Visitor numbers have been steadily increasing across national parks in the U.S., as more people are opting to trade city skylines for mountain peaks and lush forests.
In 2023, U.S national parks welcomed 93.4 million visitors and saw a 4% year-over-year increase from 2022.
According to National Park Service data, national parks made up 28% of all visits out of all nationally-regulated park types, which includes national monuments, memorials, historic sites, and more.
This map visualizes the top 10 busiest national parks in the United States by number of visits in 2023. Visits includes recreational visits, and excludes non-recreational visits and camping.
The data comes from the National Park Service and is updated as of February 2024.
Tennessee!
Can't believe Arches NP isn't top ten.
reply
According to this data, Arches NP ranks 20th with 1,482,045 recreation visits.
RankNPvisits 2023
11Glacier NP2933616
12Cuyahoga Valley NP2860059
13Indiana Dunes NP2765892
14Hot Springs NP2502967
15Bryce Canyon NP2461269
16Gateway Arch NP2422836
17Mount Rainier NP1674294
18Hawaii Volcanoes NP1620294
19Shenandoah NP1576008
20Arches NP1482045
reply
I'm also surprised Arches isn't top 10 and barely made top 20. That place is so beautiful!
reply
Gorgeous, but I guess out of the way compared to many others.
reply
We saw a lot of cars with Colorado plates when we visited, which makes sense since Arches is right next to Colorado.
reply
Isnt your girl TS from Tennessee?
reply
Got popular here, but I don't think she was born here.
reply
I dont keep up with stuff. I just know she is from that general area.
reply
Just googled. Strangely, she was born in Pennsylvania! 🀣
reply
Why is she so famous for nashville tennessee?
reply
Moved to Nashville at 14
reply
Wow, must be my Cali bubble but I don't know anyone that has visited Smoky Mountains.
Why is Joshua Tree so popular, just because of the U2 song? I was very underwhelmed... I found Death Valley (in the winter) much more beautiful tbh, right up there with the Grand Canyon. They just need a name rebrand and it would be much more popular.
reply
Because of the Joshua Trees. They look like toilet brushes. haha
reply
U2 definitely increased awareness, Joshua Tree was the name of the album from 1987
I went there for 8th school field trip
reply
Thanks! Nice information!
Here at India, we designate National parks to those which are there for wildlife conservation. People go there and enjoy Safaris.
reply
i've been to 8/10 of these! Honestly, Denali is my favorite national park (in alaska).
reply
I recall @gnilma has visited several of these national parks. I spotted at least two he’s been to. I wonder which others he's seen.
Rank:
  1. Hiking Adventures 9 - The Magnificent Stones of Zion National Park
  2. Hiking Adventures 16 - Yosemite National Park
reply
I've also been to 2. Grand Canyon National Park and 10. Olympic National Park
Grand Canyon is just magnificent and wows you when you see it in person. The views atop Hurricane Ridge in Olympic National Park are also very beautiful.
I haven't written about these yet though, should probably get written sometime in the future. Currently on a 2 week road trip, so the hiking posts had to take a 2 week hiatus. Will resume the weekly hiking posts next Sunday on Aug 4th.
We also plan on visiting Yellowstone and Grand Teton in 2026 if all goes to plan. Fingers crossed.
reply
Safe travels and see you on the next hike! 🀠
reply
Thank you! See you on the next hike!
reply
Thank! It's a nice information!
reply
I never visited any of these.
reply
Rainier isnt a national park? Seems like a lot are on the west side. I did enjoy the green mountains when I was in vermont, though. I thought they were exceptionally beautiful.
reply
πŸ‘€ #626128
(17 | Mount Rainier NP | 1674294)
reply