Methodology
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Researchers at Dunhill Travel Deals analyzed data from the National Park Service's 2025 National Park Service Visitor Use Statistics dataset to identify the U.S. national parks best suited for travelers seeking a "soft adventure" experience.
The analysis examined overnight stays across the National Park Service's 63 national parks and calculated the share of all overnight stays occurring at in-park lodging (concessioner lodging) and park-run RV campgrounds (RV campers). These two accommodation types were selected because they offer visitors the opportunity to experience national parks while maintaining access to amenities and greater comfort than traditional backcountry camping.
The concessioner campers category was excluded from the analysis because it combines both RV and tent campers, making it impossible to isolate RV stays. State-level rankings include overnight stays from national parks that span multiple states, with each park's overnight stays attributed to every state in which the park is located.
For additional context, researchers also calculated the total national park stays at in-park lodging, total national park stays at park-run RV camps, total national park stays in any accommodations for both 2019 and 2025, and the percentage change in total national park stays from 2019 to 2025.
For complete results, see Best U.S. National Parks for Soft-Adventure Travel on Dunhill Travel Deals.
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