You might think finding an empty trail in a national park is impossible these days. It certainly feels that way when you are stuck in traffic looking at a grizzly bear. The National Park Service recorded hundreds of millions of visits last year.
The system is more popular than ever, and that brings a unique set of challenges. While a handful of famous parks see millions of people shoulder to shoulder, others offer pristine wilderness with barely another soul in sight.
If you are planning your next outdoor getaway, it helps to know what you are walking into. Let us look at the most and least popular parks based on recent National Park Service data.
1. Great Smoky Mountains National Park
Straddling the border of North Carolina and Tennessee, this lush mountainous region holds the top spot by a massive margin. The park welcomed more than 12 million visitors last year.
The appeal is easy to understand. The park is free to enter and sits within a day’s drive for a huge portion of the country. You get scenic drives, historic cabins and endless hiking trails.
Because there is no entrance fee, people often drive through just to enjoy the views. If you want to avoid the congestion, start your hikes before sunrise or explore the quieter eastern side of the park.
2. Zion National Park
Utah boasts several spectacular parks, but this one draws the largest crowds. Nearly 5 million people passed through its gates last year.
Visitors flock here to hike the Narrows and challenge themselves on the steep drop-offs of Angels Landing. Because the main canyon is narrow, the crowds feel even denser.
You will need to rely on the park shuttle system to get around during peak months. Personal vehicles are restricted on the scenic drive for most of the year to manage the heavy traffic.
3. Grand Canyon National Park
This natural wonder in Arizona is a bucket list destination for people around the world. Just under 5 million tourists stood at the rim last year to take in the vastness.
Most visitors stick to the South Rim because it offers easy access and plenty of amenities. You will find lodges, restaurants and paved walking paths right along the edge.
If you want a slightly quieter experience, the North Rim takes more effort to reach. It sits at a higher elevation and is only open for a few months out of the year.
4. Yellowstone National Park
America’s first national park remains one of its most beloved. Millions of people visit the park spanning Wyoming, Montana and Idaho to watch geysers erupt and spot wildlife.
Traffic jams caused by bison crossing the road are a daily occurrence here. The boardwalks around Old Faithful and Grand Prismatic Spring are almost always packed with tour groups.
To avoid the worst congestion, try visiting during the shoulder seasons. You can also escape the crowds entirely by walking just a few miles down any backcountry trail.
5. Rocky Mountain National Park
Colorado offers incredible mountain vistas, and this park delivers them in abundance. Over 4 million people visited last year to drive Trail Ridge Road and hike to alpine lakes.
The park is so popular that it uses a timed entry permit system during the summer. You need to plan your visit months in advance if you want to drive the main corridors.
If you fail to secure a permit, you can still enter the park before the sun comes up or late in the afternoon. Early arrivals often get the best parking spots and morning light.
The least visited national parks
These parks are beautiful, but don’t have the highest visitor numbers.
Gates of the Arctic National Park
If you truly want to escape civilization, head to Alaska. This massive park sits entirely north of the Arctic Circle and saw fewer than 12,000 visitors last year.
There are no roads, no trails and no visitor centers inside the park boundary. You have to fly in on a small bush plane or hike in from a remote highway.
It is a place for experienced backcountry explorers who know how to navigate wild terrain. You are entirely on your own once the pilot drops you off.
North Cascades National Park
You do not have to fly to Alaska to find solitude. This park in Washington state is just three hours from Seattle, but received roughly 16,000 visitors.
The low numbers are somewhat deceiving. A major highway cuts right through the park complex, but that road technically sits in a separate national recreation area.
The actual national park requires you to hike into rugged, steep terrain. Those who put in the physical effort are rewarded with jagged peaks and hundreds of glaciers.
Kobuk Valley National Park
Back in Alaska, this remote park is famous for a surprising feature — massive sand dunes located above the Arctic Circle. Around 17,000 people made the trek last year.
Like Gates of the Arctic, there are no roads here. You arrive by small plane from a neighboring village. Flights can easily cost over $500 per person.
In the fall, visitors can witness a spectacular natural event. Thousands of caribou cross the Kobuk River during their annual migration southward.
Lake Clark National Park
This Alaskan park offers a condensed version of everything the state is known for. You will find volcanoes, glaciers, brown bears, and salmon runs here. Yet, it only hosted about 18,000 visitors.
Access is limited to small planes or boats. Many people visit as part of a guided bear viewing day trip from Anchorage or Homer.
It is an expensive detour, but the wildlife viewing is unmatched. You can safely watch bears fishing in the rivers without dealing with the crowds found in other parks.
National Park of American Samoa
The only national park south of the equator is a long way from the mainland. Getting there requires a flight to Hawaii and then another long flight to the South Pacific.
About 22,000 people made the journey last year. Those who did found pristine coral reefs, tropical rainforests and a rich Polynesian culture.
It is a completely different experience from any other park in the American system. You can snorkel in warm waters and hike through jungles teeming with unique bird species.