From stellar sunrises to star-filled skies, we flock to the 63 national parks to soak in dramatic landscapes, wonderful wildlife, adventurous trails and scenic drives. While iconic parks such as the Grand Canyon, Rocky Mountain, Yellowstone and Yosemite grab the summer spotlight, some of America’s most unique natural wonders are in lesser-visited parks.
Having visited over half of the 433 National Park Service units, I’m closing in on spending time all 63 national parks. These are 11 parks that surprised me and are in the contiguous United States. These underrated parks are full of surprises – dramatic landscapes, rich history and memorable adventures without overwhelming crowds.
1. Acadia National Park – Maine
- Where to stay: Morningstar Buoy Haus Beach Resort at Frenchman's Reef, Autograph Collection
- Tip: From early October to early March, Cadillac Mountain gets the first sunrise in the United States.
Boasting some of the best sunrises in the country, Acadia’s rugged coastline is where the mountains meet the sea. Catch sunrise from Cadillac Mountain, the highest point on the eastern seaboard – just be sure to reserve a vehicle pass in advance. This park offers plenty to do, such as hiking, biking and even horseback rides on the historic carriage roads. Drive the epic 27-mile Park Loop Road with scenic stops at Jordan Pond and Sand Beach, one of the world’s few cold-water, shell-based sand beaches.
Don’t miss the Bass Harbor Head Light Station, one of three lighthouses within the park, While Bar Harbor is best known, several other coastal towns are worth exploring during your visit. In Northeast Harbor, take Sergeant Drive along Somes Sound, the only fjord on the East Coast. In Southwest Harbor, grab a scrumptious lobster roll at Beal’s Lobster Pier, a Maine classic.
2. Biscayne National Park – Florida
- Where to stay: AC Hotel by Marriott Miami Brickell
- Tip: Book a guided eco-adventure with the Institute to explore the park’s wild beauty and support its preservation.
With 95% of the park underwater, Biscayne is a sailor’s and paddler’s paradise that can’t be fully appreciated from shore. My friend Carroll and I explored it on a Biscayne National Park Institute tour to Elliott Key, where we snorkeled colorful reefs, kayaked and paddle boarded in the shallow water and relaxed on a secluded beach before raising the sails to ride the wind on the way back to the marina. This subtropical sanctuary also tells the story of resilience. Hurricane Andrew reshaped the coastline with the ferocity of a 17-foot storm surge. Just an hour from Miami, it’s an easy day trip to combine with Everglades National Park.
3. Isle Royale National Park – Michigan/Minnesota
- Where to stay: Dela Hotels by Marriott Thunder Bay
- Tip: Public ferries run from mid-May to September – book well in advance, as space fills quickly.
Remote, rugged and refreshingly crowd-free, Isle Royale is a wild escape. Open only from April 16th through October 31st and accessible solely by boat or seaplane, this Lake Superior island is a haven for moose, wolves and solitude-seekers. My friend Lisa and I took a day trip from Grand Portage, Minnesota to Windigo, a scenic 1.5-2 hour ferry ride each way. With four hours to explore, we hiked a section of the Feldtmann Loop to Grace Creek Overlook, following the shoreline before ascending through a magical world of mossy trees and fern-filled forest to one of the island’s best vistas. After returning to the mainland, we capped off the day by spending an hour exploring Grand Portage National Monument nearby. If you want to visit from the Michigan side, it’s a 3.5-hour ferry ride from Copper Harbor to the northeast side of the island. You can also soak in a sky-high view of this freshwater wilderness by taking a trip on a scenic seaplane.
4. Hot Springs National Park – Arkansas
- Where to stay: Four Points by Sheraton Little Rock Midtown
- Tip: If you’re a fan of America’s favorite pastime, explore the Hot Springs Baseball Trail. Baseball greats like Babe Ruth came to Hot Springs for spring training.
Nicknamed “America’s Spa,” Hot Springs is the oldest federally protected area in the U.S., established in 1832 - 40 years before Yellowstone became America’s first national park. At the heart of the park is Bathhouse Row, which is lined with grand ornate bathhouses. Two of them, Buckstaff and Quapaw, have soaking experiences to enjoy the thermal springs. Book your soak and spa experience well in advance.
