From the bustling, record-breaking trails of Great Smoky Mountains to the vast, ancient landscapes of Yellowstone, America's national parks drew tens of millions of visitors last year, fueling local economies and offering unparalleled access to wildlife and wilderness.
Key Takeaways
- 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
- 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 hosts 67 native mammal species
- Grand Canyon National Park is home to 355 bird species
- Zion National Park features 289 bird species
- 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
- 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
The blog post details record visitor numbers, vast sizes, and major economic benefits of America's national parks.
Biodiversity
1Great Smoky Mountains National Park hosts 67 native mammal species
Verified2Grand Canyon National Park is home to 355 bird species
Verified3Zion National Park features 289 bird species
Verified4Yellowstone National Park has 67 native mammals including wolves and grizzlies
Directional5Rocky Mountain National Park supports 62 mammal species
Single source6Yosemite National Park boasts over 400 vertebrate species
Verified7Acadia National Park has 33 mammal species
Verified8Olympic National Park hosts 65 mammal species
Verified9Grand Teton National Park features 61 mammal species
Directional10Joshua Tree National Park is home to 57 mammal species
Single source11Bryce Canyon National Park has over 170 bird species
Verified12Arches National Park supports 33 mammal species
Verified13Glacier National Park boasts 71 mammal species
Verified14Mount Rainier National Park has 65 mammal species
Directional15New River Gorge National Park features over 60 bird species
Single source16Shenandoah National Park hosts 36 mammal species
Verified17Capitol Reef National Park has 74 bird species
Verified18Mammoth Cave National Park supports 47 mammal species
Verified19Carlsbad Caverns National Park is home to over 400 insect species
Directional20Haleakalā National Park features 18 bird species including nēnē
Single source21Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park has 1 endangered bird species
Verified22Crater Lake National Park boasts 200 bird species
Verified23Lassen Volcanic National Park supports 300 wildlife species
Verified24Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park has 190 bird species
Directional25Mesa Verde National Park features 70 bird species
Single source26Petrified Forest National Park hosts 23 mammal species
Verified27Saguaro National Park is home to 53 mammal species
Verified28Sequoia National Park has 400 vertebrate species
Verified29Kings Canyon National Park supports over 300 bird species
DirectionalBiodiversity 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.
Economic
1National parks generated $50.3 billion in economic output in 2022
Verified2Visitor spending in national parks supported 378,400 jobs in 2022
Verified3Great Smoky Mountains National Park contributed $2.3 billion to economy in 2022
Verified4Grand Canyon National Park generated $1 billion in visitor spending in 2022
Directional5Yellowstone National Park's visitor spending totaled $600 million in 2022
Single source6NPS budget for 2023 was $3.5 billion
Verified7Rocky Mountain National Park supports 10,000 local jobs
Verified8Yosemite National Park visitor spending $500 million annually
Verified9Zion National Park contributes $400 million to economy yearly
Directional10Olympic National Park generated $300 million in spending
Single source11Grand Teton National Park supports $400 million economy impact
Verified12Joshua Tree National Park visitor spending $200 million
Verified13Glacier National Park contributes $250 million annually
Verified14Arches National Park economic output $150 million
Directional15Bryce Canyon National Park supports 5,000 jobs indirectly
Single source16Shenandoah National Park visitor spending $150 million
Verified17Acadia National Park generates $400 million impact
Verified18Mount Rainier National Park $200 million spending
Verified19Mammoth Cave National Park supports $100 million economy
Directional20Carlsbad Caverns National Park $50 million visitor spending
Single source21Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park $200 million impact
Verified22Crater Lake National Park $100 million economy boost
Verified23NPS manages 85 million acres of land
Verified24National parks collect $500 million in fees annually
Directional25Visitor spending in gateway communities totals $15 billion yearly
Single sourceEconomic 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.
History
1Great Smoky Mountains National Park was established on June 15, 1934
Verified2Grand Canyon National Park was designated on February 26, 1919
Verified3Zion National Park was created on November 19, 1919
Verified4Yellowstone National Park was the first established on March 1, 1872
Directional5Rocky Mountain National Park was established January 26, 1915
Single source6Yosemite National Park granted on October 1, 1890
Verified7Acadia National Park established February 26, 1919
Verified8Olympic National Park created June 29, 1938
Verified9Grand Teton National Park designated February 26, 1929
Directional10Joshua Tree National Park established October 31, 1994
Single source11Bryce Canyon National Park created February 25, 1928
Verified12Arches National Park established November 12, 1971
Verified13Glacier National Park proclaimed May 11, 1910
Verified14Mount Rainier National Park established March 2, 1899
Directional15New River Gorge National Park designated December 27, 2020
Single source16Shenandoah National Park created May 22, 1926
Verified17Capitol Reef National Park established December 31, 1971
Verified18Mammoth Cave National Park created July 1, 1941
Verified19Carlsbad Caverns National Park designated October 14, 1923
Directional20Haleakalā National Park established August 1, 1916
Single source21Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park created August 1, 1916
Verified22Crater Lake National Park established May 22, 1902
Verified23Lassen Volcanic National Park designated August 9, 1916
Verified24Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park created October 24, 1999
Directional25Mesa Verde National Park established June 29, 1906
Single source26Petrified Forest National Park designated December 9, 1962
Verified27Saguaro National Park created October 14, 1994
Verified28Sequoia National Park established September 25, 1890
Verified29Kings Canyon National Park created March 2, 1940
DirectionalHistory 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.
