- January and February are the quietest months for most parks, often with fewer than 20% of peak season visitors.
- Unlike the majority of the top 10 most popular national parks, Saguaro is least crowded in the summer heat due to its desert climate.
- Great Smoky Mountains National Park received over 140.9 million visitors over the past six years.
America’s national parks offer some of the most breathtaking landscapes in the world, drawing millions of visitors annually to their scenic sights—last year, nearly 119 million people visited these natural wonders.
But with popularity comes crowds, and something that was supposed to be pleasurable and allow you to reconnect with nature can turn into a stressful activity.
Experts at QR Code Generator have analyzed visitor data from the National Park Service from 2019 to 2024, identifying visiting patterns and discovering the least crowded months for the most visited parks, as well as the least visited parks for those seeking tranquility in nature.
The most popular National Parks in America
| Rank | National Park | Total visits between 2019 and 2024 |
| 1 | Great Smoky Mountains National Park | 140,958,542 |
| 2 | Yellowstone National Park | 32,751,083 |
| 3 | Grand Teton National Park | 29,486,393 |
| 4 | Grand Canyon National Park | 27,884,698 |
| 5 | Zion National Park | 27,513,004 |
| 6 | Saguaro National Park | 27,492,335 |
| 7 | Rocky Mountain National Park | 25,033,210 |
| 8 | Yosemite National Park | 22,523,776 |
| 9 | Acadia National Park | 22,269,829 |
| 10 | Olympic National Park | 22,245,100 |
Great Smoky Mountains National Park is the most popular national park in America, with 140.9 million visitors over the past six years—77 million (55%) of them recreational. Its least crowded months are January and February, with an average of 456,292 and 477,802 recreational visitors, respectively. December is the park’s third-least visited month, with an average of 758,578 recreational visitors.
While winter may bring a peaceful hush to the park, with snow-covered landscapes perfect for hiking and photography, some facilities and roads may be closed due to weather, so it’s best to check ahead before planning your trip.
If you don’t mind running into people but want to avoid the busiest months, you should stay away from the Great Smoky Mountains in June and October, as each month sees an average of 1.6 million recreational visitors.
Famous for its geysers and hot springs, Yellowstone saw over 32.7 million visitors in the past six years, 25 million of them recreational. The quietest months are November and December, with an average of 21,972 and 31,311 recreational visitors each, followed closely by March, with an average of 32,554 recreational visitors.
Just like in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, cold temperatures and heavy snowfall can make some areas inaccessible, so guided tours and proper gear are recommended.
If you want to avoid big crowds, you should stay away from Yellowstone during July and August, when the park sees an average of 921,680 and 866,764 recreational visitors respectively.
Grand Teton National Park places third, recording over 29.4 million visitors—20 million of them were recreational. December and February offer the most peaceful experience, with 50,102 and 54,199 average recreational visitors, respectively.
January is also a good month for avoiding crowds, with an average of 57,265 recreational visitors, but if you prefer warmer weather, April is also relatively quiet, with an average of 59,690 monthly visitors.
The busiest time at Grand Teton is July, when visitor numbers surge to an average of 734,378—more than 14 times the winter attendance. August is the second busiest month, with 673,137 recreational visitors on average.
In fourth place is Grand Canyon National Park—over the past six years, the park welcomed over 27.8 million visitors, nearly all recreational. The best months for visiting the canyons when looking for a more peaceful experience are January and February, with an average of 187,790 and 193,746 recreational visitors, respectively.
December, with an average of 291,935 recreational visitors, is also a good month to visit the canyons if you are looking for tranquility. Winter at the Grand Canyon can be a rare and serene experience—the temperatures are cold, but hiking is still possible on maintained trails, while lodge rates are also significantly lower during this period.
The busiest months at the Grand Canyon are July and August, with 550,544 and 494,408 average recreational visitors, respectively.
Zion National Park comes next, in fifth place, with 27.5 million visitors over the past six years, almost all of them for recreational reasons. The best times for a peaceful visit are January and February, with an average of 128,904 and 139,902 monthly visitors respectively, but you can also enjoy a less crowded park in December (205,938 average recreational visitors).
