If you are searching for the least crowded national parks in USA, you are tired of long lines at Yellowstone and Zion. In 2025, the National Park Service recorded over 118 million visits to the 63 national parks, but more than half of those visits went to just 10 parks.
The good news is that more than 50 national parks are still blissfully uncrowded. Least crowded does not mean least beautiful. It usually just means hardest to reach.
Here are the 10 least crowded national parks in USA based on official 2025 NPS visitation data released in March 2026.
1. Kobuk Valley National Park, Alaska – 7,786 visits
The least crowded national park in the entire USA. Located 25 miles north of the Arctic Circle with no roads and no trails. It is famous for the Great Kobuk Sand Dunes, the largest active sand dunes in the Arctic. You can only reach it by bush plane from Kotzebue. Perfect if you want complete solitude and to see the caribou migration.
2. Gates of the Arctic National Park, Alaska – 14,923 visits
The second least crowded national park in USA. This park sits entirely north of the Arctic Circle and has zero roads and zero trails. It is 8.4 million acres of pure wilderness. Getting there requires a flight from Fairbanks to Bettles and then a bush plane into the Brooks Range. It is for experienced backpackers only.
3. Lake Clark National Park, Alaska – 19,778 visits
Lake Clark packs glaciers, turquoise lakes, two active volcanoes, and world-class brown bear viewing into one park. No roads reach this park. Everyone arrives by small plane from Anchorage. The coastal meadows at Chinitna Bay offer the best bear viewing in the world, which keeps visitation low due to cost, not beauty.
4. Isle Royale National Park, Michigan – 29,091 visits
The least crowded national park in the lower 48 states. This is a network of 450 islands in Lake Superior, reachable only by ferry, seaplane, or private boat. The park closes completely from November 1 to April 15. It is famous for its moose and wolf population and has the highest repeat visitation rate in the system. If you love backpacking and silence, this is your park.
5. Katmai National Park, Alaska – 34,479 visits
Home to the famous Brooks Falls where you can see grizzly bears fishing for salmon. You have seen it on Fat Bear Week cameras. There are no roads into Katmai. You must fly to King Salmon and then take a floatplane to Brooks Camp. Expensive but worth it for the best bear viewing on the planet.
6. National Park of American Samoa – 43,258 visits
The only US national park south of the equator, spread across three volcanic islands in the South Pacific. Steep rainforest mountains drop straight into coral reefs. You need a flight through Honolulu to Pago Pago to reach it. Trails are few but the Samoan culture and scenery are unlike anything else in the system.
7. North Cascades National Park, Washington – 46,925 visits
Known as the American Alps, this park is the most rugged in Washington. It saw a 185% increase in 2025 after wildfires in 2024, but still remains one of the least crowded. There are no roads into the park interior. It is a true backpacker’s park with over 300 glaciers and endless empty trails.
8. Dry Tortugas National Park, Florida – 89,355 visits
99% of this park is underwater. Located 70 miles west of Key West, it is home to Fort Jefferson and crystal clear water for snorkeling. You can only reach it by ferry or seaplane. The ferry books out months in advance, so low numbers are due to limited boats, not lack of interest.
9. Wrangell-St. Elias National Park, Alaska – 108,840 visits
The largest national park in America at 13.2 million acres. It is bigger than 9 US states and has 9 of the 16 tallest mountain peaks in the country. Unlike most Alaska parks, you can actually drive into it via the road to McCarthy and the historic Kennecott Mines.
10. Great Basin National Park, Nevada – 161,210 visits
The best value on this list and the only one in the top 10 you can drive to on a paved road. Located in eastern Nevada, it has 13,063 foot Wheeler Peak, ancient bristlecone pines that are 5,000 years old, and Lehman Caves. It is also an International Dark Sky Park with some of the darkest skies in the USA.
Why Visit the Least Crowded National Parks in USA?
No timed-entry reservation needed, no traffic jams, no fighting for parking, and you get real wilderness. If you are planning a trip in 2026, try Great Basin, North Cascades, or Dry Tortugas for easy access without the crowds.
FAQ
What is the least crowded national park in USA?
Kobuk Valley National Park in Alaska is the least crowded national park in USA with only 7,786 visits in 2025.
What is the least crowded national park in the lower 48?
Isle Royale National Park in Michigan is the least crowded national park in the lower 48 with 29,091 visits.
Which national parks have no crowds in summer?
Great Basin, North Cascades, Isle Royale, and Dry Tortugas have the fewest summer crowds and are easier to reach than Alaska parks.
Are least visited parks worth visiting?
Yes. Least visited almost never means least worth visiting. It usually means hardest to reach, which makes them more pristine and peaceful.
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