On a road trip with my friend Adeina, we stopped for a night to soak up the charm of Hot Springs and stayed at The Waters Hotels in a beautifully restored 1913 building. We relaxed with a morning soak in the thermal pools in Quapaw Bathhouse, then grabbed lunch at Superior Bathhouse Brewery, the only brewery in a national park using thermal spring water. Beyond the baths, Hot Springs has forested trails perfect for hiking, birding and biking.
5. Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park - CO
- Where to stay: Fairmont Heritage Place, Franz Klammer Lodge
- Tip: Visit in spring or fall to spot peregrine falcons soaring over the cliffs. In winter, while the North Rim closes, you can snowshoe or cross-country ski the South Rim for a unique snowy adventure.
Often overshadowed by Colorado’s more famous parks, Black Canyon has offerings for children and travelers of all ages, while offering jaw-dropping, dramatic views without the crowds. In places, the canyon walls are so steep and narrow that sunlight barely reaches the Gunnison River below. Don’t miss the Painted Wall - at 2,250 feet, it’s the tallest sheer cliff in Colorado. Along the South Rim, Gunnison Point and Chasm View are two more must-see overlooks where you truly experience the canyon’s depth and rugged beauty. My favorite hike here is Warner Point Trail – a short 1.5-mile round-trip hike with a stunning panoramic payoff at the end.
For a wilder, even more remote experience, head to the North Rim, where the overlooks at Exclamation Point and The Narrows deliver some of the canyon’s most jaw-dropping perspectives. It takes about 1.5-2 hours to drive between the rims, but the dramatically different views are worth it.
6. Capitol Reef National Park – Utah
- Where to stay: Capitol Reef Resort
- Tip: Swing by the Gifford Homestead for a homemade mini pie (or two!). Flavors like peach, cherry and strawberry rhubarb sell out early – along with their famous cinnamon rolls.
Of Utah’s Might 5, Capitol Reef is my favorite with an out-of-this-world landscape of towering cliffs, natural arches and hidden canyons.Shaped by the Waterpocket Fold, a 100-mile-long wrinkle in the Earth’s crust, it feels wonderfully wild compared to busier parks like Arches or Zion.
My top hike here is Cassidy Arch. The moderately challenging trail has steep climbs, dramatic drop-offs and epic views. If you’re feeling brave and not afraid of heights, you can walk out onto the arch.
For easier adventures, I like hiking to Hickman Bridge or walking through the towering canyon walls of Grand Wash. Enjoy the scenic drive soaking in jaw-dropping desert vistas. Step back in time in the Fruita Historic District, where you can wander through historic orchards, explore a pioneer homestead and stop to marvel at ancient Fremont Culture petroglyph panels carved into the canyon walls.
7. Theodore Roosevelt National Park – North Dakota
- Where to stay: Rough Riders Hotel
- Tip: If visiting in summer, don’t miss the Medora Musical, a beloved outdoor show celebrating the spirit and stories of the American West.
Rugged badlands meet American presidential history is this park named for the conservation-minded president who once ranched here. Dramatic landscapes, winding scenic drives and abundant wildlife - from prairie dogs to bison - make it one of the West’s best-kept secrets. Painted Canyon Overlook is one of the best and most accessible, spots to soak in the beauty of the layered hills.
Theodore Roosevelt is also one of the few places in America where you can spot wild horses roaming free – a highlight my cousin Susan and I loved during our visit. My favorite hike here is the Petrified Forest Trail. It’s a peaceful out-and-back 3-mile trek through ancient petrified wood scattered across the prairie.
At night, this park transforms into a stargazer’s paradise.If you’re lucky, you might catch a meteor shower or even the Northern Lights dancing across the night sky.
8. Great Basin National Park – Nevada
- Where to stay: Historic Hotel Nevada and Gambling Hall
- Tip: Reserve a Lehman Caves tour and a ranger-led astronomy program in advance – they fill up quickly.
Tucked into Nevada’s high desert, Great Basin is a hidden gem of limestone caverns, alpine lakes, bristlecone pine forests and some of the darkest night skies in the Lower 48. I visited while on a solo road trip along Highway 50, famously known as the “Loneliest Road in America.”
