still have more on your list.

This page covers Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Tennessee — plus Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Use the posts and guides below alongside the full site directory to build your own itinerary.

A note for passport collectors: The Southeast is one of the official NPS passport stamp regions. Multi-state parks like Great Smoky Mountains and the Blue Ridge Parkway are listed as Southeast. The Natchez Trace Parkway spans three states but there are stamps at several locations along its 444-mile length — plan accordingly.

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Find Your Southeast National Parks Adventure

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Suggested Southeast Itineraries

Pre-built circuits combining nearby sites for efficient passport collecting. Click through to individual guides for full details on each stop.

South Carolina History Weekend

2-3 days | Charleston + Columbia area | 4-5 stamps

Day 1: Fort Sumter NHP — ferry from Patriots Point or Liberty Square downtown, about 1.5-2 hours on the island. Where the Civil War began.
Day 1 afternoon: Fort Moultrie NHP — Sullivan’s Island, same NHP unit as Fort Sumter, easy add-on after the ferry returns. Revolutionary War, Civil War, and WWII in one site.
Day 2: Congaree NP — the 2.4-mile boardwalk loop through the largest old-growth bottomland forest in the eastern US takes about 45 minutes, but the towering loblolly pines and cypress knees make it easy to linger. Visit in mid-May through mid-June for the synchronized firefly display.
Day 3 option: Reconstruction Era NHP (Beaufort) — interprets the Port Royal Experiment and the post-Civil War story of Black freedom. A small site that fills in the history the battlefields leave out.

4-5 site stamps. Base from Charleston covers Days 1-2 easily. All sites within 90 minutes of each other.

Florida Gulf Coast to the Keys

3-4 days | Tampa area south to Key West | 5-6 stamps

Day 1 : Big Cypress National Preserve — stop at the Oasis Visitor Center along the Tamiami Trail on the way south. Real Everglades ecosystem, alligators guaranteed.
Day 2: Everglades NP — Anhinga Trail at Royal Palm for wildlife, then drive to Flamingo for the full scope of the park. Allow a full day. Check out a real Cold War Nuclear Missile Silo base!
Day 3: Biscayne NP — rent a kayak or take a boat tour into the northernmost Florida Keys reef system.
Day 4: Dry Tortugas NP — seaplane or Yankee Freedom ferry from Key West. Fort Jefferson, world-class snorkeling, and one of the most dramatic stamps in the book. Book the ferry weeks in advance.

5-6 site stamps. The Dry Tortugas leg requires advance planning — build this itinerary around that reservation first, then fill in the rest.

Tennessee History & Mountains Loop

2-3 days | Knoxville / Murfreesboro base | 3-4 stamps

Day 1: Stones River National Battlefield (Murfreesboro) — a self-guided driving tour with six stops, outstanding visitor center, and the oldest intact Civil War memorial in the country. Allow 2-3 hours.
Day 1 afternoon: Andrew Johnson NHS (Greeneville) — the only president’s home in Tennessee; tailor shop, homestead, and grave all in one compact site.
Day 2: Great Smoky Mountains NP — the most visited national park in America and the only major one with no entrance fee. Clingmans Dome for the views, Laurel Falls for the hike, Cades Cove for the wildlife and history. A full day here is never enough.
Day 3 option: Cumberland Gap NHP — the natural mountain gateway through the Appalachians. Three-state overlook, 85 miles of trail, and the Hensley Settlement backcountry site.

3-4 stamps. Knoxville is the best base — central to Smoky Mountains, Stones River is 2.5 hours west, Cumberland Gap is 1 hour northeast.

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Posts & Guides by Category

Published posts and guides for sites across the Southeast region. Sites without a dedicated post are covered in the full directory below.

