Visitor demand and wildlife diversity collide in National Park statistics, from Grand Canyon’s 355 bird species to Yellowstone’s 67 native mammals. National parks generated $50.3 billion in economic output in 2022, while visitor spending supported 378,400 jobs that same year. If you keep scrolling, the mix of acreages, species counts, and park by park impacts turns out to be as uneven and fascinating as the landscapes themselves.
Key Takeaways
- Great Smoky Mountains National Park hosts 67 native mammal species
- Grand Canyon National Park is home to 355 bird species
- Zion National Park features 289 bird species
- National parks generated $50.3 billion in economic output in 2022
- Visitor spending in national parks supported 378,400 jobs in 2022
- Great Smoky Mountains National Park contributed $2.3 billion to economy in 2022
- Great Smoky Mountains National Park was established on June 15, 1934
- Grand Canyon National Park was designated on February 26, 1919
- Zion National Park was created on November 19, 1919
- Great Smoky Mountains National Park covers 522,419 acres
- Grand Canyon National Park spans 1,217,262 acres
- Zion National Park encompasses 147,040 acres
- Great Smoky Mountains National Park welcomed 12,095,194 recreational visitors in 2023
- Grand Canyon National Park had 4,733,049 visitors in 2023
- Zion National Park recorded 4,353,983 visitors in 2023
From wildlife richness to major visitor spending, these parks drive billions in jobs while protecting millions of acres.
Related reading
01 · Category
Biodiversity29 stats
01
Great Smoky Mountains National Park hosts 67 native mammal species
02
Grand Canyon National Park is home to 355 bird species
03
Zion National Park features 289 bird species
04
Yellowstone National Park has 67 native mammals including wolves and grizzlies
05
Rocky Mountain National Park supports 62 mammal species
06
Yosemite National Park boasts over 400 vertebrate species
07
Acadia National Park has 33 mammal species
08
Olympic National Park hosts 65 mammal species
09
Grand Teton National Park features 61 mammal species
10
Joshua Tree National Park is home to 57 mammal species
11
Bryce Canyon National Park has over 170 bird species
12
Arches National Park supports 33 mammal species
13
Glacier National Park boasts 71 mammal species
14
Mount Rainier National Park has 65 mammal species
15
New River Gorge National Park features over 60 bird species
16
Shenandoah National Park hosts 36 mammal species
17
Capitol Reef National Park has 74 bird species
18
Mammoth Cave National Park supports 47 mammal species
19
Carlsbad Caverns National Park is home to over 400 insect species
20
Haleakalā National Park features 18 bird species including nēnē
21
Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park has 1 endangered bird species
22
Crater Lake National Park boasts 200 bird species
23
Lassen Volcanic National Park supports 300 wildlife species
24
Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park has 190 bird species
25
Mesa Verde National Park features 70 bird species
26
Petrified Forest National Park hosts 23 mammal species
27
Saguaro National Park is home to 53 mammal species
28
Sequoia National Park has 400 vertebrate species
29
Kings Canyon National Park supports over 300 bird species
Interpretation
Biodiversity Interpretation
While it seems America's national parks have declared a mostly friendly and fur-covered competition, the real winner is anyone who realizes that biodiversity, not just visitor numbers, is the true measure of their majesty.
02 · Category
Economic25 stats
01
National parks generated $50.3 billion in economic output in 2022
02
Visitor spending in national parks supported 378,400 jobs in 2022
03
Great Smoky Mountains National Park contributed $2.3 billion to economy in 2022
04
Grand Canyon National Park generated $1 billion in visitor spending in 2022
05
Yellowstone National Park's visitor spending totaled $600 million in 2022
06
NPS budget for 2023 was $3.5 billion
07
Rocky Mountain National Park supports 10,000 local jobs
08
Yosemite National Park visitor spending $500 million annually
09
Zion National Park contributes $400 million to economy yearly
10
Olympic National Park generated $300 million in spending
11
Grand Teton National Park supports $400 million economy impact
12
Joshua Tree National Park visitor spending $200 million
13
Glacier National Park contributes $250 million annually
14
Arches National Park economic output $150 million
15
Bryce Canyon National Park supports 5,000 jobs indirectly
16
Shenandoah National Park visitor spending $150 million
17
Acadia National Park generates $400 million impact
18
Mount Rainier National Park $200 million spending
19
Mammoth Cave National Park supports $100 million economy
20
Carlsbad Caverns National Park $50 million visitor spending
21
Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park $200 million impact
22
Crater Lake National Park $100 million economy boost
23
NPS manages 85 million acres of land
24
National parks collect $500 million in fees annually
25
Visitor spending in gateway communities totals $15 billion yearly
Interpretation
Economic Interpretation
While our national parks are often praised as priceless treasures, their robust financial statements—proving they're also economic powerhouses generating billions and supporting countless jobs—reveal that preserving nature is, quite literally, a spectacular investment.
