A national park is a natural park in use for conservation purposes, created and protected by national governments. Often it is a reserve of natural, semi-natural, or developed land that a government declares or owns.

A national park is a strictly protected area of land or water designated by a sovereign government for the conservation of its unique natural, cultural, or historical significance. The primary mission of these parks is to preserve "wild nature" and biodiversity for future generations while providing a space for public recreation and education. In the United States, national parks are owned by the federal government and managed by the National Park Service (NPS), an agency of the Department of the Interior. Globally, the ownership model varies; while most are government-owned (like those in Canada or South Africa), some countries like the United Kingdom use the term "national park" to describe scenic landscapes that remain largely in private hands but are subject to strict public planning and conservation laws. In Australia, the majority of national parks are actually owned and managed by state and territory governments rather than the federal level. Regardless of the specific ownership, the hallmark of a national park is its legal protection against industrial exploitation and its availability to the public.