Note: All travel is subject to frequently changing governmental restrictions—please check federal, state and local advisories before scheduling trips. Due to overwhelming demand, some National Parks have implemented reservation systems while others have instituted intermittent closures due to reaching capacity limits. Visit nps.gov before heading out.
Sometimes we simply need to get away. But at a time when gathering in crowded tourist hotspots remains a thing to avoid, questions about that much-needed vacation might arise. Where should I go? What can I do when I get there? Is it possible to find a less-crowded experience? To find your answers, look no further than our country’s least-visited National Parks. While the more popular parks—think Zion, Yellowstone, Great Smoky Mountains, the Grand Canyon—pack in millions of visitors every year, each of America’s 62 National Parks has its own unique sense of wonder, and these lesser known parks are no exception. They may require more planning, but they too, deliver extraordinary natural features, outdoorsy fun and plenty of Instagrammable photo-ops, just with less crowds. Feel like exploring but don’t know which parks to visit? Here is a list of the 12 least-visited National Parks and why each is worth the trek to reach them.
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12. Congaree National Park: South Carolina
Spanish moss dangling from trees, deer and river otters, synchronous fireflies dancing in lush backcountry, and more than 25-miles of trails welcome visitors to Congaree National Park. Named after the Native American tribe who once lived here, the park is home to some of the tallest trees in eastern America—some reaching 170 feet—and the country’s largest remaining expanse of southern old-growth forest. Visit here after a heavy rainfall when nearly 90% of the park is submerged underwater and your experience turns into a unique canoeing or kayaking adventure. Find nearby hotels for your Congaree trip here.
11. Virgin Islands National Park: Virgin Islands
Two-thirds of Virgin Islands National Park is on the island of St. John, making your adventure in paradise here a bit easier to manage despite its relative obscurity. This park delivers dazzling Caribbean beaches like Trunk Bay, hiking trails leading to secluded swim spots, and with nearly half of the park submerged beneath clear turquoise waters, the opportunity to explore a mesmerizing world of marine life and coral reef. Just make sure to pack your snorkel. Stay close to the park with Virgin Islands hotels.
10. Great Basin National Park: Nevada
There’s more than just desert when it comes to Great Basin National Park. Wheeler Peak can be driven or hiked, making for remarkable panoramic photos from atop its 13,064-foot summit. You’ll also find everything from wilderness solitude among ancient bristlecone pines, a glacier and diverse flora and fauna to exquisite subterranean passages within Lehman Caves. Stay after the sun goes down to bask in some of the best nighttime skies for stargazing. Book a Great Basin-area hotel for easy access to the park.
9. Katmai National Park and Preserve: Alaska
Accessing Katmai National Park and Preserve takes some planning since getting to its remote location is done almost exclusively by boat or plane, but once there, you’ll certainly be rewarded for your efforts. This park is a favorite among outdoor junkies, offering Southern Alaska adventures such as flightseeing tours, camping, kayaking, hiking and salmon fishing. What Katmai lacks in visitors, it makes up for with sea otters, humpback whales, and more than 2,000 brown bears. Chances are if you’re near Brooks Falls, you’ll see them feasting on the spawning salmon that congregate here. Reserve a hotel near Katmai here.
8. Dry Tortugas National Park: Florida
A 70-mile journey west of Key West by boat or seaplane is part of the fun when visiting Dry Tortugas National Park. This mostly-water park’s remote location offers seven islands, shipwreck dive sites, protected coral reefs, and colorful marine life. If you bring a tent, pitch it near the 19th-century Fort Jefferson walls for a night under the stars. If staying in Key West, Travelocity has plenty of great hotels to choose from.
7. Wrangell-St. Elias National Park and Preserve: Alaska
If you’re thinking about escaping into remote, wild, and vast amounts of national park acreage, look no further than Wrangell-St. Elias 200 miles northeast of Anchorage. This park’s 13.2 million acres are nearly the size of Yosemite, Yellowstone and the country of Switzerland combined. Wrangell-St. Elias is stunning and your chance to revel in mind-boggling views, wildlife, America’s largest glacial system, 16 of the nation’s tallest peaks, and plenty of day hiking and backcountry backpacking adventure. Stay comfortably nearby at a Travelocity hotel.
6. National Park of American Samoa: American Samoa
Spread across three different islands in the South Pacific, getting to National Park of American Samoa is quite the trek, yet being 2,600 miles from Hawaii means this park is also one of the most remote. Gone are the crowded tourist facilities. Instead, you’ll visit secluded villages, hike trails with ocean views and lounge on coral sand beaches without many others insight. Bring your snorkel gear, too. You’ll want to explore the park’s underwater world that’s home to more than 250 coral species as well as over 950 species of fish. Set up a comfortable basecamp at one of these nearby Travelocity hotels.
5. North Cascades National Park, Washington
Three hours by car from Seattle is where you’ll find North Cascades National Park. Lengthy trails lead advanced hikers alongside glaciers while shorter alpine landscape strolls offer both scenic views and much easier trail time for beginners. Even though this park is known for winter activities, it also provides ample opportunities to climb, enjoy horseback riding, or even shoot a few rapids to get your adrenaline pumping. Book your hotel close to Cascades here.
