“For the benefit and enjoyment of the people.” That’s the declaration etched into the stone entryway of Yellowstone National Park, the world’s first national park established in 1872.

As we all know a lot has happened since 1872 including the great toilet paper shortage of 2020 and a growing desire to head outdoors and explore. With that newfound interest in nature, the National Parks Service saw an uptick in visitors during 2021.

We all heard about that uptick in the form of summer crowds overrunning national parks – the pictures (see one below) weren’t pretty. Throngs of tourists obscuring your view of the Grand Canyon or of Acadia’s Thunder Hole doesn’t exactly sound like an environment of “benefit and enjoyment.”

That’s why our final installment of 15 Summer Weekends is all about national parks. We’re here to tell you that you can still enjoy this iconic American vacation, crowd free.

We’re here to take you from this…

To this…

After all, the US now has a total of 423 national park sites that span across more than 84 million acres. That’s a whole lot of space for you to enjoy a crowd-free vacation that’s beautiful year-round.

Below you’ll find a carefully curated roundup of parks to visit plus embedded pro tips to make visiting even the most popular parks possible.

What could be better than that? Well, the US National Park Service is celebrating their 105th birthday on August 25, 2021 which means entrance fees will be waived for all on that day and the parks will host special in-person and virtual programs.

US Parks to Visit

For Incredible Views

Grand Canyon National Park and Zion National Park fall into this category – both offer breathtaking views and cool canyons to explore. But, with almost 6 million visitors per year at Grand Canyon and almost 4.5 million visitors per year at Zion, those parks can get a bit crowded.

To skip the crowds, checkout:

Canyonlands National Park (Utah)

Located just a 30-minute drive from popular Arches National Park, Canyonlands also boasts many arches of its own like the park’s iconic Mesa Arch (see photo above). Though Canyonlands is part of Utah’s “Big 5,” it is the least visited of the 5 five making it a great low-crowd destination.

Pro Tip: Instead of rafting the Colorado River through the Grand Canyon, book a rafting trip through Canyonlands – you’ll be on the same river with scenery equally as good and less crowds.

Where to Stay: We love Under Canvas Moab for its proximity to the park (just a 22-minute drive away) and immersion in the natural landscape. Be sure to book the Suite, Stargazer, or Deluxe Tents to secure your own private bathroom – our favorite is the Deluxe.

Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park (Colorado)

Located in the less populated “remote” western part of Colorado, this might be one of the least visited National Parks you’ll have the pleasure of enjoying. Just like the Colorado River carved out the Grand Canyon, the Gunnison River carved the Black Canyon into what we see today. This park boasts some of the steepest cliffs in North America – it’s definitely not for the faint of heart.

Pro Tip: Crested Butte, Colorado (arguably one of the best ski towns in North America) is located less than 2-hours away. Plan to combine a visit to the national park with a stay in Crested Butte and you won’t be disappointed! For luxe stays in Crested Butte, we love Scarp River Lodge, WestWall Lodge, Sopris House, The Lodge at Mountaineer Square, and options or Airbnb/VRBO.

If you absolutely must visit the Grand Canyon National Park and Zion National Park, keep this pro tip in mind: checkout the parts of those two parks that are substantially less crowded than the rest.

For example, head to the Grand Canyon’s North Rim (versus it’s overly crowded South Rim) for a chance to drink in the views peacefully. If you head to Zion, don’t skip Kolob Canyons. Many visitors to Zion make the mistake of skipping Kolob. Why? With its own entrance and visitor center, Kolob is “out of sight, out of mind.” But with this pro tip in your back pocket, you’ll be able to enjoy the part of Zion that’s substantially less trafficked, equally as beautiful, and incredibly serene.

For Gorgeous Alpine Scenery

Grand Teton, Rocky Mountain, and Glacier National Parks all fall into this “Gorgeous Alpine Scenery” category too. All three of those parks have over 3 million visitors per year, so we’re recommending one stunner that’s off the beaten path with less than 40,000 visitors per year:

North Cascades National Park (Washington)

Located just 2-hours northeast of Seattle, this park is relatively easy to reach. Once you’re there, you’ll enjoy rugged mountain peaks and over 300 glaciers – more glaciers than any other park outside of Alaska (yes, including Glacier National Park in Montana).

Pro Tip: To maximize convenience during a visit to Glacier National Park, be sure to stay inside the park – you’ll beat the crowds everyday with first and last access to the trails. To score a stay at Many Glacier Hotel or Lake McDonald Lodge inside the park, you’ll want to book your room when booking opens 13 months in advance of your desired stay. We know that sounds crazy but trust us – booking when booking opens allows you your pick of room and date options.

If you must visit Grand Teton National Park, check it out in the winter. Of course, less of the park is open and accessible during the winter months but if you love alpine sports this is the season for you. During your winter trip plan to enjoy scenic snowshoeing, cross-country skiing, and sleigh rides in the National Elk Refuge.

For Majestic Trees

If you’re looking to walk beneath epically tall trees, skip the tourists at Sequoia and Yosemite National Parks and head to Redwood National & State Parks – Redwood has just over 500,000 visitors per year unlike Sequoia with over 1.2 million and Yosemite with over 4.4 million.

Redwood National & State Parks (California)

This UNESCO World Heritage site located in northern California preserves some of the last coastal redwoods in the world. Once there, you’ll enjoy gawking at the massive trees – some are over 350 feet above the forest floor.

