The Least Popular National Parks that You Should Actually Visit
One of the best things about traveling by RV is the ability to get off-grid and really immerse yourself in the beauty of nature. RV sharing using a peer to peer rv rental company, or as I prefer calling it, a person to person rv rental, is a fantastic way to get around in comfort. Our country’s popular national parks are definitely some of the best places to do this, but as beautiful as the more popular ones are, it can be difficult to fully enjoy these parks due to crowds. For this reason, we recommend heading to some of America’s least visited national parks on your next RV adventure.
You see, each and every national park has something magical to offer visitors, and you definitely don’t have to head to Yosemite or Yellowstone to experience the majesty of Mother Nature. In fact, by choosing to visit one or two of the least popular national parks, you might even get a more immersive and personal experience.
Not sure where to head to find national park beauty with fewer crowds? That’s where this article comes into play. Below, we’ve listed some of the least visited national parks. These are perfect places to take an RV and have an outdoor adventure.
Alaska’s Not So Popular National Parks
Unsurprisingly, many of the nation’s least popular national parks are found in the state of Alaska. This makes perfect sense considering the fact that it can be challenging to make it all the way up there.
That said, the state isn’t called the Last Frontier for nothing, and it plays host to some of the most amazing natural beauty in the country. Many of the most beautiful of these sights are found in the state’s national parks, and we think these parks are well worth the trek north.
Gates of the Arctic National Park and Preserve
This park saw a mere 7,362 visitors in 2021. This park has no roads, so RV camping is not an option. Instead, you will want to set up camp somewhere in Fairbanks.
Kobuk Valley National Park
11,540 guests visited Kobuk Valley National Park last year. Because visitors must fly into the park, RV camping in the park isn’t really feasible. Again, setting up camp in Fairbanks is your best bet.
Lake Clark National Park and Preserve
In 2021, 18,278 guests visited Lake Clark National Park and Preserve. Like at Kobuk, visitors to this park must fly in. Therefore, you’ll want to park the RV in Anchorage, Kenai, or Homer.
Katmai National Park and Preserve
24,764 people saw Katmai National Park and Preserve in 2021. Once again, this is a national park you must take a boat or plane to. Your RV should stay behind in Anchorage, Kenai or Homer.
Wrangell-St. Elias National Park and Preserve
Wrangell-St. Elias National Park and Preserve hosted 50,189 recreation visits in 2021. There are primitive RV campsites available in the park, making this an ideal Alaska destination for RVers.
Glacier Bay National Park and Preserve
This park played host to 89,768 people last year. There is no RV camping in the park, so you will need to find an RV park in the nearby town of Gustavus.
Denali National Park and Preserve
The most popular of the Alaska national parks, Denali saw 229,521 guests in 2021. The park has many campgrounds and three of them can host RV campers.
North Cascades National Park in Washington
We’ve yet to figure out why North Cascades is one of the least visited national parks. This northern Washington park is absolutely gorgeous and is only three hours north of Seattle, but somehow only saw 17,855 visitors in 2021.
North Cascades is one of the snowiest places in the world, but the snow does melt at lower altitudes during the warm months, so it still manages to pack in a variety of fun activities all year round. These include river rafting, horseback riding, backpacking, rock climbing, and of course, hiking.
Hundreds of hiking trails cross this park. The trails range from super short and simple to incredibly difficult. Many offer beautiful views of snow-capped mountains and bright blue lakes, and some even send hikers strolling right alongside glaciers.
Drive-in campgrounds are available in North Cascades National Park, so you can stay right in the middle of the beauty!
Isle Royale National Park in Michigan
Once you learn where Isle Royale National Park is located, you might understand why it only saw 25,844 visitors in 2021.
You see, this park is found on an isolated island in the middle of Lake Superior. This means it’s only accessible by boat or seaplane. Fortunately, public transportation services are available in nearby locations, so you aren’t left all on your own when figuring out how to reach the island.
Once you do get to Isle Royale National Park, you will be treated to lovely forests, rugged shorelines, and plenty of hiking trails. The 400 satellite islands around the park are lots of fun for the explorer, and scuba divers will enjoy checking out the shipwrecks in the surrounding waters of Lake Superior.
Obviously, RV camping is not available at Isle Royale National Park. That said, there are plenty of camping options nearby, so you can hop on a boat or plane first thing in the morning and get your exploring started!
Dry Tortugas National Park in Florida
Are you an ocean person? If so, you’ll definitely want to head to the super secluded Dry Tortugas National Park. This park saw a mere 83,817 visitors in 2021, meaning you’ll likely have a super peaceful visit for an affordable RV destination.