During winter months, Zion’s iconic red rock formations are occasionally dusted with snow, and while some higher elevation trails may be closed, most of the popular routes remain accessible.
If you are set on having a more peaceful experience, you should avoid Zion especially during June and July, when monthly visitation goes up to an average of 565,947 and 555,822 people, respectively.
With over 27.4 million visitors (5.7 million recreational), Saguaro National Park is the sixth most popular National Park in America. Unlike most other parks, Saguaro’s visitation pattern is inverted due to the extreme desert heat during summer months, but for those willing to brave the heat, summer visits offer nearly private experiences—early morning or evening hikes are recommended.
The least crowded months are July and August, with an average of 36,780 and 36,982 visitors respectively, but June and September are also good months for a less crowded experience, with an average of 38,645 and 38,055 visitors, respectively.
The busiest months at Saguaro are February and March, with an average of 138,420 and 155,440 monthly visitors, which is significantly less than the Great Smoky Mountains National Park during its off-peak season.
Rocky Mountain National Park in Colorado places seventh among the most visited parks, welcoming over 25 million visitors over the six-year period (nearly all recreational). The least crowded months are January and February, with an average of 124,005 and 111,285 recreational visitors, respectively, followed closely by December, with 127,838 recreational visitors.
Rocky Mountain National Park transforms itself into a snowy wonderland during winter, perfect for snowshoeing and wildlife watching. While Trail Ridge Road closes seasonally, many lower elevation trails remain accessible with proper winter gear.
July is by far the busiest month, with an average of 817,824 recreational visitors, followed closely by June and August, with 638,844 and 617,709 average recreational visitors, respectively.
Yosemite National Park comes next, taking the eighth spot with over 22.5 visitors during the studied period (over 21 million of them recreational). The quietest months are January and March, with an average of 114,812 and 131,764 recreational visitors respectively, followed closely by February, with 134,317 visitors.
Some roads close seasonally during winter months, but the Yosemite Valley remains accessible year-round. July and August see the highest visitation, with up to 546,644 and 528,237 average visitors, respectively.
Acadia National Park, placing ninth, saw 22.2 million visitors over the six years, 22 million of them recreational. The park is extremely seasonal, with February, January, and December being the least visited months, averaging just 13,522, 13,768, and 16,807 visitors respectively—mainly because many facilities close and roads may be impassable.
For those seeking more moderate weather with fewer crowds, March and November also see relatively low recreational visitation—27,626 and 69,567, respectively.
On the other hand, July and August are overwhelmingly busy, with an average of 730,483 and 765,297 visitors, respectively.
Olympic National Park rounds out the top ten most visited parks with nearly the same number of visitors as Acadia during the six-year period (the difference is 24,729 visitors) but Olympic had less recreational visitors—over 17 million.
The least crowded months are January and February, with an average of 76,294 and 83,455 recreational visitors respectively, followed by December, with 90,667 average recreational visitors.
Rain is common during winter months, but snow is typically confined to higher elevations, making many areas accessible year-round.
If you want to skip crowds, avoid visiting in August and July, when the number of recreational visitors increases, seeing an average of 670,134 and 500,161, respectively.
Marc Porcar, CEO of QR Code Generator PRO S.L, commented, “Peak season usually exists for a reason—it’s usually when the park offers the best conditions for sightseeing and exploring, with incredible visuals. But visiting extremely popular touristic locations during off-peak times also has its advantages: not only are they emptier, but they also have different and unique sights that most people miss on.
“So, if you are planning to visit a national park during its less busy period, you will likely have a great time exploring nature at your own pace, as you won’t have as many people around you trying to see what you’re seeing or rushing you to move so they can snap a photo. And even if you don’t have what’s considered the best experience overall, you’ll have a more distinctive and peaceful one.
“Besides the tranquility and the uniqueness, visiting national parks on their off-peak season also helps them alleviate overcrowding during peak seasons (which can get quite busy, as revealed by the data), contributing to sustainable tourism practices.”
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