There are still four more free entrance days at the hundreds of national parks and areas across the United States.?

While marquee lands such as the Grand Canyon, Yellowstone and the Great Smoky Mountains will remain in high demand heading into the peak summer travel period, some lesser-known parks are more than deserving of travelers' attention.

If you're ready to venture off the beaten path, consider these underrated national parks.

The drive on I-90 to South Dakota's Badlands National Park can be daunting. Still, those willing to trek an hour from Rapid City and the Black Hills¡ªcount Mount Rushmore and Custer State Park among the many draws here¡ªwill be rewarded at Badlands National Park.

This preserved land blends otherworldly landscape with unique opportunities to spot native wildlife up close, including intimidating bighorn sheep, prairie dogs, bison and more.

Utah is a popular state for national parks as it's home to some of the most coveted, including Arches, Bryce Canyon and Zion National Parks. But nestled in between all three in the heart of red rock country is the underrated Capitol Reef National Park.

The scenery is unmatched¡ªvisitors can explore canyons, cliffs and more¡ªbut among the highlights is the Waterpocket Fold, a geologic monocline or a wrinkle in the Earth that extends almost 100 miles.

You'll discover Great Basin National Park just miles from the Nevada-Utah border. A dream destination for stargazers as it boasts one of the darkest night skies on the planet, Great Basin will have visitors looking up and down as it counts the Lehman Caves among its many highlights.

Often dismissed as the desert, this park is also home to ancient bristlecone pines and the impressive 13,063-foot summit of Wheeler Peak.

A precious place in western North Dakota, Theodore Roosevelt National Park spans more than 70,000 acres and celebrates one of the great passions of the 26th U.S. President, who fell in love with the badlands of the Dakotas in the late 19th century.

This park is quintessential American West without the crowds and allows visitors the singular chance to follow in Roosevelt's shoes and obtain the perspective that would shape vital conservation policy in the U.S.

Just east of Capitol Reef, Canyonlands National Park has emerged as a hidden gem in Utah, rewarding patient travelers with a special desert landscape full of adventure.

The park is divided into four different districts, including Island in the Sky, The Needles, The Maze and the rivers and offers the opportunity to explore otherworldly geology in addition to history and culture as they tour the homeland of Native peoples.

Michigan's Isle Royale National Park is one of the country's least-visited protected lands and arguably the nation's most unique as it's comprised entirely of islands. This park is ideal for water lovers with a passion for boating, diving or paddling Lake Superior, but there's plenty to do on land as well, including hiking and wildlife viewing.

Moose and wolves are among the many fascinating animals that inhabit this park.

Located just outside South Carolina's capital city of Columbia, Congaree National Park offers visitors blissful biodiversity. More specifically, this protected land is home to the largest intact expanse of old growth bottomland hardwood forest remaining in the southeastern U.S.

Congaree offers exciting primitive and backcountry camping opportunities as well as well as scenic hiking, kayaking, canoeing and even fishing experiences.

Often overlooked in favor of Olympic and Mount Rainier National Parks, Washington's North Cascades National Park is like Isle Royale in that it's among the nation's least visited in 2025. But located less than three hours from Seattle, there's no excuse not to explore this vast nature preserve the next time you're in the Pacific?Northwest.

Break from the daily grind while navigating serene forested valleys and hundreds of scenic glaciers. Guests can even make backcountry reservations during the warmer months.

Texas' Big Bend National Park sits just north of the U.S.-Mexico border and can be a challenging place to visit. Nonetheless, it's a worthwhile trip that offers a splendid escape from the hustle and bustle of everyday life in addition to some of the world's most dramatic landscapes and darkest night skies.

This park is also home to some of the country's most picturesque drives and beautiful fall colors for those planning a late-2025 adventure.?

Renowned for being among the hottest, driest and lowest points on Earth, California's Death Valley National Park isn't far from Las Vegas and is often overlooked due to its gloomy name.

However, there's a reason this dramatic desert is protected as visitors can tour stunning landscapes by air-conditioned car or truck, check out famous Star Wars filming locations, stargaze like our ancestors and enjoy spectacular hiking and mountain biking excursions in addition to backcountry driving adventures.?