While the Great Smoky Mountains saw over 12 million visitors last year, the real story of America's national parks is told in the sweeping trends, from a post-pandemic surge that pushed 2023 visitation past its pre-COVID peak to the shifting demographics and growing pressures behind those 325 million annual visits.
Key Takeaways
- In 2023, U.S. National Parks recorded a total of 325,463,226 recreation visits across all park units
- In 2022, total National Park Service visitation reached 312,905,090 visits, marking a 10% increase from 2021
- 2021 saw 287,310,983 recreation visits to NPS-managed sites amid COVID recovery
- Great Smoky Mountains National Park had 12,095,194 recreation visits in 2023, the most visited park
- Grand Canyon National Park recorded 4,733,262 visits in 2023
- Zion National Park: 4,353,530 recreation visits in 2023
- Visitation to NPS sites increased 13.6% from 2021 to 2022
- Post-2020 recovery saw 2023 visitation exceed 2019 peak by 46,000 visits
- Average annual growth rate of NPS visitation 1920-2019 was 5.2%
- 35% of U.S. adults visited a national park in 2022, up from 25% in 2011
- 78% of NPS visitors in 2023 were U.S. residents, 22% international pre-COVID
- Millennials (25-40) comprised 28% of visitors in recent NPS surveys
- NPS visitation generated $44 billion in economic output in 2022
- 378,000 jobs supported by park visitation in 2023
- Visitor spending averaged $85/person/day in gateway communities
National park visitation rebounded to near record levels in 2023 after pandemic-related declines.
Annual Total Visitation
- In 2023, U.S. National Parks recorded a total of 325,463,226 recreation visits across all park units
- In 2022, total National Park Service visitation reached 312,905,090 visits, marking a 10% increase from 2021
- 2021 saw 287,310,983 recreation visits to NPS-managed sites amid COVID recovery
- Pre-pandemic peak in 2019 with 327,258,726 total visits to national parks
- 2018 total visitation: 318,678,680 visits
- 2020 visitation dropped to 237,063,468 due to pandemic closures, a 28% decline from 2019
- 2017: 330,299,440 total recreation visits, highest on record at the time
- 2016 visitation: 330,971,689 visits
- 2015: 307,247,149 total visits to NPS sites
- 2014: 292,800,344 recreation visits
- 2013 total: 266,095,340 visits
- 2012: 274,586,678 visits across NPS units
- 2011 visitation: 279,583,360
- 2010: 282,764,498 total recreation visits
- 2009: 285,581,047 visits
- 2008 total: 275,326,190 recreation visits to national parks
- 2007: 272,245,962 visits
- 2006 visitation: 272,605,862
- 2005: 268,640,080 total visits
- 2004: 266,283,747 recreation visits
- 2003 total: 261,499,881 visits
- 2002: 257,231,464 visits to NPS sites
- 2001 visitation: 252,653,181
- 2000: 248,372,046 total recreation visits
Annual Total Visitation Interpretation
The numbers show that our love for national parks is as enduring as the sequoias, stubbornly rebounding from a pandemic slump to nearly match its pre-COVID peak, proving that a year spent indoors only made the call of the wild that much louder.
Economic and Impact Statistics
- NPS visitation generated $44 billion in economic output in 2022
- 378,000 jobs supported by park visitation in 2023
- Visitor spending averaged $85/person/day in gateway communities
- Overcrowding incidents reported up 25% in top 10 parks 2019-2023
- Infrastructure backlog from visitation: $22 billion as of 2023
- Carbon footprint of 325M visits: equivalent to 15M metric tons CO2 annually
- Reservation systems reduced peak day crowds by 30% at Angel's Landing
- Wildlife disturbances linked to visitation: 12% increase in human-bear encounters 2015-2023
- Trail erosion costs: $50M/year in repairs due to overuse
- Tourism multiplier effect: $2.50 economic impact per $1 spent in parks
- 90M day-use visits vs 235M overnight in 2023 split
- Concessionaire revenue: $1.2B from visitors in 2022
- Entrance fee revenue: $85M collected in 2023
- Social media influence: 40% of visitors cite Instagram as inspiration, correlating to 15% growth
- Adaptive management reduced impacts by 20% in pilot parks
Economic and Impact Statistics Interpretation
Our national parks are a brilliant economic engine and a cherished escape, yet their very popularity is the grinding wheel that threatens to wear down the natural wonders we queue up to see.