Dry Tortugas is a 100-square-mile park that includes seven small islands. Most of the park is part of the Florida Keys reef system, and there is an abundance of marine life for visitors to enjoy. This makes snorkeling and scuba diving especially popular activities at the park.
History buffs will also want to be sure to check out Fort Jefferson. This is one of the country’s largest 19th-century forts, making it a fun place to explore and learn. It’s also an excellent spot to look up at the stars when nighttime rolls around.
Because Dry Tortugas National Park is made up of islands and water, it is really only accessible by boat. Therefore, RV camping is not available in the park. Instead, we recommend camping in Key West and hopping on a boat first thing in the morning.
Great Basin National Park in Nevada
A total of 144,875 visitors saw Great Basin National Park in 2021. This might seem like a large number, but compared to the number of visitors that the more popular parks see, it is actually very small. Why more people don’t visit this park is a mystery to us. We can only imagine it’s because they don’t understand how amazing it really is.
Because of enormous elevation changes within this park, you’ll find a huge variety of plants and animals living here. Deserts, mountains, playas, springs, caves, and glaciers can all be found here, and an abundance of fossils are scattered throughout the park as well. On top of all that, you can also find ancient caves and the oldest trees in the world in Great Basin National Park.
As you might imagine, this wide variety of natural features means plenty of opportunity for adventure. Explore a cave, marvel at the night sky, go on a hike, or do some bird watching. No matter what you choose to do, you’re bound to have a great time!
Great Basin is also home to a few different campgrounds, so taking your RV to the park is totally possible (and highly recommended). After all, who wouldn’t want to wake up in this amazing place?
Congaree National Park in South Carolina
Next on our list of least visited national parks is Congaree National Park. This place is relatively new to the national parks system. It saw a total of 215,181 visitors last year, but we expect that number to grow as more people learn about what the park has to offer.
Congaree National Park is home to the largest expanse of old-growth hardwood forests in the United States. On top of that, you’ll find some of the tallest trees in the eastern US here.
The park boasts 25 miles of hiking trails, and many of these are raised, giving visitors the opportunity to see around 90% of the park underwater after heavy rainfall. It is incredibly interesting to see what happens when the land floods and how the plants and animals survive the flooding and sometimes even use it to their advantage. Best of all, you don’t have to get your feet wet to see it.
Other fun activities offered by this park include canoeing and kayaking, as well as a chance to view the incredible asynchronous fireflies in late spring.
Currently, Congaree National Park does not have RV campsites. Fortunately, the South Carolina State Park system offers many places for RVs to camp nearby.
Voyageurs National Park in Minnesota
Voyageurs is a park of water and islands. A boat is required to experience most of the park, and this must drive people away, as only 243,042 guests witnessed the beauty of Voyageurs in 2021. The good news? It’s totally easy to hop on a water taxi and start your national park adventure.
This is good news because this park has a lot to see and do. Wetlands, hardwood forests, forests, streams, lakes, cliffs, and rock ridges can all be found here. With these different landscapes comes a variety of ecosystems, meaning plenty of plants and animals to admire.
Hiking, fishing, watching for moose and black bears, and kayaking are some favorite activities in this park. Guests might also get lucky enough to catch a peek at the Northern Lights during their time in Voyageurs National Park, so be sure to keep your eyes peeled after the sun goes down.
Like so many other parks on this list, Voyageurs does not offer onsite RV camping. This is because the park must be reached by boat. Luckily, RV camping can be found nearby, meaning you won’t have far to travel to find adventure.
PS – The Cherry On Top Is Guadalupe Mountains National Park in Texas
Last on our list is Guadalupe Mountains National Park. This park is located in west Texas and saw 243,291 visitors in 2021.
As you might expect, Guadalupe Mountains National Park is a desert park. Some impressive sand dunes can be found in the park, but the mountain and canyon scenery are what really take the cake. This park is home to a total of four of the state’s highest peaks!
80 miles of hiking trails wind their way around the park, allowing guests to view the gorgeous place from every angle. These give you a chance to trek through the desert, wind through a canyon, or even climb a mountain. Other awesome activities in this park include taking scenic drives (try leaf peeping in the fall) and horseback riding.
RV camping is an option in Guadalupe Mountains National Park. There are two developed campgrounds dedicated to families and individuals looking to camp, and both can accommodate trailers and motorhomes.
Clearly, people are missing out by skipping these less popular national parks, but that doesn’t mean you have to miss out as well. Why not book your RV rental and start planning your trip to one of the least visited national parks today?
