The National Park Service (NPS) has released visitation numbers for 2024, and it was a record-breaking 12 months. NPS says it recorded 331.9 million recreation visits throughout 2024, which represents a 2% improve over 2023—that’s 6.36 million extra visits 12 months over 12 months. Interested in essentially the most visited and least visited parks from final 12 months?
The park with essentially the most visits by far in 2024 was Great Smoky Mountains National Park, which straddles the border between North Carolina and Tennessee. In the meantime, the least-visited U.S. nationwide park final 12 months was Gates of the Arctic National Park and Preserve in Alaska.
Of the NPS-managed websites categorized as “nationwide parks,” NPS says 28 set a brand new file for annual visits final 12 months, suggesting the recognition of dozens of parks is on the rise. Beneath, discover lists of essentially the most and least visited nationwide parks in 2024. (See all visitation numbers for NPS-managed websites in 2024 here.)
High 10 U.S. Nationwide Parks in 2024 (by Visitation)
- Nice Smoky Mountains (12,191,834 visits)
- Zion (4,946,592 visits)
- Grand Canyon (4,919,163 visits)
- Yellowstone (4,744,353 visits)
- Rocky Mountain (4,154,349 visits)
- Yosemite (4,121,807 visits)
- Acadia (3,961,661 visits)
- Olympic (3,717,267 visits)
- Grand Teton (3,628,222 visits)
- Glacier (3,208,755 visits)
The 5 Least-Visited U.S. Nationwide Parks in 2024
- Gates of the Arctic (11,907 visits)
- North Cascades (16,485 visits)
- Kobuk Valley (17,233 visits)
- Lake Clark (19,395 visits)
- Isle Royale (28,806 visits)
Unsurprisingly, three of the 5 least-visited nationwide parks in the US are distant parks in Alaska.
Which visitation rating from 2024 stunned you most? Do you assume visitation will likely be affected in 2025 by the federal job cuts?