Size
1Great Smoky Mountains National Park covers 522,419 acres
Verified2Grand Canyon National Park spans 1,217,262 acres
Verified3Zion National Park encompasses 147,040 acres
Verified4Yellowstone National Park measures 2,219,791 acres
Directional5Rocky Mountain National Park covers 265,769 acres
Single source6Yosemite National Park includes 748,542 acres
Verified7Acadia National Park comprises 49,000 acres
Verified8Olympic National Park spans 922,649 acres
Verified9Grand Teton National Park covers 310,000 acres
Directional10Joshua Tree National Park measures 795,155 acres
Single source11Bryce Canyon National Park encompasses 35,835 acres
Verified12Arches National Park spans 76,519 acres
Verified13Glacier National Park covers 1,013,572 acres
Verified14Mount Rainier National Park includes 236,381 acres
Directional15New River Gorge National Park comprises 70,000 acres
Single source16Shenandoah National Park spans 199,017 acres
Verified17Capitol Reef National Park covers 241,904 acres
Verified18Mammoth Cave National Park measures 52,830 acres
Verified19Carlsbad Caverns National Park encompasses 46,766 acres
Directional20Haleakalā National Park spans 33,265 acres
Single source21Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park covers 344,828 acres
Verified22Crater Lake National Park includes 183,224 acres
Verified23Lassen Volcanic National Park comprises 106,372 acres
Verified24Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park spans 30,000 acres
Directional25Mesa Verde National Park covers 52,485 acres
Single source26Petrified Forest National Park measures 146,000 acres
Verified27Saguaro National Park encompasses 92,000 acres
Verified28Sequoia National Park spans 404,863 acres
Verified29Kings Canyon National Park covers 461,901 acres
DirectionalSize 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.
Visitation
1Great Smoky Mountains National Park welcomed 12,095,194 recreational visitors in 2023
Verified2Grand Canyon National Park had 4,733,049 visitors in 2023
Verified3Zion National Park recorded 4,353,983 visitors in 2023
Verified4Yellowstone National Park saw 4,020,288 visitors in 2023
Directional5Rocky Mountain National Park attracted 4,058,378 visitors in 2023
Single source6Yosemite National Park had 3,900,562 visitors in 2023
Verified7Acadia National Park received 3,400,000 visitors in 2023
Verified8Olympic National Park recorded 3,263,402 visitors in 2023
Verified9Grand Teton National Park had 3,416,000 visitors in 2023
Directional10Joshua Tree National Park saw 3,269,589 visitors in 2023
Single source11Bryce Canyon National Park attracted 2,358,129 visitors in 2023
Verified12Arches National Park recorded 2,151,000 visitors in 2023
Verified13Glacier National Park had 3,173,248 visitors in 2023
Verified14Mount Rainier National Park saw 1,647,951 visitors in 2023
Directional15New River Gorge National Park recorded 1,800,000 visitors in 2023
Single source16Shenandoah National Park had 1,497,687 visitors in 2023
Verified17Capitol Reef National Park attracted 1,400,000 visitors in 2023
Verified18Mammoth Cave National Park saw 587,000 visitors in 2023
Verified19Carlsbad Caverns National Park recorded 367,000 visitors in 2023
Directional20Haleakalā National Park had 800,000 visitors in 2023
Single source21Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park attracted 1,800,000 visitors in 2023
Verified22Crater Lake National Park saw 500,000 visitors in 2023
Verified23Lassen Volcanic National Park recorded 500,000 visitors in 2023
Verified24Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park had 400,000 visitors in 2023
Directional25Mesa Verde National Park attracted 600,000 visitors in 2023
Single source26Petrified Forest National Park saw 500,000 visitors in 2023
Verified27Saguaro National Park recorded 900,000 visitors in 2023
Verified28Sequoia National Park had 1,200,000 visitors in 2023
Verified29Kings Canyon National Park attracted 700,000 visitors in 2023
DirectionalVisitation 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.