Traveling to a national park is often a memorable getaway but if there's one drawback come summer it's the crowds.

While there are dozens of protected lands to choose from all over the United States, a handful stand out as they are rarely seen and experienced.

Here's a look at the nation's least-visited national parks where travelers are certain to escape the crowds.

Hosting just over 11,000 recreational visits in 2023, Alaska's Gates of the Arctic National Park and Preserve is easily the nation's least-visited protected land. It's also the country's northernmost national park as it's situated entirely north of the Arctic Circle.

Although it's only located about 100 miles from Anchorage, Alaska's Lake Clark National Park and Preserve is mostly empty as there are no roads into the park and it must be accessed by a boat or small plane. Nonetheless, the park rewards ambitious visitors with millions of acres of glaciers, mountain peaks, streams, lakes and more natural wonders.

Yet another Alaskan park to make the list, Kobuk Valley National Park reported just over 17,600 visitors in 2023. Also located north of the Arctic Circle, the park is celebrated for its impressive sand dunes and caribou migration.

Only accessible by boat or plane, Michigan's Isle Royale National Park welcomed fewer than 29,000 visitors last year. The scenic park offers miles of hiking trails in addition to spectacular wildlife in the form of moose and wolves, among other animals.

Katmai National Park and Preserve is located to the southwest of Lake Clark and posted 33,763 visits last year, with travelers arriving by boat or float plane to explore its diverse terrain, partake in kayaking adventures and see its famous brown bears as they feed on salmon at Brooks Falls.

For those who prefer to remain in the contiguous United States, North Cascades National Park in northern Washington presents ample natural beauty and numerous opportunities for adventure without the crowds. The park hosted just over 40,000 visitors last year, with many choosing to explore during the summer months after the weather has improved.

Alaska's Wrangell-St. Elias National Park and Preserve is a breathtaking national park where travelers can find seclusion among seven of the 20 tallest mountain peaks in the U.S., the largest subpolar icefield in North America and magnificent sprawling glaciers.

Another national park that can only be accessed by boat or seaplane, Dry Tortugas National Park can be found about 70 miles west of Key West, Florida. The family-friendly park offers visitors a glimpse into the past at sites like Fort Jefferson on top of some amazing snorkeling opportunities in the surrounding crystal clear waters.

Hosting only 143,265 recreational visits in 2023, it's safe to say that Nevada's Great Basin National Park is flying under the radar. Highlights include ancient bristlecone pine groves, the Lehman Caves and some of the darkest night skies found anywhere in the world, making it a haven for stargazers.

Voyageurs National Park in northern Minnesota is mostly comprised of water so it can present a challenge to visit. It hosted nearly 221,000 visitors last year but that figure still pales in comparison to the nearly 13.3 million people the Great Smoky Mountains saw in 2023. Nonetheless, travelers with kayaks and canoes will have ample room to roam in this one-of-a-kind protected land.