The BEST episodes of Parks and Recreation

Every episode of Parks and Recreation ever, ranked from best to worst by thousands of votes from fans of the show. The best episodes of Parks and Recreation!

The series follows Leslie Knope, the deputy head of the Parks and Recreation department in the fictional town of Pawnee, Indiana. Knope takes on a project with a nurse named Ann to turn a construction pit into a park, while trying to mentor a bored college-aged intern. However, Leslie must fight through the bureaucrats, problem neighbors, and developers in order to make her dream a reality, all with a camera crew recording her every gaff and mishap.

Last Updated: 11/3/2024Network: NBCStatus: Ended
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One Last Ride (2)
star
8.99
1175 votes

#1 - One Last Ride (2)

Season 7 - Episode 13 - Aired 2/24/2015

Directors: Michael Schur
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
One Last Ride (1)
star
8.67
1687 votes

#2 - One Last Ride (1)

Season 7 - Episode 12 - Aired 2/24/2015

The Parks gang completes one last task together, before saying goodbye to Pawnee.

Directors: Michael Schur
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
Moving Up (2)
star
8.65
1082 votes

#3 - Moving Up (2)

Season 6 - Episode 22 - Aired 4/24/2014

Directors: Michael Schur
Watch Now:Amazon
Leslie and Ron
star
8.56
1429 votes

#4 - Leslie and Ron

Season 7 - Episode 4 - Aired 1/20/2015

Leslie and Ron attempt to work out their differences.

Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
Leslie and Ben
star
8.41
2337 votes

#5 - Leslie and Ben

Season 5 - Episode 14 - Aired 2/21/2013

Leslie and Ben are getting married, and have to cram months of planning into two hours. Ron's temper gets him in trouble.

Directors: Craig Zisk
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
Moving Up (1)
star
8.40
1917 votes

#6 - Moving Up (1)

Season 6 - Episode 21 - Aired 4/24/2014

Leslie, Ben, and Andy head to San Francisco for a National Parks Conference. Tom opens his restaurant, Ron has another run-in with his ex-wife Tammy 2, Andy lives a rock and roll fantasy, and Leslie makes a huge decision about her future.

Directors: Michael Schur
Watch Now:Amazon
Win, Lose, or Draw
star
8.30
2495 votes

#7 - Win, Lose, or Draw

Season 4 - Episode 22 - Aired 5/10/2012

It's election day in Pawnee, and Leslie and Bobby Newport are separated by a razor-thin margin. While everyone waits with Leslie for the race to be called, they ponder their futures, and their new opportunities.

Directors: Michael Schur
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
Bowling for Votes
star
8.23
2535 votes

#8 - Bowling for Votes

Season 4 - Episode 13 - Aired 1/26/2012

Leslie and Ben host a bowling night after receiving feedback about Leslie's campaign. April, Chris, and Jerry hold a competition to see who can raise the most funds.

Directors: Michael Trim
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
Ron and Diane
star
8.20
2488 votes

#9 - Ron and Diane

Season 5 - Episode 9 - Aired 12/6/2012

Ron's nomination for a woodworking award is threatened by the arrival of Tammy II. Jerry hosts a holiday party and some of his friends are shocked to find they were not invited.

Directors: Dan Goor
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
The Debate
star
8.19
2437 votes

#10 - The Debate

Season 4 - Episode 20 - Aired 4/26/2012

Leslie goes toe-to-toe with Bobby Newport in a debate. Ann, Tom, and Chris work in the media spin room, while Ron goes the extra mile to save a party for Leslie's donors.

Directors: Amy Poehler
Writer: Amy Poehler
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
Citizen Knope
star
8.16
2736 votes

#11 - Citizen Knope

Season 4 - Episode 10 - Aired 12/8/2011

Unable to get work done from inside the Parks Department, Leslie forms a citizen action group and fights from the outside. Meanwhile, everyone in the office brainstorms ideas for what to get Leslie for Christmas.

Directors: Randall Einhorn
Writer: Dave King
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
Li'l Sebastian
star
8.16
2803 votes

#12 - Li'l Sebastian

Season 3 - Episode 16 - Aired 5/19/2011

Leslie and the parks team put together a memorial service for a dearly departed friend. Meanwhile, Tom makes a big life decision, while Chris reacts badly to a health problem.

Directors: Dean Holland
Writer: Dan Goor
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
The Trial of Leslie Knope
star
8.15
2609 votes

#13 - The Trial of Leslie Knope

Season 4 - Episode 9 - Aired 12/1/2011

Leslie has to face an ethics committee about her secret relationship with Ben after they come clean to Chris.

Directors: Dean Holland
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
The Comeback Kid
star
8.14
2608 votes

#14 - The Comeback Kid

Season 4 - Episode 11 - Aired 1/12/2012

Leslie enlists everyone's help in staging an attention-getting event. Ben takes up a new hobby, while April and Andy adopt a pet.

Directors: Tucker Gates
Writer: Mike Scully
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
Ron and Tammys
star
8.13
2809 votes

#15 - Ron and Tammys

Season 4 - Episode 2 - Aired 9/29/2011

Ron's first ex-wife, Tammy One, reenters his life and tries to control his every move. Meanwhile, Ben helps Tom balance the books at his new company, and Ann makes a PSA, with help from Chris.

Directors: Randall Einhorn
Writer: Norm Hiscock
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
London (1)
star
8.12
2205 votes

#16 - London (1)

Season 6 - Episode 1 - Aired 9/26/2013

Leslie wins an award from an international Women in Government organization, and travels to London with Ben, Andy, April, and Ron to accept it. Tom hunts down the mysterious businessman who is trying to put Rent-a-Swag out of business, while Ann and Chris settle into the next phase of their relationship.

Directors: Dean Holland
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
Operation Ann
star
8.12
2460 votes

#17 - Operation Ann

Season 4 - Episode 14 - Aired 2/2/2012

Leslie works to find Ann a Valentine's date. Ron helps Ben with a scavenger hunt, and Chris becomes depressed over his love life.

Directors: Morgan Sackett
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
End of the World
star
8.11
2794 votes

#18 - End of the World

Season 4 - Episode 6 - Aired 11/3/2011

A local Pawnee group predicts the end of days, causing chaos in the Parks department.

Directors: Dean Holland
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
Two Parties
star
8.08
2382 votes

#19 - Two Parties

Season 5 - Episode 10 - Aired 1/17/2013

Ben and Leslie's rival bachelor and bachelorette parties each take on a very different tune.

Directors: Dean Holland
Writer: Dave King
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
Emergency Response
star
8.08
2227 votes

#20 - Emergency Response

Season 5 - Episode 13 - Aired 2/14/2013

Leslie and Ben organize a black tie gala to raise money for their park. Andy prepares to take his Police Academy Exam. Ron fills in for Leslie on Pawnee Today.

Directors: Dean Holland
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
Pawnee Rangers
star
8.07
2688 votes

#21 - Pawnee Rangers

Season 4 - Episode 4 - Aired 10/13/2011

Ron takes his boys-only troop of Pawnee Rangers into the wild. Not wanting the girls to feel left out, Leslie also takes her troop of Pawnee Goddesses on an adventure weekend. Meanwhile, a reluctant Ben joins Tom and Donna for a day of relaxation, and Chris spends some time with Jerry.

Writer: Alan Yang
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
Halloween Surprise
star
8.07
2345 votes

#22 - Halloween Surprise

Season 5 - Episode 5 - Aired 10/25/2012

A job offer for Ben causes Leslie to contemplate their future. Ron and Andy take Diane's girls out trick-or-treating. Tom searches for a new business idea.

Directors: Dean Holland
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
Ann and Chris
star
8.07
2030 votes

#23 - Ann and Chris

Season 6 - Episode 13 - Aired 1/30/2014

On Ann and Chris's last night in Pawnee, Leslie throws a grand farewell party and attempts to fulfill one last promise. Meanwhile, Tom, Ben, Ron and Andy struggle to find the perfect going away gift for Chris.

Directors: Dean Holland
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
Freddy Spaghetti
star
8.05
2668 votes

#24 - Freddy Spaghetti

Season 2 - Episode 24 - Aired 5/20/2010

When Ben prevents Leslie from holding a children’s concert, she takes matters into her own hands. Mark makes some big decisions about his life, and Andy gets some unexpected romantic attention.

Directors: Jason Woliner
Writer: Dan Goor
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
Campaign Ad
star
8.05
2578 votes

#25 - Campaign Ad

Season 4 - Episode 12 - Aired 1/19/2012

Faced with a tough new opponent, Leslie and Ben disagree on the content of her first campaign ad. Ron is very uncomfortable when Chris tries to befriend him, while Andy and April make a trip to the doctor.

Directors: Dean Holland
Writer: Alan Yang
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV