Big Bend National Park

Located in the scenic middle of nowhere, which is apparently the Mexican border of west Texas, Big Bend National Park receives only 300,000 or so visitors each year (compare this to the 10 million annual visitors to the Great Smokey Mountains National Park or the 1 million that visit Death Valley).

After a 200 mile drive from the nearest airport, in Midland, Texas, visitors are treated to breath-taking views of soaring cliffs, the mighty Rio Grande, and the nation that lies just beyond the Rio Grande, Mexico. But if you go, be on the lookout for the vicious wild pigs known as javelinas, as well as mountain lions, coyotes, and the fearsome tarantula.

Dry Tortugas National Park

Looking to get away from everything and everyone, but you’re more interested in crystal blue Caribbean waters than some murky river? Look no further than Dry Tortugas National Park. It’s got something for the whole family: camping, snorkeling, fishing, a Civil War-era fortress/prison, and absolutely no fresh water.

At 70 miles due west of Key West, the sandy lumps of island that make up Dry Tortugas are somehow home to the largest brick building in the Western hemisphere, historic Fort Jefferson. The massive structure was designed to protect the Florida Keys from pirates, but it saw much more use as a military prison for misbehaving Union soldiers. Today, it’s just a weird and quiet place to visit with spectacular beaches.

Isle Royale National park

Would you rather trade in a tropical climate for some wolves and moose? Isle Royale National park is the perfect place for you. It’s the largest US island in the Great Lakes and reachable by ferry from bustling metropolises like Copper Harbor, Michigan (population 108) and Grand Portage, Minnesota (population 120).

After disembarking, you’ll be more or less alone on the shore of Lake Superior (which takes up to 3 hours to cross) and within 15 miles of Canada. Isle Royale is home to some of the most unspoiled forests and unbelievable camping in the Lower 48 states, and with fewer than 15,000 visitors a year, you’ll be able to relax and recharge in peace—if you don’t mind the wolves.

Alaska’s Kobuk Valley National Park

Still not remote enough for you? Keep heading north until you get to Alaska’s Kobuk Valley National Park. At more than 50 miles north of the Arctic Circle (and less than 300 miles from Russia), Kobuk Valley is not for the faint of heart. There are no flush toilets, no showers, no RV hook-ups, no campsites, no gift shops, no cell phone reception, and no roads (but still plenty of wolves and giant sand dunes too).

This wilderness is so inaccessible that you can’t drive to the park—not even with a serious 4WD vehicle. Instead, you’ll need to take an air taxi from the nearest village, which is over 100 miles away. Alternatively, you can always wait for early winter snows and travel by dogsled to Kobuk Valley National Park—besides, a team of dogs can be pretty good company.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Only in Cornwall would you have to evacuate <a href="https://twitter.com/Tesco">@Tesco</a> because a seagull flew in 😂😂 <a href="https://t.co/co8eWevGEA">pic.twitter.com/co8eWevGEA</a></p>&mdash; b.hutch (@_bradhutchinson) <a href="https://twitter.com/_bradhutchinson/status/765636563292266496">August 16, 2016</a></blockquote>
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