Florida

Site	State	What to Know
Florida NPS Overview	Florida	All 11 sites covered — visitor counts, highlights, and what makes each one worth the trip
Dry Tortugas NP	Florida	America’s most remote national park — 70 miles west of Key West, accessible only by seaplane or ferry. Fort Jefferson, snorkeling, and camping on Garden Key
Big Cypress NPRES	Florida	1.3 million acres of subtropical wilderness along the Tamiami Trail — the Oasis Visitor Center is the best quick stop with reliable wildlife viewing
De Soto NM	Florida	Marks the landing site of Hernando de Soto’s 1539 expedition — the first major European contact in the Southeast. Small, accessible, and often skipped
Everglades NP	Florida	America’s only subtropical wilderness — 1.5 million acres, the Anhinga Trail for wildlife, Flamingo for the full backcountry experience. Bonus: Nike Missile Site
Biscayne NP	Florida	95% water — coral reefs, mangroves, and the northernmost Florida Keys. Kayak or boat tour required to see it properly.
Castillo de San Marcos NM	Florida	The oldest masonry fort in the continental US, built by Spain in 1695. Downtown St. Augustine — one of the most accessible and rewarding sites in Florida.
Fort Matanzas NM	Florida	18th-century Spanish watchtower south of St. Augustine — reached by a free NPS ferry. One of the easiest stamps in Florida.
Canaveral NS	Florida	24 miles of undeveloped Atlantic beach adjacent to Kennedy Space Center. Prime sea turtle nesting habitat; launch viewing possible.
Fort Caroline NMEM	Florida	Site of the first French colony in North America (1564) — Jacksonville area, pairs well with Timucuan EHP next door.
Timucuan EHP	Florida	46,000 acres of pristine coastal marsh near Jacksonville — one of the last unspoiled maritime forest and wetland systems on the Atlantic coast.

Civil War & Revolutionary History

Site	State	What to Know
Fort Sumter & Fort Moultrie NHP	South Carolina	Fort Sumter is where the Civil War began — ferry access only from Charleston. Fort Moultrie on Sullivan’s Island is in the same NHP unit and covers Revolutionary War through WWII. Two sites, one admission
Stones River NB	Tennessee	New Year’s Eve 1862 — a six-stop driving tour, outstanding visitor center, and the Hazen Brigade Monument: the oldest intact Civil War memorial in the country
Moores Creek NB	North Carolina	The first significant Patriot victory of the Revolution — Scottish Highlander loyalists defeated in under five minutes on February 27, 1776. One-mile walking loop, uncrowded, underappreciated
Kings Mountain NMP	South Carolina	Patrick Ferguson called it “the turning point of the Revolution in the South.” The Overmountain Men won decisively in 65 minutes. Guide coming soon
Kennesaw Mountain NBP	Georgia	1864 Atlanta Campaign — Sherman vs. Johnston across nearly 3,000 acres of preserved earthworks and battlefield landscape outside Atlanta. Guide coming soon
Cowpens NB	South Carolina	Brilliant tactical victory by General Morgan — a double envelopment that crippled Cornwallis’s forces in 1781. Short trail, well-interpreted battlefield. Guide coming soon
Gulf Islands NS	FL / Mississippi	Fort Pickens on Santa Rosa Island and Fort Barrancas near Pensacola — Civil War-era brick forts on some of the whitest sand beaches in the country. Guide coming soon

Civil Rights & Cultural History

Site	State	What to Know
Martin Luther King Jr. NHP	Georgia	Sweet Auburn district of Atlanta — Dr. King’s birth home, Ebenezer Baptist Church where he was baptized and served, and the King Center with his marble tomb and eternal flame. Plan 3-4 hours. Free admission
Reconstruction Era NHP	South Carolina	Beaufort’s Port Royal area — the most complete interpretation of the post-Civil War Reconstruction period in the NPS system. The story that comes after the battlefields. Guide coming soon
Tuskegee Airmen NHS	Alabama	Moton Field in Tuskegee — where the first Black military aviators trained, proving wrong everyone who said they couldn’t. Small site, significant story. Guide coming soon
Tuskegee Institute NHS	Alabama	Booker T. Washington’s school and George Washington Carver’s laboratory, on the same campus as Tuskegee University — still an active university today. Guide coming soon
Ocmulgee Mounds NHP	Georgia	11,000 years of Indigenous history on the Ocmulgee River — massive earthen mounds built around 900 AD by the Mississippian culture. One of the most significant archaeological sites in the Southeast. Guide coming soon
Charles Pinckney NHS	South Carolina	Mount Pleasant estate of a primary architect of the US Constitution — and a significant site for interpreting the lives of enslaved people who worked the plantation. Guide coming soon
Andrew Johnson NHS	Tennessee	Greeneville — home, tailor shop, and grave of the 17th President. The only presidential NPS site in Tennessee, and a compact, well-presented visit
Manhattan Project NHP	Tennessee	Oak Ridge — where uranium was enriched for the first atomic bomb. Advance reservations required for the building tours; the visitor center is walk-in. Guide coming soon

