The only U.S. national park south of the equator, spread across three Samoan islands with rainforest-covered ridges, coral reefs, and villages that still lease the land to the park under traditional Samoan custom.

Park Pass

Join the National Parks Club

Plan for 2 to 3 days to see the highlights, or stretch to 5 or more if you want to island-hop between all three park units.

No special permit is required to enter, though visitors should be respectful of village customs, since much of the park's land is still owned and actively used by local Samoan communities.

Pago Pago is your only real home base, since the park units are spread across islands with very limited infrastructure.

There's no standard entrance fee — the park operates under a unique land-lease agreement with local villages rather than the fee system most parks use.

Why Visit?:

This is the most remote and least-visited national park in the entire system, and that's exactly the draw — pristine coral reefs, rainforest-covered volcanic ridges, and a living Samoan culture that still shapes how the land is used and cared for. It's less a park you drive through and more a place you're welcomed into.

Unlike almost anywhere else in the National Park System, much of the land here is still owned by local villages under a long-term lease, so a visit here comes with genuine cultural exchange alongside the natural scenery — something no other U.S. national park really offers.

Things to Do:

Snorkeling at Ofu Beach is considered one of the best reef experiences in the entire park system, with visibly untouched coral just steps from the sand. On Tutuila, the Lower Sauma Ridge Trail winds through rainforest with sweeping ocean views, while a visit to a local village offers a rare chance to see traditional Samoan fa'a Samoa culture up close.

Given how spread out the park units are, most visitors pick one or two islands rather than trying to see everything — Ofu's beach and reef alone are worth building a trip around.

Get the Full Itinerary

Closest airports: Pago Pago International Airport (PPG) is essentially the only way in — there's no realistic driving alternative, since this is the only unit of the National Park System located outside the fifty states.

Nearby Attractions:

Beyond the park itself, the island of Tutuila has small local markets and villages worth a slow afternoon, and the surrounding waters are known for excellent diving even outside the designated park boundaries.