National parks with self-guided tours - auto
Bright dots offer self-guided tours - auto. Tap any park to tick it off your checklist.
Quietest picks for self-guided tours - auto
- 1Wrangell–St. Elias National Park & Preserve108,840 visits
- 2Petrified Forest National Park315,951 visits
- 3Lassen Volcanic National Park504,777 visits
By 2025 recreation visits (NPS).
Most parks for self-guided tours - auto
- California 3
- Montana 2
- Utah 2
- Washington 2
- Wyoming 2
- Alaska 1
- Arizona 1
- Florida 1
19 parks
Where to go for self-guided tours - auto
Photo: NPSBig Bend National Park
Texas
568,104 visits in 2025Quietest: August$30 / vehicle
Photo: NPS Photo / Peter DensmoreBryce Canyon National Park
Utah
1,967,367 visits in 2025Quietest: January$35 / vehicle
Photo: NPS PhotoCapitol Reef National Park
Utah
1,388,476 visits in 2025Quietest: January$20 / vehicle
Photo: NPS PhotoCrater Lake National Park
Oregon
632,242 visits in 2025Quietest: January$30 / vehicle
Photo: NPS Photo by Miguel SalasEverglades National Park
Florida
778,198 visits in 2025Quietest: October$35 / vehicle
Photo: NPS PhotoGlacier National Park
Montana
3,136,557 visits in 2025Quietest: February$35 / vehicle
Photo: NPS Photo/TobiasonGrand Teton National Park
Wyoming
3,800,648 visits in 2025Quietest: December$35 / vehicle
Photo: NPS / Bob CarrGreat Smoky Mountains National Park
North Carolina, Tennessee
11,527,939 visits in 2025Quietest: JanuaryFree entry
Photo: NPS PhotoIndiana Dunes National Park
Indiana
2,629,497 visits in 2025Quietest: January$25 / vehicle
Photo: NPS / Emily HassellJoshua Tree National Park
California
2,932,644 visits in 2025Quietest: July$30 / vehicle
Photo: NPS Photo / Scott ArnazLassen Volcanic National Park
California
504,777 visits in 2025Quietest: December$30 / vehicle
Photo: NPS Photo / E. BrouwerMount Rainier National Park
Washington
1,635,342 visits in 2025Quietest: February$30 / vehicle
Photo: NPS photo/Louise McLaughlinNew River Gorge National Park & Preserve
West Virginia
1,958,440 visits in 2025Quietest: JanuaryFree entry
Photo: NPS Photo/Jon PrestonOlympic National Park
Washington
3,584,187 visits in 2025Quietest: January$30 / vehicle
Photo: NPS PhotoPetrified Forest National Park
Arizona
315,951 visits in 2025Quietest: February$25 / vehicle
Photo: NPS Photo / Steve OlsonRedwood National and State Parks
California
1,202,480 visits in 2025Quietest: DecemberFree entry
Photo: NPS PhotoWind Cave National Park
South Dakota
606,258 visits in 2025Quietest: FebruaryFree entry
Photo: NPS Photo/ Neal HerbertWrangell–St. Elias National Park & Preserve
Alaska
108,840 visits in 2025Quietest: JanuaryFree entry
Photo: NPS / Jacob W. FrankYellowstone National Park
Idaho, Montana, Wyoming
4,762,988 visits in 2025Quietest: November$35 / vehicle
Ideas from the National Park Service
Self-Guided Tours - Auto ideas, park by park
- One Hour Excursions1-4 Hours · All year
Whether you have an hour, a half day, or a full day, the beaches, dunes, and trails of the Indiana Dunes offer relaxation, inspiration, and fun adventures.
FeePets OK - Half Day Adventures2-8 Hours · All year
Whether you have an hour, a half day, or a full day, the beaches, dunes, and trails of Indiana Dunes offer relaxation, inspiration, and fun adventures. This list highlights some of the must-see sights in the park. This…
FeePets OK - Full Day Expeditions6-24 Hours · All year
Whether you have an hour, a half day, or a full day, the beaches, dunes, and trails of Indiana Dunes offer relaxation, inspiration, and fun adventures. This list highlights some of the must-see sights in the park. This…
FeePets OK
- Wind Cave Geology Driving Tour60-90 Minutes · All year
The geology driving tour is a great way to see the park while learning about the rich geologic history of the Black Hills. On this 20 mile long tour, you will travel back in time and view Wind Cave's rock record to get…
From the NPS Data API's things-to-do records, checked 2026-10-01.
FAQ
Self-Guided Tours - Auto, quickly
- Which national parks offer self-guided tours - auto?
- 19 of the 63 national parks list self-guided tours - auto as an activity, according to the National Park Service: Big Bend, Bryce Canyon, Capitol Reef, Crater Lake, Everglades, Glacier, Grand Teton, Great Smoky Mountains, Indiana Dunes, Joshua Tree, Lassen Volcanic, Mount Rainier, New River Gorge, Olympic, Petrified Forest, Redwood, Wind Cave, Wrangell–St. Elias, Yellowstone.
- What's the least crowded national park for self-guided tours - auto?
- By 2025 recreation visits, Wrangell–St. Elias National Park & Preserve (108,840 visits), then Petrified Forest (315,951). The busiest park on this list is Great Smoky Mountains, with 11,527,939.
- Which state has the most national parks for self-guided tours - auto?
- California, with 3, followed by Montana (2).
Sources · 2
- 1.NPS Data API — /parks (all park units) · National Park Service (U.S. Department of the Interior)
- 2.NPS Visitor Use Statistics — monthly recreation visits, 2021–2025 (IRMA stats REST service) · National Park Service (U.S. Department of the Interior) — Visitor Use Statistics Program
Activities are the ones each park lists in the NPS Data API. Check the park's own nps.gov page for current trail, water and permit conditions.
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