Natural Areas & Parks

Site	State	What to Know
Great Smoky Mountains NP	NC / Tennessee	The most visited national park in the US — 12+ million visitors annually, and the only major national park with no entrance fee. Clingmans Dome, Cades Cove, Laurel Falls, and over 800 miles of trail. Expect crowds on summer weekends; spring and fall are the sweet spots. Guide coming soon
Congaree NP	South Carolina	The largest intact old-growth bottomland forest in the eastern US — champion loblolly pines over 160 feet tall, a 2.4-mile boardwalk loop, and the world-famous synchronized firefly event in May-June
Cape Hatteras NS	North Carolina	The first national seashore — 70 miles of undeveloped Outer Banks barrier island, Cape Hatteras Lighthouse (tallest brick lighthouse in the US), and excellent surf fishing
Cumberland Gap NHP	KY / TN / VA	The natural mountain gateway through the Appalachians that opened the frontier west — three-state overlook from Pinnacle, 85 miles of trail, and the remote Hensley Settlement
Big South Fork NRRA	KY / Tennessee	125,000+ acres of sandstone gorges, whitewater, and arches in the Cumberland Plateau — one of the most underrated backcountry destinations in the East. Guide coming soon
Obed WSR	Tennessee	500-foot sandstone gorges and some of the best technical rock climbing in the Southeast — the Obed River is a paddler’s destination when water levels cooperate. Guide coming soon
Cumberland Island NS	Georgia	Wild horses, Carnegie mansion ruins, and 17 miles of Atlantic beach — accessible only by ferry from St. Marys. One of the most atmospheric sites on the entire East Coast. Guide coming soon
Fort Raleigh NHS	North Carolina	Site of the Lost Colony of Roanoke (1587) — the first English settlement in America, and still one of history’s most compelling unsolved mysteries
Wright Brothers NMEM	North Carolina	Kill Devil Hills — where Orville Wright flew 120 feet on December 17, 1903, changing everything. The monument and flight markers are exactly where it happened

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Complete Southeast Region Site Directory

Every NPS unit in the official Southeast passport region, organized by state. Sites with published guides are linked; all entries include a brief description to help you plan your visit.

Jump to state: Florida | Georgia | South Carolina | North Carolina | Tennessee | Kentucky | Alabama | Mississippi | Louisiana | Puerto Rico | U.S. Virgin Islands | Multi-State

Florida

Georgia

Site	Type	Highlights
Andersonville NHS	Historic Site	The most notorious Civil War prisoner of war camp — 45,000 Union prisoners, 13,000 deaths in 14 months. National POW Museum on site
Chattahoochee River NRA	Recreation Area	48-mile corridor through metro Atlanta — tubing, fishing, hiking, and one of the few NPS units inside a major US city
Cumberland Island NS	National Seashore	Wild horses, Carnegie mansion ruins, and 17 miles of Atlantic beach — ferry access only from St. Marys, reservations required
Fort Frederica NM	National Monument	18th-century British fort on St. Simons Island — site of the 1742 Battle of Bloody Marsh that stopped the Spanish advance into Georgia
Fort Pulaski NM	National Monument	Where rifled cannon fire in April 1862 made masonry fortifications obsolete overnight — a turning point in military engineering
Jimmy Carter NHP	Historical Park	Birthplace, boyhood farm, and home of the 39th President in Plains, Georgia — still an active community
Kennesaw Mountain NBP	National Battlefield Park	1864 Atlanta Campaign — nearly 3,000 acres of preserved earthworks, 16 miles of trail, and excellent views of the Atlanta metro
Martin Luther King Jr. NHP	Historical Park	Sweet Auburn district of Atlanta — birth home, Ebenezer Baptist Church, King Center with tomb. Plan 3-4 hours. Free
Ocmulgee Mounds NHP	Historical Park	11,000 years of continuous Indigenous occupation — the Great Temple Mound rises 55 feet above the Ocmulgee River floodplain

