In this article, we will look at the 30 most remote places in the US for a different experience. But before that, let’s take an overview of the tourism and travel industry in the country.
Overview of the Tourism and Travel Industry
According to data from the Bureau of Economic Analysis, which is an official website of the United States government, the travel and tourism industry in the US increased by 21% in 2022, as measured by the real output of services and goods directly sold to tourists. The industry previously underwent a 53.6% increase in 2021. The World Tourism Barometer 2024 released by the United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) shows that international tourism experienced an increase of 1.28 billion international tourists in 2023, undergoing a 34% increase between 2022 and 2023. Strong pent-up demand for travel has caused international tourism to recover to 88% of its pre-pandemic levels as of 2023, with a complete recovery underway in 2024.
In fact, the UNWTO Tourism Confidence Index survey indicates improved prospects for 2024 as compared to 2023 according to 67% of tourism professionals. Total export revenues generated by tourism stand at around $1.6 trillion as of 2023, which is about 95% of the $1.7 trillion in revenues calculated pre-pandemic in 2019. These numbers include passenger transport. Furthermore, the tourism direct gross domestic product (TDGDP) stands at $3.3 trillion according to preliminary estimates of 2023. This translates to 3% of the global GDP and is the same as its pre-pandemic levels of 2019. Improved domestic and international travel are the primary regulators behind this growth. You can also look at 25 Most Festive Cities in the US.
Is USA Undergoing A Small Town Boom?
According to a report by Bloomberg, the trend of people leaving urban cities to relocate to smaller towns that began in the pandemic has continued at least through last year. The remote work dynamic has allowed people to move to seaside towns and remote mountain hamlets, leaving big cities behind. According to estimates by Hamilton Lombard, a demographer from the University of Virginia, an estimated number of 291,400 people migrated to the rural areas and smaller towns in the USA in 2023. All the regions these people migrated to had a population less than 250,000 people. Migration to smaller towns and rural settlements exceeded the net migration into larger metropolitans for the first time since the 1970s, showcasing a new trend in the living conditions of the residents of the US.
Where Does Technology Come In?
Online travel platforms have enhanced travel access to even the remotest regions of the world, with Expedia Group, Inc. (NASDAQ:EXPE) being one of them. The American company operates numerous travel metasearch engines and travel fare aggregators, including Expedia, Orbitz, Hotels.com, Expedia Cruises, Travelocity, Hotwire.com, Wotif, CarRentals.com, CheapTickets, and Trivago. The company is, however, simplifying its operations by reducing its brands, including ebookers UK. Expedia Group, Inc. (NASDAQ:EXPE) also slashed several other brands under its ex-CEO Peter Kern, including Classic Vacations, SilverRail, Alice, Expedia Group Multifamily, BodyBuilder.com, and Egencia. An Expedia Group spokesperson told Skift that the closure of ebookers UK was driven by the company’s decision that “that those travelers would get the best experience on Expedia”. No marketing resources had gone into ebookers UK as of late, with the travel site having only a fraction of Expedia UK’s website traffic. ebookers UK customers will be able to travel as per their existing reservations, and can even cancel or amend their reservations after its September 4 closure by contacting customer service.
On May 7, the company announced the launch of a web experience to the UAE market along with a Gen-AI enabled application. The announcement was made from the Arabian Travel Market, with Expedia Group, Inc. (NASDAQ:EXPE) holding a $25 billion travel and tourism industry in UAE. The United Arab Emirates stands as a leader in the travel and tourism sector, with Dubai ranking among the top tourist destinations across the globe in recent years. The region’s increasing popularity is one of the primary reasons behind Expedia Group, Inc. (NASDAQ:EXPE)’s increasing endeavors in the region.
Expedia Group, Inc. (NASDAQ:EXPE) was also the first travel company to integrate ChatGPT into its online application to increase convenience for its users. The feature helps users access price predictions on future flights, price history, and find the best and most affordable travel plans. Users can also hold a conversation with ChatGPT to get recommendations on where to travel, best places to stay, and fun activities to take part in while travelling. The company’s collaboration with OpenAI is in the beta testing phase, and is evolving as users continue to interact with it.
Now that we have taken an overview of the travel and tourism sector, let’s look at the 30 most remote places in the US for a different experience. You can also look at 28 Most Romantic Cities in the United States in 2024 and 20 Quietest Big Cities to Live in the US.
