32 Underrated National Parks Perfect for Avoiding Summer Crowds

Where the Wild Still Waits

In a season when the most popular parks are brimming with bucket lists and bus tours, there’s a different kind of summer waiting—for those willing to look past the headlines. These underrated national parks don’t just offer fewer crowds; they offer more of everything that actually matters: stillness, scale, sky. Whether it’s volcanic plains, red rock cathedrals, Arctic tundra, or desert silence, each place dares you to slow down, tune in, and travel with intention. These aren’t detours—they’re destinations that return something rare: space to think, room to breathe, and the kind of awe that isn’t choreographed. So skip the jam-packed photo ops. Chase the quiet. Find the place where your footsteps are the loudest sound around. That’s where summer truly lives—not in the noise, but in the wonder you don’t have to share. This year, let the wild be yours again. Completely.