The National Park Service announced that America’s national parks recorded more than 323 million recreation visits in 2025, continuing the long-running trend of heavy visitation across the park system.
According to the agency, 323,014,305 recreation visits were recorded across 406 reporting park sites, along with more than 13 million overnight stays and nearly 1.39 billion recreation visitor hours.
Despite a 43-day partial federal government shutdown—the longest in U.S. history—the National Park Service worked to keep parks open whenever possible, allowing visitors to continue enjoying public lands throughout the year.
“America’s national parks continue to be places where people come to experience our country’s history, landscapes and shared heritage,” said Jessica Bowron, Comptroller and the official exercising the delegated authority of the Director of the National Park Service.
“We are committed to keeping parks open, accessible and well-managed so visitors can safely enjoy these extraordinary places today and for generations to come.”
National Park Visitation by the Numbers
The 2025 visitation report shows just how massive the national park system has become.
2025 Visitation Highlights
- 323,014,305 recreation visits
- 1,386,749,187 recreation visitor hours
- 13,016,577 overnight stays
- 26 parks set new visitation records
- 406 park units reported visitation data
Visitation statistics help the National Park Service manage visitor access while protecting park resources. The agency tracks visitor numbers across the entire park system and publishes the data through the NPS Visitation Statistics Dashboard, which includes records dating back to 1979 for some parks.
With more than 400 national park sites located in every state, the system offers millions of visitors opportunities for recreation, education, and exploration every year.
Most Visited National Park Service Sites in 2025
While the term “national parks” often refers to the 63 parks with that official designation, the broader National Park System includes more than 400 sites, including parkways, recreation areas, monuments, and historic sites.
Here were the 10 most visited sites across the entire National Park System in 2025:
| Rank | Site | 2025 Visits |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Blue Ridge Parkway | 16,533,753 |
| 2 | Golden Gate National Recreation Area | 15,748,676 |
| 3 | Great Smoky Mountains National Park | 11,527,939 |
| 4 | Natchez Trace Parkway | 7,994,783 |
| 5 | Lincoln Memorial | 7,743,295 |
| 6 | Gateway National Recreation Area | 7,696,939 |
| 7 | Gulf Islands National Seashore | 7,576,923 |
| 8 | George Washington Memorial Parkway | 6,732,932 |
| 9 | Appalachian National Scenic Trail | 6,215,118 |
| 10 | Lake Mead National Recreation Area | 6,135,586 |
Most Visited National Parks in 2025
When looking only at national parks (not the entire system), a familiar list of popular destinations once again topped the charts.
| Rank | National Park | 2025 Visits |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Great Smoky Mountains National Park | 11,527,939 |
| 2 | Zion National Park | 4,984,525 |
| 3 | Yellowstone National Park | 4,762,988 |
| 4 | Grand Canyon National Park | 4,430,653 |
| 5 | Yosemite National Park | 4,278,413 |
| 6 | Rocky Mountain National Park | 4,171,431 |
| 7 | Acadia National Park | 4,079,318 |
| 8 | Grand Teton National Park | 3,800,648 |
| 9 | Olympic National Park | 3,584,187 |
| 10 | Glacier National Park | 3,136,557 |
As usual, Great Smoky Mountains National Park remained the most visited park in the country, attracting more than 11.5 million visitors.
What These Numbers Mean for Park Travelers
Heavy visitation continues to shape how travelers experience national parks. Many popular destinations are expanding timed entry systems, reservation requirements, and shuttle services to help manage crowds and protect park resources.
For visitors planning trips in peak travel seasons, it’s worth researching park policies ahead of time and considering less crowded areas of the park system. If you do find yourself traveling to some of the more popular parks this summer, check out our guide to visiting national parks during the busy summer season for tips on avoiding crowds.
Looking Ahead to America’s 250th Anniversary
The National Park Service says visitation could remain strong as the country prepares to celebrate the 250th anniversary of the United States in 2026.
Many parks will host special programs, exhibits, and commemorations tied to the anniversary, potentially bringing even more visitors to national parks and historic sites across the country. It’ll be a busy year, so make sure you understand what America the Beautiful pass you will need before you head out. We’ve got all the details so you can pick the pass that is right for you.
