National Park Service - RVing with Rex

International RV Travelers Are Rethinking U.S. National Park Trips Over New Fees

New U.S. national park fees introduced in 2026 are creating confusion, long gate delays, and major extra costs for Canadian and international RV travelers visiting America’s most popular parks

On a cool January morning at the Springdale entrance to Zion National Park, a line of vehicles stretched unexpectedly long for what should have been one of the quietest weeks of the year. Even in the middle of winter, visitors were already backed up at the gate before sunrise.

Park staff appeared locked in a lengthy conversation with the driver of the vehicle at the front of the line. After several minutes, the car slowly pulled ahead—only to turn around moments later and leave the park entirely.

Scenes like this are becoming increasingly common as many Canadian and other international visitors arrive at U.S. national parks unaware that they may now face an additional $100 fee to enter certain federally managed sites. For travelers already navigating rising fuel costs, campground fees, and fluctuating exchange rates, the surprise charges are creating confusion, frustration, and uncomfortable encounters at park entrances that were once seen as welcoming gateways to America’s public lands.

With parking near the Narrows trailhead filling quickly, there was little time to ask the visibly overwhelmed park ranger what had caused the delay at the entrance gate. But as similar stories have surfaced in the months since, a clearer picture has started to emerge.

The vehicle’s occupants may have been international visitors caught completely off guard by the new U.S. national park surcharge for non-citizens. What they likely expected to be a standard $35 park entrance fee may instead have become a staggering $435 charge covering admission, reservation fees, and the newly imposed international visitor costs.

Rather than pay the unexpected amount, the travelers turned around and abandoned their plans to visit Zion National Park altogether. Since the international surcharges took effect on January 1, similar reports have surfaced from other park entrances as foreign visitors—many already coping with weak exchange rates and expensive road trips—arrive unaware of the dramatically higher costs waiting at the gate.

Grand Canyon National Park *© Rex Vogel, all rights reserved*

Confusion at the gates could hurt more than tourism

Poor communication is creating problems far beyond entrance lines

Beyond the sticker shock, growing concerns are emerging over how inconsistently the new rules appear to be enforced at park entrances. Many park employees themselves seem caught in an uncomfortable position—tasked with explaining sudden international surcharges to confused visitors while managing already congested entrance lines and frustrated travelers.

But the deeper issue may not be the fees alone. Communication surrounding the changes appears uneven at best with some tourists arriving at U.S. national parks unaware that the new charges even exist until they reach the gate. For international visitors planning once-in-a-lifetime trips through parks like Zion National Park, the surprise can quickly turn excitement into confusion and disappointment.

As more travelers abandon their visits rather than pay unexpected costs, the long-term consequences could extend beyond awkward gatehouse encounters. Reduced international visitation may ultimately hurt the parks themselves—affecting gateway communities, tourism economies, campground occupancy, and the broader reputation of America’s national parks as welcoming destinations for travelers from around the world.

Bryce Canyon National Park *© Rex Vogel, all rights reserved*

New fees are reshaping international RV travel

Higher costs are changing how overseas RV travelers plan U.S. trips

On January 1, 2026, the United States introduced a new tiered fee structure across its national park system, separating admission costs for U.S. residents and international visitors. For most Americans, little has changed. Standard entrance fees and the cost of the America the Beautiful annual pass have largely remained the same.

For non-residents, however, the changes have been far more significant. International travelers now face substantially higher entrance costs at many parks with additional surcharges attached to both individual admissions and annual passes.

The new system also introduces practical complications at entrance gates where visitors may now be asked to provide identification to verify residency status. In theory, even U.S. citizens without proper ID could find themselves temporarily subject to the higher “international visitor” pricing until residency can be confirmed.

But RV travelers from Canada and overseas may ultimately feel the changes most deeply because national park trips are rarely limited to a single stop. Many international RV visitors spend weeks crossing multiple states, staying in campgrounds, fueling large rigs, and building entire itineraries around the national park system. With the new surcharges layered onto an already expensive style of travel, some visitors are beginning to rethink how many U.S. parks they can realistically include in one trip.

Sequoia National Park *© Rex Vogel, all rights reserved*

New national park fees took effect January 1, 2026

The changes are reshaping how international visitors experience U.S. parks

As of January 1, 2026, new entrance fee rules at U.S. national parks are changing how international travelers—especially RV visitors—experience America’s most iconic public lands.

U.S. Residents

Entrance fee: $15-$35
Surcharge for Big 11 National Parks: $0
America the Beautiful Annual Pass: $80
Fee-free days: $0 (all parks)

Non-Residents

Entrance fee: $15-$35
Surcharge for Big 11 National Parks: $100/person
America the Beautiful Annual Pass: $250
Fee-free days: Not eligible

The new 2026 fee structure, introduced through a U.S. executive order, includes two major changes affecting international visitors to America’s national parks. The first is the creation of a separate “non-resident” version of the America the Beautiful annual pass.

While U.S. residents can still purchase the annual pass for $80, international visitors are now required to pay $250 for the same access, according to the National Park Service. The sharp increase represents one of the most dramatic pricing shifts foreign park visitors have faced in decades and has already sparked criticism from travelers who say the new costs fundamentally change the affordability of long-term road trips through the United States.

Joshua Tree National Park *© Rex Vogel, all rights reserved*

The “Big 11” parks face growing backlash

America’s busiest parks are becoming the center of the controversy

In addition to the higher annual pass costs, international visitors are now also subject to a new $100-per-person surcharge at several of the country’s most heavily visited national parks. While the standard vehicle entrance fees themselves generally remain unchanged, the added non-resident fee is imposed separately at what many travelers informally refer to as the “Big 11” parks.

The parks currently included in the surcharge program are:

Acadia National Park
Bryce Canyon National Park
Everglades National Park
Glacier National Park
Grand Canyon National Park
Grand Teton National Park
Rocky Mountain National Park
Sequoia National Park and Kings Canyon National Park
Yellowstone National Park
Yosemite National Park
Zion National Park

For families or groups traveling together, the costs can escalate quickly. A family of four visiting multiple parks on a western U.S. road trip could now face hundreds of dollars in additional fees beyond regular entrance charges, campground reservations, and transportation costs.

Arches National Park *© Rex Vogel, all rights reserved*

Poor communication is fueling tensions at park gates

Visitors and rangers alike are struggling with the rollout

The new fees have triggered sharp criticism from conservation groups, tourism advocates, and many travelers who argue the policy is creating unnecessary confusion at park entrances while discouraging international visitation altogether. Some organizations including the National Parks Conservation Association have even called for the surcharge system to be suspended or abolished entirely.

Critics argue the problems extend far beyond the added expense itself. Long entrance delays, unclear enforcement procedures, and inconsistent communication are now placing additional pressure on already strained National Park Service employees. Rangers stationed at entrance gates are increasingly being put in the uncomfortable position of determining who qualifies as a U.S. resident and who does not—a role many say they were never trained to perform.

“After weeks of chaos and confusion, it’s painfully obvious that the new non-resident fee policy needs to be put on hold until the challenges facing park staff and visitors are addressed,” said Emily Douce, Deputy Vice President for Government Affairs for the National Parks Conservation Association.

“This is an absolute mess and was entirely predictable given the lack of transparency, public input, and analysis of real-world impacts. Secretary Burgum’s new fee policy pulled the rug out from under park staff and visitors at the worst possible time.”

For many observers, the controversy highlights a growing tension between raising revenue for America’s overcrowded parks and preserving the welcoming, accessible experience that has long defined the U.S. national park system for both domestic and international travelers alike.

Yet for many visitors, the biggest source of frustration has not simply been the fee itself—it has been the lack of clear communication surrounding it.

Since the new pricing structure took effect in January, numerous international travelers have reportedly arrived at park entrances unaware they would face additional non-resident charges. In some cases, visitors without the correct annual pass or enough funds to cover the unexpected fees have been forced to turn around at the gate, abandoning trips they may have planned months in advance.

Under the revised entry system, scenes like the one unfolding at the entrance to Zion National Park are becoming increasingly common. First-time visitors, particularly international tourists unfamiliar with the new rules, are often encountering major sticker shock only after reaching the park entrance.

Critics say inconsistent messaging has plagued the rollout from the beginning. Information about the non-resident surcharges has appeared unevenly across reservation systems, travel planning websites, park notices, and tourism materials, leaving many visitors confused about what they will actually be required to pay. The result has been growing frustration not only among travelers but also among park staff tasked with explaining a policy many guests never knew existed before arriving.

Badlands National Park *© Rex Vogel, all rights reserved*

Visitors are arriving unprepared for the new fees

Many travelers do not realize the rules changed until they arrive

For travelers who closely follow national park news and policy changes, the new fee structure has been under discussion since it was first announced on November 25, 2025. But for many international tourists planning vacations months in advance, the changes appear to have arrived with little visibility or warning.

The result has been widespread confusion at entrance gates across the U.S. national park system with both visitors and park employees finding themselves caught in difficult and often uncomfortable interactions.

Discussions across Reddit communities such as r/NationalPark and r/ZionNationalPark have filled with accounts from travelers describing tense exchanges, unexpected charges, and long delays tied to the new non-resident fee policies.

Some visitors reported arriving with valid park reservations but without realizing the additional international surcharges existed. Others described confusion over which parks required the extra fees, how residency verification worked, or whether existing annual passes would still be accepted. In many cases, park rangers themselves appeared left to explain policies that travelers say were never clearly communicated during the booking or trip-planning process.

As the busy travel season approaches, critics worry the lack of consistent messaging could continue fueling frustration at some of America’s most heavily visited parks including Zion National Park, Yellowstone National Park, and Yosemite National Park.

Shenandoah National Park *© Rex Vogel, all rights reserved*

Tour groups are scrambling to adapt

Guides and travelers are improvising around unexpected costs

Stories emerging from park entrances across the United States suggest the new international visitor fees are creating confusion not only for independent travelers but also for organized tour groups trying to navigate the new rules in real time.

One visitor participating in a guided tour to Grand Canyon National Park described the difficulties tour operators now face when travelers within the same group owe dramatically different entrance costs based on residency status.

According to the visitor, the tour company instructed non-resident guests to organize themselves into groups of four in order to share the cost of a non-resident America the Beautiful pass. Under the new pricing structure, the pass costs $250 and covers up to four visitors aged 16 and older. By splitting the fee evenly, each traveler would pay roughly $63 instead of the full $100 per-person surcharge charged at some parks.

Even with a system in place, the visitor said the process quickly became chaotic. Many travelers reportedly spoke limited English, making it difficult for the tour guide to explain why additional payments were suddenly required after guests had already booked and paid for the tour itself.

Most participants, the visitor said, had no idea the new surcharge even existed. While the tour company had disclosed the information online, many travelers either overlooked it or did not fully understand the additional costs before arriving.

“A lot of people had no idea the new fee existed. It was heartbreaking to see,” the visitor wrote in a Reddit discussion. “The tour guide we had really struggled to explain it to a few people who spoke little English. It was a bit of a scramble to get everyone sorted out.”

Similar accounts have surfaced elsewhere. In another Reddit thread, one traveler described arriving at Zion National Park just as a group of Canadian tourists learned they owed hundreds of dollars more than expected at the entrance gate.

“I just got to Zion and we entered the park,” the visitor wrote. “The car in front of us was Canadian tourists so by the time it was our turn to pay, the park ranger was upset from having the Canadian visitors yelling at her for the price increase.”

The commenter added that they understood the frustration, noting that many international visitors spend months planning major U.S. road trips only to discover the additional costs upon arrival.

Together, the stories paint a growing pattern across the so-called “Big 11” national parks: international travelers are reaching the gate expecting one price and discovering they owe hundreds of dollars more. For many, the choice becomes immediate and uncomfortable—pay the unexpected fees or turn around and leave.

Saguaro National Park *© Rex Vogel, all rights reserved*

America’s national parks face a turbulent year

The full fallout from the fee changes is still unfolding

By skipping vital communication steps, the 2026 fee change is potentially setting U.S. national parks up to lose significant revenue as international tourists opt out of paying costs they never budgeted for in the first place. Instead of absorbing unexpected charges at the gate, many visitors are simply turning around—abandoning trips that may have taken months or even years of planning.

Rather than escalate tensions, park rangers appear in many cases to be quietly facilitating workarounds for international visitors, prioritizing de-escalation over strict enforcement in the face of widespread confusion and incomplete information. The result is a system that feels uneven in practice, even if it is clearly defined on paper.

Now just five months into implementation, the new fee structure has already sent ripples across the national park system. Between communication breakdowns, inconsistent enforcement, and confusion at entrance stations, the policy has generated as much frustration as it has revenue.

Ultimately, it will likely take at least a full year—and possibly longer—to fully understand the financial and visitation impacts of the change. But early accounts from visitors and park staff alike suggest the same conclusion: the rollout has been anything but smooth, and the coming year may prove to be a difficult balancing act for America’s national parks.

Enjoyed this article?
Share it with friends and your social network to inspire their next adventure!

Editor’s Note: This article was originally published in May 2026. Information reflects what was accurate at the time of writing. For topics that may change quickly, please verify current details before planning. To ensure honesty and avoid bias, this website features no ads, no sponsored content, and no affiliate links—just straightforward information for fellow travelers.

Medora, North Dakota: Slow Travel at the Edge of the Badlands

Discover Medora, North Dakota through slow RV travel, western heritage, Theodore Roosevelt National Park, Badlands scenery, wildlife drives, and small-town charm

Medora isn’t the kind of place you rush through. Set along the edge of the North Dakota Badlands, it’s often introduced as the gateway to Theodore Roosevelt National Park—and frequently labeled one of the country’s most underrated park towns. That may be true, but it also misses the point. Slow down for a day or two and the rhythm shifts. The crowds thin, the light lingers a little longer on the buttes, and what first felt like a stopover begins to feel like a destination.

Medora *© Rex Vogel, all rights reserved*

More than a gateway: The quiet depth of Medora

Medora, unhurried

At first glance, Medora is easy to underestimate—a small, walkable town with a single main street and a steady flow of visitors passing through. Yet beneath that simplicity is something more enduring: a place shaped by history, landscape, and the lasting imprint of Theodore Roosevelt. Yes, the park draws people here for wildlife and wide-open views but Medora itself holds the experience together—offering a slower, more grounded way to connect with the Badlands and the story behind them.

Known for its historical charm, understated cultural life, and close ties to the surrounding Badlands, Medora has a way of settling in on you. It’s not a place built around constant activity but one that rewards a slower pace where history, landscape, and small-town character come together naturally. Whether your days lean toward quiet exploration, time outdoors, or simply stepping away from a faster rhythm, Medora offers an experience that feels both grounded and lasting.

As the gateway to Theodore Roosevelt National Park, the town is deeply tied to the legacy of Theodore Roosevelt. That connection shows up not just in its attractions but in the broader sense of place—the wide views, the rugged edges of the Badlands, and the enduring spirit of the frontier. From its western character to the landscapes that surround it, Medora carries a distinct Americana feel while offering a natural and unhurried starting point for exploring one of the country’s quieter national parks.

