A view from Kuwohi Peak, the highest point in Great Smoky Mountain National Park (Photo: NPS)
The tide of visitors, domestic and interntional, headed to the United States National Parks that had begun in the post-pandemic era has continued to swell as the total number of visitors to the National Parks reached a record high level of 331 million visitors in 2024.
In a press statement, the US National Parks Service says that the 2024 visitor numbers are higher than the previous peak of 330.9 million visitors registered in 2016. The number in 2024 reflected a rise of 2 pc over the 2023 visitor total, which was 325.5 million, which generated an economic output of USD 55.6 billion. In 2024, NPS data shows that visitors logged a total of 1.4 billion recreation visitor hours and 13.41 million overnight stays.
The data comes amidst the recent announcement of slashing of federal funding by the administration of President Donald Trump, which has been laying off hundreds of employees of National Parks, including those in critical job roles such as fire-fighting, pollution control as well as those who provide guest-facing services and maintain the parks.
According to the data provided by the National Parks Service, Great Smoky Mountains National Park ranks as the most-visited of 2024, with 12.1 million visitors, which is about 13 pc of all visitors. Located a few hours away from Knoxville, Tennessee, the national park is known for scenic views of the mountain range with the same name.
National Parks are also popular for sleepovers in tents (Photo: NPS)
In second place is Zion National Park, located in Utah, which ranks just above Grand Canyon National Park, with both welcoming 4.9 million visitors last year. Yellowstone National Park is the fourth most-visited park of last year, with 4.7 million visitors.
Rocky Mountain National Park and Yosemite National Park rank fifth and sixth, each hosting close to 4.1 million visitors. The seventh most popular national park is Acadia National Park, with 3.9 million visitors.
In eighth and ninth place is Olympic National Park and Grand Teton National Park, with 3.7 and 3.6 million visitors, respectively. The 10th most popular national park of last year was Glacier National Park, with 3.2 million travellers.
Least Visited National Parks of 2024
According to NPS data, the least visited parks are mainly those that are in critically preserved lands, providing crucial habitats for endemic species all across the nation. These parks are also the least accessible.
The Arctic National Park and Preserve, located in Alaska, received just under 12,000 visitors last year, while the North Cascades National Park and Kobuk Valley National Park are in second and third, welcoming just over 16,000 and 17,000, respectively.
Lake Clark National Park & Preserve welcomed 18,500 visitors, coming in fourth. In fifth is the National Park of American Samoa, with 22,500 visitors. Isle Royale National Park in Michigan ranks as the sixth least-visited national park, welcoming just under 30,000 visitors.
Two other Alaskan national parks, Katmai National Park & Preserve and Wrangell-St.Elias National Park & Preserve come in seventh and eighth place, welcoming 36,000 and 81,000 visitors, respectively.
Dry Tortugas National Park in Florida ranks ninth, with over 84,000 visitors last year. In the 10th place is Great Basin National Park, welcoming over 152,000 visitors.
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