South Carolina

Site	Type	Highlights
Charles Pinckney NHS	Historic Site	Surviving portion of a Founding Father’s coastal plantation — interprets both the Constitution’s framing and the enslaved community who worked the land
Congaree NP	National Park	Largest old-growth bottomland hardwood forest in the eastern US — champion trees, elevated boardwalk, synchronized fireflies in May-June
Cowpens NB	National Battlefield	Textbook double envelopment victory (1781) that crippled Cornwallis’s southern army and helped end the Revolution — short trail, uncrowded
Fort Sumter & Fort Moultrie NHP	Historical Park	Fort Sumter: where the Civil War began, ferry access only. Fort Moultrie: Sullivan’s Island, five military eras in one site. Two guides, one park unit
Kings Mountain NMP	Military Park	“The turning point of the Revolution in the South” — Overmountain Men routed Ferguson’s loyalists in 65 minutes on October 7, 1780
Ninety Six NHS	Historic Site	Colonial-era backcountry trading post and site of the longest siege of the Revolution in the South (May-June 1781) — earthworks still visible
Reconstruction Era NHP	Historical Park	The Port Royal Experiment and the Reconstruction story — Beaufort area sites that tell the post-Civil War history of Black freedom and land ownership

North Carolina

Site	Type	Highlights
Blue Ridge PKWY (also VA)	Parkway	469-mile scenic drive; North Carolina section includes Linn Cove Viaduct, Grandfather Mountain area, and highest point at Richland Balsam (6,053 ft)
Cape Hatteras NS	National Seashore	The first national seashore — 70 miles of barrier island from Nags Head to Ocracoke, Cape Hatteras Lighthouse, and excellent fishing and surf
Cape Lookout NS	National Seashore	56 miles of undeveloped barrier island south of Cape Hatteras — ferry access only, primitive camping, wild horses on Shackleford Banks
Fort Raleigh NHS	Historic Site	The Lost Colony of Roanoke — first English settlement in America (1587), vanished without explanation. Outdoor drama runs each summer
Great Smoky Mountains NP (also TN)	National Park	The most visited national park in America — free admission, 800+ miles of trail, Appalachian Trail corridor, and fall foliage that rivals anywhere in the country
Moores Creek NB	National Battlefield	First significant Patriot victory of the Revolution — Scottish Highlander loyalists defeated in under five minutes in February 1776
Wright Brothers NMEM	National Memorial	Kill Devil Hills — where powered flight began on December 17, 1903. The granite monument stands on Big Kill Devil Hill; flight markers show exactly where each of the four flights landed

Tennessee

Site	Type	Highlights
Andrew Johnson NHS	Historic Site	Greeneville — homestead, tailor shop, and grave of the 17th President. Compact site, well-interpreted, no entrance fee
Big South Fork NRRA (also KY)	Recreation Area	125,000+ acres of sandstone gorges and whitewater in the Cumberland Plateau — Blue Heron Mining Community, sandstone arches, serious backcountry
Chickamauga & Chattanooga NMP (also GA)	Military Park	Largest Civil War military park in the US — the second bloodiest battle of the war at Chickamauga, plus five other battle areas across the Chattanooga area
Cumberland Gap NHP	Historical Park	The natural Appalachian gateway — Pinnacle Overlook, Hensley Settlement, 85 miles of trail across Tennessee, Kentucky, and Virginia
Fort Donelson NB	National Battlefield	Grant’s first major victory — 12,000 Confederate troops surrendered in February 1862, opening the Tennessee and Cumberland rivers to Union advance
Great Smoky Mountains NP (also NC)	National Park	America’s most visited national park — free admission, Cades Cove for wildlife and history, Clingmans Dome for panoramic views, Newfound Gap for the Appalachian Trail crossing
Manhattan Project NHP	Historical Park	Oak Ridge — where K-25, Y-12, and X-10 facilities enriched uranium for the first atomic bomb. Tours of the historic buildings require advance reservations
Natchez Trace PKWY (also AL/MS)	Parkway	444-mile historic road from Nashville to Natchez — no commercial traffic, ancient mounds, waterfalls, and some of the best cycling in the South
Obed WSR	Wild & Scenic River	500-foot sandstone gorges and class III-IV whitewater — premier rock climbing and paddling destination in the Southeast Tennessee plateau
Shiloh NMP (also MS)	Military Park	Two days in April 1862 that shocked both sides — 23,000 casualties along the Tennessee River. Auto tour covers all major action areas
Stones River NB	National Battlefield	New Year’s Eve 1862 battle near Murfreesboro — driving tour, excellent visitor center, and the Hazen Monument: oldest intact Civil War memorial in the country

