Each year, the National Park Service welcomes millions of visitors. More than 15 billion people have visited the National Park System since the agency began tracking attendance in 1904.
The United States has 63 national parks that offer visitors plenty of natural beauty. From Acadia National Park in Maine to Olympic National Park in Washington, Yosemite in California to the Great Smoky Mountains in North Carolina, each park offers a unique experience for visitors.
“Our National Parks tell the story of America we share. We want visitors to discover hidden gems, explore in the off-season, and find new ways to have fun in our National Parks. We are pleased to have this opportunity,” National Park Service Director Chuck Sams said in a statement.
On Saturday 20th April, all entrance fees to national parks will be removed to mark the first day of National Parks Week. Last year, the first day of National Parks Week coincided with Earth Day.
How many people visit national parks each year?
More than 325 million people visited the park last year, a 4% increase from 2022, according to the National Park Service. This includes visits to 400 parks operated by NPS. After the number of visitors decreased due to the impact of the new coronavirus infection, the total number of visitors is on the rise. Visits to U.S. national parks fell by about 87% in April 2020 as some parks temporarily closed, according to the study.
According to the NPS, in 2023, 38% of the population visited a recreational park, 32% visited a historical and cultural park, and 30% visited a natural park.
Which national parks are the most visited?
The Great Smoky Mountains are America’s most visited national park. Last year, it attracted nearly three times as many visitors as the second-most-visited park, the Grand Canyon, according to National Park Service data.
Here are the top 15 most visited national parks in 2023.
Great Smoky Mountains in North Carolina and Tennessee – 13,297,647 Grand Canyon in Arizona – 4,733,705 Zion in Utah – 4,623,238 Yellowstone in Idaho, Montana and Wyoming – 4,501,382 Rocky Mountains in Colorado – 4,115,837 Yosemite, California – 3,897,070Aca Diameter of Maine – 3,879,890 Grand Teton, Wyoming – 3,417,106 Joshua Tree, California – 3,270,404 Olympic National Park, Washington – 2,947,503 Glacier National Park, Montana – 2,933,616 Cuyahoga Valley, Ohio – 2,860,059 Indiana Dunes, Indiana – 2,765,892 Hot spring – 2,502, 9 67 Bryce Canyon, Utah – 2,461,269
From Acadia to Zion: What travelers need to know about each of America’s national parks
The answer to your biggest park question: What is the most visited national park in the United States?
Where are the national parks located?
All 50 states have other National Park Service locations, such as National Battlefields and Seashores, which are sometimes called parks.
The National Park System currently has 429 units. A recent addition is Amache National Historic Site in Colorado. Travelers can find locations by state on the National Park Service’s website.
What you need to know about National Parks Week
National Parks Week begins April 20th with free admission to all of America’s national parks.
This includes all 429 locations in the National Park System, from battlefields to coasts, as well as Capital National Parks like Grand Teton and Olympic.
Admission is only free on the first day, but special activities are planned during National Park Week (and many places don’t charge admission anyway).
National Parks Week spans nine days. The period is from April 20th to April 28th.
Each day we spotlight a different park-related theme.
April 20: DiscoveryApril 21: VolunteerApril 22: Earth DayApril 23: InnovationApril 24: Workforce WednesdayApril 25: Youth EngagementApril 26: Community Connections April 27th: Junior Ranger Day April 28th: Art in the Park
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