Preserving the spirit of the plains: The North Dakota Cowboy Hall of Fame

Plains heritage preserved

At the heart of Medora’s cultural landscape is the North Dakota Cowboy Hall of Fame, home to The Center of Western Heritage & Cultures—the interpretive hub for the history of North Dakota’s western lifestyle and the broader northern plains. This is where the story of the region comes into focus, not as a simple frontier myth, but as a living narrative shaped by generations of Native Americans, homesteaders, ranchers, and rodeo athletes who defined life on the plains.

Inside, exhibits trace the evolution of plains horse culture—a way of life deeply rooted in survival, skill, and connection to the land. Galleries, artifacts, and interpretive displays bring forward the voices and experiences of those who lived it, from working ranch families to world-class rodeo cowboys. A theater and curated exhibits, developed since the facility opened in 2005, help preserve this history while making it accessible to modern visitors who may be encountering it for the first time.

The Hall of Fame itself grew out of a realization in 1994, when western heritage advocate Evelyn Neuens, author Phil Baird, and Goldie Nutter were traveling home after a rodeo event and recognized how quickly the state’s rodeo history was fading from memory. What began as a conversation along Highway 83 became a mission to preserve that legacy. “Let’s do it! I’d rather wear out than rust out,” Neuens famously said—an attitude that still echoes through the institution today.

More than a museum, the Hall of Fame stands as a record of resilience and identity on the northern plains—an essential stop for understanding the deeper cultural roots that still shape Medora and the surrounding Badlands.

Frontier ambitions and lasting imprints: The Chateau de Mores Historic Site

A window into Medora’s earliest dreams and struggles

In many ways, Medora still carries the spirit of the Old West—not as a staged recreation but as something embedded in its landscape and stories. That sense of history becomes especially tangible at the Chateau de Mores State Historic Site, a preserved 26-room home built in 1883 by the Marquis de Morès, the French aristocrat who founded Medora and briefly attempted to build a cattle empire on the edge of the Badlands.

Operated by the State Historical Society of North Dakota, the site offers a layered look at frontier ambition and reality. The Chateau itself—a two-story wooden summer residence—has been restored and furnished with period artifacts allowing visitors to step into the world the Marquis envisioned. Guided tours during the summer months bring context to the structure while nearby exhibits expand the story beyond its walls.

The interpretive center features the permanent exhibit Rails, Ranching, and Riches which explores de Morès’ wide-ranging ventures including a meatpacking operation and a stagecoach line—bold ideas that reflect both the opportunity and volatility of the frontier economy. Just beyond, De Mores Memorial Park honors his legacy with a bronze statue and flagstone courtyard while Chimney Park preserves the remains of his former beef packing plant including a towering brick chimney that survived a 1907 fire.

Together, these spaces form more than a historic stop—they offer a grounded look at the optimism, challenges, and complexity of early Medora. Spread across 128 acres and fully accessible, the site invites a slower pace of exploration where history isn’t just observed but gradually absorbed into the landscape itself.

The Medora Musical: A summer tradition under the Badlands sky

Summer nights, western stage

Few experiences capture the spirit of Medora quite like the Medora Musical. Performed each summer in the open-air Burning Hills Amphitheatre, this long-running production blends live music, dance, and storytelling into an evening that feels as much a community ritual as it does a show. Set against the backdrop of the Badlands, it weaves together themes of western heritage and the enduring influence of Theodore Roosevelt—all with a light touch that keeps things entertaining rather than nostalgic.

Running from early June through mid-September (June 3 to September 12, 2026), the musical leans into variety: country classics, familiar hits, humor, and high-energy performances that shift slightly each season. It’s unapologetically lively—part revue, part tribute—and very much rooted in the character of the American West. Think less polished Broadway, more open-sky storytelling, where the setting is as much a part of the experience as the stage itself.

Before the curtain rises, many visitors make an evening of it with the town’s signature pitchfork steak fondue. It’s exactly what it sounds like—cowboy-style cooking where steaks are skewered on pitchforks and flash-fried, then served alongside a hearty, barbecue-style spread. Add in live music, long communal tables, and sweeping views over the Badlands, and the whole experience becomes less about dinner and more about settling into the rhythm of the place.

Taken together, the meal and the musical aren’t just things to do—they’re part of what gives Medora its personality. It’s simple, a little theatrical, and entirely in step with the landscape that surrounds it.

Theodore Roosevelt National Park *© Rex Vogel, all rights reserved*

Into the Badlands: Exploring Theodore Roosevelt National Park from Medora

Wildlife, trails, and wide-open silence

Just minutes from Medora, the South Unit of Theodore Roosevelt National Park makes it easy to step directly into the layered landscapes of the North Dakota Badlands. Shaped over time by the winding Little Missouri River, this rugged terrain stretches across more than 70,000 acres and is divided into three separate units. The South Unit, located right off Interstate 94, serves as the most accessible and widely explored—yet it still rewards those willing to slow down.

For a quick introduction, the Wind Canyon Trail offers an easy walk with sweeping views over the river bends below. Those looking for something more immersive can venture out to the Petrified Forest Loop where fossilized wood and stark, weathered formations create a landscape that feels almost otherworldly.

In between hikes, the park’s 36-mile Scenic Loop Drive ties it all together—an unhurried route past overlooks like Boicourt, Painted Canyon, and Skyline Vista where shifting light transforms the buttes and ravines throughout the day.

Wildlife is part of the rhythm here, not a rare sighting. Bison graze across open grasslands, elk move quietly through juniper draws, and prairie dogs punctuate the silence with sharp calls from their burrows. With a bit of patience, you might also spot wild horses, mule deer, or bighorn sheep scattered across the clay ridges. The loop drive can be completed in a couple of hours but it’s the pauses along the way—pulling over for a view, waiting as a herd crosses the road—that define the experience.

Even outside the main entrance, the Painted Canyon Visitor Center offers one of the most immediate and accessible views into the park. From its overlook, the Badlands stretch outward in layers of color and texture—juniper-lined draws, sculpted buttes, and distant movement that might just be a grazing herd. It’s a reminder that here, just beyond Medora, the landscape isn’t something you simply pass through—it’s something you take in, slowly.

How to maximize your visit to Medora

Visit with intention

A well-paced visit to Medora starts with timing—and a bit of intention. Summer brings the town to life with long days, full access to attractions, and signature experiences like the Medora Musical and pitchfork fondue dinners. It’s the most vibrant season but also the busiest. For a quieter, more reflective experience, late spring and early fall offer cooler temperatures, fewer crowds, and better conditions for hiking and wildlife viewing in Theodore Roosevelt National Park.

Where you camp shapes the rhythm of your stay. Medora Campground is the most convenient base, set within walking distance of town and close to the park entrance. With over 200 sites including full hookups and more rustic options, it’s well-suited for RV travelers who want to settle in for a few days without moving. Amenities like Wi-Fi and easy access to services make it a practical choice, especially during longer stays.

For a more immersive experience, Cottonwood Campground places you inside the park itself, just a few miles from Medora. Set along the Little Missouri River, it offers a quieter, more natural setting with direct access to trails and wildlife viewing. There are no hookups and sites are a mix of reservable and first-come, first-served—meaning it fills quickly most days from mid-May through mid-September. Arriving early is essential.

Whichever you choose, the key is to stay put for a bit. Medora and the surrounding Badlands aren’t best experienced in a rush. Give yourself time to fall into the landscape—early mornings in the park, unplanned stops along the scenic drive, and evenings back in town as the light fades across the buttes.

North Dakota Welcome Center *© Rex Vogel, all rights reserved*

Planning your visit: Timing, highlights, and practical details

Know before you go

A trip to Medora is easiest—and most rewarding—between May and early September when the town is fully active and the surrounding Badlands are at their most accessible. This is when accommodations open up, the weather supports long days outdoors, and signature experiences like the Medora Musical are in full swing.

The region’s most essential experiences are tightly clustered. Just outside town, Theodore Roosevelt National Park offers scenic drives, wildlife viewing, and hiking through the rugged landscape that defines the North Dakota Badlands. In town, the North Dakota Cowboy Hall of Fame adds cultural depth through exhibits on ranching heritage, Native American history, and the western way of life that shaped the region.

Costs remain relatively straightforward for most visitors. Tickets to the Medora Musical typically start around $62.95 for adults with youth pricing ranging approximately from $25.95 to $45.95 depending on seating and season. Entry to Theodore Roosevelt National Park is $30 per vehicle or $15 per person making it accessible for both road trippers and solo travelers. The Cowboy Hall of Fame is one of the more affordable cultural stops at $9 per person with reduced rates for seniors and students.

Despite its small size, Medora is especially welcoming for families. Beyond museums and scenic drives, visitors will find a mix of light outdoor recreation and casual attractions—mini golf, horseback riding, walking trails, and educational stops that make it easy to balance entertainment with exploration.

Taken together, the experience is less about checking off attractions and more about settling into a place where history, landscape, and small-town life all meet at an unhurried pace.

So what stays with you

Why Medora lingers long after you leave

In the end, Medora doesn’t ask to be consumed—it asks to be experienced slowly. What begins as a gateway to Theodore Roosevelt National Park gradually becomes something more personal: a place where the scale of the landscape reshapes your sense of time, and where the edges of the Badlands feel less like scenery and more like presence.

The town itself, Medora, lingers in quieter ways. It’s in the early morning light along a nearly empty main street, the echo of music fading after an evening at the Medora Musical, or the way history feels close rather than distant at places like the Cowboy Hall of Fame or the Chateau. Nothing here demands urgency, yet everything rewards attention.

Maybe that’s what defines Medora most—it holds space between the stories of the Old West and the reality of today’s traveler between wide-open landscapes and small, human moments. You don’t leave with the sense of having “done” Medora. You leave with the sense that it slowed you down just enough to notice it properly—and that’s what stays with you long after the Badlands fade in the rearview mirror.

Enjoyed this article?
Share it with friends and your social network to inspire their next adventure!

The Case for the Obvious Places (Like Crowded National Parks)

Skip the guilt around popular parks. Here’s why crowded national parks like Yosemite and the Grand Canyon still offer meaningful, shared travel experiences.

We’ve gotten strangely self-conscious about the places everyone already wants to see.

Somewhere along the way, visiting a national park like Shenandoah or hiking a trail in Arches National Park started to feel like a confession rather than a plan—something to explain away, qualify, or redeem with the phrase “but we went early” or “but we avoided the crowds.” As if popularity itself is a kind of moral compromise and the more people who show up, the less legitimate your own experience becomes.

But maybe that logic has it backwards.

In search of the quiet places

Travel that favors silence over spectacle

I’ve traveled to, photographed, and written about under-appreciated gems and destinations away from the crowds. I’ve lost track of the number of articles I’ve written encouraging readers to skip the obvious places in favor of quieter alternatives—pieces like Visit a National Park but Skip the Big Name Ones and Clarkdale is a Quieter, Underrated Alternative to Sedona.

That philosophy has taken me to places like Congaree National Park, Tuzigoot National Monument, and Kodachrome Basin State Park, along with small, easily overlooked towns such as Clarkdale where the rhythm of travel shifts into something slower and more observational. In these places, the draw is often precisely their lack of spectacle in the conventional sense—the absence of congestion at overlooks, the ease of finding silence on a trail, the feeling that you’re moving through landscapes without having to negotiate for space.

Kodachrome Basin with its quiet clusters of red stone spires and wide-open desert stillness, rewards patience over spectacle; Congaree wraps you in a green, flooded hush that feels removed from any itinerary-driven urgency; Tuzigoot offers a compact but layered glimpse into ancient habitation without the crush of major park crowds; and Clarkdale, sitting in the Verde Valley, becomes less a destination for a single landmark and more a pause between stories, where history and everyday life blur at the edges. Together, these places have shaped my appreciation for travel that resists noise and resists demand—travel that asks little of you except attention.

White Sands National Park *© Rex Vogel, all rights reserved*

The case for shared awe

Wonder is better together

But there’s something to be said for standing shoulder-to-shoulder with a bunch of strangers and staring at something gorgeous—especially in 2026. In a time when so much of life is filtered through screens, algorithms, and increasingly fragmented attention, there’s an almost disarming honesty in shared awe.

You don’t have to know the people beside you and you don’t need to agree on anything beyond the fact that what’s in front of you is worth pausing for. The crowd doesn’t necessarily diminish the moment; in some ways, it confirms it. The same impulse that draws you to iconic places like Joshua Tree National Park or the rim of Grand Canyon National Park is also what gathers everyone else there—this quiet, collective agreement that some landscapes are large enough to hold all of us at once. And in that shared stillness, even amid noise and camera shutters and shifting footing, there’s a reminder that wonder doesn’t always require solitude to feel real.

Cades Cove, Great Smoky Mountains National Park *© Rex Vogel, all rights reserved*

Cades Cove and the case for the obvious places

A slow loop through shared awe

Cades Cove is spectacular—but not in a Niagara Falls, in-your-face kind of way. It’s more restrained than that, more patient. A place that asks you to slow your attention until you notice the quiet choreography of shadow and light across the valley floor. Bright green mountains rise steeply from the grassy basin, only to give way to a second layer of ridgelines beyond them—deeper blue, softer at the edges—then another, and another still, each range fading lighter as it recedes until the whole sequence dissolves into sky. Wide open meadows sit cradled by dense hardwood forest, and in those fields, horses move casually through the grass like they have all the time in the world.

And I’m not the only one who thinks this pastoral valley inside Great Smoky Mountains National Park is worth the pilgrimage. I’ve sat in the slow crawl of traffic just to catch glimpses of it through car windows. Cades Cove is one of the most visited destinations in the most visited national park in the United States. According to National Park Service visitation data, nearly half of all visitors to the Smokies make their way here at some point. In peak seasons, the cove can see more people in a month than some entire national parks receive in a year, all funneled into an 11-mile, one-way loop road circling the valley.

It once took me nearly three hours to complete that loop. And yet the surprising part is not the congestion—it’s that I didn’t mind it. The landscape is so undeniably beautiful that even the stop-and-go rhythm felt like part of the experience rather than an interruption of it.

It made me think about how easily we overlook the obvious places in search of something quieter, more “authentic,” more hidden. But there’s a case to be made for the opposite too—for carving out time for the postcard destinations, the places printed on posters and stitched onto souvenir magnets. The Grand Canyon from the South Rim, not a secret ledge you hiked hours to reach. Yellowstone National Park at Old Faithful, Jackson Lake at its most photographed edge, the slow drama of The Narrows where the crowds are part of the canyon’s modern reality. Sometimes the obvious places are obvious for a reason.

A case for not skipping the greatest hits

The obvious places are obvious for a reason

I have written about slow travel as a way to find solitude, peace, and quiet. Seeking a slice of wilderness away from the masses is important. I’m a firm believer that those moments of zen in the middle of nowhere are good for our souls.

