It's no secret that the national parks seem more crowded, but do the numbers back that up? While crowds returned to the national parks in full force in 2021, annual visitation is still below its preCOVID numbers.
2021 saw 30 million fewer visits than 2019, so why does it seem like the parks are more crowded? Well, that's because they kind of are. While National Park Service (NPS) traffic was down nearly 10 percent from 2019, the most popular parks set all-time records for visitation! In fact, just 25 NPS sites accounted for over half of the 297 million visits last year.
Already crowded parks like Yellowstone, Zion, and Glacier, among others, are only getting more crowded. For travelers who value solace over bucket-list destinations, consider amending your plans to include any of these seven parks off the beaten path.
North Cascades National Park, Washington
2021 Visitation: 17,855
Late June to early October In a state brimming with outdoor activities, Washington's North Cascades National Park goes thoroughly unnoticed by