Kentucky

Site	Type	Highlights
Abraham Lincoln Birthplace NHP	Historical Park	Two sites — birthplace cabin memorial in Hodgenville and boyhood home at Knob Creek, 10 miles apart. Together they cover Lincoln’s first seven years
Big South Fork NRRA (also TN)	Recreation Area	Kentucky entrance at Whitley City — Blue Heron Mining Community and the historic coal tipple are the anchor attractions on this side
Cumberland Gap NHP	Historical Park	Kentucky side accesses the Pinnacle Overlook — the three-state view from 2,440 feet is the signature experience of the park
Mammoth Cave NP	National Park	World’s longest known cave system — 400+ mapped miles, UNESCO World Heritage Site. Multiple cave tour options from half-hour to all-day; reservations recommended

Alabama

Site	Type	Highlights
Little River Canyon National Preserve	National Preserve	One of the longest mountaintop rivers in the US — canyon overlooks, swimming holes at Grace’s High Falls, and excellent canyon-rim hiking
Natchez Trace PKWY (also MS/TN)	Parkway	Alabama section is brief but scenic — the parkway passes through the Muscle Shoals area and connects to the Mississippi stretches
Russell Cave NM	National Monument	Archaeological site showing 10,000 years of Native American habitation in a cave shelter near Bridgeport — one of the longest occupation records in the Southeast
Tuskegee Airmen NHS	Historic Site	Moton Field — where the first Black military aviators trained for combat in WWII. Hangar #1 is restored; flight demonstrations run at special events
Tuskegee Institute NHS	Historic Site	Booker T. Washington’s school and George Washington Carver’s laboratory — on the active campus of Tuskegee University. The Oaks (Washington’s home) is the centerpiece

Mississippi

Site	Type	Highlights
Brices Cross Roads NBS	National Battlefield Site	One of the most tactically brilliant Confederate cavalry victories of the war — General Forrest routed a Union force twice his size in June 1864
Gulf Islands NS (also FL)	National Seashore	Ship Island — Fort Massachusetts and the whitest sand beaches on the Gulf Coast, reached by ferry from Gulfport
Natchez NHP	Historical Park	Antebellum architecture and the complex story of Natchez as the wealthiest city in antebellum America — built on the Natchez Trace and the cotton economy
Natchez Trace PKWY (also AL/TN)	Parkway	Mississippi section includes Emerald Mound (second largest pre-Columbian mound in the US) and the Old Trace segments through ancient forest
Shiloh NMP (also TN)	Military Park	Mississippi section along the Tennessee River — Pittsburg Landing and the Shiloh National Cemetery anchor this side of the battlefield
Tupelo NB	National Battlefield	A small but strategically significant 1864 battle — Forrest’s last major offensive attempt to cut Union supply lines into Tennessee
Vicksburg NMP	Military Park	The 47-day siege that gave the Union control of the Mississippi River on July 4, 1863 — 1,600 cast iron tablets mark troop positions across 1,800 acres

