125F7454 923B 4C5B 9571 55C49874B685 E1753974573988 — “2-Brad Lackey, DeSoto Falls at DeSoto State Park” by Outdoor Alabama Photos is licensed under CC BY-NC-ND 2.0

A recent study from HomeToGo named the nation’s 100 best state parks for great-value stays and a popular Alabama spot was near the top of the list.

DeSoto State Park had the highest affordability score in the top 10 and the second best wildlife score on the entire list. That was enough to take the Alabama park into the No. 4 overall spot.

Find out more about what made DeSoto stand out + check out the other state parks that made the top of the list.

DeSoto State Park

Desoto Falls (Pat Byington / The Bama Buzz)

HomeToGo used six factors in determining the best-value state parks in the country.

DeSoto State Park ranked in the top 20 of four categories. Here was the final numbers and where the park ranked in each category:

Affordability: 8.16 (17th)
Hidden Gem: 7.97 (74th)
Size: 9.08 (40th)
Trails: 6.67 (19th)
Wildlife: 9.96 (2nd)
Scenic: 9.13 (17th)

DeSoto’s 50.97 overall score was just 2.3 behind Pennsylvania’s Ohiopyle State Park which took No. 1 on the list.

DeSoto is home to several major attractions including:

DeSoto Falls
Lookout Mountain
Fort De Soto
State Park campgrhomeound

It also has roughly 35 miles of hiking and mountain biking trails.

Earlier this summer, the park unveiled renovations at its pool.

This Alabama State Park named “Mini-Yosemite” by national travel publication

HomeToGo Best Value State Park Stays

“Shortlisted for their great-value nearby accommodation options, these state parks are scored according to factors such as size, trails, wildlife, scenic wow-factor, and their likelihood to help visitors to savor some solitude. The result is a definitive guide to America’s most spectacular outdoor getaways that won’t drain your vacation budget.

“From the redwood-shaded trails of Pfeiffer Big Sur State Park in the west to the granite peaks of Franconia Notch State Park in the east, and from Florida’s underwater wonderland at John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park to Utah’s desert vistas at Sand Hollow State Park, the 2025 State Park Index is full of ideas for every kind of escape into nature.”
HomeToGo

Here’s the top 10 state parks on the list: