These Are The U.S. National Parks To Visit This Year If You’re Looking To Avoid Crowds
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U.S. National Parks have been getting some much-deserved attention in recent years, partly thanks to them providing some safe respite from travel bans and lockdowns during the pandemic.
Thanks to this and to a post-pandemic boom, we are learning more and more about the many sites that make up America’s National Park system, and with that comes new opportunities to explore some of the lesser-known places.
With around 424 National Parks in total, Americans (and visitors from around the globe) are spoiled for choice when it comes to deciding which one(s) to visit.
While some of them are hugely popular, there are many that do not report a lot of traffic.
Due to being off the beaten path, or too remote, or possibly just not well known about, these National Parks can be your secret paradise this year.
While there are many ‘low attendance’ parks in Alaska and offshore, such as Samoa and The Virgin Islands, let’s look at the ones in the continental U.S. that are more easily accessible for a visit.
The Least Visited National Parks Within The Continental U.S. Are:
Isle Royale National Park, Michigan
With just over 25 thousand visitors in 2022, this national park located in Lake Superior offers those who visit some seriously peaceful exploring.
This rugged archipelago is reachable by seaplane or a few ferry services from the mainland.
Open from mid-April to the end of October, this national park is comprised of over 400 islands, though the main one, Isle Royale, is likely where you will spend most of your time.
With a low visitation rate, 165 trails, and 36 campgrounds, Isle Royale National Park never seems to feel busy, even during the peak months.
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North Cascades National Park, Washington
Despite being only three hours away from Seattle, North Cascades National Park doesn’t see a huge number of visitors.
In 2022 it only welcomed around 20 thousand people into its gates, and those who made the trip were rewarded with stunning vistas, amazing hiking, and wildlife in abundance across its nearly 700 thousand acres.
You can go deep off road or stay closer to the trails, and those who are not into hiking can enjoy some seriously scenic drives as well.
The park itself is open year-round, but the conditions are completely up to the elements. So while a winter visit is possible, make sure to stay on top of weather and road information.
Voyageurs National Park, Minnesota
Located in northern Minnesota and sharing a border with Canada, this National Park offers you the chance to see the northern lights if you are lucky.
Voyageurs National Park is connected by four large lakes and numerous smaller ones, and 84,000 of its 218,055 acres are made up of water.
As you can imagine, boating is a big pastime here, although personal watercraft are not allowed, meaning the silence of the area can better be maintained.
Swimming is a nice way to cool off after some strenuous hikes, and of course, summer is the best time for that.
This National Park is open year-round and has no entrance fee (unless camping overnight), and autumn is considered the best time to visit for peak foliage times.
In the winter, snowmobiling, snowshoeing, and sledding are all favorite pastimes.
Dry Tortugas National Park, Florida
As one of the many underrated places to visit in Florida, this stunning National Park is quite unique. Home to the impressive Fort Jefferson, Dry Tortugas National Park is comprised of many small islands, although most of its 100 square miles are made up of turquoise blue open water.
As this National Park is only reachable by boat or seaplane, it’s not too surprising that it doesn’t report a very high attendance. In fact, in 2022, only 78,488 visitors were recorded.
So if you are looking to tick another National Park off your checklist and you are interested in coral, bird, and marine life, then this one is for you.
Open year-round and only a little over two hours on a ferry from Key West, Dry Tortugas National Park is doable on a day trip, although an overnight offers more time to experience this special place.
Congaree National Park, South Carolina
What do 204,522 people have in common? They all visited the lesser-known Congaree National Park in 2022.
Found in central South Carolina, only 18 miles from the state capital of Columbia, this park keeps intact the largest old-growth bottomland hardwood forest in the United States.
With the waters of the Congaree and the Wateree rivers meeting here, most of this park becomes a flood plane filled with biodiversity and life.
The trees growing here are some of the tallest in the eastern U.S. and combine to make one of the highest temperate deciduous forest canopies in the world.
Easily explored in one or two days, and open year-round, this park makes the perfect weekend trip for those looking to get into nature but don’t want to use their whole vacation to do so.
Great Basin National Park, Nevada
From the summit of Wheeler Peak to the depths of the Lehman caves and everything in between, there is something for everyone at Great Basin National Park.
Located In east-central Nevada, near the border of Utah, this park is very remote and covers around 77,000 acres of land.
The park’s rolling foothills, basins, and mountain ranges are all nestled between the Rocky Mountains and the Sierra Nevada mountains, making this area quite rugged.
Visited by only a little over 142 thousand people last year, you are likely to have these hot desert valleys, cool caves, and mountain peaks nearly to yourself.
Just remember to make all the required plans and take the necessary safety precautions out in this wild terrain.
Pinnacles National Park, California
Formed from volcanoes that erupted around 23 million years ago, Pinnacles National Park is now a unique landscape of rock formations, caves, and woodlands.
This park offers ample hiking opportunities, from easy-going family hikes to hardcore climbing.
Providing a chance for northern Californians to escape the city and get out into the natural landscape, this park is better enjoyed in the cooler months.
Although it’s one of the 15 least visited parks in the country, it can (and often does) get busy on weekends, so it’s best to plan a trip accordingly.
In 2022 Pinnacles National Park saw about 275 thousand visitors, and many say about two days is enough to really take in the beauty of this unique California landscape.
Guadalupe Mountains National Park, Texas
Where can you see the world’s largest Permian fossil reed, historic sites, various different ecosystems, as well as Texas’s four highest points all in one?
This would be the lesser-known United States National Park, Guadalupe Mountains National Park.
While only visited by around 220 thousand people last year, this park offers over 80 miles of trails to hike and take in the beauty amongst some peace and quiet.
One special experience here is to hike the Salt Basin Dunes that reach up over 100 feet from the floor of the desert.
This west Texas hidden secret is best reached from El Paso, although Carlsbad, New Mexico is also under an hour away.
Summer months here get HOT, and hiking in this wilderness is not recommended.
The best times to visit Guadalupe are winter and spring to really be able to take in the vast and varied landscape of this area.
The Least Visited U.S. National Parks Found Outside of The Continental U.S. Are:
- National Park of American Samoa
- Virgin Islands National Park
- Gates of the Arctic National Park and Preserve, Alaska
- Kobuk Valley National Park, Alaska
- Lake Clark National Park and Preserve, Alaska
- Katmai National Park & Preserve, Alaska
- Wrangell-St. Elias National Park & Preserve, Alaska
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