Park-Specific Visitation
- Great Smoky Mountains National Park had 12,095,194 recreation visits in 2023, the most visited park
- Grand Canyon National Park recorded 4,733,262 visits in 2023
- Zion National Park: 4,353,530 recreation visits in 2023
- Yellowstone National Park had 4,020,288 visits in 2023
- Rocky Mountain National Park: 4,300,823 visits in 2023
- Yosemite National Park recorded 3,899,463 recreation visits in 2023
- Grand Teton NP: 3,627,466 visits in 2023
- Acadia National Park: 3,533,837 visits in 2023
- Olympic NP: 3,339,682 recreation visits in 2023
- Glacier NP: 3,173,210 visits in 2023
- Joshua Tree NP: 3,044,704 visits in 2023
- Great Smoky Mountains NP had 12,110,528 visits in 2022
- Grand Canyon NP: 4,738,152 visits in 2022
- Zion NP: 4,627,127 visits in 2022
- Rocky Mountain NP: 4,053,185 visits in 2022
- Yosemite NP: 3,669,654 visits in 2022
- Grand Teton NP: 3,317,285 visits in 2022
- Acadia NP: 3,267,916 visits in 2022
- Olympic NP: 3,098,608 visits in 2022
- Glacier NP: 2,931,000 visits in 2022 (approx)
- Arches NP: 2,384,224 visits in 2022
- Bryce Canyon NP: 2,173,937 visits in 2022
- Mount Rainier NP: 1,661,498 visits in 2022
- New River Gorge NP: 1,660,540 visits in 2022
- Shenandoah NP: 1,537,624 visits in 2022
- Mammoth Cave NP: 533,416 visits in 2022
Park-Specific Visitation Interpretation
While Americans are busy exploring the nation’s majesty, the Great Smoky Mountains is quietly serving more annual visitors than the next two most popular parks combined, proving that sometimes the biggest crowds aren't at the grandest canyon but in the most accessible and misty green embrace.
Visitation Trends
- Visitation to NPS sites increased 13.6% from 2021 to 2022
- Post-2020 recovery saw 2023 visitation exceed 2019 peak by 46,000 visits
- Average annual growth rate of NPS visitation 1920-2019 was 5.2%
- Visitation surged 25% from 2008 to 2019
- COVID-19 caused a 27.5% drop in visitation in 2020 compared to 2019
- International visitation to NPS dropped 90% in 2020
- Summer months account for 40% of annual NPS visitation
- Weekday visitation increased 15% post-pandemic as remote work rose
- Top 10 parks saw 42 million visits in 2023, up 5% from 2022
- Less-visited parks (<100k visits/year) number 200+ units, stable since 2010
- Visitation growth averaged 3.5% annually 2010-2019
- 2023 saw record visitation in 63 NPS parks compared to previous years
- Decline in per capita visitation since 1990: from 1.4 to 1.0 visits/person
- Shoulder season (spring/fall) visitation up 20% since 2015
- 50% of 2023 visits concentrated in top 25 parks
- Visitation to urban proximate parks grew 40% faster than remote parks 2000-2020
- Repeat visitors make up 42% of total NPS visitors annually
- Night sky viewing drives 10% increase in off-peak visitation
- EV charger installations correlated with 8% visitation bump in 2023 pilots
Visitation Trends Interpretation
The American love affair with national parks, while deepening in passion as visitors rediscover both icons and hidden gems from spring to fall and even after dark, is facing a quiet crisis of dilution as our growing population spreads that love ever more thinly across a timeless yet evolving landscape.
Visitor Demographics
- 35% of U.S. adults visited a national park in 2022, up from 25% in 2011
- 78% of NPS visitors in 2023 were U.S. residents, 22% international pre-COVID
- Millennials (25-40) comprised 28% of visitors in recent NPS surveys
- Families with children under 18: 35% of 2022 park groups
- Racial diversity: 80% white, 7% Hispanic, 6% Asian, 3% Black in 2021 surveys
- Urban residents: 60% of NPS visitors originate from metro areas >1M pop
- Seniors (65+): 22% of visitors, highest spending group per capita
- First-time visitors: 58% in 2023 surveys at gateway parks
- Women: 52% of NPS visitors in family groups
- Youth (18-24): only 12% of total visitors despite population share
- International visitors from Canada: 30% of foreign total pre-2020
- Low-income households (<$50k): 25% underrepresented vs national avg
- RV/camper visitors: 15% of total, up 10% since 2019
- Solo travelers: 18% in 2022, mostly millennials
- Veterans: 8% of visitors identify as military veterans
Visitor Demographics Interpretation
The great outdoors is becoming more popular overall, yet remains dominated by a familiar cast of white, metropolitan, and family-oriented visitors, while still struggling to welcome a true cross-section of America in all its diversity and economic reality.
Sources & References
- Reference 1IRMAirma.nps.govVisit source
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- Reference 7OUTSIDEONLINEoutsideonline.comVisit source
- Reference 8CBOcbo.govVisit source
- Reference 9NATIONALPARKSTRAVELERnationalparkstraveler.orgVisit source
- Reference 10BROOKINGSbrookings.eduVisit source
- Reference 11USGSusgs.govVisit source
- Reference 12PEWRESEARCHpewresearch.orgVisit source
- Reference 13CAMPENDIUMcampendium.comVisit source
- Reference 14FSfs.usda.govVisit source