Nine U.S. National Parks – known for their glaciers, towering trees, and abundant wildlife – have reported record-breaking visitor numbers in 2025. This trend suggests a growing desire among travelers to explore less-crowded alternatives to the country’s most famous parks, such as Yellowstone, Yosemite, and Zion. While overall national park attendance has seen fluctuations, these parks indicate a shift towards more remote and rugged experiences.
The rise in visitation to these quieter destinations raises a critical question: how long can these areas remain relatively untouched before the crowds inevitably follow?
Congaree National Park, South Carolina: An Old-Growth Oasis
Congaree National Park welcomed 287,833 visitors in 2025, surpassing its previous record of 250,114 in 2023. The park’s primary attraction is its expansive old-growth bottomland hardwood forest, featuring towering bald cypress and water tupelo trees. Visitors can explore the park via elevated boardwalks or by paddling the Cedar Creek Canoe Trail. A unique draw is the annual firefly synchronization season in late May and early June, now managed through a National Park Service permit lottery due to high demand.
Dry Tortugas National Park, Florida: Fort Jefferson and Coral Reefs
89,355 visitors journeyed to Dry Tortugas in 2025, exceeding the previous record of 83,817 set in 2021. Most visitors reach the park via ferry or seaplane to explore Fort Jefferson, a 19th-century coastal fortress. The park also offers exceptional snorkeling opportunities in its clear, warm waters and attracts birders during spring migration season.
Gates of the Arctic National Park and Preserve, Alaska: Untouched Wilderness
Gates of the Arctic saw 14,923 visitors in 2025, surpassing the 2014 record of 12,669. This park is known for its extreme remoteness: no roads, trails, or facilities exist within its boundaries. Visitors must arrive by air or on foot, requiring complete self-sufficiency. The reward is unparalleled solitude, vast river valleys, migrating caribou, and the rugged peaks of the Brooks Range.
Redwood National and State Parks, California: Among Giants
Redwood National and State Parks welcomed 1,202,480 visitors in 2025, a significant jump from the 677,135 visitors in 1988. The park’s ancient redwood groves offer an awe-inspiring experience: standing beneath trees that reach hundreds of feet into the sky. The parks also combine redwood forests with dramatic Pacific beaches and opportunities to spot Roosevelt elk.
Glacier Bay National Park and Preserve, Alaska: Calving Glaciers and Whale Watching
Glacier Bay recorded 740,044 visitors in 2025, exceeding its previous high of 672,087 in 2019. The park’s main attraction is its tidewater glaciers, where massive chunks of ice break off into the sea. Most visitors arrive by cruise ship or charter boat. Glacial retreat has revealed new forests near the glaciers, while whale-watching tours offer views of humpback whales, brown bears, and harbor seals.
New River Gorge National Park and Preserve, West Virginia: Adventure on the Gorge
New River Gorge saw 1,958,440 visitors in 2025, surpassing its previous record of 1,682,720 in 2021. Redesignated as a national park in 2020, the area has seen growing popularity for whitewater rafting, rock climbing, and scenic views from the Canyon Rim Visitor Center.
Kenai Fjords National Park, Alaska: Wildlife and Ice
Kenai Fjords welcomed 425,369 visitors in 2025, slightly higher than the 411,782 in 2021. Boat tours from Seward provide access to fjords carved by glaciers, offering opportunities to see sea otters, sea lions, orcas, and seabird colonies. Exit Glacier is the only road-accessible part of the park, with trails leading to the Harding Icefield.
Sequoia National Park, California: The Largest Trees on Earth
Sequoia National Park saw 1,378,337 visitors in 2025, beating its previous high of 1,291,256 in 2017. The park is home to the General Sherman Tree, identified by the NPS as the largest living tree by volume. The park shares a border with Kings Canyon and is near Yosemite, making it an accessible addition to multi-park trips.
Wrangell-St. Elias National Park and Preserve, Alaska: Remote Wilderness
Wrangell-St. Elias welcomed 108,840 visitors in 2025, surpassing the 2017 record of 87,158. This vast park offers rugged backcountry experiences with no established roads or facilities. Visitors can expect solitude, glaciers, and wildlife encounters in one of the largest national park units in the U.S.
These rising visitation numbers suggest a growing awareness of these less-crowded parks, though whether they can maintain their relative tranquility remains to be seen. The trend indicates that travelers are actively seeking alternatives to the most popular destinations, but the long-term impact on these fragile ecosystems is still unknown.
