10 of the best national parks to visit in the summer, and 2 to avoid, according to a couple who have been to all 63

Maria NoyenMay 6, 2024, 04:42 IST

Matt and Karen Smith visiting Glacier National Park.Courtesy of Matt and Karen Smith.

A Gen X couple who has been to all 63 national parks says some are better than others in the summer.
Matt and Karen Smith would avoid parks like Death Valley because of killer summer temperatures.

There are 63 national parks in the US, but according to a couple who have been to all of them, not every park is a summer destination.

Matt and Karen Smith, both 63, told Business Insider they left their jobs in 2010 with the sole mission of visiting every US national park after being inspired by their friends Bob and Sue.

Since then, the couple has written several books about their national park experiences and shares their tips and tricks on an Instagram page with over 247,000 followers as of May 2024 and on their podcast, "Dear Bob and Sue: A National Parks Podcast."

The National Parks Service reported earlier this year that over 325 million people visited at least one national park last year, a 4% increase from the year prior.

With popularity close to an all-time high, here are eight parks the Smiths advise going to in the summer and two they'd recommend avoiding.

Visiting Death Valley in the summer can be a killer — "literally."

Death Valley National Park is in California.Courtesy of Matt and Karen Smith

The same goes for Joshua Tree, which the Smiths say can also be "brutally hot."

Sunset at Joshua Tree National Park, a popular getaway for residents of Los Angeles and San Diego.Frank DeBonis/Getty Images

Among the best parks to visit in the summer is North Cascades in Washington.

North Cascades National Park is in Washington.Courtesy of Matt and Karen Smith

Another summer favorite of the Smiths is Mount Rainier, also in Washington.

Mount Rainier National Park is in Washington.Courtesy of Matt and Karen Smith

A summertime visit to Glacier is worth it for the views alone, the Smiths say.

Glacier National Park is in Montana.Courtesy of Matt and Karen Smith

Your chances of getting unobstructed views of Crater Lake are higher in the summer.

Crater Lake National Park is in Oregon.Courtesy of Matt and Karen Smith

Yosemite is "a beauty" during the warmer months of the year.

Yosemite National Park is in California.Michael Gerard Santos Ceralde/Getty Images

An underrated alternative to Yosemite that is just as beautiful in the summer is Kings Canyon.

Kings Canyon National Park is in California.Courtesy of Matt and Karen Smith

Sequoia National Park is another great option for those looking to beat the crowds in the summer.

Sequoia National Park is in California.Elena Pueyo/Getty Images

If you're a wildlife lover, be sure to visit Yellowstone in the early summer.

Yellowstone National Park is mostly in Wyoming.Courtesy of Matt and Karen Smith

Grand Teton is Yellowstone's "sister park" and is also perfect to visit in the summer.

Grand Teton National Park is in Wyoming.Courtesy of Matt and Karen Smith

Denali is just one of the 15 national parks in Alaska that the Smiths recommend for summer visits.

Denali National Park is in Alaska. KeenaiPhotography / iStock

We stayed in a 'Toy Story'-themed hotel for $280 a night. Our small room was a great value with tons of awesome details.

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