National parks shattered records with 331.8 million visitors in 2024. Great Smoky Mountains ranked as the most visited park, while Gates of the Arctic had the fewest visitors. NPS released the 2024 National Park Rankings on Wednesday, reporting a 2% rise from 2023’s 325.5 million visits.
The National Park Service recently faced layoffs, sparking concerns about visitor experiences. Park communities benefited from billions in tourism dollars. The data covered all 433 parks, including rivers and monuments.
Top 10 Most Visited National Parks
Great Smoky Mountains led with 12.1 million visits. Zion and Grand Canyon each attracted 4.9 million visitors. Yellowstone saw 4.7 million, while Rocky Mountain and Yosemite recorded 4.1 million each.
Acadia was explored by 3.9 million visitors. Olympic saw 3.7 million in Washington. Grand Teton was enjoyed by 3.6 million in Wyoming. Glacier rounded out the list with 3.2 million. The 2024 National Park Rankings showcased these hotspots.
Golden Gate National Recreation Area drew 17.2 million visitors. Blue Ridge Parkway saw 16.7 million, surpassing Great Smoky Mountains.
Least Visited National Parks
Gates of the Arctic offered solitude with 11,907 visitors. North Cascades saw 16,485 visitors. In Alaska, 17,233 people reached Kobuk Valley, while 18,505 visited Lake Clark. Isle Royale in Michigan welcomed 28,806 visitors.
Katmai was explored by 36,230 adventurers. Wrangell-St. Elias was tallied at 81,670 visits. Dry Tortugas was hit by 84,873 despite a record. Great Basin saw 152,068 visitors. Voyageurs closed the list with 199,030 in Minnesota.
Record-Breaking Parks
Twenty-eight parks set new records in 2024. Capitol Reef in Utah welcomed 1.4 million visitors. Dry Tortugas saw a boost to 84,873 visits. Glacier Bay in Alaska recorded 736,282 visitors, while 418,468 explored Kenai Fjords. New River Gorge hit 1.8 million in West Virginia.
Sequoia National Park welcomed 1.3 million visitors in California. The Lincoln Memorial saw 8.4 million, while 446,160 visited Stonewall National Monument.
NPS Layoffs Impact
NPS cut about 1,000 jobs in February 2025. Advocates warned of service declines as some parks reduced hours. Visitors experienced longer waits due to the layoffs.
“Critical services will be provided,” an NPS spokesperson said. Memorable experiences are promised despite the cuts. The 2024 National Park Rankings reflect resilience amid challenges.
Source: USA Today
