National Geographic Reveals Best Lesser-Known National Parks To Visit This Summer

Many of the most popular tourist destinations in this world are suffering from overtourism, while packed with crowds. However, anyone seeking to enjoy time in the outdoors this summer should explore these best, lesser-known US National Parks according to National Geographic.

National Geographic reveals the five best, lesser-known US National Parks

Spending time in the beautiful US National Parks is always a pleasure, each with its own unique aspects. However, for someone seeking a little quiet in their summer vacation, National Geographic has revealed the top, lesser-known National Parks for a peaceful time.

Forget the crowds of hikers and campers and try out these suggestions. On another note, what makes one of them truly unique is that you will need a passport to visit one of them.

1. Hot Springs National Park, Hot Springs, Arkansas

The town of Hot Springs is rightfully named and has been known as a natural health hub for almost two centuries, while its 143°F waters are believed to offer healing properties. Meanwhile, eight late Victorian-era bathhouses still remain on Bathhouse Row as a piece of history.

Meanwhile, outside of the city 43 thermal springs and 26 miles of hiking trails take vacationers through the dense forests of the Ouachita Mountains. This is the ideal place to be immersed in nature and is possibly the easiest off-the-beaten-track park to access, as it is less than an hour’s drive from Little Rock. Find out more on the park’s website.

2. Indiana Dunes National Park, Indiana

While many are unaware that Indiana has beaches, here’s a real treat. However, don’t expect them to be like those on the Riviera Maya. Just as people in Chicago enjoy Lake Michigan in summer, these beaches line the Indiana side of the lake.

As noted by National Geographic, Indiana’s solo national park offers beautiful dunes, prairies forests and wetlands, but the best place to be is on the 15-mile of shoreline, boasting views of the Chicago skyline. This makes the park an ideal alternative to the Windy City. Check out the official visitor website to learn more.

3. Theodore Roosevelt National Park, North Dakota

Named for Teddy Roosevelt, this national park is ideal for nature lovers, while being an off-the-beaten-path place to be. Those who love wildlife will enjoy sightings of wild horses, bison and bighorn sheep, surrounded by beautiful nature. It is also a perfect quiet retreat away from the summer crowds, with its wind-scoured badlands and hundreds of species of wildflowers.

Find out more about this isolated park on its official website.

4. Gates of the Arctic National Park and Preserve, Alaska

This is the only US National Park lying above the Arctic Circle and offers the most unique visit, without the sun setting for almost two months. However, while it’s sunny, it doesn’t get hot. The park is set in Alaska, offering a feel of America’s “final frontier,” while its visitors feel truly immersed in the wild with no marked trails.

National Geographic does warn that just getting there is a mission as you have to charter a plane to get there. Meanwhile, with no amenities in the park, visitors should be experienced hikers with good outdoor survival skills. National Geographic recommends visiting the park in August when its wildflowers burst into bloom. Visit the park’s website for more information.

5. US National Park of American Samoa, Unincorporated Territory Of The United States

Of all the US National Parks, this one is the only one that requires a passport to visit. You might not need one for Puerto Rico or the US Virgin Islands, but everyone does when visiting American Samoa.

According to National Geographic, this little-known park features several islands, but the best to visit are these three: Tutuila, Ta’ū and Ofu. The park spreads over these islands and is a perfect, unspoiled paradise with the proverbial crystal-clear waters, white-sand beaches and lush rainforests. While there, visitors can spot many different species of wildlife, including colorful birds and fish, but very few humans. Find out more on the park’s website here.

Head out into nature this summer, far away from the crowds at any one of these glorious US National Parks.