Summer’s the best time to visit national parks, but with the warmer weather comes crowds, which can take away from the peace and tranquillity of the outdoors. Summer’s peak season for visiting national parks, but there are ways to avoid the crowds and still enjoy your trip. Here’s what you need to know about visiting national parks in the summer.
When to Visit
Month
July and August are the busiest months of the year to visit, so try and plan your summer trip in June. The busiest weekends of the year are Memorial Day, Fourth of July, and Labor Day, so avoid these if possible.
Day
The best time of the week to visit national parks depends on the park and how close it is to big cities. If it’s close to a crowded city, the weekends tend to be much busier than the weekdays.
Time of Day
The best time to get to any park is early in the day. Try and visit the popular spots during off-peak hours and spend the rest of your time hiking, picnicking, or camping in backcountry areas or out-of-the-way places.
Where to Go
You’ll have more opportunities to stay away from crowds in larger parks like The Grand Canyon, Great Smoky Mountains, Olympic, Yellowstone, and Yosemite. Make sure when you visit the parks you get out of your car and explore places that most tourists don’t.
