Summary
In 2025, the National Park Service (NPS) reported 323 million visits to national parks in the U.S., a 2.7% drop from the previous year. The most visited parks include Great Smoky Mountains in Tennessee, Zion in Utah, and Yellowstone. The Department of the Interior offers several dates in 2026 for free park visits, and a potential new park area is being studied in Los Angeles.
Key Facts
- In 2025, U.S. national parks had 323 million visits, a decrease of 2.7% from 2024.
- Great Smoky Mountains National Park had the most visits, totaling over 11.5 million.
- Zion National Park was the second most visited with nearly 5 million visitors.
- Yellowstone National Park attracted about 4.8 million visitors.
- Grand Canyon and Yosemite National Parks saw around 4.4 and 4.3 million visits, respectively.
- Several parks in Alaska had the fewest visits, with Kobuk Valley receiving less than 8,000 visits.
- In 2026, there will be free entry to National Parks on specific dates like Memorial Day and Veterans Day.
- A study is underway to possibly add a section of the Los Angeles coastline as a new National Park unit.
