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15 National Parks With The Worst Crowding Issues
Visiting a national park sounds like the perfect escape, right? Fresh air, stunning views, beautiful hikes, and maybe some quality time watching the wildlife. But last year, some of the national parks were so crowded it felt more like waiting in line to get into a nightclub rather than enjoying the great outdoors.
We’re talking timed entries, lottery systems just to be able to hike a trail, and parking lots packed tighter than your favorite coffee shop during rush hour. By the time you’ve navigated the mile-long restroom line, the idea of “relaxing in nature” feels more like a cruel joke.
And don’t even get me started on trying to grab that peaceful photo-op of the beautiful scenery without someone’s selfie stick making a cameo. All this makes soaking in the beauty of these parks a bit challenging (read: mildly infuriating). So let’s take a look at the busiest parks of 2024.
Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Tennessee & North Carolina
The Great Smoky Mountains… or as I like to call it, the Black Friday sale of national parks. Drawing over 12 million visitors in 2024 alone, it’s got nature so overcrowded you might think it’s giving out free Wi-Fi.
Between stunning waterfalls, mist-laden peaks, and more wildflowers than your allergy medication can handle, it’s easy to see why everyone and their entire extended family show up here. But trying to snag a parking spot? That’s a sport in itself.
And let’s talk about hiking trails. They are a dream if you enjoy weaving through families, photographers, and the occasional hiker blasting their playlist on a Bluetooth speaker. It’s pure chaos wrapped in jaw-dropping scenery.
Zion National Park, Utah
Zion National Park might as well be rebranded as the world’s most scenic waiting room. With visitation jumping over 70% since 2010, nearly 5 million folks elbowed their way into this Utah paradise in 2024.
Shuttle delays? Oh, they’re a rite of passage. By the time you board, you might be asking yourself why you thought sweating on a packed bus filled with strangers was a relaxing getaway. And sure, the views from Angel’s Landing are worth risking the crowds and your sanity, but you’ll need the strategy of a chess grandmaster to win a ticket for the permit.
On the bright side, you’ll never feel lonely. Who needs solitude, anyway, when you’ve got lines longer than rush hour traffic and fellow park lovers firmly invading your personal space?
Grand Canyon National Park, Arizona
The Grand Canyon isn’t just grand; it’s a giant magnet for roughly 5 million visitors a year. But honestly, who can blame them? Those layered red-rock views are breathtaking enough to make you forget the two-hour wait just to squeeze through the South Rim entrance on a fall weekend.
Pro tip? Arm yourself with snacks, entertainment, and maybe a motivational playlist to endure the vehicle line that feels longer than the canyon itself. Once you’re in, the views are worth the hassle, but the crowds snapping selfies at every overlook might be a bit of a distraction.
If you’re after tranquility, head to a lesser-known viewpoint of the beaten path… or invest in noise-canceling headphones. At least you’ll leave with a story.
Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming
Yellowstone is where the phrase “traffic jam” takes on a whole new meaning. With nearly 4.7 million visitors in 2024, this geothermal wonderland sees cars inch along like sloths at every wildlife sighting.
Buffalo on the road? Cute. The hours you’ll spend stuck behind a caravan of RVs trying to photograph said buffalo? Not so cute. And forget skipping Old Faithful; every other person in the park has the same brilliant idea.
Still, between the geysers, hot springs, and more elk than you can shake a stick at, it’s hard not to love Yellowstone. But be warned, serenity seekers, patience here is not optional.
Rocky Mountain National Park, Colorado
When a park gets over 4.1 million visitors in a year, chaos is essentially a standard feature. And Rocky Mountain National Park, tired of being more clogged than rush hour traffic, introduced timed-entry reservations from May to October.
Translation? You now need an appointment to hang with the wildlife and marvel at the towering peaks. It’s either enter the queue or get comfy outside the gate because summer tourists don’t mess around.
The park spans 415 square miles of jaw-dropping wilderness, but somehow everyone ends up crammed at Bear Lake, fighting for a spot to take the same photo. So skip the midday madness and aim for sunrise or a random weekday (not that this guarantees solitude, but it’s marginally less feral). And no, the timed-entry system isn’t foolproof, but at least it’s a valiant attempt at beating the herd mentality.
Yosemite National Park, California
Yosemite isn’t just a park; it’s California’s unpaid babysitter for over 4.1 million tourists annually. The views will make you weep (tears of joy or frustration, take your pick), but navigating Yosemite Valley? That’s a level of gridlock you’d swear was imported directly from L.A.
To tackle this, the park rolled out free shuttle buses, because apparently parking isn’t a right when you share space with hordes of Half Dome hikers. And speaking of hiking, it’s best to plan early, or risk wandering aimlessly while others snag paths and picnic tables.
But the falls are spectacular, and El Capitan’s rock climbers remind you that your Fitbit steps are child’s play. And despite the occasional honking or rogue camper tantrum, the mix of granite and waterfalls will still leave you awestruck.
Acadia National Park, Maine
Maine’s gem of a park welcomes more than 3.9 million visitors annually, which is impressive for a place that essentially doubles as the state’s busiest parking lot every summer. Acadia’s infrastructure takes one look at that crowd and promptly waves a tiny white flag.
To combat the peak-season madness, the park set up a bus transit system that shuttles frazzled vacationers from one famously overcrowded spot to the next. Jordan Pond, Cadillac Mountain’s sunrise, and Sand Beach? Hope you brought your patience (and maybe a deck of cards for the long lines).
And while squeezing your car into a parking spot might be harder than climbing the Beehive, Acadia’s rugged coastlines and scenic carriage roads are worth every single traffic-induced headache… eventually.
