Sick of standing in line with cranky kids and sunburned tourists? So are we.
This summer, skip the chaos and head for parks, rides, and events where peace still exists — and the crowds don’t.
Great Basin National Park, Nevada
Bristlecone pines, cave tours, and some of the best stargazing in the U.S. Bonus: barely anyone goes. You’ll have trails to yourself and silence worth the drive.
Gates of the Arctic, Alaska
No roads. No trails. No gift shops. Just raw wilderness for the brave and the bold. If you want true solitude, this is as off-grid as it gets.
Kobuk Valley National Park, Alaska
Yes, there are sand dunes in the Arctic. And no, you won’t have to fight anyone for a good view. You’ll need a bush plane — but not patience for a crowd.
Capitol Reef National Park, Utah
Zion and Bryce get all the love. Capitol Reef gets ignored — which is exactly why you should go. Stunning red rocks, slot canyons, and space to breathe.
Carowinds, North Carolina
Straddling NC and SC, this place mixes thrill rides with an adults-only swim-up bar. Families go, but lines stay short. A rare win.
Lake Compounce, Connecticut
America’s oldest amusement park somehow still flies under the radar. The rides hold up, the water park’s legit, and the wait times are practically retro.
Seabreeze Amusement Park, New York
Low-key fun on the edge of Lake Ontario. Great for kids, tolerable for adults, and no wristband-wearing chaos monsters elbowing you out of line.
Outsmart the Masses
Weekdays are golden — especially Tuesdays and Wednesdays. Show up early or late, never in the middle. Use single rider lines. And yes, crowd calendars work.
Enjoy Summer Like It’s Meant to Be
No one dreams of spending their vacation in a parking lot with 10,000 strangers. Pick the right spots, plan smart, and you’ll remember the views — not the wait times.