Wheeler Peak Scenic Drive is along a thrilling, guardrail-free road with steep drop-offs and expansive views. Make a stop at Mather and Wheeler Peak Overlooks to soak in the remote beauty. I hiked the 2-6-mile round trip to Stella Lake, loving solitude as I wandered through aspen groves, meadows and pine forest. Highlights included spotting numerous deer in meadows and watching mountain reflections shimmer on the still water. If you have time and are up for a bigger challenge, summit Wheeler Peak, Nevada’s second-highest peak.
9. Saguaro National Park – Arizona
- Where to stay: Courtyard by Marriott Tucson Airport
- Tip: The desert magic doesn’t end at sunset – Saguaro is a certified Dark Sky Park and is certified as the world’s 9th Urban Night Sky Place, perfect for stargazing under a canopy of stars.
Walk among the giants of the Sonoran Desert at Saguaro in Tucson. The park has two districts: Ricon Mountain (east) and Tucson Mountain (west), each offering scenic drives and hikes through the desert landscapes filled with towering cacti.
In the Rincon Mountain District, the 8-mile Cactus Forest Drive is a must with scenic stops like Sonoran Desert Overlook. Cyclists will love the smooth, winding loop. While on a solo trip, a ranger recommended hiking the easy Mica View Trail lined with a variety of cacti. Over in the Tucson Mountain District, I hiked part of the King Canyon Trail, an old mining road with sandy sections and rocky ledges before heading to the nearby Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum. Be sure to cruise the Bajada Loop Drive, a six-mile graded dirt road perfect for soaking in desert views. For a short hike with a big payoff along the drive, Signal Hill is the best spot in the park to see ancient petroglyphs surrounded by a sea of saguaros.
10. Pinnacles National Park – California
- Where to stay: Venatana Big Sur, an Alila Hotel
- Tip: Bring a headlamp or flashlight if you plan to explore Bear Gulch Cave or Balconies Cave, where boulder-strewn trails wind through dark, cool caverns.
Formed by an ancient volcano, Pinnacles is a wild landscape of jagged rock spires, talus caves and rocky ridges. Soledad sits about 10 miles from the park’s west entrance, while Hollister is about 30 miles north of the east entrance. I loved the 40-minute drive from Hollister, winding through a pastoral landscape before the rugged rock formations came into view.
While exploring on a solo trip, I hiked the Condor Gulch and High Peaks Trail loop – a must if you’re up for a challenge. Climbing up Condor Gulch, I spotted multiple endangered California condors soaring overhead, a truly unforgettable site. Parts of High Peaks Trail get sketchy navigating narrow stone steps and steep sections with handrails, but the jaw-dropping view make every step worth it.
11. Crater Lake National Park – Oregon
- Where to stay: Running Y Resort
- Tip: Rim Drive is seasonal. Check road openings before you go, especially if visiting in spring or late fall. It's important to find the right time of year to visit for your interests.
The vivid blue water of Crater Lake almost seems too stunning to be real. Formed from the collapsed Mount Mazama, the caldera lake is the deepest lake in the United States and one of the clearest on earth. Standing at the rim, the sheer intensity of the blue water will take your breath away.
For a truly magical experience, take a boat tour out to Wizard Island, a volcanic cinder cone rising from the center of the lake. Here, you can grab lunch – or better yet, stay – at the historic Crater Lake Lodge. Relaxing in a rocking chair on the patio while gazing out over the shimmering lake is one of those timeless national park moments you’ll never forget.
Not National Parks, But Still Worth the Visit
These may not be “national parks,” but these three other units of the National Park Service are extraordinary in their own right.
Vicksburg National Military Park (Mississippi): One of the most immersive Civil War sites and one of the best-marked battlegrounds in the world, history comes alive along the auto drive.
San Antonio Missions National Historical Park (Texas): Home to Texas’s only UNESCO World Heritage Site, it preserves four stunning Spanish colonial missions that helped shape the region’s culture.
Rosie the Riveter WWII Home Front National Historical Park (California): Located in San Francisco Bay Area, this park honors the women and home front workers who helped to fuel America’s victory during World War II.
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