Best National Parks To Escape The Crowds! Americans are anxious to escape the confines of their homes and workplaces. At the same time, our nation’s parks are experiencing record crowds. Yellowstone, Yosemite and all of the usual suspects are experiencing more visitors this year than ever before.
If you’re looking to declare your independence by finding a way to escape these massive crowds then what are you supposed to do?
Have no fear! More Than Just Parks is here! We have prepared a list of wonderfully inexpensive (and less crowded) places for you to visit in 2022.
Why spend exorbitant sums on overcrowded (and expensive) vacation getaways when some of our nation’s most beautiful, least crowded and most affordable destination spots are closer than you might think.
We’ve got stunning coastlines, magical forests, geologic wonders and so much more. These places will take your breath away! We have compiled a list of incredible places for you to experience while escaping the crowds.
Table of Contents | Escape the Crowds at These National Parks
- Crowds In The National Parks
- Capitol Reef National Park
- Great Sand Dunes National Park
- North Cascades National Park
- Petrified Forest National Park
- Redwood National Park
- Voyageurs National Park
- Black Hills National Forest
- Bridger-Teton National Forest
- Dixie National Forest
- Flathead National Forest
- Mount Rushmore National Memorial
- National Mall & Memorial Parks
- About The Folks Who Are Behind More Than Just Parks
- About The Parks Brothers
Crowds in the National Parks
The Covid-19 pandemic fueled the desire of people hunkered down in small spaces for too long to head out into the restorative wilds all over the country.
In 2021, they packed the big-name parks, parkways and related sites. Here’s a brief snapshot of some of the action:
- Great Smoky Mountains National Park set a visitation record for 2021, passing 14 million recreation visits for the first time.
- Cape Hatteras National Seashore hosted more than 3 million visitors in a year for the first time, the NPS said.
- Devils Tower National Monument saw the highest number of recreation visits in the monument’s history. For the first time, it surpassed 500,000 recreational visits. (Source: CNN)
Wouldn’t you like to move about freely? Don’t you want to escape those long lines and crowded venues? Aren’t you to experience the wonders of nature in your own way?
If so then consider taking the road less traveled by going to one of these magical places featured below.
The mountains are calling and I must go.
-John Muir
Best National Parks to Escape the Crowds
1. Capitol Reef National Park
Location: Utah
Located in south-central Utah in the heart of red rock country, Capitol Reef National Park is a hidden treasure filled with cliffs, canyons, domes, and bridges in the Waterpocket Fold, a geologic monocline (a wrinkle on the earth) extending almost 100 miles. Utah’s least known national park is arguably one of its very best.
No crowds, abundant scenery and there’s even a small town (Torrey) nestled against the park that has restaurants and conveniences which will surprise you. There are wonderful hiking trails during the day and fabulous stargazing opportunities at night. This wilderness wonderland awaits you. A trip to Capitol Reef is a capital idea!
Grand Wash at Capitol Reef National Park | Best National Parks To Escape The Crowds
RELATED: 15 AMAZING THINGS TO DO AT CAPITOL REEF NATIONAL PARK
2. Great Sand Dunes National Park
Location: Colorado
Imagine the Sahara Desert with a backdrop of the Rocky Mountains and you’re looking at one of the most underrated national parks in all of America! Great Sand Dunes is a spectacular park located in southern Colorado that features some of the most breathtaking and unique scenery found anywhere in the world. Because the park is fairly remote and not as accessible to the public, the crowds ought to be minimal.
Be sure to prepare for the bugs however. Great Sand Dunes is open 24/7 year round. And, there are no reservations to visit or limit on the number of visitors in the park and preserve. The tallest dunes in North America form the centerpiece in a diverse landscape of grasslands, wetlands, forests, alpine lakes, and tundra. So, what are you waiting for?
