This map shows the top national parks for wildlife

Summer is just around the corner. If you haven’t locked down your vacation plans, or are desperate for day trips to keep the kids occupied, a new map outlining the national parks with the best biodiversity could be a great way to start your search.

Vacation rental company Casago wanted to discover the best state parks across the United States that are perfect for families obsessed with wildlife. To do this, they analyzed data from the National Park Service’s (IRMA) Integrated Resource Management Applications to sort and rank which parks have the most plants, animals, and birds per 100 square kilometers. Then they put that data into an easy-to-read map that shows the top national parks across the country that have the highest numbers of wild animals.

“Each of America’s national parks is home to an average of 415 species of wild animals—often hundreds—and more than a thousand different plants,” Cassago writes. “Each with their own personalities, families, unique sights and sounds. From tiny but tough beeks to trumpeter pelicans and Dutchman’s breeches, these wild spaces are full of surprises.”

Congaree in South Carolina tops billing for best park for wildlife spotting, with 362 animal species per 100 square kilometers. In second place is Cuyahoga Valley in Ohio with 317 animal species, followed by Carlsbad Caverns in New Mexico with 286 species. salary!

The data analysts dug deeper, too, highlighting the best national parks for animal diversity. These rankings take into account different species and amounts of animals, with the top park being the very clear winner: Biscayne, Florida, with its mix of birds, reptiles, mammals, and amphibians totaling 1,002 animal species. Coming in second is American Samoa, which has the same Biscayne mix but fewer species, with 908 in total. And the third is the Everglades in Florida, where there are many birds and a total of 729 species in all.

Other stats compiled and compiled by Casago include Best National Parks for Bird Watching, which go to Carlsbad Caverns in New Mexico, and Best National Parks for Plant Lovers, which go to Cuyahoga Valley in Ohio.

But there are many other parks on the list, from Redwoods in California to Wind Cave in South Dakota to Dry Tortugas in Florida. Just imagine a nice summer day spent in a national park – and how busy the whole family can be.

The most important US national parks for discovering wildlife:

1. Congaree in South Carolina
2. Cuyahoga Valley in Ohio
3. Carlsbad Caverns in New Mexico
4. Pinnacles in California
5. Acadia in Maine
6. Wind Cave in South Dakota
7. Dry Tortugas in Florida
8. The Black Canyon of Gunnison
9. Mammoth Cave in Kentucky
10. Bryce Canyon in Utah

To see all the stats and the best national parks, check out Casago.