4. Isle Royale National Park, Michigan
Social distancing in the middle of Lake Superior is Isle Royale’s selling point since it’s only accessible by boat, seaplane or ferry services. Once here, you have some options: scuba diving to well-preserved sunken shipwrecks, exploring rugged shorelines and 400 surrounding islands by boat, camping and backcountry hiking. The average national park visit lasts only hours. Plan for at least three or four days here. Find a comfy hotel here.
3. Lake Clark National Park and Preserve, Alaska
Feel like adding steaming volcanoes, hiking above turquoise lakes, and powerboating in Alaska to your list of adventures? If so, plan on a getaway to Lake Clark National Park and Preserve. Set out from Anchorage to take it all in at this wonderous remote location roughly 100 miles to the south. Like other park visits, there’s plenty of trails, kayaking, and even biking opportunities next to lakes and rivers to enjoy. The difference is that this time you can say it was all done in this picture-perfect Alaskan icon. Find a hotel to launch your Lake Clark adventure here.
2. Kobuk Valley National Park, Alaska
Situated in the northwestern region of Alaska, Kobuk Valley National Park is home to more than 500,000 migrating caribou. Visit here and you’ll see the herd trampling over the largest active sand dunes in the Arctic. Yes, you read that correctly, sand dunes in the Arctic. And if you spend time at the Kobuk River, you’re standing along the same ancient pathway that people and wildlife have trekked across for over 9,000 years. Relaxation awaits at a nearby hotel, bookable via Travelocity.
1. Gates of the Arctic National Park, Alaska
Gates of the Arctic is truly one of the last wild places on Earth, and with no roads or trails within its glacier-carved boundaries, the only way in is by bush plane. To no surprise, the park’s is located within the Arctic Circle and its harsh conditions at times make it a bit more daunting to visit if you’re not an experienced wilderness traveler. Don’t worry, though: Companies organize day trips and overnight camping excursions so you too can appreciate caribou herds, rivers, sweeping views of the mighty Brooks Range, and if you’re lucky, glowing aurora-lit night skies.
Joe Rogers
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hey guys.
most of this stuff is in ALASKA.
who in their financial right mind is going to the cotton pickin north pole
as a ‘vacation’ ???
oh yeah.
samoa. great summer getaway.
go thru your list of resumes for copyright people.
sorry. in this chinese flu insanity climate, try again.
no, really. PLEASE try again.
adieu mes amis.
Get real.
I’d love for you to go try to find the North Pole in Alaska. I will pay for your ticket if you promise not to return until you have found it.
I worked up there as a young geologist.
These parks in Alaska are worth the time, effort, and yes money, to experience.
Just do it.
You forgot all about Roger Williams National Park in Providence, RI. I’d be willing to bet it’s the least visited National Park in the country.
We Live in Alaska and have for 47 years. Its Not cold All the time!
Come to Key West and visit Fort Jefferson. It is a great trip and you get to fish if you want.
Yeah! Most of these national parks were created to stave off oil exploration by the Climies. Go to potato country in northern Maine (Caribou) if you want reliable northern lights as you are much closer to the magnetic north pole. It’s located in northern Quebec.
I was fortunate enough to be on a business trip in Fairbanks, AK in August this year and the weather was beautiful, 70 degrees every day. The landscapes, wildlife, and people were great. I look forward to returning with my wife next summer.
I lived 20 years in Alaska. It’s amazingly diverse, any attempt to characterize the whole state as *any* one thing – let alone calling the whole state “the North Pole” is just ignorant, which you’ll see if you do even a little bit of research.
Alaska is *beautiful* in the summertime! While it’s true that there are mountains there whose peaks are covered with snow year-round, there are lots of warmer places. From Anchorage the temperatures get hotter in the summer and colder in the winter when you go either north or inland. Having the sun shine as much as 24 hours a day can produce temperatures over 100 degrees F in some places during the summer!
There’s lots of things to see in Alaska – there are even crowds of tourists in some places if that’s your thing, but there’s lots of less crowded places too… The parks listed are probably some of the more expensive Alaska vacations, but there’s tons of fascinating and fun places to visit there that are more budget-friendly.
“old smart guy”?
Yeah, “chinese flu” says it all.
Most if not all of the national parks should be sold to private enterprise, why, because the people that visit and use them would pay for them not the taxpayers that never visit them. Same goes for state and county parks. We can no longer afford the costs to taxpayers led by the exorbitant pensions which amount to much more than what retirees need to live on. Same goes for police.
Selfish privileged American man
Wow, that wasn’t racist
Privilege my ass! The word has no meaning anymore I’m privileged to say.
Lol
Nice Guy!
I can see your point, since the Elites in DC would rather give OUR money to ILLEGALS & CORRUPT FOREIGN GOVERNMENTS.
FFS, the preserved land is worth more than any amount of money. If you never go, that is your own fault. Frankly people like you is why they have to be legally protected, Mr. Trump :eye roll:
And You probably spent half your life on a Bar stool ,that’s why You don’t have a pension!!!