There’s a reason why that scene, the one with people stacked three deep trying to catch a glimpse, is on the poster. Yosemite Valley, Old Faithful, Angels Landing, Cades Cove…these places are absolutely stunning and worth all of the hassle. These places are worth your time and effort, not just because they’re beautiful, but because they draw a crowd. There’s something to be said for standing shoulder to shoulder with a bunch of strangers and staring at something gorgeous. Especially in 2026, when we seem to have less and less we can agree on in this country.

The obvious places are America’s highlight reel.

It’s easy to brush past them in pursuit of something quieter, more private, but these crowded, well-trodden viewpoints are not the leftovers of travel—they are the main event. Places like Bryce Canyon National Park, White Sands National Park, and New River Gorge National Park and Preserve aren’t popular by accident. They are popular because they concentrate something rare: landscapes so distinct, so immediately legible in their beauty, that they became part of the collective imagination.

The case for shared awe in America’s parks

Shared landscapes, shared awe

This is the same legacy that runs through the founding story of the national park system itself. When people stand in awe at the geysers of Yellowstone National Park—Old Faithful erupting on cue, surrounded by cameras and folding chairs—they are participating in one of the earliest arguments for preservation in human history. It was that kind of spectacle that helped convince President Ulysses S. Grant to establish Yellowstone in 1872, creating the world’s first national park. In that sense, these “obvious” places aren’t secondary destinations; they are foundational ones.

And that’s what makes them worth defending. Standing at overlooks in Yosemite National Park, watching El Capitan rise out of the valley floor while strangers shuffle shoulder to shoulder for a better angle, isn’t a diluted experience—it’s a shared one. The crowd doesn’t cancel out the view; it completes the social reality of it. You’re not just looking at granite cliffs or desert dunes or sandstone amphitheaters—you’re looking at something a whole country decided was worth protecting, together.

When you’re standing in that kind of crowd, looking at something undeniably beautiful, it’s hard not to glance sideways and think, almost instinctively, people are alright. For all the noise and division and digital distance, here is a moment of uncomplicated agreement: this is worth stopping for.

The warm fuzzy argument for National Parks

National parks are good for the soul

So maybe these places deserve more than a quick pass-through on the way to something quieter. Maybe they deserve time—enough time to watch the crowds ebb and flow, to notice how many different lives converge on the same overlook, the same trail, the same patch of desert light. Because there’s something quietly remarkable about it: accountants, teachers, nurses, CEOs, students, all spending their hard-earned time in places like Bryce Canyon or Sequoia or Carlsbad Caverns, not for status or exclusivity, but just to see something beautiful.

And in a way, that might be the most beautiful part of all.

I admit that I rarely feel a sense of communal wellbeing when I’m sitting in rush hour traffic, but when you add the gorgeous landscape of Cades Cove to the mix, and the realization that we’re all crowded into this pastoral valley for the exact same reason, I get a warm fuzzy feeling. Raise your hand if you could use a bit more of those warm fuzzy feelings these days?

Go to the obvious places. There are warm fuzzies all over them.

New River Gorge National Park *© Rex Vogel, all rights reserved*

In praise of the greatest hits

Popular for a reason

I understand what I’m saying here sounds a little counterintuitive. It’s like a music critic suggesting you should spend some time listening to a certain band’s Greatest Hits album instead of diving into their deeper cuts. But have you listened to The Beatles’ compilation of their 20 number-one hits? It’s literally nothing but bangers.

When you’re standing in a crowd, looking at something beautiful, something so stunning that an entire society has decided to prioritize its protection, it’s easy to glance at the crowd and think, “people are alright.”

So maybe carve out more than a little time to visit these obvious places. Maybe sit there and watch the crowds ebb and flow and marvel at how thousands of perfect strangers have all designed their cherished vacations around the same thing: seeing this beautiful view. Because that idea—a bunch of accountants and school teachers and CEOs and project managers spending their hard-earned free time inside a national park so they could see something pretty—might even be more beautiful than the view itself.

Zion National Park *© Rex Vogel, all rights reserved*

The places meant to be seen

The obvious is the point

In the end, this isn’t really an argument against hidden trails or quieter valleys or the satisfaction of finding something just a little off the map. Those places matter too. But there’s a tendency in modern travel writing—and in modern travel itself—to treat the obvious places as something to be optimized around, avoided, or “improved” upon.

Yet the obvious places are not accidents. They are the result of collective attention over time, of millions of people independently arriving at the same conclusion: this is worth seeing. Places like Bryce Canyon National Park, Yosemite National Park, or Great Smoky Mountains National Park aren’t crowded in spite of their beauty—they are crowded because of it. They are where geography, access, and imagination overlap just enough to create something universally legible.

And maybe that’s what we miss when we rush past them in search of solitude. These places were never meant to be private experiences. They are shared ones by design, held in common not just by law and preservation but by culture and repetition and memory. To stand at an overlook in a place like Grand Canyon National Park is not just to witness a landscape but to participate in a long continuity of people doing exactly the same thing—pausing, looking, and recognizing that words fall short of what’s in front of them.

There’s something grounding about that, even in the noise. The crowds, the cameras, the shuffle of footsteps along a guardrail—they don’t erase the experience so much as anchor it in reality. You are not the first person to be moved by this view, and you will not be the last. That realization doesn’t diminish the moment; it enlarges it.

So maybe the point isn’t to choose between the obvious places and the hidden ones. Maybe it’s to resist the idea that popularity is a problem to be solved. Sometimes the most meaningful thing you can do is stand in the middle of a well-known place, surrounded by strangers who all came for the same reason, and simply let it be enough.

Because the obvious places don’t ask to be discovered. They ask to be seen.

Enjoyed this article?
Share it with friends and your social network to inspire their next adventure!

A Scenic Day Trip from Kanab to Zion: Wildlife, Red Rock, and Roadside Charm

Discover a scenic day trip from Kanab to Zion’s east entrance—wildlife sightings, Checkerboard Mesa, Mt. Carmel Tunnel, and travel tips for 2026

Nestled in the heart of southern Utah’s canyon country, Kanab is the gateway to some of the Southwest’s most photogenic landscapes. From Bryce Canyon to the east and Grand Staircase–Escalante to the north, to the soaring cliffs of Zion National Park to the west, Kanab offers both access and charm. Known as “Little Hollywood” for its Western movie history, the town still retains a frontier spirit—quiet, welcoming, and deeply tied to the land.

Our home base, Dark Sky RV Park, offers wide-open desert views and some of the clearest night skies in the region. Evenings here are magical with stars layered across the horizon long after sunset. The park is the perfect starting point for slow mornings and day trips into Utah’s red rock country.

One such trip is a day drive to Zion National Park’s east entrance, less crowded than the main canyon yet every bit as dramatic. Traveling in a toad makes the route effortless letting you focus on the scenery and wildlife along the way.

Herd of bison outside Zion National Park *© Rex Vogel, all rights reserved*

Wildlife along the way

In just a few short hours, the drive offered a rare assortment of wildlife

The day began under a soft, mostly cloudy sky, the kind that casts a gentle, filtered light across southern Utah’s open desert. Now and then the sun broke through sending warm beams across sagebrush flats and sandstone ridges. It was the perfect backdrop for spotting wildlife—muted light, quiet roads, and long, uninterrupted views.

Not far past Mt. Carmel Junction, the landscape seemed to come alive. A pair of white-tailed deer suddenly bounded across the road their movement quick and fluid, tails flashing white as they disappeared into the brush. It was a brief moment but one that instantly connected us to the wild character of the region.

Some distance farther the terrain opened into rolling grasslands and wide desert benches where we encountered one of the day’s most memorable scenes: a large herd of bison grazing within a conservation area. Dozens of massive silhouettes dotted the meadow, their dark forms contrasting with pale grasses and distant red cliffs. Some stood motionless, others shifted slowly across the open field, the entire herd embodying the quiet strength of America’s original plains. Under the cloud-softened sky, the scene felt almost timeless.

Bighorn sheep in Zion National Park *© Rex Vogel, all rights reserved*

Once inside Zion, the wildlife encounters continued. Along the sandstone slopes leading toward the Mt. Carmel Tunnel we spotted two pairs of bighorn sheep navigating steep ledges with effortless balance. Their tan coats blended so perfectly with the cliffs that they seemed to materialize only when they moved. Every few minutes, a beam of sunlight broke through the cloud cover illuminating a ridge or framing a sheep in warm light—fleeting but unforgettable moments that define the east side of Zion.

In just a few short hours, the drive offered a rare assortment of wildlife:

White-tailed deer
A full bison herd
Four bighorn sheep

All set against shifting desert light and the rugged sandstone beauty of southern Utah.

Scenic highlights: East gate to Mt. Carmel Tunnel

A panorama of cliffs, mesas, and canyons sculpted over millions of years

Passing through the east gate of Zion National Park, the road immediately begins its climb revealing a panorama of cliffs, mesas, and canyons carved over millions of years. This stretch of the Zion–Mt. Carmel Highway is widely regarded as one of the park’s most dramatic and photogenic drives combining sweeping views with intimate glimpses of the park’s layered geology.

Checkerboard Mesa, the first major landmark dominates the landscape with its striking cross-hatched sandstone patterns. These lines are the result of both wind erosion on ancient sand dunes and the freeze-thaw cycles of desert winters creating the park’s most recognizable east-side feature. The sunlight—or in our mostly cloudy day occasional sunbreaks—casts dramatic shadows that emphasize the mesa’s intricate textures.

As the road winds through gentle curves and switchbacks, pullouts and overlooks provide opportunities to pause and take in the scenery:

East Zion Scenic Overlook: From this vantage, the valley floor stretches wide framed by sheer cliffs and distant plateaus. It’s ideal for panoramic shots or simply absorbing the scale of the landscape.
Side Canyon Pullouts: Small side canyons and alcoves along the highway reveal intimate details of sandstone formations including layers of Navajo Sandstone tilted into bold, diagonal bands and interspersed with the softer Kayenta Formation slopes. These areas are perfect for capturing texture, depth, and the delicate interplay of desert vegetation against stone.
Mt. Carmel Tunnel: The Mt. Carmel Tunnel, completed in 1930 is a marvel of early 20th-century engineering. Nearly a mile long it cuts through solid sandstone allowing travelers to transition from the high eastern plateaus into the main canyon floor. Pullouts near the tunnel’s portals offer dramatic framing for photography with cliff walls looming on either side and glimpses of the highway snaking toward the horizon.

Photography tip: Early morning or late afternoon light enhances the color of the sandstone layers while scattered clouds create dynamic shadows across the cliffs. Binoculars or a zoom lens can help spot bighorn sheep or other wildlife along the ledges.

This stretch of road encapsulates the essence of Zion’s east side: a combination of rugged geology, sculpted stone, and breathtaking vistas, all within a relatively short drive. Every curve, pullout, and sunbeam reveals a new aspect of the park’s natural artistry making it an unmissable part of any day trip from Kanab.

Geology notes: The route showcases tilted Navajo Sandstone dunes compressed into rock interspersed with Kayenta Formation slopes that capture seasonal greenery. The east side’s rugged landscape reveals how wind, water, and time have sculpted this extraordinary terrain.

Encounters within the park

The cliffs of east Zion radiate quiet majesty

Even under a mostly cloudy sky, Zion’s east side radiates quiet majesty. The cliffs rise sharply layered in warm reds, soft creams, and golden sandstone bands while narrow side canyons and alcoves add depth and contrast. As the road twists along these natural walls every curve seems to reveal a new secret.

One of the most memorable moments came when we spotted two pairs of bighorn sheep clinging to the rocky cliffs. Their tan coats blended seamlessly with the sandstone making them nearly invisible until they moved with effortless grace. Watching them navigate steep ledges and rocky outcrops offered a reminder of how perfectly adapted these animals are to their environment—and how alive the park feels when its wild inhabitants are present.

Beyond the bighorn sheep, the park’s east side is a haven for quiet observation. The serene landscape invites reflection: the distant mesas, the broad valleys, and the sculpted sandstone remind visitors that Zion is not only a destination for adventure but also a place to connect with the enduring rhythm of the land.

Tip: Take your time along this stretch of road. Wildlife sightings are more likely when you slow down and the light and shadows along the cliffs constantly change offering new photographic opportunities at every turn.

In just a few miles, the east side of Zion delivers both intimate wildlife moments and sweeping geological drama making it a perfect complement to the main canyon for any day trip from Kanab.

Thunderbird Restaurant, Mt. Carmel Junction *© Rex Vogel, all rights reserved*

Return via Mt. Carmel Junction

After soaking in the east side of Zion, the drive back toward Kanab unfolded like a slow-motion landscape painting. The clouds began to thin allowing streaks of golden sunlight to sweep across mesas, desert benches, and distant sandstone cliffs. Shadows receded and the warm afternoon light highlighted every contour of the rugged terrain. The open road felt quiet and expansive, a perfect opportunity to reflect on the day’s sights.

At Mt. Carmel Junction, we made a welcome stop at the Thunderbird Café, a roadside institution that has been serving travelers since the 1940s. Its quirky charm—marked by the playful “Ho-Made Pies” sign and the cozy, retro interior—makes it more than a simple meal stop. Inside, locals chatted over coffee while visitors shared stories of their adventures creating a warm, inviting atmosphere.

The café offered a chance to pause, stretch, and savor simple pleasures: hearty comfort food, fresh-baked pie, and genuine small-town hospitality. Sitting there, it was easy to feel connected to the rhythm of life along Utah’s scenic highways where the landscape itself seems to slow time.

As we resumed the drive back to Kanab, the rolling desert and distant mesas glowed under the soft, late-afternoon light. The memory of the bison grazing near the conservation area earlier in the day lingered, a quiet reminder of the region’s enduring wildness. The combination of dramatic geology, abundant wildlife, and charming local stops made this leg of the journey as memorable as the park itself.

Tip: Mt. Carmel Junction is a convenient spot to refuel, grab a snack, or stretch before returning to Kanab. If time allows, linger a little—it’s a sweet window into the small-town flavor of southern Utah.

Checkerboard Mesa, Zion National Park *© Rex Vogel, all rights reserved*

Important travel update for RV travelers

Tight turns, traffic bottlenecks

Starting in mid-2026, Zion National Park will no longer allow large RVs and other oversized vehicles to travel the Zion–Mt. Carmel Highway, the scenic byway that connects the east and main entrances of the park.

Travelers planning day trips from Kanab or other gateway towns should note:

Smaller toads, cars, and standard-size RVs will still be permitted.
Alternative routes may be necessary for oversized rigs wishing to access the east side.
Planning ahead is essential especially during peak season to avoid detours and ensure safe travel.

Similar reads

For readers interested in further exploring Zion

For readers inspired by the east side of Zion, here are some additional adventures in Zion National Park to consider:

Reflections on the day

A full adventure wrapped in a single day

Driving back toward Kanab the desert and cliffs glowed in late-afternoon light, their warm reds and soft ambers deepening as shadows stretched across mesas and ridges. The bison herd we had encountered earlier lingered in the distance, grazing serenely—a quiet reminder of the wild, enduring heart of southern Utah.

