[doorgunner69]

Suggested to my wife going to Yellowstone once more in this life and she reminded me of the lines of people&cars everywhere.

Same with Yosemite, not been to the valley floor in 50 years. Endless line of RVs from what I saw way up above.

[BBB333]

And the price is increasing from $30.00 to $70.00:
https://www.bozemandailychronicle.com/news/environment/national-park-service-proposes-raising-yellowstone-entrance-fee-to/article_3b840ea6-8a5e-5610-adf6-dba4891f1290.html

[BipolarBob]

Pick the off season times. You’ll see more and enjoy it more. Walk the paths and it really thins out.

[Spok]

If anything is endangering the planet it’s overuse. The population will keep growing until there’s a natural correction..like a plague or mass starvation.

[Soul of the South]

Some of the less visited national parks and monuments are wonderful, plus there are some great state parks. I recommend:

Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park
Great Sand Dunes National Park
Colorado National Monument
Theodore Roosevelt National Park
White Sands National Park
Gulf Islands National Seashore (visit in early spring and fall)
Pictured Rock National Lakeshore
Voyageurs National Park
Grand Portage National Monument
Cape Hatteras National Seashore (visit in the fall)
Mt. St. Helens National Volcanic Monument
Badlands National Park (visit after Labor Day)
Wind Cave National Park
Big Bend National Park and Big Bend State Park
Bandelier National Monument
Canyon de Chelly
Devils Tower National Monument
Jewel Cave National Monument
Little Bighorn National Battlefield
Mojave Trails National Monument
Rio Grande del Norte National Monument
Saguaro Forest National Park
Everglades National Park
Blue Ridge Parkway
Natchez Trace

Some wonderful state parks include:
Palo Duro Canyon (Texas)
Cloudland Canyon (Georgia)
Custer State Park (South Dakota) visit after Labor Day.
Topsail Hill Preserve and nearby Grayton Beach (Florida)
Silver Springs (Florida)
Pipestem State Park (West Virginia)
Fort Abraham Lincoln State Park (North Dakota)
Itasca State Park (Minnesota)
Chimney Rock (North Carolina)
Tahquemenon State Park (Michigan)
Davis Mountains State Park (Texas)
Black Mesa State Park (Oklahoma)

I’ve found September and October are the best months to visit many of the extremely popular national and state parks. Children back in school plus cooler weather reduce the crowds and make reservations easier to snag.

It has been 15 years since I’ve been to Yellowstone and nearly 20 since visiting Yosemite. I understand both have huge crowds except during the middle of the winter.

[Bonemaker]

“Suggested to my wife going to Yellowstone once more in this life and she reminded me of the lines of people&cars everywhere.
Same with Yosemite, not been to the valley floor in 50 years. Endless line of RVs from what I saw way up above.”

If I want a road rage traffic jam I’ll just drive around Chicago thank you very much.

[Hambone 1934]

Went to Yosemite in the 60`s and 70`s with the family..Gorgeous and not crowded..Haven’t bothered last 30 years.

[ProtectOurFreedom]

My family gave me a 60th birthday trip to Yellowstone & Tetons in July six years ago. If you plan things right, crowds are not a problem at all. We had a ball. Splurged and stayed at the Lake Yellowstone Hotel. Got up at 4 AM one morning to make sunrise in the Lamar Valley to see wildlife (spectacular!). Did a 5-mile round trip in and out hike to Fairy Falls — after the first quarter mile, we only saw one other person. Hiked to the top of Mount Washburn, the highest peak in Yellowstone and were literally IN a huge group of mountain goats. The trail wasn’t heavily travelled. If you do things right, the crowds won’t bother you.

My wife didn’t want to take our annual trip to Idaho in July this year because of crowds. The crowds in Ketchum were light, no trouble with dinner reservations. Only two other hikers passed us hiking up Baldy. Went up to Redfish Lake in the Sawtooths and crowds were no problem. We rented a motorboat on the spot, no reservation, to tour the lake. My wife was pleasantly surprised at how light the crowds were.

I live in the Bay Area and it’s been a long while since I’ve been to Yosemite. I suspect if you arrive by car before 7 AM you’ll be ok. A good friend went to Yosemite a couple weeks ago to climb Half Dome and didn’t mention traffic problems. Our son was there to climb Half Dome about six weeks ago and didn’t mention traffic problems.

Maybe they are blowing traffic out of proportion to keep people away!