Have you ever been so excited to go sightseeing, to a national park, or to a new country, but when you got there you were accompanied by thousands of other people? If you are headed somewhere to experience the best destinations that area has to offer, you might find yourself trying to avoid the crowds at all costs… but how exactly do you plan for that?
AVOID THE WEEKENDS
Weekends are a pretty obvious time to find yourself in a sea of other people. With most people off on the weekends, they are ready to get out and about with their friends and family. Because of this, week days are generally far less crowded, and sometimes you can even find better deals on travel and accommodations. If you're able to slip away during the week, you'll find your dream destinations are much less crowded!
START YOUR DAY EARLY
Oftentimes, when you set out to your destination at sunrise or earlier, you'll find peace and quiet. Not only will you get places all to yourself, but sunrise is one of the most beautiful times to experience most places. There is something extra rewarding about catching the sunrise, maybe it's because most people miss it, or maybe it's because getting up early is a challenge to overcome. Don't forget those mornings can be cold, so be sure to bring along a hot beverage in an insulated coffee tumbler, a warm blanket, and some warm clothes.
You can also learn about choosing the right thermal travel mug here.
PICK THE RIGHT SEASON
Seasonal travel exists in almost all parts of the world. With summer comes the heat, and with the heat comes people (most of the time). If you can pick a less mainstream season to go like spring or fall, you'll avoid not only the heat but most tourists as well. However, not every place has the same peak season, so make sure to get your research in before you go.
BEWARE OF HOLIDAYS
Holidays can draw some of the biggest crowds. Heading out the weekend before or after a holiday weekend can be a great alternative to spending a weekend in traffic and lines.
GO FURTHER
Most people choose the shorter option when it comes to visiting destinations. There is nothing wrong with that, but this article is about avoiding crowds. So, instead of stopping at the main attraction, keep going. In most cases, there is so much more to see than just one view, and you will avoid having to crop people out of your photos.
BE SELF SUFFICIENT
Bringing your own food and having everything prepared in advance can take a little bit more time to prepare, but when faced with massive lines, you'll end up saving a lot of time, and money, in the long run.
EMBRACE WEATHER
Don't let a little rain and wind stop you. If you aren't too picky about the weather, you'll find yourself setting out on some amazing adventures when everyone else is headed back to the car. It is important to bring the correct gear when using this tactic. We recommend a high-quality rain jacket, rain pants, waterproof shoes, a waterproof bag, and a lightweight travel towel for after.
RESEARCH, RESEARCH, RESEARCH
Research is key when it comes to avoiding crowds. There is almost always an amazing destination to explore that is less crowded and almost just as amazing as the one everyone usually goes to. Find these lesser-known places and trails and get out to explore them!
CONCLUSION
If you follow these 8 tips, you'll be able to enjoy the places you want with far fewer people to compete with over views, parking, and lines. Keep in mind that avoiding crowds takes a little bit of extra effort, but it's almost always worth it. You may have to go further, you might have to get up earlier, and you might have to work a little harder, but when you find yourself gazing over the most beautiful mountain range that's glowing pink from the crisp sunrise, you'll think to yourself "I can't wait until next time".
While choosing a time and location makes or breaks a trip, having the right gear is just as important. We've put together an article about the most useful travel essentials that can easily be forgotten so you're ready to go on your next trip!
Comments
Great ideas for avoiding crowds. Most visitors are messy and I hate picking up someone else’s trash.
This is a life-saver for an introvert like me :) thanks a lot!
Great advice! Couldn’t agree more with rising early to beat the crowds. Even in the most bustling cities, you can find serenity and solitude if you start exploring a bit sooner. When I lived in Italy, my favorite memories came from roaming around Venice at dawn and I got lost in the maze of streets with no one in sight. It was a moment filled with peace and a completely different city than the one most tourists see.
I like the article. My only wish is that I had read it before going to Disney World with children who are 9 and 5. 5 year old kept having to pee after every ride or experience. My motto for Disney is that it is a beautiful and expensive hell. After 800 days in my house, I’m a little off and overwhelmed and overstimulated.
It’s very beautiful to read this article! I remember an italian writer, Pirandello, who wrote a beautiful sense about the crowd: “you can be alone between everybody”, and this is the sense when, sometimes, I’m in the citylife. For this reason, to escape in a “desert” place, connected with mother Nature is something priceless and which can give to us the real sense of our human being, without distractions, judgement, stress and time.
Being Self Sufficient if a great way to avoid the crowds. Pack a lunch, and water, and snacks. Have a few useful phone apps, like Rome to Rio, Ulmon City Maps, and Airbnb. Deeply en joy where you are visiting, and come back for more. later.
I happened upon this story and I was wondering if you could post some tips on how to avoid crowds when you are traveling with children. Most of the time, if children are in school, families have no choice but to travel over holidays except in the summertime. Also, not every destination is manageable for families. Do you have any recommendations for families oriented vacations without crowds. Thank you!
Could not agree more with this post! I love visiting national parks and taking my own (albeit amateur) nature pics. And the worst thing is having to wait my turn to take certain shots. Or really, even having to mingle with strangers at all can make the experience feel so commercial. I enjoy socializing with people and sharing adventure stories, of course, but in the right time and place. But there are moments when you just want it to be you and the great wide open…and for that sometimes you have to think outside the box when planning your trip.
Great suggestions! Me and my family could’ve used a few of these when we went to the Grand Canyon during Christmas :)
Luckily for us we beat the most traffic leaving while everyone else was coming in on 1/26 (there was a 2mi wait to enter the park). Ironically, there wasn’t too many people at the park on 1/25 — but for all excursions: they were already full or not avail on a holiday.
Would like to also emphasize getting up early! This one is still a work in progress for me. Ha!