Skip the Crowds: 15 Underrated Summer Destinations in the USA
Does the idea of going on summer vacation only to plant yourself on a crowded beach among a sea of bodies sound like your personal hell?
Or paying twelve bucks for a hunk of fudge after standing in line for an hour.
Maybe you’re just over tourist traps entirely.
I hear ya. If you’d rather get away from the crowds than stuff yourself into them, these underrated summer destinations in the U.S. are for you. Enjoy your vacation instead of mentally punching strangers standing in your way.
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New Orleans
Yes, New Orleans is hot in the summer. Which is exactly why all the tourists clear out.
If the idea of dealing with Mardi Gras crowds makes you want to break out in hives, try visiting New Orleans in the summer instead. It’s much less overwhelming and much more introvert-friendly.
You’ll spend less time waiting in line, have an easier time getting restaurant reservations, and actually be able to appreciate the French Quarter without shuffling shoulder-to-shoulder through it. Plus many of the clubs on Frenchmen Street don’t charge covers on weekdays in the summer.
Oh, and the snoballs really HIT in hot weather, and so do daiquiris.
See, the sun isn’t so bad with a frozen drink in your hand, is it? Even better if you’re poolside, which your hotel will likely have!
Mobile, AL
Think of Mobile as New Orleans’ quieter little sibling.
It has beautiful historic neighborhoods and plenty of Southern charm without nearly as many visitors. The downtown area is lively, and some of the streets are named after New Orleans streets (and there’s even a Cafe Beignet!). Better yet, you’re only about an hour from the Gulf Coast if you decide you want a beach day.
Instead of battling the crowds in Gulf Shores, though, you might want to head to Dauphin Island for your beach day. It’s peaceful, laid-back, dog-friendly, and there aren’t any huge, imposing resorts.
Fun fact: Mobile is where the original Mardi Gras as we know it started, and they even have a Mardi Gras museum you can tour.
Minneapolis-St. Paul, MN
Minneapolis and St. Paul are underrated in general. They are both absolutely beautiful in the summer. The weather rarely gets super hot, and you can spend your days at one of the numerous (10,000) lakes having a beach day, boating, paddle boarding, or maybe even catching a band.
Notable lakes:
- Lake Harriet — beautiful paved loop trail, paddleboard and kayak rentals, and the iconic Lake Harriet Bandshell, which hosts free concerts throughout the summer
- Bde Maka Ska — the largest of the Minneapolis lakes, with designated swimming beaches, sailboat rentals, and a great people-watching scene
- Lake Nokomis — a bit more laid-back than the others, with two beaches, canoe and paddleboard rentals, sailing, and a quieter vibe if you want to actually relax (my favorite)
After months of brutal winter, summer in Minneapolis and St. Paul hits like a rite of passage. Restaurant and brewery patios are packed, everyone is outside, and the overall mood is just plain happy. Plus, it doesn’t get dark until about 9 p.m. in the summer. Love, love, love.
Chattanooga, TN
The Smokies get all the attention, but Chattanooga is another mountain town in Tennessee that’s gorgeous, scenic (its nickname is Scenic City), and has fewer crowds. There may not be fudge shops on every corner like Gatlinburg, but there are far fewer people.
It’s a walkable, artsy, outdoorsy mid-size city with a really strong food scene and a riverfront that actually delivers. Signal Mountain, Lookout Mountain, and Ruby Falls are both nearby and worth a visit. Signal Mountain offers solid hiking with views that rival anything in the Smokies.
Downtown, the Walnut Street Bridge, a converted pedestrian bridge over the Tennessee River, connects the city to the Northshore neighborhood and hosts events and live music in the summer. Riverfront Nights is a free weekly concert series at Ross’s Landing that features local and regional bands all summer long.
Duluth, MN
If you’ve never been to northern Minnesota in the summer, you’re missing out. Northern Minnesota is green in the summer, and Duluth is a charming town that sits right on Lake Superior, one of the five Great Lakes (and the largest). When I first visited, I had never seen the ocean and well, you could have fooled me.