The day had offered a rare combination of experiences: wildlife encounters from white-tailed deer to bison to bighorn sheep, breathtaking geology from Checkerboard Mesa to the side canyons, and moments of small-town charm at Mt. Carmel Junction’s Thunderbird Café. Each segment of the drive revealed a different facet of this remarkable landscape and together they painted a vivid portrait of Zion’s east side.

From the perspective of Dark Sky RV Park, the journey felt effortless yet full. It was a reminder that some of the most memorable experiences happen not just at the destination but along the road itself—the twists and turns, the fleeting wildlife sightings, the changing light, and the quiet pauses that allow time to slow and the landscape to speak.

“The mountains are calling and I must go.” — adapted from John Muir

This day trip captured the essence of southern Utah: a land of timeless stone, open skies, and resilient wildlife framed by roads that invite both adventure and reflection. It was a journey to remember, one where the road, the wildlife, and the scenery all worked in concert to create a day that lingers long after the drive ends.

Enjoyed this article?
Share it with friends and your social network to inspire their next adventure!

Editor’s Note: This article was originally published in April 2026. Information reflects what was accurate at the time of writing. For topics that may change quickly, please verify current details before planning. To ensure honesty and avoid bias, this website features no ads, no sponsored content, and no affiliate links—just straightforward information for fellow travelers.

The Most Visited U.S. National Parks in 2025 (And the Least Visited)

From the crowded trails of Great Smoky Mountains National Park to the remote wilderness of Gates of the Arctic National Park and Preserve, here’s how America’s national parks ranked for visitation in 2025

In 2025, millions of travelers explored the breathtaking landscapes of America’s national parks from iconic waterfalls to rugged desert vistas. While some parks draw crowds in the millions, others offer quiet, untouched corners for those seeking solitude. Here’s a look at the most visited—and least visited—U.S. national parks this year along with what makes each one special.

The National Park Service reported a modest decline in visitation from 2024 to 2025, yet 26 parks still set all-time records for visitors last year. After hitting a record 331.9 million visits in 2024, the U.S. National Park System welcomed 323 million visitors in 2025—a drop of nearly 9 million. While this marks the first decrease since the post-pandemic rebound, the numbers still underscore the enduring popularity of America’s national treasures.

It was a turbulent year for the National Park System shaped by a government shutdown, staffing shortages, budget pressures, and a series of other challenges. Does the 2025 visitation data reflect the impact of this unusually difficult year?

Great Smoky Mountains National Park *© Rex Vogel, all rights reserved*

2025 visitation falls after historic 2024 peak

Historic highs in 2024, modest fall in 2025

Each year, the National Park Service (NPS) publishes official recreational visit data offering a snapshot of how Americans explore their public lands. In 2025, the NPS recorded 323,012,629 visits down from 331,863,358 visits in 2024—a decline of 8,850,729 visits or roughly 2.7 percent. After the record-breaking peak in 2024, this marks the first notable drop in visitation since the post-pandemic rebound.

Among individual sites, Golden Gate National Recreation Area experienced the largest drop losing roughly 1.44 million visits from 17.19 million in 2024 to 15.75 million in 2025. Gateway National Recreation Area saw 1.23 million fewer visitors while the World War II Memorial recorded a similar decline of about 1.17 million. Together, these three sites accounted for nearly 3.84 million fewer visits or roughly 43 percent of the systemwide decline of 8.85 million.

The steepest percentage decline was at Martin Luther King, Jr. National Historical Park which fell from 1,159,438 visits in 2024 to 647,349 in 2025—a drop of 44.2 percent. Interestingly, the largest declines didn’t occur in remote wilderness parks but at some of the busiest urban sites where even modest shifts in local traffic or sightseeing patterns can translate into dramatic drops in visitation.

Who moved against the trend

Growth amid a year of drops

A big winner of 2025 was Natchez Trace Parkway which added roughly 630,000 visits climbing from 7.36 million in 2024 to nearly 7.99 million in 2025. Canaveral National Seashore closely followed, gaining about 613,000 visits.

A more dramatic shift came at Redwood National Park which nearly doubled its visitation rising from 622,883 visits in 2024 to 1,202,480 in 2025—a staggering 93.1 percent increase. Located on California’s far north coast, Redwood National and State Parks are home to the world’s tallest trees, the coast redwoods, some exceeding 370 feet in height and over 2,000 years old. The park complex also protects roughly 45 percent of the world’s remaining old-growth coast redwood forests making it a must-see destination that bucked the national decline with remarkable growth.

Visitors by the numbers

By the numbers

323,014,305 recreation visits (406 parks report visitation figures)
1,386,749,187 recreation visitor hours
13,016,577 overnight stays
26 parks set visitation records

Top 10 Most Visited U.S. National Parks in 2025

Where visitors went in 2025

While some parks saw declines, others continued to draw crowds in record numbers. The list of the most visited parks offers a snapshot of where Americans and international travelers headed last year, from iconic landscapes to urban-adjacent recreation areas.

Among national parks, Great Smoky Mountains National Park remained the most visited in the country in 2025, drawing 11.53 million recreation visits despite a drop of about 664,000 from the year before.

Zion National Park ranked second with 4.98 million visits, slightly above its 2024 total while Yellowstone National Park followed closely with 4.76 million visits, up modestly.

Grand Canyon National Park ranked fourth with 4.43 million visits, down from nearly 4.92 million in 2024 while Yosemite National Park is the last of the top five with 4.28 million visits.

Here are the Top 10 most visited national parks and sites in 2025, based on official NPS data:

Great Smoky Mountains National Park (11,527,939)
Zion National Park (4,984,525)
Yellowstone National Park (4,762,988)
Grand Canyon National Park (4,430,653)
Yosemite National Park (4,278,413)
Rocky Mountain National Park (4,171,431)
Acadia National Park (4,079,318)
Grand Teton National Park (3,800,648)
Olympic National Park (3,584,187)
Glacier National Park (3,136,557)

Blue Ridge Parkway *© Rex Vogel, all rights reserved*

Most Visited NPS Sites in 2025

Where visitors went

Beyond the traditional national parks, many National Park Service sites—from historic monuments to urban recreation areas—continue to attract millions of visitors each year. In 2025, while overall visitation dipped slightly, several sites drew impressive crowds, highlighting the enduring appeal of America’s cultural, historic, and natural landmarks. Here are the most visited NPS sites in 2025, according to official NPS data:

Blue Ridge Parkway (16,533,753)
Golden Gate National Recreation Area (15,748,676)
Great Smoky Mountains National Park (11,527,939)
Natchez Trace Parkway (7,994,783)
Lincoln Memorial (7,743,295)
Gateway National Recreation Area (7,696,939)
Gulf Islands National Seachore (7,576,923)
George Washington Memorial Parkway (6,732,932)
Appalachian National Scenic Trail (6,215,118)
Lake Mead National Recreation Area (6,135,586)

Least-visited U.S. National Parks in 2025

America’s most remote and least-visited parks

At the other end of the spectrum, America’s most remote and hard-to-reach parks once again ranked among the least visited in 2025.

Kobuk Valley National Park in Alaska recorded just 7,786 visits maintaining its long-standing status as one of the most isolated parks in the country. Nearby, Gates of the Arctic National Park and Preserve followed with 14,923 visits while Lake Clark National Park and Preserve saw 19,778 visitors.

Far from Alaska, Isle Royale National Park in Michigan ranked as the fourth-least visited with 29,091 visits. Located on a remote island in Lake Superior, it is accessible only by boat or seaplane—a journey that naturally limits crowds.

Rounding out the list, North Cascades National Park in Washington recorded 46,925 visits despite its stunning alpine scenery, glaciers, and relative proximity to Seattle.

These parks highlight a different kind of national park experience—one defined not by crowds but by solitude, wilderness, and the rewards of reaching places few travelers ever see.

Lake Mead National Recreation Area *© Rex Vogel, all rights reserved*

Where you go—and how you go

Choosing your path and pace

From the crowded overlooks of Great Smoky Mountains National Park to the untouched wilderness of Gates of the Arctic National Park and Preserve, the story of visitation in 2025 is about more than numbers—it’s about how we choose to experience these places.

The most visited parks offer accessibility, iconic scenery, and shared moments with millions of others. The least visited, by contrast, ask more of us—time, effort, and intention—but reward that commitment with solitude and a deeper connection to the landscape.

For RV travelers and those embracing slower journeys, the lesson is clear: the “best” park isn’t always the most popular one. Sometimes it’s the place where you can linger a little longer, hear the wind instead of the crowds, and feel, if only briefly, that you have the landscape all to yourself.

In the end, whether you follow the crowds or seek the quiet, America’s national parks offer something increasingly rare—the space to step outside of time, and decide how you want to spend it.

Editor’s Note: This article was originally published in March 2026. Information reflects what was accurate at the time of writing. For topics that may change quickly, please verify current details before planning. To ensure honesty and avoid bias, this website features no ads, no sponsored content, and no affiliate links—just straightforward information for fellow travelers.

Bryce Canyon or Zion: Which National Park Is Right for You?

Utah is on the shortlist for many adventurers being home to the Mighty Five national parks famous for their unique sandstone formations. In this article, I’ll fill you in on all you need to know about two of these five fabulous national parks—Zion and Bryce Canyon—both located in the southwestern corner of the Beehive State.

It’s no secret that Utah is home to some of the most gorgeous national parks in the country as well as some of the most gorgeous sites that aren’t technically national parks but are managed by the park service (like Natural Bridges National Monument, Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument. and Cedar Breaks National Monument). For avid hikers and backpackers, ranking the state’s best national parks can be a challenge even among those who live in Utah. If you’re from out of state with only a few days to visit a park, it gets even harder.

Fortunately, some parks are close to each other like Arches National Park and Canyonlands National Park. In fact, they share the same gateway town of Moab. So if you’re deciding between those two parks, it’s easy to combine them in one trip.

Here are a few great articles to help you do just that:

A Guide to Utah’s Public Lands

But if you’re deciding to visit Zion or Bryce Canyon national parks, it gets a bit trickier—especially since both parks offer plenty to do to fill an entire long weekend or much longer. While they aren’t too far from one another, they’re too far apart to see both in a day so you’ll need to pick one on shorter trips.

Here’s what to know to know about activities, hiking, weather, and more to help you decide between visiting Zion and Bryce Canyon national parks.

Nature and environment

Bryce is serene hoodoos and open skies; Zion is dramatic cliffs and lush canyons

Zion and Bryce Canyon National Park are both in Utah but the landscapes are quite different (at least in some areas of the park).

Zion’s main draw is gorgeous Zion Canyon, a red-rock chasm 15 miles long formed by eons of erosion by the Virgin River. In some places, the canyon’s walls are 3,000 feet high. Expect arid, dry conditions near the top with a mix of extreme heat and heavy snow and more lush landscapes farther down closer to the river. In the transitions between climates, you’ll find gorgeous features like waterfalls and hanging gardens. Zion National Park’s main road (Zion Canyon Scenic Drive) is an out-and-back road that covers the first seven miles of the canyon.

Bryce Canyon is equally lovely but with less abrupt and dramatic changes between elevations. But that’s not to say the landscape isn’t still dramatic. The park is famous for its hoodoos—spire-like rock formations sculpted by wind and frost. There are thousands of them in the amphitheater, the largest canyon in Bryce Canyon close to the Visitor Center. Bryce Canyon is generally cooler than Zion as most of the park sits above 8,000 feet above sea level and it has more forests than you’ll find around Zion.

Bryce Canyon’s entrance and roads are on the top of the canyon so it’s cooler and dryer. Zion’s Kolob Canyon’s area in the northern part of the park (and not connected by roads to Zion Canyon) has weather more similar to Bryce Canyon.

Bryce Canyon National Park

Vibe: Otherworldly, quiet, and intimate.
Landscape: Famous for its hoodoos—tall, thin spires of rock—and panoramic vistas that look like something from a fantasy world. The park’s high elevation means cooler temperatures and dramatic seasonal changes.

Activities:

Hiking: Trails range from easy rim walks to moderate descents into the amphitheater.
Photography: Sunrise and sunset over the hoodoos are spectacular; the light transforms the canyon’s colors.
Stargazing: Because of its elevation and limited light pollution, Bryce is a dark-sky haven.
Best for: Visitors seeking surreal landscapes, peaceful hikes, and exceptional photo opportunities.

Learn more about Bryce Canyon

Zion National Park

Vibe: Lush, dramatic, and adventurous.
Landscape: Towering sandstone cliffs, narrow canyons, and the Virgin River carve through the park. Zion feels grand and immersive, with its towering walls and lush hanging gardens.

Activities:

Hiking: Famous hikes like Angels Landing, The Narrows, and Observation Point range from strenuous to epic adventures.
Canyoneering: For the thrill-seekers, Zion offers technical slot canyon routes.
Wildlife & scenery: From desert bighorn sheep to vibrant wildflowers, there’s always something to see.
Best for: Visitors seeking adventure, epic scenery, and iconic hikes in a larger, busier park.

Learn more about Zion

Seasonality and when to go

Bryce = late spring–early fall; Zion = spring and fall

Zion and Bryce Canyon both have the same peak season: summer. That’s when weather is warmest (potentially too warm in Zion Canyon where temperatures can regularly reach the high 80 degrees Fahrenheit range during the day) and kids are out of school so family vacations are popular. Bryce Canyon is more pleasant in the summer as the temperatures get a bit cooler at night; July in Bryce has an average daytime temperature of 76 degrees and a nighttime low in the 40 degrees.

The temperature difference between the parks (a 15-degree or so difference at any given time) means Zion’s weather changes about a month ahead of Bryce Canyon. It’s still winter in Bryce Canyon in March but it may be shorts-and-a-T-shirt hiking weather in Zion by then. Bryce Canyon also gets snow across the park while Zion usually only gets snow on mountain peaks and around Kolob Canyon. So to avoid the crowds and still have good outdoor weather for hiking and other activities visit Zion in March and April or October and November and visit Bryce Canyon in April and May or September and early October.

In both parks, late July through early September is monsoon (heavy rain) season. Slot canyons and narrow canyons like the aptly named The Narrows in Zion can become deadly in a matter of minutes during heavy rain. If you’re planning on exploring canyons in either park skip these months or be ready to change your plans at the last minute based on weather.

Hiking and backpacking in Bryce Canyon vs. Zion

Bryce has peaceful rim-to-hoodoo hikes; Zion offers iconic, adrenaline-filled canyon routes

Both Zion and Bryce Canyon will keep hikers happy but Zion has the edge for larger groups of hikers. That’s because Zion has more hiking trails offering a wider range of challenge and variety. Zion is also home to some of the most famous hiking trails in the American West like The Narrows through the Virgin River and the famous Angels Landing. Zion’s lower elevation also gives it an edge when it comes to year-round hiking as fewer trails will be covered in snow by December.

Zion’s most popular hiking trails are in Zion Canyon and start from one of nine different trailheads along Zion Canyon Scenic Road. Since private vehicles are not allowed to drive on the road between March and November you’ll need to take the free shuttle from the Zion National Park Visitor Center to move between trailheads. You can also rent e-bikes from nearby stores or run/walk the road though its seven miles long. It takes about 45 minutes to get from the first stop (the Visitor Center) to the last stop (the Temple of Sinawava, starting point for The Narrows). Most trails start at the bottom and go up; Angels Landing gains 1,500 feet of elevation in 2.7 miles.

