7 Must-See Places for Reptile Lovers in the U.S.

Reptile lovers who travel always look for new and exciting places to view these scaly creatures.

Most people may think that you can only view these reptiles in specific areas of the world. However, that isn’t true!

In reality, reptiles can be viewed just about anywhere on the planet, whether at a zoo, national preserve, wildlife park, or simply in your backyard!

The United States, in particular, is full of exciting spots to view and find reptiles, whether in the wild or captivity.

So, if you’re a reptile lover currently in the U.S. or hoping to visit and want to know about a couple of spots to view your slither or crawling scaly obsession, keep reading to find out!

Destinations for Reptile Lovers

1. Zion National Park – Utah

The United States first-ever National Park, Zion, is in Southwest Utah.

In the rocks and canyons of this 229 square miles of red rock landscape, a reptile lover can quickly run across a plethora of different lizards, snakes, and tortoises, such as:

• The Western Banded Gecko, Great Basin Collared Lizard, Desert Spiny Lizard, Gila Monster, and Western Skink.
• Whipsnakes, Gartersnakes, Rattlesnakes, Kingsnakes, and Patch-nosed snakes.
• The Desert Tortoise.

You can also take the park’s canyon shuttle to soak in some stunning views. And don’t forget to learn about the area’s rich pioneer and Native American history while you’re there.

2. Franklin Mountain State Park – Texas

Franklin Mountain State Park, located in El Paso, Texas,  is one of the largest state parks in the U.S.

It covers 26,000 acres of rocky canyons, desert mountains, and grasslands full of different reptile species.

If you’re traveling to El Paso, you’ll be happy to know that the state park sits within the city limits, so a car, bus, or taxi should get you there just fine.

A couple of reptiles you’ll be able to find in the area include:

• The Eastern Collared Lizard, Ornate Tree Lizard, and Greater Earless Lizard.
• Texas Banded Gecko, Common Checkered Whiptail, and Chihuahuan Spotted Whiptail.
• The Ring-necked Snake, Chihuahuan Nightsnake, Southwestern Blackhead Snake, and Eastern Patch-nosed Snake.
• Big Bend Patchnose Snake and a few venomous rattlesnake species like the Eastern Black-tailed Rattlesnake (so be careful!).

Related: Things to Do in Big Bend National…