The city itself is hilly, walkable, and full of good coffee shops, local breweries, and independent bookstores. Canal Park is the touristy heart of it, but in a manageable way.
My favorite thing to do was watch the Aerial Lift Bridge go up and down. Cheap entertainment is always the best.
Santa Fe, NM
Santa Fe is one of the most unique cities in the country, and it’s super charming. It has Adobe architecture and a fantastic art scene, including the Georgia O’Keefe Museum and the original Meow Wolf interactive art exhibit. If you’ve been to Meow Wolf in Denver, you’re already familiar. Summer brings the Santa Fe Indian Market (late August) and the Santa Fe Opera, which hosts performances in an open-air theater in the hills outside the city.
Even better, the higher elevation keeps temperatures much more comfortable than many other parts of the Southwest.
If you’re looking to explore nearby, Taos, Albuquerque and Acoma Pueblo aren’t far.
Western Colorado
Everybody talks about Denver and Rocky Mountain National Park. But Colorado is a massive state, and there’s a lot happening west of the Front Range that doesn’t get nearly enough credit.
Charming Mountain Towns
Telluride is one of the cutest towns I’ve ever been to (and one of the most dog-friendly). If you decide to stay in Denver and want to venture out, the road trip from Denver to Telluride is something else.
Don’t overlook Palisade, just outside Grand Junction. It’s Colorado’s wine country, where vineyards, peach orchards, and wine tastings replace the crowds you’ll find elsewhere in the state.
Half the fun is getting there. The Million Dollar Highway between Ouray and Silverton is one of the most scenic (yet terrifying) drives in the country. Ouray and Silverton are at their busiest in the summer but are still a cakewalk compared to the RMNP crowds. Relax in hot springs, go hiking, or take the Narrow Gauge Railroad from Silverton to Durango.
Mesa Verde National Park
Not too far from Durango is Mesa Verda National Park, which preserves thousands of Ancestral Puebloan archaeological sites, including cliff dwellings tucked directly into the canyon walls.
Unlike many national parks, Mesa Verde isn’t all about mountain scenery or hiking. It’s a chance to learn about the people who lived here centuries ago while exploring one of the most unique landscapes in the Southwest. If you’re already road-tripping through western Colorado, it’s an easy addition that feels completely different from the mountain towns nearby.
Idaho Springs, CO
Does the idea of Estes Park crowds give you hives, but you don’t want to drive 6 hours from Denver? Idaho Springs has all the charm of Estes Park without the huge crowds. Hike to St. Mary’s Glacier nearby or simply explore the charming downtown area. I lived here for a month in the off-season and found it to be the perfect balance of cutesy downtown and mountain solitude.
Florida Keys
Most people choose the Florida Keys as a winter escape. However, summer brings fewer crowds, though the tradeoff is hotter temperatures. If you’re not going to let a little heat hold you back, you’ll enjoy the Keys in summer.
Key West
I mean, it’s easy to keep cool in Key West in the summer. Go bar hopping on Duval Street and then catch a famous sunset in Mallory Square. Then go bar hopping again and go get in your hotel pool. Easy.
There are fun festivals in the summer as well, such as Hemingway Days in July, where a Hemingway Lookalike Contest takes place.
Beyond Key West: Middle and Upper Keys
If you want a more relaxing environment than Key West, go up north a bit to Islamorada. It has some of the most beautiful water on the Keys and an iconic sandbar. Plus, it’s home to one of my favorite roadside attractions, Robbie’s, where you can feed giant tarpon with your bare hands.
Key Largo has some of the best snorkeling on the Keys, including the famous Underwater Jesus statue.
Dry Tortugas National Park
Take a day trip from Key West to Dry Tortugas National Park, one of the least-visited (yet beautiful) national parks in the U.S. Between historic Fort Jefferson, crystal-clear water, and some of the best snorkeling in the Keys, it’s absolutely worth the effort. Summer can actually be a great time to visit if you don’t mind the heat. Just come prepared. The sun is absolutely relentless out there, so pack the biggest hat you own (totally okay to purchase a cheesy, tourist one, like I did), plenty of sunscreen, and more water than you think you’ll need.