At Bryce Canyon, think of the trails as being opposite of those at Zion: you’ll start at the top and hike down. The park has fewer hikes and most of them start in the amphitheater. The trails are a bit shorter than those at Zion and lead to viewpoints with excellent views of the hoodoos, meaning you don’t have to hike downhill if you’d rather not do much elevation gain. That’s in contrast to Zion where you’ll have to hike up if you want views down into the canyon. However, Bryce does have some longer hikes like the 8-mile Fairyland Loop which loses (and gains) 1,900 feet of elevation.

Bryce Canyon has two backcountry (overnight) hiking trails and you’ll need to get a permit in advance online to hike them between March and November. From December 1 to February 28, permits are available on a walk-up basis from the Visitor Center. There’s a fixed number of passes available every day so you should make your plans as far in advance as possible.

You can book your permits up to 90 days in advance on a rolling basis (so permits for July 1 become available on April 1). Review the backcountry hiking regulations at Bryce Canyon National Park in advance especially the details about potable water and bear canisters.

There’s no backcountry hiking that stays in Zion Canyon unless you count overnight trips that start from Chamberlain’s Ranch and end at the Temple of Sinewava (a 16-mile overnight hike). There are a few trails that start on Zion Canyon Scenic Drive but most of the trails are in the park’s Kolob Canyon or Kolob Terrace areas. Only 50 percent of the backcountry permits are reservable online and the other 50 percent are first-come, first-served one day ahead of time at the park’s visitor centers. Online permits for each month open on a specific date, so check the calendar in advance and have your account set up on Recreation.gov ahead of time.

Zion is more popular than Bryce Canyon and backcountry permits usually get taken quickly.

Driving tours and accessible activities

Bryce offers easy scenic drives with broad overlooks while Zion provides dramatic canyon views and accessible riverside walks

Neither Bryce Canyon nor Zion is particularly ideal for driving tours. Zion National Park’s main road is the 7-mile, out-and-back Zion Canyon Scenic Drive, so it’s not much of a tour. But the park bus system is free so you certainly could just go for a ride out and back on the shuttle. It would be about a 90-minute roundtrip ride to the Temple of Sinewava and back. If you get a window seat you’d at least be able to check out the dramatic rock formations along the canyon. You can also drive Zion-Mount Carmel Highway, a scenic, upper-elevation route outside the canyon with views from multiple overlooks including Checkerboard Mesa and Canyon Overlook Trail.

If you visit in August, you can book an open-air tram ride along the scenic drive via the park’s Zion Lodge.

Bryce Canyon has one entrance and one road: the Southern Scenic Drive. It starts at the Visitor Center and takes about 40 minutes to reach the turn-around point. Most of the prettiest viewpoints in the park are along this road, so it’s a good way to see the park’s main attractions with minimal hiking. There’s a guided audio accompaniment for it available on the National Park Service app.

Bryce Canyon doesn’t ban personal vehicles like Zion does but the parking lots can fill up early in the morning. So you may instead want to make use of the free Bryce Canyon National Park shuttle which stops at multiple points along the road as well as a few spots in the nearby town of Bryce Canyon City. It runs from April to mid-October.

Aside from the park shuttles, there are no driving tours in Bryce Canyon or Zion national parks. But all the visitor’s centers and museums in both Bryce Canyon and Zion are ADA-compliant. In Zion, the Pa’rus Trail is paved and a good option for visitors with limited mobility. In Bryce Canyon there’s a very detailed guide to accessibility at each of the amphitheater’s most famous viewpoints and a full park-wide accessibility guide is available at the Visitor Center. Both parks also have large-print guides and seasonal ranger programs that accommodate all guests.

Other major recreational draws

Bryce excels in stargazing and geology-focused exploration while Zion adds canyoneering, river play, and wildlife watching

Love stargazing at national parks? Good news: you don’t need to choose between Bryce Canyon and Zion. Both are certified International Dark Sky Parks and have night sky programs throughout the year hosted by rangers. There are plenty of trails in Zion ideal for stargazing and Bryce Canyon National Park hosts ranger-led full-moon hikes.

National parks (including Bryce Canyon) are helping visitors make the most of their dark skies by hosting stargazing festivals. The festivals include various night-time events in addition to stargazing.

Both parks are also popular with people who want to explore trails on horseback. Bryce Canyon offers tours through the park from April to October and Zion offers horseback riding from March to October. There’s one company that offers tours: Bryce-Zion Trail Rides and it’s the only trail riding outfitter authorized to operate within the two parks.

In terms of other activities, Zion is known as having a bit more variety. Canyoneering is very popular; experts can do it on their own while beginners and novice visitors should use a licensed guide like Red Desert Adventures or East Zion Adventures. It’s also known for rock climbing but the routes are generally pretty advanced. So if you’re a beginner use a guiding company like Rock Odysseys or Zion Guru. There’s also the Above Zion via ferrata on the outskirts of the northern part of the park which has some of the most stunning views in the Kolob Canyons area—but be cautious if you have a fear of heights.

Camping

Bryce has cool, quiet rim camping; Zion offers warmer, river-side sites near trailheads

Zion has three campgrounds but only one, Watchman Campground, is in Zion Canyon. It’s very close to the park entrance and is open year-round. All campsites are available for advanced booking and reservations open on a rolling basis six months in advance. Since it fills up quickly book your Watchman Campground reservation as far in advance as possible. It’s not unusual for weekends in June and August to be full by March. You can walk to restaurants in Springdale, so it’s pretty easy camping.

Zion’s two other campgrounds are the South Campground (closed indefinitely for restoration) and Lava Point Campground on Kolob Terrace Road (about 90 mins from the Springdale entrance). Lava Point is open only from May to September as it gets much more snow and campground reservations open two weeks ahead of time on a rolling basis. It’s far less popular but only has six sites so plan accordingly.

Campers at Bryce Canyon have two choices: the North Campground or Sunset Campground. The North Campground is by the Visitor Center while the Sunset Campground is about 1.5 miles south of it but it’s only about a 10 minute walk between the two. Both are also on the park’s shuttle route.

The North Campground is open year-round and is first-come, first-served from early October to mid-May. During the summer, you’ll need to make a reservation for Bryce Canyon’s North Campground online on recreation.gov. Sites fill up quickly and open on a six-month rolling basis so if you want to camp on September 15, make your reservation on March 15.

The Sunset Campground is closed from late October to mid-April. You do need to make reservations for the Sunset Campground for stays between mid-May and mid-October. They’re available on recreation.gov and open two weeks ahead of time on a rolling basis.

Since the campgrounds are close to each other and Bryce Canyon isn’t that big, it doesn’t matter much which campground you choose. There’s even a little general store in the summer near the Sunset Campground (with hot coffee) so you don’t have to walk to the Visitor Center to buy things or even do much camp cooking, if you don’t want to.

Traveling between Bryce Canyon and Zion

Travel between Bryce and Zion is an easy drive through scenic southern Utah

On a map, it looks like Bryce Canyon and Zion are fairly close to each other but the distance can be deceiving. Since Bryce Canyon has only one entrance and it’s on the opposite side of Zion it takes about 2.5 to 3 hours to drive between them. Google Maps will say it’s about two hours but when you account for traffic and delays entering and exiting the parks you’re looking at a bit more depending on timing.

Both parks have seasonal road closures in the high-elevation areas. In Bryce Canyon, roads closures can happen for snow or snow-clearing so check the Bryce Canyon National Park road status website if you’re visiting between December and March. Zion is also subject to snow closures on some roads. Check the bottom of the Zion National Park seasonal status website. The roads around Kolob Canyons are especially prone to closures.

Park reservations and permits

Bryce needs no reservations while Zion requires permits for popular hikes like Angels Landing and some canyoneering routes

Reservations at Bryce Canyon and Zion national parks are pretty straightforward: you do not need entry reservations at either park unlike nearby Arches National Park, both parks do require permits for specialized activities like canyoneering or self-guided paddling trips.

However, there is one hike that requires a permit year-round: Angel’s Landing in Zion. Reservations open four times per year; permits for summer hiking dates open on April 1 on Recreation.gov. You can submit up to seven dates, ranked in priority order. There’s also a day-before online lottery—enter by 3 pm on Recreation.gov and you’ll find out by 4 pm if you got a permit for the next day. You do not need a permit for the park’s other famous hike, The Narrows, though you can reserve rental waders and boots online.

What kind of person will like each park?

Bryce appeals to quiet-seekers and scenery lovers, while Zion attracts adventure-minded hikers and thrill-seekers

Truthfully, most people who like being outdoors will like both parks. But visitors who are keen to see otherworldly landscapes might find themselves drawn more to Bryce Canyon National Park than Zion. Bryce Canyon’s famous hoodoos look like a half-fairytale, half-Martian movie set especially around the crimson-colored amphitheater. When it comes to crowds at both, Bryce Canyon is certainly less crowded, especially on some of the longer hikes with steeper elevation gain. Zion generally attracts larger crowds especially on trails like The Narrows and on easier hikes in Zion Canyon Scenic Drive. However, Zion’s region of Kolob Canyons does have fewer visitors.

If you’re after more outdoor activities other than hiking especially more high-adrenaline activities like rock climbing or canyoneering, Zion may be a better pick. Since Zion is more popular, there are more activity operators and guided adventures in the area. Zion is also much larger and has more hiking trails with more variety which may be more appealing to visitors looking to hike multiple days in a row or with groups of split ability levels. Conversely, Bryce Canyon has more viewpoints and vistas for non-hikers, since the road is at the top of the canyon, not the bottom.

Weather-wise, if you’re visiting in winter and want peaceful landscapes, it’s hard to beat the views of Bryce Canyon’s snow-covered hoodoos. But if you’re sick of winter and want to get a jump on hiking season in February, Zion will be warmer and more pleasant. And campers afraid of getting too cold will also prefer Zion since Bryce Canyon’s nighttime temperatures can get much lower those in Zion, even in the summer.

Enjoyed this article?
Share it with friends and your social network to inspire their next adventure!

Editor’s Note: This article was originally published in March 2026. Information reflects what was accurate at the time of writing. For topics that may change quickly, please verify current details before planning. To ensure honesty and avoid bias, this website features no ads, no sponsored content, and no affiliate links—just straightforward information for fellow travelers.

National Parks Without the Crowds: An RV Traveler’s Guide to Quieter Adventures

National parks don’t have to mean bumper-to-bumper traffic and packed viewpoints. With the right mindset and a few smart strategies, RV travelers can still find quiet, awe-inspiring places where nature feels all their own.

U.S. national parks are among the country’s most special treasures offering tranquil moments and breathtaking landscapes. If you’re seeking some of nature’s best-kept secrets, research the many units operated by the U.S. National Park Service (NPS) to uncover unforgettable experiences away from the hustle and bustle.

Exploring these varied facilities can be deeply rewarding but as their popularity soars, so does the number of visitors—something that can sometimes overwhelm even the most seasoned RVers. With a little planning and insider knowledge, you can enjoy the beauty and serenity of these parks without the crowds.

The key is timing, planning, and a willingness to explore beyond the usual hotspots. Visiting during off-peak seasons, arriving early or late in the day, and venturing onto lesser-known trails or secondary entrances can make all the difference. Many parks also have hidden gems—smaller units, scenic overlooks, and quiet campgrounds—that are often overlooked by the majority of visitors. With a few simple strategies, you can transform a crowded national park into a personal sanctuary where the sights, sounds, and rhythms of nature feel entirely your own.

From practical tips on timing and trail choices to advice on backcountry camping and alternative entrances, this guide will help you experience national parks in a way that feels intimate, peaceful, and uniquely yours.

Roaring Fork Nature Trail in Great Smoky Mountains National Park *© Rex Vogel, all rights reserved*

When national parks become too popular

The challenge of record-breaking visitation

In recent years, outdoor travel and recreation have surged in popularity and national parks are feeling the impact. RVers, in particular, now find themselves planning trips further in advance with less flexibility to adjust on the fly. The excitement about exploring the outdoors has pushed many parks to record-breaking attendance levels prompting the implementation of timed-entry tickets, trail reservations, and other crowd-control measures for popular destinations.

While it’s heartening to see so many people drawn to nature, the influx of visitors can create challenges for those seeking a more peaceful experience. Long entrance lines, crowded parking areas, congested roads, and packed hiking trails can turn what should be a serene adventure into something that feels more like a busy theme park. For RV travelers chasing quiet moments and unhurried exploration, this can be frustrating.

The solution lies in thoughtful planning and strategic choices. By selecting off-peak times, exploring lesser-known park units, and considering alternative trails or entrances, you can significantly increase your chances of enjoying national parks as they were meant to be experienced—immersed in natural beauty, tranquility, and solitude.

Smart strategies for dodging crowds

Timing, choices, and quieter paths

Avoiding crowds in national parks is less about chance and more about thoughtful planning. Timing plays a major role in shaping your experience. Midweek visits, early mornings, and late afternoons can dramatically reduce congestion while also rewarding travelers with cooler temperatures and better light. Just as important is being willing to adjust your approach—sometimes a small shift in schedule makes a big difference.

Seasonality matters as well. Shoulder seasons, typically spring and fall, often bring comfortable weather and far fewer visitors than peak summer months. Because every park has its own rhythms, a bit of research can reveal the ideal window for a quieter visit. Many parks that require timed-entry reservations during peak periods suspend those systems in the off-season adding flexibility to your plans. For those open to something different, winter visits can be especially rewarding offering snow-covered landscapes, unique recreational opportunities, and a sense of solitude rarely found at other times of year.

Finally, don’t overlook the importance of the clock. During busy seasons, entering a park outside the traditional mid-day rush can transform the experience. While early mornings can help, they often attract fellow crowd-avoiders. Late afternoons and early evenings, on the other hand, tend to thin out naturally as day visitors depart. Arriving around suppertime, staying through sunset, and lingering in quieter corners allows you to enjoy peaceful moments, soft light, and a slower pace—often when the park feels most magical.

Petrified Forest National Park *© Rex Vogel, all rights reserved*

Discover hidden park areas
Hidden gems, quieter experiences

Before heading out on a national park adventure, take the time to research the lesser-known corners of each park you plan to visit. Experienced park-goers, local residents, and online communities often share tips about quiet trails, scenic backroads, secluded overlooks, and overlooked districts that rarely make it into glossy brochures.

These hidden gems can lead you to serene spots where the crowds are sparse, wildlife is abundant, and the natural beauty feels almost entirely your own. For RV travelers, these off-the-beaten-path areas often provide easier parking, less congested roads, and a more immersive experience—turning your visit from a rushed sightseeing trip into a true escape into nature.

In Great Smoky Mountains National Park, for instance, most visitors head straight to the popular Cades Cove often facing long traffic jams and crowded parking areas. Yet just a short detour can lead to much quieter experiences.

Areas like Cataloochee Valley, the Cosby section, or the higher-elevation trails away from the main loop offer equally stunning scenery, historic buildings, and excellent wildlife viewing—all without the throngs of people. For RV travelers and day visitors alike, a little extra driving or planning can transform a hectic visit into a serene, memorable adventure.

The same principle holds true at Grand Canyon National Park. While the South Rim attracts the majority of visitors, the North Rim offers a completely different—and much quieter—experience. With cooler temperatures, fewer overlooks, and a more remote, untouched feel, the North Rim lets you truly take in the vast scale and profound silence of the canyon—an experience that’s increasingly rare amid the crowds at the more famous viewpoints.

Exploring these overlooked corners of a park can turn a crowded destination into a profoundly personal encounter with the landscape where the beauty, sounds, and rhythms of nature feel entirely your own.

Congaree National Park *© Rex Vogel, all rights reserved*

Make RV reservations early

Early planning, smoother travel

For RV travelers planning to camp inside or near a national park, securing your spot well in advance is crucial. As park visitation continues to climb, demand often spills over into nearby campgrounds making it increasingly difficult to find available sites. Privately owned campgrounds just outside park boundaries can fill up nine months to a year ahead of time especially near the most popular destinations. By booking early, you not only guarantee a place

to park your RV but you also gain peace of mind allowing you to focus on the adventure ahead rather than scrambling for last-minute accommodations.

NPS campgrounds each follow their own reservation schedules so it’s important to research your destination in advance. Know exactly when reservations open, set up your account ahead of time, and be ready to book the moment the window goes live. At many high-demand parks, campsites can fill within minutes and careful preparation often makes the difference between scoring a prime site or missing out entirely. For RV travelers, this level of planning is essential to ensure a smooth, stress-free stay close to the park’s best sights.

Lassen Volcanic National Park *© Rex Vogel, all rights reserved*

Quieter parks for a more tranquil visit
Peaceful places most visitors miss

If you’re looking to escape the crowds and experience national parks at a slower, more peaceful pace, consider exploring some of the lesser-known destinations I’ve discovered along the way. These hidden gems offer the same breathtaking scenery and sense of wonder as the more famous parks—but with far fewer visitors giving you the chance for a truly personal and unhurried connection with the landscape. Along the way, I’ve included practical tips for timing, trails, and RV-friendly logistics to help you avoid the crowds and rediscover the simple joy of being fully immersed in nature without the stress and chaos that can accompany the more popular spots.

Lassen Volcanic National Park, California
Quiet wonders of California’s volcanic heart

Lassen Volcanic National Park offers a rare glimpse into the Earth’s raw power with its steaming vents, bubbling mud pots, and volcanic landscapes. Its remote location and shorter visitation season keep crowds low making it a quieter alternative to more heavily traveled parks. From alpine lakes and wildflower meadows to dramatic volcanic features, the park is full of scenic diversity and discovery. As noted in The Complete Guide to Lassen Volcanic National Park, Lassen provides an extraordinary mix of geothermal activity and mountain scenery that rewards those willing to explore beyond the main visitor areas.

Visitors should be prepared for seasonal challenges especially heavy snowfall and road closures that can limit access to some areas. During our June visit, snow still reached the roof at the visitor center and several park roads were inaccessible. By exploring each entrance and venturing as far as conditions allowed, we experienced the park’s full range of landscapes—from serene alpine lakes to steaming geothermal sites. As highlighted in This California National Park is a Mini Yellowstone, Lassen offers a Yellowstone-like experience on a smaller scale, combining striking natural phenomena, wildlife, and quiet trails, making it a hidden gem for RV travelers and those seeking solitude in nature.

Petrified Forest National Park, Arizona
Desert landscapes frozen in time

Petrified Forest National Park offers a truly unique experience with its vividly colored badlands, ancient fossilized wood, and expansive desert vistas. Unlike many more visited parks, its remote location and off-the-beaten-path appeal keep crowds relatively low allowing for quiet reflection and immersive exploration. From the Painted Desert overlooks to scattered petrified logs and fascinating geological formations, the park offers a kaleidoscope of colors and textures that capture the imagination. As highlighted in Petrified Forest National Park: A First Timer’s Guide, even first-time visitors can find accessible trails and scenic drives that showcase the park’s most striking features.

The park invites visitors to slow down and explore at a personal pace. Driving the scenic loops, stopping at overlooks, and wandering short trails reveal the richness of the landscape, from multicolored badlands to remnants of ancient forests. For those seeking solitude and photo-worthy scenery, this quieter national park provides just that—tranquil moments among extraordinary natural beauty. As noted in Kaleidoscope Colors and Serene Landscape Shine in Petrified Forest, the combination of vibrant vistas, fossilized wonders, and relative seclusion makes Petrified Forest a hidden gem for RV travelers and anyone looking to experience a desert landscape in peace.

Congaree National Park, South Carolina
Ancient forests and peaceful waters

Congaree National Park offers a lush, tranquil escape with its towering old-growth hardwoods, serene floodplain forests, and winding waterways. Its relatively low profile compared with more famous parks makes it ideal for visitors seeking a quiet connection with nature. Boardwalk trails and canoe routes allow exploration of the park’s rich biodiversity from wading birds and deer to diverse plant life. As highlighted in Congaree National Park: Top 10 Things to See and Do, the park’s combination of towering trees, peaceful water routes, and interpretive trails provides a unique and immersive experience that is both educational and relaxing.

Timing your visit to Congaree can make all the difference and winter is when this park truly shines. Seasonal flooding is a defining feature of the Congaree floodplain, and during the winter months the rising waters transform the forest into a quiet, reflective landscape best experienced from the boardwalks or by canoe. Cooler temperatures, fewer insects, and dramatically lighter visitation create ideal conditions for exploring beneath the towering hardwood canopy. As I explain in Now is the Absolute Best Time to Visit Congaree National Park and Here Is Why, winter visits allow you to experience the park at its most atmospheric and least crowded.

For RV travelers and nature lovers seeking a serene escape, winter in Congaree offers something rare: solitude in a living, breathing ecosystem shaped by water. The flooded forest, mirrored reflections, and abundant wildlife activity create an immersive experience that feels worlds away from busier parks. Visiting during this season reveals Congaree at its most authentic, showcasing the richness and quiet beauty of the Southeast’s natural heritage in a way few visitors ever see.

Pinnacles National Park *© Rex Vogel, all rights reserved*

Pinnacles National Park, California
Spires, caves, and quiet adventure

Pinnacles National Park offers a striking escape from the everyday with its jagged rock formations, towering spires, and fallen-rock talus caves. Its rural location keeps visitor numbers low making it one of California’s quieter natural treasures. From the iconic Bear Gulch Reservoir to countless wild rock formations, the park provides endless photographic opportunities and discovery for every type of explorer. As highlighted in The Complete Guide to Pinnacles National Park, the combination of dramatic peaks, scenic trails, and unique geology makes it a remarkable destination for those seeking solitude and adventure.

Visitors can traverse the high peaks via well-marked trails or venture deep into the talus caves to marvel at the park’s geologic wonders. Rock climbers find plenty of challenging spires and faces while wildlife enthusiasts can spot the California condor soaring overhead in its natural habitat. Bringing headlamps or flashlights is essential for safely navigating the caves and enhancing the sense of exploration. As noted in Pinnacles National Park: Born of Fire, the park’s volcanic origins and striking formations create an otherworldly landscape that is both dramatic and serene. For RV travelers and nature lovers looking for a hidden gem, Pinnacles is a destination that rewards curiosity, patience, and a willingness to explore off the beaten path.

Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument *© Rex Vogel, all rights reserved*

What’s on your list?

Your next peaceful adventure

These national parks represent just a small sampling of my personal favorites when I’m looking to escape the crowds but they are far from the only options. Countless other quiet and rewarding destinations remain largely overlooked waiting to be discovered by travelers willing to look beyond the usual headliners.

The NPS manages 433 units across the United States, its territories, and the District of Columbia. Beyond the well-known national parks, this vast system includes national monuments, battlefields, military parks, historical parks and sites, lakeshores, seashores, recreation areas, scenic rivers and trails and even the White House. Many of these units offer exceptional scenery, rich history, and immersive outdoor experiences often with a fraction of the visitation.

Just as important, many NPS units and nearby state parks rival the beauty of marquee national parks while providing a quieter, more relaxed atmosphere. With a bit of planning and research, RV travelers can uncover lesser-known destinations that deliver solitude, scenic rewards, and flexibility. To help get you started, the following section highlights five under-the-radar NPS units each offering a distinctive experience and a welcome break from the crowds.

Grand Staircase–Escalante National Monument, Utah
Solitude amid sandstone wonders

Grand Staircase–Escalante National Monument is a vast, rugged landscape where solitude comes naturally. Its immense size, remote terrain, and limited infrastructure keep visitor numbers low rewarding those who venture here with sweeping desert vistas, slot canyons, and hidden waterfalls tucked deep within the backcountry. Exploring this monument feels less like visiting a single destination and more like entering an entire region shaped by time and erosion. As detailed in The Ultimate Guide to Grand Staircase–Escalante National Monument, careful planning and a spirit of exploration unlock some of the most dramatic and uncrowded scenery in the Southwest, making it an ideal choice for RV travelers seeking space, silence, and a true sense of discovery.

Canyon de Chelly National Monument, Arizona
Hidden beauty in Navajo lands

Canyon de Chelly National Monument offers a deeply moving and uncrowded experience where towering sandstone walls, ancient cliff dwellings, and living Navajo culture come together in a dramatic desert landscape. Unlike many heavily visited parks, access here is limited and intentionally controlled which helps preserve both the land and its sense of quiet. Scenic drives along the rim provide breathtaking views while guided tours into the canyon reveal layers of history and human connection stretching back thousands of years. As explored in The Complete Guide to Canyon de Chelly National Monument, this remarkable destination rewards visitors with reflection, cultural depth, and a powerful sense of place—far removed from the bustle found in more crowded parks.

Padre Island National Seashore *© Rex Vogel, all rights reserved*

Padre Island National Seashore, Texas
Untouched beaches, peaceful escapes

Padre Island National Seashore stretches along miles of undeveloped Gulf Coast offering a rare opportunity to experience wide-open beaches, rolling dunes, and coastal solitude. Its length and primitive nature naturally disperse visitors making it easy to find quiet stretches of sand even during busier seasons. Whether watching shorebirds, witnessing sea turtle conservation efforts, or simply listening to the surf, the seashore invites a slower, more reflective pace. As outlined in The Ultimate Guide to Padre Island National Seashore, thoughtful planning and respect for changing coastal conditions allow RV travelers and beach lovers to enjoy one of the most peaceful and unspoiled shorelines in the National Park System.

Appomattox Court House National Historical Park, Virginia
History in a quieter setting

Appomattox Court House National Historical Park is a place of reflection rather than crowds where quiet fields and preserved buildings mark the beginning of peace and reunion at the end of the Civil War. Walking the village streets and surrounding countryside encourages a slower, more thoughtful visit, one that invites visitors to consider the significance of what happened here beyond dates and names in history books. As explored in Appomattox Court House: Beginning Peace and Reunion, this understated park offers a powerful experience without the congestion found at more prominent historic sites, making it an ideal stop for travelers seeking meaning, context, and calm along their journey.

Cumberland Island National Seashore, Georgia
Solitude among sand dunes and wild horses

Cumberland Island National Seashore offers a rare blend of wild coastline, maritime forests, and layered history, all preserved with an emphasis on restraint and quiet. Limited ferry access and a strong commitment to conservation naturally cap visitation, allowing the island to remain largely untouched and refreshingly uncrowded. As highlighted in Cumberland Island Celebrates 50 Years as a National Seashore, this milestone underscores the success of protecting a place where wild horses roam, beaches stretch uninterrupted, and silence is part of the experience. For travelers willing to slow down and plan ahead, Cumberland Island delivers one of the most tranquil and timeless seashore experiences in the National Park System.

The official NPS app can be downloaded free from the App Store and Google Play.

Canyon de Chelly National Monument *© Rex Vogel, all rights reserved*

Closing reflections & call to adventure

Pack your curiosity and hit the road

National parks are more than scenic vistas—they are invitations to slow down, notice the details, and find your own rhythm in the natural world. By seeking quieter corners, exploring lesser-known trails, and planning thoughtfully, RV travelers can transform a crowded destination into a deeply personal experience with the landscape. Every hidden waterfall, secluded overlook, and peaceful campground becomes a moment to connect, reflect, and simply be.

As Henry David Thoreau once wrote, “It is not what you look at that matters, it’s what you see.” In the same way, your national park adventures are shaped not just by the destinations, but by how you choose to experience them.

So pack your curiosity, hit the road, and venture off the beaten path. There are countless quieter adventures waiting, each one offering the chance to rediscover the wonder, tranquility, and magic that makes America’s national parks so extraordinary.

Enjoyed this article?
Share it with friends and your social network to inspire their next adventure!

Utah’s National Parks Held Steady in 2025—Except One

As Utah’s Mighty Five held firm, Glen Canyon’s visitation dropped sharply—a reminder that drought, shutdowns, and shifting conditions can quickly reshape where people travel

A little more than 11 million visits were recorded across Arches, Bryce Canyon, Canyonlands, Capitol Reef, and Zion national parks last year, according to preliminary National Park Service (NPS) data. Taken together, the Mighty Five were remarkably stable with visitation slipping by less than 1 percent compared with the year before—essentially a flat year that suggests demand for Utah’s signature red-rock landscapes remains strong despite shifting travel patterns, higher costs, and crowd-management measures at some parks.

Zion National Park once again anchored Utah’s visitation drawing more than 4.9 million visitors—just about 15,000 shy of the 5-million mark, a threshold it has reached only once before in its history. The park retained its status as the most visited national park in the West and ranked second nationally trailing only Great Smoky Mountains National Park which recorded roughly 11.5 million visits.

For broader national context, Yes, These Are the Most Visited National Parks in 2024 details how Utah’s parks compare with top-performing destinations across the country and how visitation patterns shifted nationwide.

Zion and Arches both bucked the broader trend reporting modest visitation increases in 2025 suggesting continued strong demand for their most iconic landscapes. Meanwhile, Bryce Canyon, Canyonlands, and Capitol Reef each posted slight declines—changes that were relatively minor and consistent with the year-to-year fluctuations these parks have seen in recent seasons.

Beyond the Mighty Five, Utah’s network of national historical parks, monuments, and recreation areas managed by the Park Service logged close to another 4.9 million visits in 2025 though the tally remains incomplete because several months of data for Cedar Breaks National Monument were still unavailable at the time of reporting. Even once those figures are finalized, total visitation for this group of sites is expected to land well below 2024 levels largely because of a steep downturn at Glen Canyon National Recreation Area—home to Lake Powell—where visits fell by nearly 1 million from 2024 to 2025, according to Park Service data.

Inside the trends

The factors behind Utah’s park numbers

The visitation figures themselves do not explain why travel patterns shifted in 2025 but several broader forces likely influenced how people moved through Utah’s parks last year. Across the industry, travel and tourism have been navigating “considerable challenges amid economic uncertainty,” alongside evolving consumer preferences and “global geopolitical friction,” said Natalie Randall, managing director of the Utah Office of Tourism and Film.

Together, these pressures have shaped where, when, and how people choose to visit. For instance, Canadian travel—a major driver in Utah tourism—lagged across at least the first half of 2025 amid tariff disputes between the U.S. and Canada. Nationwide consumer sentiment also tumbled last year indicating many Americans had economic concerns.

Utah took decisive action during last year’s federal government shutdown to keep its national parks open to visitors stepping in where federal funding had paused. The state allocated money to maintain visitor centers, restrooms, and essential operations at key parks including Zion and Arches, ensuring that tourism—and the local economies that rely on it—could continue despite the shutdown. Combined with coordinated staffing and public communication efforts, these measures helped soften the blow of economic uncertainty and other challenges that might otherwise have driven visitation down.

The forces behind the numbers

The drivers of visitation trends

Visitation at Utah’s five national parks remained relatively steady from 2024 to 2025 in part because the state’s intervention helped maintain operations. While parks in other states faced closures or incomplete visitor tracking during the federal shutdown, Utah ensured its parks stayed open and fully operational.

By contrast, Yosemite National Park in California saw a sharp drop in visitation beginning in October when the federal shutdown took effect, a factor that largely explains its 16 percent year-over-year decline. Unlike Utah where the state stepped in to fund visitor centers and maintain essential operations, Yosemite and many other parks across the country were forced to close facilities or operate without the ability to track visitors amplifying the impact of the shutdown on tourism and local economies.

The Beehive State was fortunate to avoid the natural disasters that disrupted neighboring parks. Visitation at the Grand Canyon in Arizona fell by roughly 10 percent, largely because the North Rim remained closed for months after a massive wildfire destroyed several iconic structures restricting access and discouraging visitors. In contrast, Utah’s parks faced no such setbacks allowing tourism to continue largely uninterrupted and contributing to their steady visitation numbers.

However, dramatically low water levels at Lake Powell appear to have driven much of Glen Canyon National Recreation Area’s decline in visitors as marinas, boat launches, and water-based activities—the park’s main attractions—were severely limited. With once-bustling waterways reduced to a fraction of their former size, the park’s signature recreation opportunities simply weren’t available, dampening visitation despite Utah’s otherwise strong year.

The park previously saw a surge in visitation in 2023 when Utah’s record snowpack raised Lake Powell and reopened more boat ramps. That year, Glen Canyon drew 5.2 million visitors surpassing Zion for the first time to become the state’s most-visited park—a striking contrast to the sharp decline it faced in 2025.

Since that record year, Glen Canyon’s visitation has plummeted alongside the falling waters of Lake Powell. Once a bustling hub for boating, fishing, and water recreation, Lake Powell has receded dramatically stranding marinas and ramps and putting the park’s signature activities out of reach. The drop in water levels has mirrored a steep decline in visitation, with total visits falling from 4.7 million in 2024 to just 3.7 million in 2025.

The dramatic transformation is evident when comparing the past and present as detailed in Lake Powell & Glen Canyon NRA Revisited: March 2011 and Now, November 2025. From the full, shimmering waters of March 2011 to the receded, exposed shorelines of November 2025, the change highlights not only the environmental challenges the region faces but also the direct impact on Glen Canyon’s recreation and visitation. The park’s fortunes remain tightly linked to the reservoir’s health—a reality made all too clear to visitors today.

Capitol Reef National Park *© Rex Vogel, all rights reserved*

2025 visitation snapshot: A year of contrasts

Where visitation held and where it fell

A closer look at the preliminary 2025 figures shows a year of contrasts with most Utah parks holding firm while one diverged sharply from the trend.

Mighty Five National Parks: Just over 11 million visits—virtually unchanged from 2024 showing remarkable stability amid nationwide challenges.
Zion National Park: 4.9+ million visitors, holding strong as the West’s most-visited park and second in the nation behind Great Smoky Mountains.
Arches: A modest uptick proving its timeless appeal.
Bryce Canyon, Canyonlands, Capitol Reef: Slight declines, reflecting typical year-to-year swings.
Other Utah Parks, Monuments & Recreation Areas: Nearly 4.9 million visits though Cedar Breaks’ full data is still pending.

Glen Canyon National Recreation Area: The outlier

2023: 5.2 million visits, surpassing Zion for the first time—Lake Powell brimming after record snowpack.
2024: 4.7 million visits, beginning the downward trend.
2025: 3.7 million visits, as receding waters stranded marinas and curtailed recreation.

Resilience amid challenges: Most Utah parks stayed steady despite:

Federal government shutdown (state stepped in to keep parks open)
Wildfires and closures in neighboring parks like the Grand Canyon
Drought and shrinking reservoirs impacting water-based recreation

The story of 2025 is one of contrasts: the Mighty Five remained magnets for visitors, while Glen Canyon’s fortunes sank with the waters of Lake Powell—a dramatic illustration of how nature and human activity intertwine in Utah’s parks.

Lake Powell and Glen Canyon National Recreation Area *© Rex Vogel, all rights reserved*

What’s expected in 2026?

Forecasting Utah’s park visitation

Glen Canyon could face another tough year. With Lake Powell hovering at just 27 percent of capacity, the reservoir remains perilously low, a stark reminder of the challenges the park has confronted in recent seasons. Federal hydrologists caution that levels are unlikely to recover much unless a late-season snowstorm boosts the Colorado River’s Upper Basin leaving the future of boating, marinas, and water-based recreation—and the park’s visitation—once again hanging in the balance.

The National Park Service raised entry fees for international visitors in 2026 adding another variable to an already unpredictable season. For Glen Canyon—and Utah’s other parks—the change comes on top of low water levels, shifting visitation patterns, and lingering economic uncertainty, leaving the year’s tourism prospects anything but certain.

But there are reasons for optimism, too. Utah’s national parks could see a boost in 2026 thanks to the U.S.’s 250th birthday, a milestone that is shining a spotlight on the country’s natural and cultural treasures. The national parks system plays a central role in “America 250” celebrations, and the anniversary may inspire more travelers—both domestic and international—to explore these iconic landscapes, discover their history, and experience the great outdoors like never before.

Conclusion & reflections

Wrap up and takeaways

Utah’s national parks in 2025 tell a story of resilience, contrast, and enduring wonder. The Mighty Five remained magnets for visitors drawing millions to their iconic red-rock landscapes while Glen Canyon faced the stark reality of environmental change as Lake Powell receded. Yet even amid these challenges, the parks continue to inspire awe, invite exploration, and remind us why these places are treasured across generations.

As Jack Kerouac once wrote while crossing the Colorado-Utah border: “I saw God in the sky in the form of huge gold sunburning clouds above the desert that seemed to point a finger at me and say, ‘Pass here and go on, you’re on the road to heaven.’”

The vision of these landscapes has long captivated explorers and pioneers. John Wesley Powell reflected on the canyon that would bear his expedition’s name: “…a curious ensemble of wonderful features—carved walls, royal arches, glens, alcove gulches, mounds, and monuments…We decided to call it Glen Canyon.”

Together, these words remind us that visiting Utah’s parks is not just about numbers, visitation trends, or even recreational opportunities—it’s about encountering landscapes that challenge, inspire, and endure. As 2026 unfolds, from the Mighty Five to Glen Canyon’s shifting waters, the invitation remains: pack your curiosity, hit the trail, and witness the grandeur that has long defined the American West.

Enjoyed this article?
Share it with friends and your social network to inspire their next adventure!

Editor’s Note: This article was originally published in February 2026. Information reflects what was accurate at the time of writing. For topics that may change quickly, please verify current details before planning. To ensure honesty and avoid bias, this website features no ads, no sponsored content, and no affiliate links—just straightforward information for fellow travelers.

Best National Parks to Visit in America in 2026

Coast to coast and in all seasons whether you hike, bike or camp these are the best national parks to visit this year

2026 is upon us and as the January gray settles in it’s the perfect moment to let your mind wander toward brighter skies, new horizons, and grand adventures. The short days and chilly air make it easy to get lost in daydreams of sun-soaked landscapes, winding trails, and distant destinations waiting to be explored.

Whether it’s the allure of a coastal escape, the thrill of a mountain trek, or the simple joy of discovering a hidden gem closer to home, this is the season to plan, imagine, and inspire your next journey. Let the winter blues become the spark that sets your wanderlust alight turning frosty mornings into a launchpad for your year of adventure.

The national parks of the United States represent some of the most breathtaking and diverse natural landscapes in the country from towering granite cliffs and dramatic canyons to dense forests, windswept deserts, and pristine lakes. Each park offers a unique glimpse into the ecological and geological wonders that define America’s wilderness showcasing habitats and wildlife that are found nowhere else on Earth.

Whether you’re drawn to the rugged peaks of the Rockies, the colorful hoodoos of Bryce Canyon, or the quiet solitude of a remote desert every single park holds its own story and beauty making each one worthy of exploration and appreciation. Visiting these protected spaces is more than just a journey—it’s an opportunity to connect with the raw, unspoiled landscapes that have inspired generations.

If you’re looking to explore the best National Park Service (NPS) sites before the crowds arrive, here are the top destinations to consider—and what makes each one truly special. From beloved classics to lesser-known hidden gems, these parks offer unforgettable experiences and are waiting to be discovered in 2026.

1. Joshua Tree National Park, California

Best for those wanting a wide variety of landscapes in one place

When narrowing down which national park to visit, step one is to decide what kind of terrain one wants to explore. America’s national parks protect desert habitats, imposing mountains, and a variety of flora and fauna so visitors need to decide which sounds most appealing.

But wait! Instead of choosing between such diverse regions, visitors can head over to Joshua Tree National Park in Southern California and get a little bit of everything.

This park is where the Mojave and Colorado deserts converge covering nearly 800,000 acres. It features unique desert ecosystems with varied elevations including mountain ranges and low basins.

The park is famous for its iconic Joshua trees, distinct rock formations, and a range of flora and fauna adapted to extreme conditions from high desert mountains to low desert basins.

Joshua Tree National Park encompasses lands where the Mojave and Colorado deserts meet. Much of its nearly 800,000 acres are designated as wilderness. The diverse landscape supports varied ecologies, including plant communities and landforms from low basins to mountain ranges.

The Joshua tree forest in the northwestern portion of the park covers the 4,000-foot-high valleys of the Little San Bernardino Mountains. Some valleys have plants found nowhere else on earth.

Desert basins in the eastern portion of the park can sink below 2,000 feet and summer temperatures may reach 120°F. Creosote, ocotillo, and cholla cacti dominate, and Joshua trees are not present.

Entrance fee: $30/vehicle, valid for 7 days, America the Beautiful passes accepted
Best season to visit: Fall to spring
Top things to see and do: Skull Rock, Cholla Cactus Garden, Keys View, Cottonwood Springs Oasis, Black Rock Canyon

2. Bryce Canyon National Park, Utah

Best for an underrated look at Utah’s landscapes

2026 is the perfect year to explore some of the less famous national parks in the US. Utah is home to five national parks all on its own including Zion National Park, one of the most visited national parks in the US.

While Zion is world-famous for its death-defying hikes including the infamous Angels Landing, the crowds at this popular park have started to impact its allure. Meanwhile, sitting in its shadow is Bryce Canyon National Park, an underrated gem and the secret darling of Utah.

While people travel from across the world to hike in Zion or take their picture under the Delicate Arch, Bryce Canyon is widely considered the favorite of those who live in the Beehive State.

While the park gets plenty of visitors each year, it rarely feels as crowded as Zion or Arches. Bryce Canyon also benefits from its accessibility making it more appealing for families and hiking novices than Capitol Reef and Canyonlands.

For those planning a trip to Utah’s national parks in 2025, consider swapping the big names for this quieter fan favorite.

Entrance fee: $35/vehicle, valid for 7 days, America the Beautiful passes accepted
Best season to visit: March-May, September-November
Top things to see and do: Bryce Canyon Amphitheater, Bryce Canyon Scenic Drive, Queen’s Garden Trail, Navajo Loop Trail

3. Grand Canyon National Park, Arizona

Best for those hoping for that bucket list experience

Grand Canyon National Park is a perfect destination for 2026 or any other year. The Grand Canyon is a bucket list destination for many and for good reason.

Considered the largest canyon in the US (despite not being among the deepest canyons in America), all one has to do is stand at the rim of this massive formation to be left in total awe.

The Grand Canyon is another national park that wins major points for its versatility. Casual visitors have plenty of easy vantage points right from the road while avid hikers can explore the Rim-to-Rim Trail or the dangerous Bright Angel Trail.

If 2026 is all about checking off those bucket-list national park trips, visitors can try their hand at securing a Havasupai Falls permit. One of the most exclusive permits in America’s national parks, this overnight backpacking trip in the Grand Canyon goes through Havasu tribal land to the remote Supai village and the awe-inspiring Havasu Falls.

Even without this intense hiking experience, the Grand Canyon is undeniably one of the best national parks to visit in 2026.

Entrance fee: $35/vehicle, valid for 7 days, America the Beautiful passes accepted
Best season to visit: March-May, September-November
Top things to see and do: Rim-to-Rim Trail, Bright Angel Trail, North Kaibab Trail, South Rim Scenic Drive, Whitewater Rafting, Havasupai Falls Backpacking Trip

4. Lassen Volcanic National Park, California

Best for those seeking seclusion in California’s crowded parks

While 2026 may be the perfect time to visit old favorites, it is also the perfect chance to try something new. California has nine, yes nine, national parks, the most of any state in the US. These include giants like Yosemite National Park, Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks, Joshua Tree National Park, and Death Valley National Park.

Meanwhile, tucked in the northeastern corner of California sits one of its least visited national parks. Lassen Volcanic National Park is home to steaming fumaroles, meadows freckled with wildflowers, clear mountain lakes, and numerous volcanoes. Jagged peaks tell the story of its eruptive past while hot water continues to shape the land.

This criminally underrated national park protects all four types of volcanoes found in the world—shield, composite, cinder cone, and plug dome. Unlike other Cascade volcanoes, Lassen’s large plug dome and composite volcanoes are in close proximity to the smaller cinder cone volcanoes that surround the volcanic center.

Drive Lassen Volcanic National Park Highway. From the jagged cliffs of Chaos Crags and mounds of black lava boulders at Chaos Jumbles to the azure waters of Lake Helen and the viewpoints overlooking Hat Creek, Little Hot Springs Creek, and Diamond Peak every stunning stop on the 30-mile park highway route is indicated by a numbered road marker matching the numbers on the park map.

Perhaps most special, however, is that Lassen Volcanic is one of the few national parks in California where hikers can genuinely be alone. The park is so massive and so inaccessible that there are miles of trails with no one else on them.

For those put off by the crowds and timed entry systems of places like Yosemite, consider heading to Northern California in 2026 instead.

Entrance fee: $30/vehicle, valid for 7 days, America the Beautiful passes accepted
Best season to visit: May-October
Top things to see and do: Lassen Volcanic Park Highway, Manzanita Lake Area, Sulphur Works, Bumpass Hell, Boiling Springs Lake

5. Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Tennessee and North Carolina

Best for a classic national park experience

The Great Smoky Mountains National Park is the most-visited national park in the United States and it’s not hard to understand why. With a wide variety of wildlife, hundreds of different species of trees, more than 850 miles of hiking trails, and opportunities for fishing, camping, horseback riding and more, it’s no surprise so many people want to explore the park each year with all of the fun things to do in the Smoky Mountains.

And the best part about the National Park—it’s free for visitors to enter! It’s one of the few national parks that doesn’t charge an entrance fee—only visitors parking for 15 minutes or longer must pay for a parking tag. You’ll have a blast exploring everything the park has to offer!

Cades Cove is one of the most popular places in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park and it’s not hard to see why. This beautiful area has it all: a campground, hiking trails, a scenic drive, wildlife and more. About 5 million people visit Cades Cove each year.

The Cades Cove Loop Road is an 11-mile, one-way loop that allows drivers to take in the sights from the comfort of their cars. The road has several pull-offs and parking areas along the way where you can stop, take pictures, and get out to explore. There are gorgeous views, historic structures, wildlife and more! Cade Cove is one of the best places to spot black bears in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park and you can also see white-tailed deer, wild turkeys and coyotes, among other wildlife.

Entrance fee: Free to enter
Best season to visit: Spring to fall
Top things to see and do: Cades Cove, Newfound Gap, Elkmont, Roaring Fork Motor Nature Trail, Cataloochee Valley, Grotto Falls

6. Shenandoah National Park, Virginia

Best for avid hikers looking for classic fall colors

Looking for a national park to help along with that New Year’s resolution to be more active? Much of Virginia is an outdoor paradise with incredible hiking trails and world-class state parks.

Virginia’s best features are on full display in Shenandoah National Park making it one of the best national parks for a 2026 visit.

Exploring Shenandoah National Park in 2026 presents an excellent opportunity for visitors to immerse themselves in nature, enjoy diverse activities, and experience new offerings. Here are several reasons to consider visiting.

There are over 200 miles of hiking trails that lead through forested areas, past waterfalls, alongside rivers and streams, up mountainsides, across meadows of wildflowers, or along ridgetops with panoramic views. Additionally, the park has plenty to offer visitors including camping, fishing, and even some historical sites.

In spring 2025, the park debuted a new 24-minute film at its visitor centers showcasing the park’s natural beauty and biodiversity. This film aims to enhance visitor connections to the park’s environment and history.

The film “Shenandoah” places the park in the context of its Appalachian Mountain ecosystem illustrating connections between the national park and the formations, migrations, and transformations that happen there.

Whether hoping to spend more time outdoors or take to the hiking trails, Shenandoahn is the place to go.

Entrance fee: $30/vehicle, valid for 7 days, America the Beautiful passes accepted,
Best season to visit: Spring to fall
Top things to see and do: Skyline Drive, Old Rag Trail, Appalachian Trail, Night Sky Festival, Camp Rapadin, Fox Hollow Trail

7. Congaree National Park, South Carolina

Best for those looking for a hidden gem among national parks

Speaking of underrated national parks, those looking to break from tradition in 2026 should take a trip in the Low Country to one of its least-visited national parks. Exploring Congaree National Park in 2026 offers a unique opportunity to experience its rich natural beauty, diverse wildlife, and exciting new developments. There are several compelling reasons to visit.

In early 2025, construction began to replace multiple sections of the park’s boardwalk which is crucial for accessibility and safety. This project will enhance visitor experiences and is expected to be completed by summer 2026. During construction, some trails will remain open allowing visitors to enjoy the park while improvements are made

One of the park’s most enchanting features is the synchronous fireflies which can be seen in late May to early June. This rare natural phenomenon involves thousands of fireflies lighting up simultaneously creating a magical spectacle that attracts visitors from all over.

Congaree National Park boasts over 25 miles of hiking trails and a canoe trail along Cedar Creek. Visitors can explore the lush bottomland hardwood forest, observe wildlife, and enjoy serene paddling experiences. The boardwalk loop trail offers stunning views of the unique ecosystem

In summary, visiting Congaree National Park in 2026 promises an enriching experience filled with natural wonders, unique events like the synchronous fireflies, and improved facilities that enhance accessibility. Whether you’re hiking through its trails or enjoying a canoe ride on Cedar Creek, there’s something for everyone in this remarkable national park.

Entrance fee: Free to enter
Best season to visit: Fall to spring
Top things to see and do: Boardwalk Loop Trail, Cedar Creek Canoe Trail, Synchronous fireflies, Fork Swamp Trail

Final thoughts

As you plan your 2026 adventures, remember that visiting national parks is more than just checking destinations off a list—it’s a chance to connect with the landscapes, wildlife, and stories that define America. Wallace Stegner captured it perfectly when he said, “National parks are the best idea we ever had. Absolutely American, absolutely democratic, they reflect us at our best rather than our worst.”

Each park offers a glimpse of our nation at its most inspiring: spaces where nature thrives, history is preserved, and every visitor, regardless of background, can experience wonder and reflection. Whether you’re returning to a familiar favorite or discovering a hidden gem for the first time, the parks invite us to explore, appreciate, and carry forward the values they embody—beauty, freedom, and shared stewardship of the land.

Enjoyed this article?
Share it with friends and your social network to inspire their next adventure!

Editor’s Note: This article was originally published in January 2026. Information reflects what was accurate at the time of writing. For topics that may change quickly, please verify current details before planning. To ensure honesty and avoid bias, this website features no ads, no sponsored content, and no affiliate links—just straightforward information for fellow travelers.

National Parks’ New Residency Rule Is Creating Lines, Confusion, and Backlash

Pulling up to a national park gate used to be the easiest part of the journey. Now, a single question is slowing lines, confusing visitors, and changing what some travelers pay to get in.

For the first time in history, visitors at the gates of the United States’ most popular national parks are being asked a simple yet impactful question: “Are you a United States resident?”

This new protocol now in effect at 11 major parks is part of a system designed to “put American families first.” Non-U.S. residents including Canadians now face triple the standard entry fees while verified U.S. residents enjoy the usual, lower rates.

The change has created unexpected headaches. The new question slows down entry lines, frustrates park staff, and, in some cases, prompts international tourists to turn around and leave after reaching the gates. What was meant to prioritize American families is now reshaping the arrival experience for visitors from abroad.

New question at U.S. national parks gates is causing visitors to turn away

The NPS’s new “Are you a U.S. resident?” policy is leading to long lines and frustrated visitors at park entrances

In November 2025, the U.S. Department of the Interior announced new entrance fees for 11 major national parks introducing a two-tiered pricing system that went into effect on January 1, 2026.

Under the new rules, foreign tourists—non-U.S. residents—must pay a $100 surcharge on top of the standard $15–35 entry fee. Annual passes for non-residents have jumped to $250 compared with the usual $80. U.S. residents are unaffected continuing to pay regular entry fees and the standard $80 annual pass.

The new question at park gates—“Are you a U.S. resident?”—has slowed entry lines and led some international visitors to turn away after arriving leaving park staff managing longer waits and growing frustration.

Entry fee:

International visitor price: $15–$35
U.S. resident visitor price: $15–$35

Surcharge:

International visitor price: $100
U.S. resident visitor price: $0

Annual pass:

International visitor price: $250
U.S. resident visitor price: $80

The parks where the new fees will be applicable are listed in alphabetical order below:

Acadia National Park (Maine)
Bryce Canyon National Park (Utah)
Everglades National Park (Florida)
Glacier National Park (Montana)
Grand Canyon National Park (Arizona)
Grand Teton National Park (Wyoming)
Rocky Mountain National Park (Colorado)
Sequoia & Kings Canyon National Parks (California)
Yellowstone National Park (Wyoming)
Yosemite National Park (California)
Zion National Park (Utah)

The way the new price system is being policed, however, is apparently causing delays and long lines along with some foreign tourists deciding to leave once they finally reach the park entrance gates.

Glen Canyon National Recreation Area *© Rex Vogel, all rights reserved*

New NPS residency checks at park gates are slowing lines and driving visitors away

Staff must now determine U.S. residency at entrances creating confusion, longer waits, and frustrated international visiors

For the first time in history, National Park Service (NPS) staff are asking visitors at the entrance: “Are you a U.S. resident?” The directive obtained by The Washington Post instructs staff to also ask groups, “How many people visiting are not U.S. citizens or residents?”

Visitors aged 16 and older must show a photo ID to prove residency or citizenship. While the policy exempts U.S. residents from the new surcharge, non-residents face an additional $100 on top of standard entry fees and annual passes jump from $80 to $250.

Long lines and confusion

Park employees report that asking about residency has slowed entry especially because visitors’ immigration statuses and visas vary widely. NPS staff are not trained in immigration law which can make determining eligibility confusing.

The internal guidance does allow some leniency: staff do not need to check the ID of every visitor. In practice, many employees take visitors at their word only verifying identification when someone purchases or uses an annual pass. Still, the questioning can lead to uncomfortable conversations.

“We feel a bit conflicted in what we’re doing… We don’t want to make visitors feel unwelcome,” one anonymous employee told The Washington Post.

International visitors turning Away

Some foreign tourists reportedly turn around and leave after learning they must pay the higher fees. At one park in the West, visitors have faced totals of $600 or more for family entry.

“It’s been chaos… A lot of people just turn around, some people yell and get angry. It’s an outrageous fee,” said one staffer to The Guardian.

Language barriers, complex immigration rules, and long explanations are further slowing entry. Staff also report Americans questioning the policy with some calling it unfair or confusing.

Julia Gelatt of the Migration Policy Institute told The Washington Post that NPS employees cannot realistically determine citizenship or residency without proper training given the hundreds of immigration categories.

Staff under pressure

The new rules come amid staffing shortages. The Trump administration cut 4,000 NPS employees in 2025 leaving teams stretched thin. Employees say the new fee policy has added to an already heavy workload.

“It feels like they have intentionally created chaos and disrupted our workflow. A lot of people are leaving because they are so burnt out,” said a staffer at Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks.

Emily Douce of the National Parks Conservation Association warned that the new system could confuse visitors and affect nearby tourism economies.

“Any policy that keeps people from visiting our national parks is a problem,” she said.

Economic and tourism concerns

International visitation is particularly at risk. In 2024, international tourists spent $254 billion in the U.S. many including national parks on their itineraries. In 2025, overseas arrivals fell 3 percent with Canadian visits down 25 percent. Tourism groups fear higher park fees could further deter visitors.

The Department of the Interior projects $90 million in additional revenue from the new fees in 2026 particularly from Yellowstone, Grand Canyon, and Yosemite. However, staff warn that alienating foreign visitors could have long-term effects.

Even American visitors may reconsider trips to national parks to avoid paying surcharges intended for foreign tourists raising questions about the policy’s broader impact.

Coronado National Memorial *© Rex Vogel, all rights reserved*

U.S. citizens could face “foreigner” fees at national parks under new rules

Visitors who can’t prove residency may be charged up to $250 at 11 major parks

While answering “yes” or “no” to the simple question, “Are you a United States resident?” may seem straightforward, the burden of proof falls on visitors—and that’s causing problems even for Americans.

Under the new rules at 11 major national parks, any U.S. citizen or resident who cannot provide proper identification or proof of residency may be charged the “foreigner” rates ranging from $115 to $250. Acceptable documents include a U.S. passport, a government-issued driver’s license or state ID, or a Permanent Resident (“green”) card.

The highest fee applies to the America the Beautiful annual pass which recently drew controversy after the DOI introduced new artwork featuring President Trump. Some passholders got creative covering the portrait with stickers despite a DOI ban on modifications.

Unprepared Americans arriving at the parks without the necessary ID could face these higher fees adding to delays already caused by residency verification and longer lines. While some see the new system as a reasonable way to prioritize domestic visitors, others have criticized it as confusing or unfair.

Federal policy changes often encounter early hiccups and this one is no exception. Still, officials say the structure aims to benefit U.S. residents while generating additional revenue though its long-term impact on both domestic and international visitation remains to be seen.

Polarized reactions from experts and officials

The introduction of higher fees for non-U.S. residents at 11 major national parks has drawn strong opinions from experts, government officials, and everyday Americans. Critics say the “America-first pricing” policy sends an exclusionary message and risks turning shared natural treasures into a luxury product.

Jordan Smith, director of the Institute of Outdoor Recreation at Utah State University, explained that the policy “sends the wrong message, turning shared global treasures into something more like a luxury product and making parks feel less welcoming to the world.”

Some U.S. senators have also called the pricing discriminatory warning it could hurt tourism at a time when international visitors are crucial following a steep decline in 2025. Civil liberties groups have raised concerns over ID requirements citing privacy and surveillance risks. The Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF) criticized mandatory ID checks noting they “habituate citizens into participating in their own surveillance and social control.”

Supporters cite fairness and economic benefits

Not everyone opposes the new structure. Many Americans and officials support the policy as a way to prioritize taxpayers and domestic visitors.

Elizabeth Peace, an Interior Department spokesperson, stated: “The updated fee structure reflects the significant investment made by U.S. taxpayers to support these public lands while still welcoming international visitors who help sustain local economies and share in our nation’s natural and cultural heritage.”

Secretary of the Interior Doug Burgum echoed this sentiment: “These policies ensure that U.S. taxpayers who already support the National Park System continue to enjoy affordable access while international visitors contribute their fair share to maintaining and improving our parks for future generations.”

Members of the public have voiced support as well. One Reddit user wrote: “The higher entry fees for foreigners is about the only thing Trump has done that I fully support… I think it’s ridiculous that American citizens have to pay the same amount as visitors from across the planet.”

Natural Bridges National Monument *© Rex Vogel, all rights reserved*

International comparisons and revenue use

Supporters also note that differential pricing for locals versus foreigners is standard worldwide. For example, the Louvre in Paris will charge non-locals up to 45 percent more starting January 14, 2026.

Many Americans are also pleased that the revenue will be used for conservation and maintenance within national parks ensuring continued care of these public lands.

Challenges ahead

Despite potential benefits, challenges remain. Enforcement of residency checks has already slowed park entry caused long lines and prompted some visitors to turn away. With peak spring and summer seasons approaching, the NPS faces pressure to mitigate these issues or risk even longer wait times and frustrated visitors at the gates.

While early reactions are mixed, the next few months will reveal whether the new fee system can balance fairness for U.S. residents, revenue generation, and a welcoming experience for international tourists.

Concluding comments

For generations, national parks have represented openness—places where the road leads to something shared, not scrutinized. The new residency rules don’t change the landscapes themselves but they do change how visitors arrive, how long they wait, and how welcome they feel when they finally reach the gate.

For RV travelers, preparation has always been part of the lifestyle and that now includes understanding entry rules, carrying the right ID, and building extra time into arrival plans. Still, the larger challenge for the National Park Service will be finding a balance between revenue, fairness, and the spirit of accessibility that defines these places. As peak travel season approaches, how smoothly this policy is enforced may matter just as much as the policy itself.

Enjoyed this article?
Share it with friends and your social network to inspire their next adventure!