Louisiana

Site	Type	Highlights
Cane River Creole NHP	Historical Park	Two Creole plantation complexes near Natchitoches — Oakland and Magnolia — interpreting the distinctive free people of color community of the Cane River region
Jean Lafitte NHP & PRES	Historical Park & Preserve	Five separate units across southeast Louisiana — Barataria Preserve wetlands, Chalmette Battlefield (Battle of New Orleans), and Cajun cultural sites
New Orleans Jazz NHP	Historical Park	Interprets the origins and evolution of jazz in the French Quarter — ranger-led programs, live music, and a visitor center in the Tremé neighborhood
Poverty Point NM	National Monument	3,400-year-old earthwork complex built without agriculture by a pre-ceramic society — UNESCO World Heritage Site, one of the most significant archaeological sites in North America

Puerto Rico

Site	Type	Highlights
San Juan NHS	Historic Site	Two massive Spanish colonial fortresses — Castillo San Felipe del Morro and Castillo San Cristóbal — plus the historic city walls of Old San Juan. UNESCO World Heritage Site and the oldest European construction under US jurisdiction. One of the most dramatic NPS passport stamp experiences in the entire system. Guide coming soon

U.S. Virgin Islands

Site	Type	Highlights
Virgin Islands NP	National Park	Covers more than half of St. John — world-class beaches, coral reef snorkeling, tropical rainforest trails, and pre-Columbian archaeological sites dating to 840 BC. UNESCO International Biosphere Reserve
Virgin Islands Coral Reef NM	National Monument	12,700+ acres of protected submerged lands off St. John — coral reefs, seagrass beds, and mangrove lagoons managed alongside the national park
Buck Island Reef NM	National Monument	28+ square miles of protected reef off St. Croix — one of the finest marine gardens in the Caribbean, with an underwater snorkel trail through the coral
Christiansted NHS	Historic Site	Colonial-era Danish buildings in Christiansted, St. Croix — Fort Christiansvaern and the Scale House anchor this compact, walkable historic site
Salt River Bay NHP & Ecological Preserve	Historical Park & Preserve	St. Croix’s ridge-to-reef environment — Columbus landing site, Taíno ball court, mangrove forest, and coral reef all within one 989-acre preserve

Multi-State Sites

Site	States	What It Is
Appalachian NST	ME to GA (14 states)	Southern terminus at Springer Mountain, Georgia — the iconic starting point for northbound thru-hikers
Blue Ridge PKWY	VA / NC	469-mile parkway connecting Shenandoah to Great Smoky Mountains — the full Southeast-to-Mid-Atlantic connector
Chickamauga & Chattanooga NMP	GA / TN	Largest Civil War military park — spans the state line, six battle areas, one connected story
Gulf Islands NS	FL / MS	Barrier island chain from Pensacola to the Mississippi Sound — historic forts and undeveloped beaches
Natchez Trace PKWY	AL / MS / TN	444-mile historic corridor from Nashville to Natchez — ancient mounds, no commercial traffic, exceptional cycling
Shiloh NMP	MS / TN	The Tennessee River battle that ended both sides’ hope for a quick war — spread across two states

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Quick Planning Reference

State	NPS Sites	Travel from Atlanta	Key Anchor Sites
Florida	11	6–9 hours	Everglades NP / Dry Tortugas NP
Georgia	9	In-state	Martin Luther King Jr. NHP / Kennesaw Mountain NBP
South Carolina	7	3–4 hours	Fort Sumter NHP / Congaree NP
North Carolina	7	4–5 hours	Great Smoky Mountains NP / Cape Hatteras NS
Tennessee	11	2–4 hours	Great Smoky Mountains NP / Stones River NB
Kentucky	4	4–5 hours	Mammoth Cave NP / Cumberland Gap NHP
Alabama	5	2–3 hours	Tuskegee Airmen NHS / Tuskegee Institute NHS
Mississippi	7	5–6 hours	Vicksburg NMP / Natchez Trace PKWY
Louisiana	4	7–8 hours	Jean Lafitte NHP / New Orleans Jazz NHP
Puerto Rico	1	Flight ~3.5 hours from Miami	San Juan NHS
U.S. Virgin Islands	5	Flight ~3.5 hours from Miami	Virgin Islands NP (St. John) / Buck Island Reef NM (St. Croix)

Practical tips

• America the Beautiful Annual Pass ($80) covers all fee-charging sites in the region — how to get one
• Great Smoky Mountains is one of the only major national parks with no entrance fee — no pass needed, but expect crowds on summer and fall weekends
• Dry Tortugas ferry (Yankee Freedom) and Cumberland Island ferry both require advance reservations — plan these first when building an itinerary
• Check National Park fee-free days before you plan your trip

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Frequently Asked Questions

What states are in the Southeast NPS passport region?

The Southeast passport region covers Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Tennessee — plus Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Washington D.C. sites are in the separate National Capital region. Multi-state parks like Great Smoky Mountains stamp in the Southeast section regardless of which state you enter from.

How many NPS sites are in the Southeast passport region?

There are 90+ NPS units across the nine mainland states, making the Southeast one of the largest passport regions by site count. Tennessee and Florida each have over 10 units; Florida alone draws nearly 16 million annual NPS visitors across its 11 sites.

What is the most visited national park in the Southeast?

Great Smoky Mountains National Park — by a wide margin. It regularly tops 12 million visitors per year, making it the most visited national park in the entire country. It’s also free to enter!

What’s the hardest Southeast site to reach for passport collectors?

Dry Tortugas National Park, without question. Seventy miles west of Key West, accessible only by seaplane, ferry, or private boat — the Yankee Freedom ferry books out weeks in advance in high season. Cumberland Island National Seashore (Georgia) is the runner-up: ferry access only from St. Marys, with limited daily capacity. Plan both of these first when building a Southeast itinerary.

Is the Southeast good for Civil Rights history?

It’s one of the best region in the NPS system for Civil Rights history. Martin Luther King Jr. NHP in Atlanta is a full half-day experience. Tuskegee Airmen NHS and Tuskegee Institute NHS sit on the same campus in Alabama. Reconstruction Era NHP in Beaufort tells the post-Civil War story that most battlefields leave out (or are being torn out.) These sites are as historically significant as a major battlefield.

Can I combine Southeast and Mid-Atlantic sites efficiently?

The Blue Ridge Parkway is the natural connector — it runs 469 miles from Shenandoah (Mid-Atlantic) through the North Carolina mountains directly into the Great Smoky Mountains (Southeast). An East Coast road trip heading south can collect both passport book sections in one journey — see the Mid-Atlantic national parks guide for the northern half of that route.

How long does it take to complete the Southeast passport region?

The geography alone makes this a multi-year project at a normal pace. Florida requires a dedicated trip — Dry Tortugas alone needs some advance planning. Louisiana sits far to the west. Mississippi’s Civil War sites are a full road trip by themselves. With focused regional travel hitting 5-6 anchor sites per trip, you could cover the major sites in 4-5 dedicated trips — but completing all 90+ systematically will take years.

Are Southeast sites good for families with kids?

Some of the best in the country. Great Smoky Mountains has no entrance fee and miles of family-friendly trails. Dry Tortugas turns into a snorkeling adventure. The Outer Banks combines beach vacation with history at Wright Brothers and Cape Hatteras. Everglades guarantees alligator sightings. Junior Ranger programs run at most staffed sites throughout the region.

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Continue Exploring

Key guides from this region

• Florida National Parks Guide — All 11 sites with visitor counts and highlights
• South Carolina National Parks Guide — All 7 sites covered
• Tennessee National Parks Guide — All 13 sites, all free to visit
• Dry Tortugas Complete Guide — America’s most remote national park, step by step
• Fort Sumter Guide — Where the Civil War began
• Congaree National Park — The boardwalk, the champion trees, and the fireflies
• Complete Civil War Sites Guide — All 37 Civil War NPS sites across all regions
• National Park Passport Stamps Guide — How to collect and document every visit

Browse other regions

• Mid-Atlantic National Parks — Virginia, Maryland, Pennsylvania, West Virginia, and more
• Rocky Mountain National Parks (coming soon)
• Midwest National Parks (coming soon)
• National Parks Overview

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About Dennis: I’m working toward visiting all 433+ NPS sites — with many across the Southeast spanning Florida, Georgia, South Carolina, North Carolina, and Tennessee. Everything on this page is based on personal visits. Follow the journey at The Roaming Monk.

Regional designations reflect official NPS passport stamp program regions