This Florida National Park Was Named One of the Most Underrated in the U.S. — and It Has 7 Islands, Crystal-clear Waters, and Isn't Accessible by Car
Lake.com released its list of the most underrated national parks, naming Dry Tortugas in the top three.
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The National Parks Service (NPS) recorded more than 325 million park visits in 2023. However, those visits were hardly evenly split among its 400 sites. The Great Smoky Mountains National Park got the lion's share with 13.29 million visits, followed by the Grand Canyon National Park, which saw 4.73 million, and Zion National Park, which had 4.62 million. And while these parks are certainly worth it, there are plenty of others that fly under the radar that are equally worth your time — including one particularly magical spot in Florida.
In late July, Lake.com, a vacation rental platform, released its list of the most underrated national parks. To reach its conclusion, the team analyzed 2023's NPS data to identify all parks with fewer than 750,000 visitors. It then awarded each of those parks with a score out of 100 based on visitor volumes, visitor reviews, and review ratings.
After looking at the data, it named Dry Tortugas National Park, located some 70 miles off the coast of Key West, Florida, as one of its top three most underrated national parks.
"In third place is Dry Tortugas, west of Key West, Florida, with a score of 84.6 out of 100," the team noted. "This park is mostly water and comprises 7 islands that are only accessible by boat or seaplane. The area is known for its coral reefs and thriving marine life."
Yes, it can take a bit of work to get there, but once you land (by ferry, private boat, or by plane), you'll be rewarded with views of the crystal-clear waters that lap soft, white sand beaches, which you can swim in all day long. In the park, travelers can also visit Fort Jefferson, a massive 19th-century fort that served as a supply station. Travelers can also swim and snorkel on the island and can even spend a night or two at one of its campsites.
Joining Dry Tortugas at the top of the list is North Cascades National Park in Washington at the No. 2 spot and Isle Royale National Park in Lake Superior, Michigan at No. 3. Gates of The Arctic National Park and Preserve in Alaska and Wrangell-St. Elias in Alaska rounded out the top five.
Looking for more gems to see? Check out the least visited national parks in America and plan a trip to show them some love.
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