Are you looking to visit the gorgeous landscapes and escape the crowds in National Parks? National park visitation in the past few years has skyrocketed 🚀, which means that more and more people are going and there’s less quiet spaces. But, that doesn’t mean it’s impossible to find peace and tranquility in these stunning destinations.
I’ve been to 56 National Parks and I pride myself on being a wonderful trip planner. Most of the time is spent figuring out the when to visit places, what to see, and how to skip out on all the people. Well, after all of my trips to the parks, I feel like I’ve really nailed it.
So, I’m sharing all of the best ways to beat the crowds and experience the National Parks in solitude! Find out the best ways to get trails to yourself, find the hidden gems, and which parks to see.
Remember when you’re recreating outdoors to follow the leave no trace principles! That means you should always pack up after yourselves, stay on paths, and leave wildlife alone. 🌿
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Table of Contents
8 Tips to Avoid the Crowds at National Parks
1. Visit in the Off-Season
Have you ever visited Yellowstone in summer? It’s absolutely mobbed with traffic taking hours and people at every spot. But go in the fall or spring and you’ll notice something extraordinary. With few people and plenty of space, it’s like a different place. 😌
There’s no question, visiting parks in their shoulder season or off-season will be a much more peaceful experience.
For most parks, the off-season is typically from late fall to early spring!
So, think about heading to some of the most popular parks when it’s quieter. Although some trails, roads, or sights may be closed, you’ll still find plenty to do. Some of my favorite visits to parks have been in the dead of winter. You really never know what you’ll find!
2. Go Early and Stay Late
Now, if you are visiting popular parks, you can usually count on it being much less crowded the earlier you go. Get to the park before sunrise and you will be shocked at its tranquility.
Even if it means starting a trail in the dark, it’s totally worth it when you get to the destination and have it to yourselves. So, set your alarm for early in the morning ⏰ and get out to the park. That way you’ll get to enjoy quiet trails and tons of parking.
While I think that visiting for sunrise is the absolute quietest time, there are still way fewer people as the sun begins to set. Visit in the summer and take advantage of the late days, by starting hikes at golden hour. You’ll notice the people begin to dissipate to turn in for the day.
3. Take Advantage of Week Days
Although this tip may not work as much in the summer, weekdays are much less busy than weekends. On weekends both tourists from far away and locals will spend time in the parks.
So, if you have the opportunity visit the parks from Monday to Friday, then do it! Our favorite thing to do when we were traveling full time was to head to the park for a sunset hike after work. It was always a wonderful experience!
4. Explore Less Popular Parks
Of course, the best way to avoid the crowds in National Parks, is to find the destinations with less visitors. Although some of these parks may take more effort to get to, they will blow you away!
Some of the least crowded parks include Black Canyon of the Gunnison, Great Basin, Isle Royale, and many of the parks in Alaska.
You have to be careful though, some parks that report being the least visited are still mobbed in peak season 😫. For example, North Cascades National Park is absolutely crazy in the late summer and early fall!
5. Find the Hidden Gems
Even if you visit popular parks like the Grand Canyon, Great Smokys, or Yellowstone, you’ll still find trails or spots that are off the beaten path! There’s always a way to escape the crowds.
Do your research online or ask park rangers for tips on where to go that aren’t as well known. Talking to park rangers has led to some of my absolutely favorite spots that are stunning and peaceful. So, don’t head to the popular trails like the Narrows in Zion, and instead find the hikes that don’t get a lot of hype.
Good luck on your adventures!
6. Get into the Backcountry
One of my all time favorite ways to leave the world behind is to backpack or go on a very long hike. As soon as you get further into the wilderness, you’ll find less and less people.
A fact I recently heard is that most people visiting the parks don’t get more than 200 meters away from their car. So, that means as soon as you get deeper onto a trail or past the viewpoints, you’ll already leave a lot of people behind. The further you go, usually the less people you’ll find.
Although many backcountry trails do require permits in advance 🎟. So, make sure to plan ahead of time and get your reservations so that you can head off deep into the serenity of nature.
Some of the best parks for long hikes or backpacking are Glacier National Park, North Cascades, Yosemite and Mount Rainier.
Are you backpacking for the first time or need to update your gear? You can find a full guide to backpacking gear here. 🎒
7. Take out a Bike
While you can’t do this in all parks, some parks allow bikes to access roads that cars are now allowed on. 🚲 Biking through these landscapes with stunning scenery all around have been the highlights of my trips.
You can rent a bike or bring your own. There’s nothing like the feeling of wind whipping through your hair while you cruise by red rock canyons rising on either side of you or mountains going for miles.
I recommend taking bikes out in Glacier (during spring), Yosemite or Zion to be more flexible!
8. Embrace “Bad” Weather
Although I hate using the term “bad weather,” I think we can all agree it can be harder to get out when it’s raining or snowing outside. But, those moments can lead to some of the most beautiful experiences!
While others will stay at home, you can get outside and see the sights that are usually mobbed. Some of my favorite memories are from when we spent a rainy weekend in Olympic or got completely snowed out in Crater Lake. ❄️❄️
As they say, there’s no bad weather, just bad clothing. So, don the proper waterproof gear or warm layers and head out to the parks!
🚫 As a reminder, always stay safe. If there’s severe inclement weather or thunderstorms stay out of high elevations and slippery trails!
Final Thoughts on How to Escape the Crowds at National Parks
I hope that this post inspired you to get out into the National Parks and escape the crowds. Even with the increased visitation, there are always ways to get some peace and quiet. So, go ahead and prepare for your next trip to these incredible destinations.
Let me know in the comments if you enjoyed this post!
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