RELATED: SIX EPIC NATIONAL PARKS NEAR DENVER YOU’LL LOVE
3. North Cascades National Park
Location: Washington
Referred to by some as the “American Alps,” this incredible park features mountain beauty which rivals any found on the planet. One of Washington’s three national parks, North Cascades is the least visited, the most difficult to access all around and the most rewarding for those looking for adventure and willing to dare in order to find it. The park is a backpackers paradise, but be forewarned that it is light on amenities.
That said, the park’s interior is stunningly beautiful and it’s located less than three hours from Seattle. For those wishing to escape the hustle and bustle of modern life, an alpine landscape beckons. Discover communities of life adapted to moisture in the west and recurring fire in the east.
Explore jagged peaks crowned by more than 300 glaciers. Listen to cascading waters in forested valleys. Witness a landscape sensitive to the Earth’s changing climate. Sleepless in Seattle? Then why not make your way to this magical place.
RELATED: THREE BEST NATIONAL PARKS NEAR SEATTLE
4. Petrified Forest National Park
Location: Arizona
Petrified Forest National Park is perfect for exploration and discovery. While the park has all of the wonders known for a century, there are many new adventures and discoveries to share with family and friends. There are backcountry hikes such as Red Basin. There are new exhibits which bring the park’s remarkable stories to life.
Petrified Forest holds a special place in the hearts of those who visit as they will be dazzled by blue mesas, striped hills, warm winds, distant storms, rainbows, petroglyphs, and the most beautiful collection of rocks (petrified wood) that you will ever see.
Be forewarned, however, that there are no campsites within the facility, but this means fewer people, fewer crowds, and more opportunities to be one with the natural beauty of nature. So, don’t be petrified when it comes to this amazing natural wonderland.
5. Redwood National Park
Location: California
Redwood National Park’s misty forests, wild coastline, pristine streams, and valleys teeming with wildlife are one of the best kept secrets in the national park system. Discover forty miles of wild and rugged coastline where whales swim and elk roam. It’s enough to take your breath away!
Waterfalls and clear blue streams rush against a scenic backdrop of vivid green ferns. The tallest and most majestic trees soar all around you. Most people know Redwood as home to the tallest trees on Earth. But you can also experience vast prairies, oak woodlands, wild rivers, and miles of rugged coastline. People have lived in this verdant landscape since time immemorial.
So, what are you waiting for? Time to “look up” to those majestic redwoods which will take your breath away.
RELATED: 15 STUNNING THINGS TO DO IN REDWOOD NATIONAL PARK
Top 10 Best National Parks to Escape the Crowds
6. Voyageurs National Park
Location: Minnesota
In the far reaches of northern Minnesota, straddling the Canadian border, you will find a watery wonderland accessible almost exclusively by boat. Looking to get away from it all?
Here, in the pristine waters of vast lakes and the amazing mosaics of wondrous islands and boreal forest, which comprise this special place, you can leave your cares and worries behind you.
Whether you are exploring by land, water or ice there is something for everyone. So, why not voyage to Voyageurs National Park?
RELATED: 10 INCREDIBLE THINGS TO DO IN VOYAGEURS NATIONAL PARK
7. Black Hills National Forest
Location: South Dakota
We’ll let you in on a little secret. If you really want to escape the crowds then check out some of our nation’s most magnificent forests. Compared to the national parks, they’re typically much less crowded. And we’ve got some great recommendations for you beginning with Black Hills National Forest.
Situated in western South Dakota, the Black Hills National Forest comprises 1.2 million acres of unparalleled beauty. Rising far above the surrounding prairie, the Black Hills even contains the tallest peak east of the Rocky Mountains. Boasting over 13,000 acres of wilderness, 1,300 miles of streams, 450 miles of hiking trails, and 2 national scenic byways, it’s no wonder why so many consider the Black Hills a recreation paradise.
Whether it’s fishing, hunting, horseback riding, mountain biking, hiking, or just about anything else, the Black Hills offers a spectacular backdrop for your favorite outdoor activities. We encourage you to visit this beautiful landscape and experience this truly unique part of America.
