10 Tips for Escaping Crowds in US National Parks: The Smiths’ Journey

Matt and Karen Smith, a couple who met in college in Kansas, made the decision to quit their jobs in 2010 in order to visit every US national park. 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 summer approaching and many Americans planning to explore a US national park, encountering crowds is almost inevitable. 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. However, Matt and Karen Smith, who have firsthand experience with every US national park, have valuable insights on how to steer clear of the tourist masses.

The Smiths 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