# Here's the most and least popular national parks in the US

## Main Content

**Author:** Kathleen Wong, Eve Chen  
**Date:** March 5, 2025  
**Source:** USA TODAY

A record high 331.8 million people visited national parks last year, bringing billions of tourism dollars to the park gateway communities, according to NPS data published Wednesday.

That’s nearly a million more than the previous high of 330.9 million visitors in 2016 and 2% more than the nearly 325.5 million visits recorded in 2023.

The numbers encompass the entire National Park System, which includes everything from national rivers to national monuments. The Park Service calls them all parks even though only 63 have national park in their name, like Acadia and Zion.

Here are the biggest takeaways from the new data:

### A record-setting year for NPS

- **Great Smoky Mountains National Park remains the most visited national park,** with nearly 12.1 million visitors.
- **Golden Gate National Recreation Area recorded 4.9 million visitors.**
- **Blue Ridge Parkway recorded 4.7 million visitors.**

### Biggest national parks in the US

1. **Great Smoky Mountains National Park**
   - 12.1 million visitors
2. **Golden Gate National Recreation Area**
   - 4.9 million visitors
3. **Blue Ridge Parkway**
   - 4.7 million visitors
4. **Rocky Mountain National Park**
   - 4.1 million visitors
5. **Yosemite National Park**
   - 4.1 million visitors
6. **Acadia National Park**
   - 3.9 million visitors
7. **Olympic National Park**
   - 3.7 million visitors
8. **Lake Clark National Park and Preserve**
   - 3.6 million visitors

### Least visited national parks in the US

1. **Gates of the Arctic National Park and Preserve**
   - 11.9 million visitors
2. **North Cascades National Park**
   - 16.485 million visitors
3. **Kobuk Valley National Park**
   - 17.233 million visitors
4. **Lake Clark National Park and Preserve**
   - 18.505 million visitors
5. **Isle Royale National Park**
   - 28.8 million visitors
6. **Katmai National Park and Preserve**
   - 36.230 million visitors
7. **Wrangell-St. Elias National Park and Preserve**
   - 81.670 million visitors

### How many national parks are there in the US?

There are 433 parks within the National Park System, but only 63 are national parks in name.

The most recent additions are:
- **Frances Perkins National Monument**
- **Carlisle Federal Indian Boarding School National Monument**
- **Springfield 1908 Race Riot National Monument**
- **Blackwell School National Historic Site**
- **Arizonas Trump Highway has run into a ditch: Reports**

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## Impact on National Parks

Recent National Park Service layoffs have prompted some travelers to reconsider visiting national parks this year, but newly released statistics show the parks are more popular than ever.

A National Park Service spokesperson told USA TODAY: “As always, NPS will continue to provide critical services and deliver excellent customer service. Our teams are dedicated to staffing to meet the evolving needs of our visitors, ensuring memorable and meaningful experiences for all. We’re committed to keeping access to national parks seamless, so that everyone can enjoy the beauty and wonder of these treasured landscapes across the country.”

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