Olympic National Park, Washington
Olympic National Park is where the rainforest meets beach strolls and mountain views, all without hopping planes between ecosystems. But when 3.7 million people show up, it becomes a logistical house of cards.
With its recent surge in fame, everything gets stretched thin, from visitor centers to trailheads. Thinking you’ll have Hurricane Ridge to yourself for a contemplative moment? Adorable. And parking lots become gladiator arenas unless you arrive at some ungodly hour or hitch a ride.
The park’s charm, however, remains bulletproof. Glacial peaks, moody rainforests, and the promise of spotting a marmot never lose their allure, even if the growing masses leave your “spontaneous getaway” feeling suspiciously like Times Square with slightly fresher air.
Grand Teton National Park, Wyoming
Grand Teton National Park is where the mountain views are epic, the air is crisp, and the parking lots are a dystopian nightmare by 9 a.m. Sharing a backyard with Yellowstone means visitors are double-dipping on their way through, resulting in summer crowds that could rival a theme park.
3.6 million people explored the Tetons in 2024, and while the peaks are majestic, squeezing around families on Jenny Lake Trail makes you question if you made the right choice in visiting. Still, the wildlife sightings alone do make the chaos worth it (just remember, the bison don’t care about your personal space).
At this park during peak season, you’re either waking up before the sun or settling for views from your car when you can’t find parking. The Tetons are beautiful, but solitude seekers beware; this party never stops.
Glacier National Park, Montana
At Glacier National Park, the mountains are jaw-dropping, the lakes are crystal clear, and the road to get there? Well, good luck with that. Record traffic in recent years has turned this serene park into a bumper-to-bumper parade of “vacation nation.”
With 3.2 million visitors in 2024, even snagging a day-use permit can feel like winning the lottery. Then there’s the famous Going-to-the-Sun Road, which is breathtaking. That is, if you can focus amid dodging RVs and cars crawling along like they’re in rush hour downtown.
On top of it all, glaciers are literally disappearing (scientists estimate they could be gone by 2030), so the pressure’s on to see them. Just be warned; when they call it “Last Best Place,” they forgot to mention it’s also a patience test.
Joshua Tree National Park, California
Joshua Tree might just be the ultimate paradox: tranquil desert landscapes paired with what feels like half of Los Angeles. Just missing the top 10 and coming in 11th on the most-visited parks list, 3 million eager fans descended on this rocky escape in 2024, resulting in crowded trails and trailhead parking that’s gone faster than concert tickets.
Those iconic twisted Joshua trees? Gorgeous. Scrambling up jumbo rocks? A blast. But the charming stillness is harder to find when there’s someone loudly FaceTiming next to you on Hidden Valley Trail.
The nocturnal stargazing is legendary here, assuming you can tune out the chorus of car alarms being set off in the parking lots. Tip for your sanity? Head deeper into the park and keep your expectations as minimal as the desert rainfall.
Cuyahoga Valley National Park, Ohio
Cuyahoga Valley might not have snow-capped peaks or massive canyons, but it still managed to charm its way into 2.9 million visits in 2024. Instead, Ohio’s crown jewel lures people with serene waterfalls, winding trails, and a rare sense of greenery that’s about as Midwest as it gets.
However, don’t be fooled; those peaceful photos from Brandywine Falls on weekday mornings don’t reflect the sheer chaos of weekend traffic. Arrive late, and finding a parking spot is about as likely as seeing Bigfoot riding a bike down the Ohio & Erie Canal Towpath Trail.
But for those who persevere, the payoff is pure bliss. It’s a lush oasis filled with chirping birds, scenic boardwalks, and a surprising number of folks casually asking, “Does this lead back to the parking lot?”
Indiana Dunes National Park, Indiana
Indiana Dunes National Park might be relatively small, but don’t underestimate its popularity (this place is like the underdog that somehow wins every race). With its 15 miles of Lake Michigan shoreline and ridiculously photogenic dunes, it attracted 2.7 million admirers in 2024.
But here’s the catch: the beach parking lots? They fill faster than your phone storage when you forget to delete old photos. On peak days, the lot closures start rolling in to keep things safe, leaving latecomers wandering around like modern-day explorers searching for a spot.
But for those who plan ahead (or believe in parking karma), the park rewards you with epic beach views, hiking trails, and maybe even a chance to awkwardly roll down a dune.
Gateway Arch National Park, Missouri
Gateway Arch National Park is no stranger to crowds. 2.6 million people visited in 2024, proving that a shiny 630-foot arch still has plenty of pulling power. For years, though, the park’s official attendance didn’t quite tell the whole story.
Turns out, up to a third of visitors were hanging out on the grounds but skipping the visitor center and the tram to the top, leaving their numbers uncounted. It’s like hosting a party where half the guests chill in your backyard but don’t touch the snacks.
These days, the secret’s out, and the Arch remains a magnet for selfie-takers, history buffs, and that one person who absolutely must know how many stairs it would take to climb it (spoiler: 1,076… but good luck convincing anyone to skip the elevator).
Bryce Canyon National Park, Utah
Bryce Canyon National Park isn’t just a place; it’s a dramatic statement. And with 2.5 million visitors in 2024, it’s clear a lot of people agree. The park’s famous rim viewpoints? Packed before you’ve even finished your morning coffee.
And people line up for that perfect shot of Bryce’s signature hoodoos, those surreal, towering rock formations that seem to showcase nature’s sculpting skills. The crowds might test your patience, but the unique scenery makes up for it (at least we think so).
Ways to avoid the worst of the crowds? Start your day bright and early, or stick to the lesser-known trails, where you’ll encounter fewer tourists and possibly a marmot who seems unimpressed by your granola bar. All in all, a worthy adventure. Even if you have to elbow your way to the front of Sunset Point.
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