Adventure Seekers Matt and Karen Smith Share Their Top Tips for Avoiding Crowded National Parks

Matt and Karen Smith, a couple who met in college, embarked on an adventure to visit every US national park in 2010. Their love for hiking and wildlife inspired this journey, although they weren’t particularly fond of crowds. The Smiths, who have visited every major US national park, have shared their top tips for avoiding crowded national parks.

With the summer season approaching, many Americans are eager to explore a US national park. According to the National Parks Service, over 325 million people visited at least one national park in the US last year, a 4% increase from the previous year. With such high numbers, encountering crowds is almost inevitable. However, Matt and Karen Smith offer valuable insights on how to steer clear of the tourist masses.

The Smiths met in college in Kansas and spent the first 25 years of marriage focusing on work, raising kids, and earning a living. Once their youngest child left for college in 2010, they became empty nesters. After relocating to Seattle and being introduced to national parks by friends, the Smiths decided to embark on an adventure that took them all across the country. Using their savings, they visited every single one of America’s 63 national parks including remote areas like American Samoa and north of Arctic Circle. During their journey they documented their experiences through emails which eventually led to their first book “Dear Bob and Sue.” Today Matt and Karen continue to share their adventures through Instagram and their podcast offering tips on how to avoid crowds while exploring these beautiful natural wonders.

Matt and Karen’s advice is simple: plan ahead! When visiting a popular national park during peak season it is important to book your accommodations well in advance as well as any tours or activities you may want to do. It also helps to research which parts of the park are less crowded than others so you can plan your visit accordingly.

Another tip from Matt and Karen is to consider visiting less-known national parks that are often overlooked but equally beautiful such as Congaree National Park or New River Gorge National Park & Preserve.

Lastly Matt and Karen suggest visiting during off-peak times such as early morning or late afternoon when crowds tend to thin out allowing visitors to enjoy peacefulness that comes with being surrounded by nature.

In conclusion summer is a great time for Americans to explore our nation’s natural wonders but with high numbers of visitors it can be overwhelming; however with some planning ahead and researching we can make sure our experience at these beautiful places is enjoyable without feeling overwhelmed by crowds.