30 Most Remote Places In The US For A Different Experience
Our Methodology
In order to compile a list of the 30 most remote places in the US for a different experience, we used a consensus approach and a visitor survey through Reddit. Firstly, we consulted ten online travel expert resources to compile a list of the 50 most remote places in the US for a different and unique travel experience. Next, we looked at ten Reddit threads that asked commenters to mention the best remote places they had visited in the United States. We only chose threads that had more than 50 comments and studied more than 500 comments to shortlist the best remote places in the United States with the most recommendations by Reddit users. We then counted the number of upvotes on each comment and chose the top 30 places with the most number of upvotes. The 30 most remote places in the US for a different experience are arranged in ascending order of their number of upvotes on Reddit.
Note: This list is not exhaustive and does not reflect our opinion. The ranking is solely based on the opinions of mass consumers on Reddit.
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30 Most Remote Places In The US For A Different Experience
30. Red Lodge, Montana
Number of Reddit Upvotes: 287
Red Lodge ranks 30th on our list of the 30 most remote places in the US for a different experience with 287 Reddit upvotes. The historic mining town is famous for its biking and hiking trails, with the iconic Beartooth Highway stealing much of the spotlight. Visitors can reach the northeast entrance of the famous Yellowstone National Park through the highway.
29. Marfa, Texas
Number of Reddit Upvotes: 298
Marfa is a quaint town located in west Texas and ranks 29th on our list. The desert city offers stargazing spots and other outdoor entertainment avenues, including the iconic “Marfa Lights” phenomenon.
28. Park City, Utah
Number of Reddit Upvotes: 311
Utah’s Park City ranks in the 28th spot on our list with 311 upvotes on Reddit. It is located east of Salt Lake City and contains several skiing resorts.
27. 100 Mile Wilderness, Maine
Number of Reddit Upvotes: 342
The 100 Mile Wilderness is considered to be the wildest and most difficult to traverse section of the Appalachian Trail in Maine. Located between the Abol Bridge south of Baxter State Park and Monson, the region offers a multi-day hiking adventure for those looking to get out of city life.
26. Honey Island Swamp, Louisiana
Number of Reddit Upvotes: 345
The Honey Island Swamp is a marshland located in St. Tammany Parish in the eastern wing of the US state of Louisiana. It ranks 26th on our list with 345 upvotes on Reddit.
25. McCall, Idaho
Number of Reddit Upvotes: 347
The resort town of McCall is located on the western wing of Valley County, Idaho, on the southern shore of Payette Lake. The town is sparsely populated and ranks in the 25th spot on our list with 347 Reddit upvotes.
24. Havasupai, Arizona
Number of Reddit Upvotes: 356
Arizona’s Havasupai Indian Reservation is one of the most remote reservations in the country, located entirely surrounded by the Grand Canyon National Park. Located in Coconino County in Arizona, this Native American reservation ranks 24th on our list.
23. Maze District, Canyonlands National Park, Utah
Number of Reddit Upvotes: 365
The Maze District is located in Utah’s Canyonlands National Park and is the most inaccessible district of the region. Its difficulty to traverse and remoteness rank it in the 23rd spot on our list. The roads in the area require a high-clearance four-wheel drive.
22. Siloam Springs, Arkansas
Number of Reddit Upvotes: 367
Siloam Springs ranks 22nd on our list of the 30 most remote places in the US for a different experience. They are located on the state line between Arkansas and Oklahoma with 367 Reddit upvotes.
21. Salida, Colorado
Number of Reddit Upvotes: 371
Salida is a sparsely populated city in Colorado, located a few hours from Denver. The Arkansas River flows out of the region into the Bighorn Sheep Canyon, offering tourists kayaking and boating spots.
20. Black Mesa State Park & Nature Preserve, Oklahoma
Number of Reddit Upvotes: 376
The Black Mesa State Park & Nature Preserve in Oklahoma is so remote that visitors can easily view extremely dark nighttime skies. Located on the state’s panhandle, the park’s hiking spot continues to the highest point in Oklahoma, where you can set up camp and spend the night amidst the stars.
19. Denali Wilderness, Denali National Park, Alaska
Number of Reddit Upvotes: 388
As the name indicates, Denali Wilderness in Alaska’s Denali National Park encompasses the heart of the Alaska Range. Denali is the highest point in North America, with its landscape comprising six million acres of wild land, glaciers, tundra, snow, and rock. It ranks 19th on our list.
18. Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness, Minnesota
Number of Reddit Upvotes: 398
The Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness is a natural reserve in Minnesota that ranks 18th on our list. Located in the northeastern wing of the state, the area has around 1 million acres of wilderness lined with glaciers and water.
17. ACE Basin, South Carolina
Number of Reddit Upvotes: 402
South Carolina’s ACE Basin ranks in the 17th spot on our list of the 30 most remote places in the US for a different experience. It stands for the Ashepoo, Combahee, and Edisto Basin, and is a gigantic wetland ecosystem infused with wildlife located on South Carolina’s Atlantic Coast.
16. Portal, Arizona
Number of Reddit Upvotes: 432
Around half of the bird species in North America can be found in Portal, a remote town in Arizona. It is located near the Chiricahua Mountains and the entrance to Cave Creek Canyon. Portal has 432 Reddit upvotes.
15. San Juan Islands, Washington
Number of Reddit Upvotes: 447
The San Juan Islands are an archipelago in the US state of Washington and rank in the 15th spot on our list of the 30 most remote places in the US for a different experience. The region is known for its wildlife and rural Pacific Northwest landscapes.
14. Hood River, Oregon
Number of Reddit Upvotes: 453
Oregon’s Hood River ranks in the 14th spot on our list of the 30 most remote places in the US for a different experience. It is located on the border between Washington and Oregon and boasts cideries, outdoor art installations, and breweries for a delightful vacation. The region also offers easy access to Mount Hood, Oregon’s tallest peak.
13. Wolfeboro, New Hampshire
Number of Reddit Upvotes: 454
Wolfeboro is a small town located in Carroll County in New Hampshire with a population of 6,416 according to the 2020 census. It ranks 13th on our list with 454 Reddit upvotes.
12. Apostle Islands National Lakeshore, Wisconsin
Number of Reddit Upvotes: 456
With 456 upvotes on Reddit, Apostle Islands rank in the 12th spot on our list. Located on Lake Superior, the region offers visitors a chance to connect with nature, enjoy picnics in the area’s remoteness, and rent kayaks.
11. Santa Ynez Valley, California
Number of Reddit Upvotes: 467
A mere two-hour drive from the bustling city of Los Angeles can give you a complete change in landscape and lead you to the iconic Santa Ynez Valley. This agricultural valley is located in Santa Barbara County in California, nestled between the Santa Ynez Mountains to the south and the San Rafael Mountains to the north.
10. Hoh Rainforest, Olympic National Park, Washington
Number of Reddit Upvotes: 487
Hoh Rainforest is one of the largest temperate rainforests located on the Olympic Peninsula in the western wing of the US state of Washington. The hiking trails and adventure spots in this moss-laden forest make it popular among travelers looking for a different experience in the country.
9. Supai, Arizona
Number of Reddit Upvotes: 489
With 489 upvotes on Reddit, Supai lies surrounded by the Grand Canyon in Arizona’s Coconino County. It is the capital of the iconic Havasupai Indian Reservation, and is interestingly the only region in the United States where mules still carry incoming and outgoing mail.
8. Jarbidge Wilderness, Nevada
Number of Reddit Upvotes: 501
Located in northeastern Nevada, the Jarbidge Wilderness is a wilderness area located in the Jarbidge Mountains of northern Elko County. It lies in Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest’s Jarbidge Ranger District, with its isolated location making it very remote.
7. St. Matthew Island, Alaska
Number of Reddit Upvotes: 518
St. Matthew Island has 518 upvotes on Reddit and ranks on the seventh spot on our list of the 30 most remote places in the US for a different experience. This uninhabited, remote island is located in Alaska’s Bering Sea, 295 km west-northwest of Nunivak Island.
6. Lake Clark National Park and Preserve, Alaska
Number of Reddit Upvotes: 537
The Lake Clark National Park and Preserve is located in Alaska’s southwestern region, 100 miles southwest of Anchorage. The region’s landscape is dotted with picturesque mountains, glaciers, and wildlife. It ranks sixth on our list.
5. Grand Teton National Park, Wyoming
Number of Reddit Upvotes: 546
Wyoming’s Grand Teton National Park ranks fifth on our list with 546 Reddit upvotes. Wyoming is the least populated state in the US, and its Grand Teton National Park is famous for its Teton mountain range. The area boasts unique wildlife, numerous hiking trails, and water bodies.