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National parks are right in the middle of their peak season, and millions of people are flocking to see them. Famous national parks like Yosemite, Glacier, and the Great Smoky Mountains welcome upwards of 10,000 guests a day during the brief window when every road to the park is open.

While everybody wants to experience the great outdoors, crowds are not everybody’s idea of a good time. Thankfully, even once national parks are in peak season, multiple destinations remain quiet and under the radar.

These less visited national parks are perfect for those who still want to experience one-of-a-kind landscapes, plant life, and wildlife, without rubbing shoulders with a thousand of your closest friends.

Great Basin National Park, Nevada

Many national parks are underrated not because they are any less exciting than the famous ones, but because they are not quite as accessible. Hours from any major airport and tucked along America’s Loneliest Highway, Great Basin National Park is the only national park that is entirely within the state of Nevada.

Despite being one of the least visited of the 63 major National Parks, Great Basin has plenty to love. It is home to some of the oldest trees on the continent: bristlecone pines. At the end of the park’s scenic byway, you can hike a short loop through the bristlecones, some of which are more than 3,000 years old.

While the park is in Nevada, Great Basin is a high-altitude destination, with alpine lakes galore. It is a great destination for those who want picturesque views of Rocky Mountain National Park or Yosemite’s Sierra Nevadas, without all the company. Even on its busiest days, parking lots are rarely full.

About Great Basin National Park

The only part you might have to plan for is the Lehman Caves tours. The Lehman Caves are only accessible as part of a guided tour, and during the busy season they can fill up several weeks in advance. Thankfully, the group sizes are relatively small; even at the park’s most popular attraction, you won’t have too much company.

Redwood National And State Parks, California

Redwood National and State Parks is another prime example of a location limiting visitation. Located on the Pacific Coast Highway, Redwood National and State Parks is right on the border of California and Oregon. The intertwining national and state park lands host some of the tallest trees in the entire world.

The park does have some busy pockets around its most famous trees, but quiet is never far away. Along scenic drives, numerous pullouts lead to primitive trails where hikers can go uninterrupted for hours. While the park’s visitation numbers feel high compared to other underrated parks, the unique shape of the protected land makes it surprisingly easy to break away from crowded spaces.

About Redwood National And State Parks

The constant mist that hangs under the trees adds to the sense of solitude and quiet, making it the perfect place to go if you want to truly feel alone in one of America’s national parks.

North Cascades National Park, Washington

Dubbed the most dangerous National Park in the U.S. because of its comparatively high visitor-to-fatality ratio, North Cascades National Park is very different from the other two Washington National Parks. North Cascades was specifically designed to be as primitive as possible, making it more appropriate for backpackers or serious hikers rather than casual sightseers. That said, like any good national park, there are plenty of easy trails and scenic driving routes to explore.

About North Cascades National Park

For those who enjoy overnight excursions, North Cascades is a magical place to get away from the chaos of Olympic and Mount Rainier national parks.

Voyageurs National Park, Minnesota

Fun fact: if you place a national park on a series of islands, it’s going to be a pretty quiet experience. Voyageurs National Park is literally a world away, tucked away on Kabetogama Lake. The park is only truly open for about six months out of the year, and even then, it rarely sees true crowds like Acadia over in Maine.

About Voyageurs National Park

One of the most exciting aspects of visiting Voyageurs is the versatility of activities. Many enjoy not just hiking on the islands, but kayaking around them. As a car-free destination, it feels like the echoes of a quieter time.

Death Valley National Park, California

This one may seem risky to include, but summer is, unsurprisingly, the low season for Death Valley National Park. Unlike most national parks that are at their best in the summer months, Death Valley lives up to its name while the crowds are surging elsewhere. Anxious to avoid the literal deadly heat, many people avoid Death Valley National Park during the summer.

That might make it the perfect time to go if you go with a plan. If you’re willing to go in the early mornings or after dark, and you’re well-prepared, you can make it to see the grandeur of Death Valley without people sprinkled all over the landscape.

About Death Valley National Park

That said, the park is not crowded for good reason. Ensure you have a plan and coordinate with rangers to guarantee your Death Valley National Park visit is safe.

Capitol Reef National Park, Utah

Utah is home to the Mighty Five national parks. One of those is Zion National Park, the second most visited national park in the country. While Zion will see crowds of 7 to 10,000 people a day during the summer months, over in Capitol Reef, it’s a different story.

Capitol Reef National Park is slightly different in its origins from the other national parks. The park has strong pioneer ties with numerous structures still standing, preserved, and even active in the park. However, because it is not as accessible from Las Vegas and Salt Lake City International Airport, it just doesn’t capture the attention the way Zion does.

Despite the lack of fame, Capitol Reef National Park is full of incredible hikes, including one of the only natural arches that you can actually walk on. Cassidy Arch is a highlight of the park, and while you might have to wait your turn to get that solo picture of you on the arch, it’s nothing compared to waiting for Delicate Arch over in Arches National Park or trying to get some alone time in the Narrows of Zion.

About Capitol Reef National Park

There’s one thing about Capitol Reef that is totally unique: Gifford Homestead and its in-house bakery. The park preserves some of its pioneer-era orchards, and they use them to make some of the most delicious pies in the country. During late summer, many of the pies feature local fruit from the orchards. Visitors swear by their tasty, individually sized portions. While the bakery opens every year on Pi Day, it’s the end of summer that is the perfect time to visit the shop.

Closing Thoughts: Which National Parks To Visit To Avoid The Crowds

U.S. national parks are absolutely on the global stage. While the tourism they bring in is an unmatched economic boost, it can be hard to take in the moment when you spend hours standing in line for a shuttle or hiking in single file with 100 other guests.

The national parks mentioned are exceptional examples of underrated park sites that leave the crowds behind, but they aren’t the only ones where visitors can find an escape.

In general, those looking for uncrowded national parks should focus on which locations are more remote. Many of the most popular national parks have easy access points and large tour group industries, making them more accessible. Locations like Great Basin National Park, which is arguably best seen as part of a Nevada road trip, just can’t reach the same audience. For those willing to leave the contiguous U.S., the options get even wider (Katmai National Park & Preserve has more bears than people on any given day, if human crowds are a real dealbreaker).

Visitation Statistics For U.S. National Parks In 2025

At the end of the day, one of the best resources for finding underrated national parks is to turn to the National Park Service itself. Each year, NPS publishes visitation statistics. Parks in the top half of the list are likely to be more crowded during their peak season, while the bottom half of the list promises more freedom.

National parks may not be the hidden gems they once were, but there are still plenty of locations waiting for their Instagram debut for those willing to put in the work.