323,014,305
recreation visits
were recorded across 406 National Park Service sites in 2025.
Source: National Park Service, March 2026Travel reference
National Park travel statistics.
Current, citable numbers on visitation, overnight stays, and the economic effect of National Park Service travel. Updated October 1, 2026.
At a glance
A useful snapshot for travel writers and planners.
These figures bring together the newest official National Park Service visitation release for 2025 and its visitor-spending report for 2024. Each number links directly to the original source so it can be checked and cited in context.
Official figures
National Park Service travel by the numbers.
1.39 billion
visitor hours
were recorded in National Park Service sites in 2025.
Source: National Park Service, March 202613,016,577
overnight stays
were recorded in National Park Service sites in 2025.
Source: National Park Service, March 202626
park units
set visitation records in 2025.
Source: National Park Service, March 202611,527,939
visits
made Great Smoky Mountains National Park the most visited national park in 2025.
Source: National Park Service, March 2026$29 billion
visitor spending
was estimated in communities near national parks in 2024.
Source: National Park Service, September 2025$56.3 billion
economic output
was supported nationwide by 2024 national-park visitor spending.
Source: National Park Service, September 2025340,100
jobs
were supported by national-park visitor spending in 2024.
Source: National Park Service, September 2025Most visited national parks
The five busiest national parks in 2025.
- 1Great Smoky Mountains11,527,939 visits
- 2Zion4,984,525 visits
- 3Yellowstone4,762,988 visits
- 4Grand Canyon4,430,653 visits
- 5Yosemite4,278,413 visits
Rankings and visit totals: National Park Service, 2025 visitation release, published March 20, 2026.
Method and sources
How to read and cite these statistics.
“Recreation visits” count entries to sites in the National Park System, not individual people. The 2025 visitation release covers 406 reporting sites. Visitor-spending figures use 2024 data and measure spending in communities near national parks, then estimate its economic contribution.
Numbers on this page are reproduced from the National Park Service’s releases. Lamp-Shire does not conduct the underlying research.
Cite this page
“National Park Travel Statistics.” Lamp-Shire Travel & Adventures, LLC, updated October 1, 2026, lamp-shire.com/national-park-travel-statistics.
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