The national parks are a national treasure . Get rid of the national, state, and county parks? Are you out of your mind ? You sound like a grumpy old man ….and I am a senior myself.
Many people cannot afford to be in parks of any kind. Your self-centered attitude is not conducive to humans and their development. Maybe you should just stick to TV!
You need to go back and study why Teddy Roosevelt set aside the beautiful regions of America. It has nothing to do with making money. These lands are a legacy for generations to come if we don’t screw it up.
Yeah, right. Defund the police, you idiot.
What do the police have to do with national parks? Go find a peaceful blm protest to spew your garbage.
What we can’t afford is wasting money on the military that wastes billions and involves this nation in meaningless wars that threaten our security not protect us
John Headley…spoken like a true idiot! Jump off a tall bridge if you’re that miserable!
Yeah, and if I bought Grand Canyon NP, I could build condos all along the rim and make lots of money. But wait,…
And starting salary of a National Park Ranger is $27,705 — less than $14 per hour (with a 4-year degree). Whoopee!
Ya right, Sell them to private enterprise and they will be denuded of timber, have hotels built all over them, be turned into hunting preserves, and be ruined for everyone. The money they brought in would be spent in one day by the government. If you don’t think police are necessary then I am sure they won’t come to your aid when needed.
If all the parks were sold to “private enterprise”, they would all become gated communities where only billionaire members were admitted. The only beaches, forests, lakes, etc. the rest of us – including our children and all future children – would ever see would be on old movies. Besides which, the parks exist as much for their protection as for our pleasure.
Seriously?
If the parks were sold to private enterprise, they would immediately become fenced “retreats” accessible only to the top 1% (billionaires). The only beaches, forests, mountains and lakes the rest of us would ever see would be on old movies.
Not only that, but the parks were created as much for their protection as for our enjoyment, today and in future. I’m just glad somebody had the foresight to safeguard that future!
They’re all so so awesomely beautiful National parks. I’d love to travel and visit some of them real soon. Thank you for the information on these wonderful parks.
agree Gerald…..would love to see these sites.
Great Basin national park, was just there last week. Lehman caves are closed. Visitors center is closed. FYI
What is the first pic called?
Interesting that the cover photo is of Horseshoe Bend in the Colorado River near Page, AZ and is not located in a National Park.
Horseshoe Bend is located within the Glen Canyon National Recreation Area, one of the 400+ national park units
Great place to visit though.Burr Trail in Utah also.
I have never heard of these parks. Our children & grandchildren love to hike. We now plan to visit as many of these parks as possible. We’re looking forward to this new venture. Thank you for this article.
Been to Isle Royale and Great Basin. If you don’t want to go to Alaska for an isolated park, Isle Royale will do. You’ll want to spend at least 3 days here if you take the ferret over you’ll have to stay at least one night. It’s a 6 hour ferry ride from Houghton, Michigan to Rock Harbor on Isle Royale’s eastern side. The island is 48 miles long there’s water everywhere and a few hills. Nothing extravagant but somehow this park is absolutely incredible. Closest park like it is Acadia, did I mention the moose, you’ll most likely see at least one. I had a red fox literally walk up to me.
I only spent a few hours at Great Basin, was there in the winter and toured Lehman caves. I want to go back in the summer and explore it more along with Cedar Breaks National Monument in western Utah.
We received Trekking the National Parks, a fun game, as a Christmas gift. I highly recommend it if you love your national parks.
Thank you for creating this article. National, State, and Local parks are American treasures!
So the wife and I are currently on a National Parks road trip. We started in San Antonio- at the Alamo, then went to Carlsbad Caverns, Grand Canyon-South Rim(its the only one open right now), then up to Bryce, Zion and Red Cliffs down to Great Basin, then down to Vegas- Death Valley, Red Rock Canyon, Valley of Fire (a local state park), Lake Meade and Hoover Dam.
At this time of year nothing has been crowded at all. The weather has been perfect between 60 and 80 F°, until we got to Death Valley- it hit 99 F°. It did snow like 2 inches while we were at Bryce, but the roads were clear because the park has its own road crew. You can’t beat the views in Bryce with just a little bit of untouched snow fall!
Hoover Dam visitor center was the only one not open of all the parks we went to, but standing on the top of the dam looking down is spectacular.
All the visitors centers have covid safety precautions in place, sanitizer stations and limit the total number of people in the center at a time so you may have to wait a few min. We didn’t wait more than 10 min to get into any visitors center. All in all its been the perfect 2 week vacation. Last 2 tips- download and use the new NPS App. It’s awesome and saves time. Also- it’s worth purchasing the yearly NPS pass or if you’re military/veteran- get the free military pass. Our military pass has saved us over 200 bucks in park entry fees- so we’ll worth it!
Hope this helps some of you- and if you want to go- do it, don’t hesitate. Go in either the spring or fall- less people and better weather.
The rich are rich enough already. Save something for those of us who don’t want to enrich them more.
I, ve been scuba diving in the VI one. Very nice and it is extremely beautiful.
Couldnt be written any better. Reading this post reminds me of my old room mate! He always kept talking about this. I will forward this article to him. Pretty sure he will have a good read. Thanks for sharing!