Taking the Kids: And Heading to Less Visited National Parks

There are 429 national park sites in the U.S., though just 63 have the “National Park” designation in their names.

Kaloko-Honokohau. Dreamstime/TNS

I’ve been there. No parking places left at the trailhead at Rocky Mountain National Park. Trails as busy as a New York Street at rush hour at Zion National Park in Utah. Bear Jams (tourists stopping to view bears by the side of the road) in Yellowstone and Grand Teton National Parks in Wyoming.

It’s no wonder. The National Park Service reported 325.5 million recreation visits in 2023. This is an increase of 13 million recreation visits. Just as significant, NPS data shows that there are more visits in the spring and fall, traditionally off seasons, with 20 parks, many of them less visited, breaking visitor records. What a great way to celebrate National Park Week from April 20 through 28, 2024.