Where to Stay: Though not technically in Redwood National Park, AutoCamp Russian River is surrounded by some pretty tall Sonoma redwoods. Consider this as your potential accommodations if being close to the trees and wine country is important to you.

For Beautiful Lakes

Though absolutely stunning, Acadia National Park is ripe with throngs of tourists with over 3.5 million visitors per year. That’s why we love Voyageurs National Park for beautiful waterscapes and less than 270,000 visitors each year.

Voyageurs National Park (Minnesota)

Located just south of the Canadian border, Voyageurs is home to pristine lakes, more than 500 islands, and over 655 miles of undeveloped shoreline. During your visit, be sure to take advantage of the incredible stargazing – Voyageurs is a certified International Dark Sky Park.

Pro Tip: You can see the Aurora Borealis (aka the northern lights) from Voyageurs. Though they can appear at any time of the year, you’re most likely to see them during winter. To read more and to plan your trip around the possibility of seeing them, visit this site for more info.

Where to Stay: If you want to totally immerse yourself in the park without staying in a campground, try a houseboat! You can rent them from Ebel’s located in the gateway community of Ash River.

The next time you visit Acadia National Park in Maine, try using the recently renovated Claremont Hotel as your home base. We haven’t had the chance to check it out yet (we opted for other digs during our last visit as the hotel was pre-renovation) but it’s on our list!

For Sledding Sand Dunes

The chance to sled, sand board, and hike massive sand dunes is pretty unique. Luckily for us, we have two wonderful, low-crowd options to enjoy this otherworldly scenery in the US – check them out below.

Great Sand Dunes National Park & Preserve (Colorado)

Located in southern Colorado less than 2-hours north of Taos, New Mexico, the Great Sand Dunes National Park offers: excellent stargazing, the tallest sand dunes in North America (some are 750 feet tall), and a diverse ecosystem.

White Sands National Park (New Mexico)

Just over a 7-hour drive southwest of Great Sand Dunes National Park is White Sands National Park. Regarded as one of the world’s great natural wonders, White Sands boasts one of the world’s largest gypsum sand dune fields.

Pro Tip: Plan to visit White Sands in the spring or fall to beat the summer heat. We recommend timing your trip with Albuquerque’s International Balloon Fiesta in October. Treat yourself to a luxe stay at Hotel Chaco in Albuquerque, enjoy the balloon fiesta, and make a day trip to visit White Sands. If you have the time to pack in more, we’re eyeing the brand new Bishop’s Lodge (from Auberge Resorts Collection) in Santa Fe.

For Desert Vibes

Tourists flock to both Joshua Tree National Park and Death Valley National Park in the millions – over 3 million for Joshua Tree.

Saguaro National Park (Arizona)

Located just 15-miles from Tucson, Arizona this national park is home to the nation’s largest cacti, the giant saguaro. With Tucson and Phoenix nearby, there are countless places to indulge in a luxe nature retreat including Canyon Ranch where you’ll enjoy your own personal wellness team to support your stay.

Big Bend National Park (Texas)

Located about 2-hours and 45-minutes southeast from Marfa, Texas is Big Bend National Park. Here, you’ll find the entirety of the Chisos Mountain range along with a world-class geological area – think countless fossils and artifacts dating back 10,000 years, a world-record pterosaur, and a 50-foot crocodile.

Where to stay: Arguably, Marfa is a destination in and of itself so it’s a neat place to sleep and enjoy a day trip to Big Bend. For a boutique hotel, try The Lincoln and for a glamping hipster vibe try El Cosmico.

For Something Nearby

We get it. We live in North Carolina which means accessing the great parks of the American West requires some substantial effort – you either need to fly and coordinate a rental car upon arrival, drive, or embark on a luxe RV adventure.

With that in mind, we’ve included a few great parks that aren’t too far away from our fair Queen City organized below with the closest parks at the top and the furthest parks at the bottom.

Congaree National Park (South Carolina)

With a 1-hour and 40-minute drive from Charlotte, you’ll arrive at South Carolina’s only national park. Congaree is home to the largest tract of old-growth floodplain forest on our continent. What’s in it for you? With that old-growth comes some of the tallest trees in the eastern US (170 feet tall, for example). While you’re there, enjoy checking out the park via the boardwalk loop, an elevated platform above the swamp.

Pisgah National Forest (North Carolina)

You’ll arrive at the entrance to Pisgah National Forest after just over a 2-hour drive from Charlotte. For a complete breakdown of how to turn a trip to Pisgah into a wonderful weekend getaway, checkout our Summer Weekend Trip #5 here.

New River Gorge National Park & Preserve (West Virginia)

We have to admit, it’s pretty neat that our nation’s newest national park is just a 3.5 hour drive away from Charlotte. If you’d like to visit the park and be pampered, stay at The Greenbrier – it’s just 1-hour away.

Mammoth Cave National Park (Kentucky)

With a 7-hour drive from Charlotte, you’ll arrive at the world’s longest cave system (over 400 miles are mapped underground).

This epic roundup of national parks to escape the crowds so you can enjoy this iconic American vacation concludes our 15 Summer Trips. 

We’ll be back next week with September Travel Deals. Until then, follow us @adventuredesigned for more travel tips, custom travel planning, and inspiration.