It’s no secret that the best national parks are going to be the ones with the largest crowds. However, if you’re willing to go during the offseason, you won’t just enjoy great views, you’ll also enjoy fewer crowds. During the fall, early months of winter, and spring the parks will still be beautiful, but they will also be WAY less crowded. Visiting a national park is a perfect family-friendly vacation if you love nature and being outdoors.
Here are the best national parks to visit during the offseason.
Big Bend National Park
Since Big Bend is located in Texas, no matter what time of year you visit, you can expect to get some decent warm temperatures. Big Bend is great for those looking for water activities such as kayaking.
Death Valley National Park
During the summer, the temperatures here can get up to 115 degrees! However, during the winter the temperatures are much cooler and you can still get an amazing view of the starry sky.
Denali National Park
If you’re up for a little bit of travel, Denali National Park is a must see! During the spring and fall seasons, you can catch a glimpse of the Northern Lights and during the summer the weather can be a little hard to predict. This national park is huge, but it’s still possible to run into people if you’re traveling through here during peak season.
Grand Canyon National Park
The best time to visit this national park is from December to February. During the winter months, you’ll get to see beautiful views of the snow. During the offseason, you can only visit the South Rim, but it’s still worth it for the breathtaking views.
Great Smoky Mountains National Park
The best time to visit this park is from December to February. It’s easily one of the most visited national parks, but during the winter months, you can see great views of the snow. If the weather is severe there will be a lot of winter weather closures, but check their park info page before going to make sure. During the winter months you can snowshoe, sled, and even go skiing on Newfound Gap Road, so if you’re into winter sports, this can be a great place to go.
Olympic National Park
There is a lot of rain here during the offseason months, and it might be a bit cold in the early spring. However, there are plenty of hot springs nearby for those looking to do a little bit of relaxing.
Yellowstone National Park
If you’re visiting during offseason, you can get amazing views of buffalo and natural geysers here. The landscape is absolutely breathtaking here during the winter months, and it’s amazing to watch the transformation during the winter to spring months.
Yosemite National Park
During the summer, the traffic is insane in Yosemite Valley. The best time to visit this park is from November to March. It will be a little chilly, and might even snow, but the crowds are usually lighter during these times.
Taking your family to see one of the many national parks is a great vacation idea, but going during the offseason is a great way to see them without all the crowds!