03 · Category
History29 stats
01
Great Smoky Mountains National Park was established on June 15, 1934
02
Grand Canyon National Park was designated on February 26, 1919
03
Zion National Park was created on November 19, 1919
04
Yellowstone National Park was the first established on March 1, 1872
05
Rocky Mountain National Park was established January 26, 1915
06
Yosemite National Park granted on October 1, 1890
07
Acadia National Park established February 26, 1919
08
Olympic National Park created June 29, 1938
09
Grand Teton National Park designated February 26, 1929
10
Joshua Tree National Park established October 31, 1994
11
Bryce Canyon National Park created February 25, 1928
12
Arches National Park established November 12, 1971
13
Glacier National Park proclaimed May 11, 1910
14
Mount Rainier National Park established March 2, 1899
15
New River Gorge National Park designated December 27, 2020
16
Shenandoah National Park created May 22, 1926
17
Capitol Reef National Park established December 31, 1971
18
Mammoth Cave National Park created July 1, 1941
19
Carlsbad Caverns National Park designated October 14, 1923
20
Haleakalā National Park established August 1, 1916
21
Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park created August 1, 1916
22
Crater Lake National Park established May 22, 1902
23
Lassen Volcanic National Park designated August 9, 1916
24
Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park created October 24, 1999
25
Mesa Verde National Park established June 29, 1906
26
Petrified Forest National Park designated December 9, 1962
27
Saguaro National Park created October 14, 1994
28
Sequoia National Park established September 25, 1890
29
Kings Canyon National Park created March 2, 1940
Interpretation
History Interpretation
America seems to have declared every February 26th and early 20th-century summer as a mandatory “National Park Day,” showing a delightful bureaucratic flair for penciling in paradise between meetings.
More related reading
04 · Category
Size29 stats
01
Great Smoky Mountains National Park covers 522,419 acres
02
Grand Canyon National Park spans 1,217,262 acres
03
Zion National Park encompasses 147,040 acres
04
Yellowstone National Park measures 2,219,791 acres
05
Rocky Mountain National Park covers 265,769 acres
06
Yosemite National Park includes 748,542 acres
07
Acadia National Park comprises 49,000 acres
08
Olympic National Park spans 922,649 acres
09
Grand Teton National Park covers 310,000 acres
10
Joshua Tree National Park measures 795,155 acres
11
Bryce Canyon National Park encompasses 35,835 acres
12
Arches National Park spans 76,519 acres
13
Glacier National Park covers 1,013,572 acres
14
Mount Rainier National Park includes 236,381 acres
15
New River Gorge National Park comprises 70,000 acres
16
Shenandoah National Park spans 199,017 acres
17
Capitol Reef National Park covers 241,904 acres
18
Mammoth Cave National Park measures 52,830 acres
19
Carlsbad Caverns National Park encompasses 46,766 acres
20
Haleakalā National Park spans 33,265 acres
21
Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park covers 344,828 acres
22
Crater Lake National Park includes 183,224 acres
23
Lassen Volcanic National Park comprises 106,372 acres
24
Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park spans 30,000 acres
25
Mesa Verde National Park covers 52,485 acres
26
Petrified Forest National Park measures 146,000 acres
27
Saguaro National Park encompasses 92,000 acres
28
Sequoia National Park spans 404,863 acres
29
Kings Canyon National Park covers 461,901 acres
Interpretation
Size Interpretation
From the vast, sprawling majesty of Yellowstone to the intimate grandeur of Bryce Canyon, each acre in our national park system whispers a different, equally vital, part of America's epic story.
05 · Category
Visitation29 stats
01
Great Smoky Mountains National Park welcomed 12,095,194 recreational visitors in 2023
02
Grand Canyon National Park had 4,733,049 visitors in 2023
03
Zion National Park recorded 4,353,983 visitors in 2023
04
Yellowstone National Park saw 4,020,288 visitors in 2023
05
Rocky Mountain National Park attracted 4,058,378 visitors in 2023
06
Yosemite National Park had 3,900,562 visitors in 2023
07
Acadia National Park received 3,400,000 visitors in 2023
08
Olympic National Park recorded 3,263,402 visitors in 2023
09
Grand Teton National Park had 3,416,000 visitors in 2023
10
Joshua Tree National Park saw 3,269,589 visitors in 2023
11
Bryce Canyon National Park attracted 2,358,129 visitors in 2023
12
Arches National Park recorded 2,151,000 visitors in 2023
13
Glacier National Park had 3,173,248 visitors in 2023
14
Mount Rainier National Park saw 1,647,951 visitors in 2023
15
New River Gorge National Park recorded 1,800,000 visitors in 2023
16
Shenandoah National Park had 1,497,687 visitors in 2023
17
Capitol Reef National Park attracted 1,400,000 visitors in 2023
18
Mammoth Cave National Park saw 587,000 visitors in 2023
19
Carlsbad Caverns National Park recorded 367,000 visitors in 2023
20
Haleakalā National Park had 800,000 visitors in 2023
21
Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park attracted 1,800,000 visitors in 2023
22
Crater Lake National Park saw 500,000 visitors in 2023
23
Lassen Volcanic National Park recorded 500,000 visitors in 2023
24
Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park had 400,000 visitors in 2023
25
Mesa Verde National Park attracted 600,000 visitors in 2023
26
Petrified Forest National Park saw 500,000 visitors in 2023
27
Saguaro National Park recorded 900,000 visitors in 2023
28
Sequoia National Park had 1,200,000 visitors in 2023
29
Kings Canyon National Park attracted 700,000 visitors in 2023
Interpretation
Visitation Interpretation
While Great Smoky Mountains National Park essentially hosted the entire population of Pennsylvania for a scenic group hike in 2023, the sheer popularity suggests our love for nature might be dangerously close to loving it to death.
Reference
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APA
Marcus Afolabi. (2026, February 13). National Park Statistics. Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/national-park-statistics
MLA
Marcus Afolabi. "National Park Statistics." Gitnux, 13 Feb 2026, https://gitnux.org/national-park-statistics.
Chicago
Marcus Afolabi. 2026. "National Park Statistics." Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/national-park-statistics.