32 Underrated National Parks Perfect for Avoiding Summer Crowds

31. Craters of the Moon National Monument and Preserve, Idaho: Otherworldly and Empty

Few places live up to their name quite like this one. Craters of the Moon’s surreal lava flows, cinder cones, and lava tubes stretch across southern Idaho in strange, sculptural silence. It looks like another planet—and in summer, it often feels like you have it to yourself. Explore underground caves, walk the eerie black rock plains, or climb Inferno Cone for panoramic views of desolation. Because it’s not a household name, most tourists pass it by—leaving the volcanic wonderland open for discovery. It’s weird, wild, and wonderfully quiet. If your summer soul craves something offbeat and uncrowded, head here.