The United States has pretty amazing national parks. But not all of these parks are created equally. Here I’ve prepared here a list of the five most overrated national parks in the United States.
It’s important to note, however, that this is not at all a list of the worst national parks and parks that you should not go to. Refer to my article on the worst national parks for more information.
But for example, Congaree National Park in South Carolina did not make my list of the most overrated national parks because it’s not overrated. It does, however, rank high on the list of worst national parks.
At the same time, some of the parks on the list below are definitely worth visiting. They’re just overrated for as much hype as they get. I’ve been to 50 national parks and all five of the ones listed below, and I genuinely feel they are not as great as everyone seems to think they are.
On the other hand, there are some amazing national parks that don’t get the attention they deserve. Be sure to check out my post on the most underrated parks.
So without further ado, let’s reveal the list of the most overrated national parks in the US!
5. Crater Lake
The only park in the western half of the country I’ve included in my overrated list is Crater Lake. Now don’t get me wrong, Crater Lake is beautiful. I just don’t think it’s worth the hype.
Maybe I’m a bit biased since the time I visited there was a forest fire nearby so the sky was full of smoke (which is becoming more commonplace with each passing year), but there really wasn’t that much to do in the park. I climbed a mountain and hiked down to the water, even camped overnight.
I definitely still recommend seeing Crater Lake if you’re in and around southern Oregon. Just don’t plan your entire trip around it. Check it out, walk around a bit, then head west and spend your time exploring the beautiful coast of Oregon.
4. Everglades
The Everglades is a unique place. A massive swamp full of hungry alligators, Everglades National Park protects this fragile environment in south Florida. But for a visitor to Everglades there really isn’t much to see or do. I’ve been twice and I actually think I’ve seen bigger gators at Big Cyprus National Preserve, just north of the park.
The best thing to do in this region is to leave the park and head to Everglades City. From here take a fly boat ride through the swamp, where you’re guaranteed to see gators swimming around.
The Everglades are something you should definitely see if you’re in South Florida. But the best things to see and do will be outside the park, earning Everglades National Park a spot on my most overrated parks list.
3. Hot Springs
I know there is a lot of history to Hot Springs National Park in central Arkansas. This park is heavily visited and a popular recreation area of Arkansans and other Americans alike. But after visiting Hot Springs on a road trip I was left wondering why this is a national park.
Our national park system features some of the most spectacular scenery in North America and even the world. Yet Hot Springs is little more than a few wooded hills with hot water natural springs. I understand protecting it, maybe as a national preserve or monument, but Hot Springs does not deserve national park status in my opinion. Sorry friends from Arkansas!
2. Shenandoah
This one is a bit painful to put on the most overrated list. I’m from Virginia and currently live only about an hour from the northern entrance, but Shenandoah National Park is overrated.
Don’t get me wrong, it’s nice and all. In fall the colors are beautiful and there are black bears scurrying around here and there. Skyline Drive is a scenic road that winds through the park and follows the ridge of the Blue Ridge Mountains. But the park is not much more than just rolling hills covered in forest.
To someone who has not seen mountains before I can understand the excitement. But if you’ve been anywhere west of the Rockies I’m afraid you’ll leave Shenandoah horribly disappointed. On top of that the park gets so crowded – due to its proximity to the Washington DC metro area – that there’s really nowhere to find some solitude.
Want to do one of the bigger hikes in the park? Good luck getting a parking spot. And with entrance to the park now $30, I don’t consider it worth it to go into the park unless you have the interagency pass. There are similar roads with similar views throughout western Virginia. So sorry fellow Virginians, but Shenandoah is on the most overrated list.
1. Great Smoky Mountains
Atop my list of the most overrated national parks is the most visited national park in the county, Great Smoky Mountains. While its status as the most popular park is more due to its location in the heavily populated southeastern part of the county (the park is split between North Carolina and Tennessee) than its pristine natural beauty, this park receives visitors from all over that come to see these Appalachian mountains.
But Great Smoky Mountains a giant let down, or at least that’s how I felt on my first – and last – trip there. Similar to Shenandoah, it’s just big hills covered in forests. There really isn’t anything unique about it unless you get to see the low hanging clouds that earned it the “smoky” name.
Gatlinburg, just outside the park, is also the tackiest little town in the country and should be avoided at all costs. If you do find yourself driving across I-40 from North Carolina to Tennessee it’s worth a quick stop. But I can’t say it’s worth making a special trip here, especially if you’re used to parks out west.
Apologies to the Southeast, but Great Smoky Mountains gets the Number 1 spot on the list of most overrated National parks.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the most unpopular national park?
The most unpopular national park is either Gates of the Arctic or American Samoa. This is simply because these two parks are just so damn hard to get to. They are both stunningly beautiful. The solitude if you make it there only adds to the beauty.
What national park is best to visit first?
This is a personal question and depends on where you live. But safe to say it should be one of the parks west of the Mississippi.
What is the hardest national park to get to?
The hardest national park to get to is Gates of the Arctic in Alaska. Barely 10,000 people visit the park each year due to its remoteness. It takes a major effort to get there, but those who make it say it’s totally worth it.
What is the most overrated national park?
Great Smoky Mountains is the most overrated national park. By far. It’s the most visited national park and for many folks, the most disappointing.
Final Word on Overrated National Parks
So there you have it, the definite list of the most overrated national parks in the United States. We might have broken some hearts here, but someone’s gotta do it. Again, not saying you should not visit these national parks, just that they’re not worth the hype. But it’s up to you to decide for yourself!
2 comments
“There really isn’t anything unique about it”
There we disagree- Did you know that the Smokies is the most biodiverse place on land that isn’t a rainforest? I think you need to go back to the Smokies with a new approach. Instead of just brushing the surface and going to all the touristy places, take a week there and hike the less popular trails. Enjoy the forest and the moss and the ferns- when I first saw them I exclaimed with delight. If you do want to see more stunning natural beauty, try the waterfalls. Sure, they aren’t Yosemite Falls or the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone, but there are a lot more in the Smokies and they are still beautiful.
Hi Albert, thanks for sharing your thoughts. The Smokies do have their positives, but the focus of this article is on hype vs delivery. When you compare anything in the Appalacians to anything from the Rockies west, then to anything like the Alps, Andes, or Caucasus, there’s just no comparison. Also, if you like moss and ferns, I recommend New Zealand!