RELATED: A VERY HELPFUL GUIDE TO THE BLACK HILLS NATIONAL FOREST
8. Bridger-Teton National Forest
Location: Wyoming
Located in Western Wyoming, the Bridger-Teton offers more than 3.4 million acres of public land for your outdoor recreation enjoyment. With its pristine watersheds, abundant wildlife and immense wildlands, the Bridger-Teton National Forest comprises a large part of the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem – the largest intact ecosystem in the lower 48 United States.
Offering nearly 1.2 million acres of designated Wilderness, over 3,000 miles of road and trail and thousands of miles of unspoiled rivers and streams, the Bridger-Teton offers something for everyone. We encourage you to visit this beautiful landscape and experience a unique piece of American Heritage.
RELATED: NATIONAL FOREST VS. NATIONAL PARK–HERE’S THE DIFFERENCE
9. Dixie National Forest
Location: Utah
Nestled in the rugged southwestern corner of Utah, Dixie National Forest spans nearly two million acres of endless vistas. Join us as we take you on a visual journey through alpine lakes and aspen forests to vast red deserts and dazzling formations of sand and stone.
Located in southwestern Utah, the Dixie National Forest spans almost 2 million acres and stretches for nearly 170 miles, making it the largest national forest in the state. Winding your way through the stunning landscapes of southern Utah, the Dixie National Forest offers spectacular scenery.
The landscapes here easily rival that of its neighbors Bryce Canyon, Zion, and Capitol Reef National Parks.
CHECK OUT: 25 BUCKET-LIST FAMOUS LANDMARKS IN AMERICA (MUST-SEE)
10. Flathead National Forest
Location: Montana
Situated in the northwestern corner of Montana, the Flathead National Forest comprises 2.4 million acres of dramatic mountain beauty. In the wild heart of the Flathead lies over 1 million acres of pristine wilderness. Lynx, grizzly bears, timber wolves, and a vast and diverse array of other wildlife call the Flathead home.
At over 1 million acres of wilderness, 2,600 miles of hiking trails, 250 species of wildlife and 22 species of fish, the Flathead National Forest truly has something for everyone. We encourage you to visit this beautiful landscape and experience this truly unique part of America.
So why not escape city or suburban life and take a trip to a magical place where nature and scenic beauty abound.
CHECK OUT: LIST OF 128 BEST US NATIONAL MONUMENTS (RANKED)
List Of The Best National Parks (And Forests) To Escape The Crowds
- Capitol Reef National Park
- Great Sand Dunes National Park
- North Cascades National Park
- Petrified Forest National Park
- Redwood National Park
- Voyageurs National Park
- Black Hills National Forest
- Bridger-Teton National Forest
- Dixie National Forest
- Flathead National Forest
- Mount Rushmore National Memorial
- National Mall & Memorial Parks
About The Folks Behind More Than Just Parks
You should probably know that we don’t just make this stuff up out of thin air. My sons have spent their entire adult lives exploring and filming America’s national parks and public lands.
As for me, I’m a retired lifelong educator and a proud dad of these two wonderful guys who are hopelessly obsessed with the national parks.
We’ve worked with the National Park Service, the Department of Interior, and the U.S. Forest Service for years creating films on important places and issues. Our work has been featured in leading publications all over the world. Even some people outside of our immediate family call us experts on the national parks.
About The Parks Brothers
We’re Jim Pattiz and Will Pattiz, collectively known as the Pattiz Brothers (and sometimes the Parks Brothers) and we absolutely LOVE the national parks.
Our goal here at More Than Just Parks is to share the beauty of America’s national parks and public lands through stunning short films in an effort to get Americans and the world to see the true value in land conservation.
We hope you’ll follow our journey through the parks and help us to keep them the incredible places that they are. If you’re interested joining the adventure, sign up below!
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