National Park Visitation

How the U.S. national parks rank by the number of visits

By RON LIZZI - GoOutsideBook.com

 

 

Below are 2019 annual visitation statistics from the National Park Service for the 62 U.S. national parks, in three tables:

 

 

In 2019, Indiana Dunes National Park, formerly a national lakeshore, and White Sands National Park, formerly a national monument, became the 61st and 62nd national parks, respectively.

 

The total number of recreational visits to the 62 national parks in 2019 was 88,815,063, up 3.9% from 2018, with 39 of 62 parks seeing increases.*

 

Note that the statistics are for recreational visits, not unique visitors. A given visitor may have multiple visits to the same park. A park with more visits than another park did not necessarily have more unique visitors.

 

Visit the American Park Ratings page to see ratings from Consumer Reports and GoOutsideBook.com of many of the most popular parks, plus an interactive map with photos and links.

 

 

 

SORTED BY NUMBER OF VISITS

Park Name State(s) Visits / Rank Change from Previous Year
Visits / % Change / Rank
Great Smoky Mountains NP NC, TN 12,547,743 1  +1,126,543 +9.9% 18 
Grand Canyon NP AZ 5,974,411 2  -406,084 -6.4% 58 
Rocky Mountain NP CO 4,670,053 3  +79,560 +1.7% 35 
Zion NP UT 4,488,268 4  +168,235 +3.9% 28 
Yosemite NP CA 4,422,861 5  +413,425 +10.3% 17 
Yellowstone NP ID, MT, WY 4,020,288 6  -94,712 -2.3% 47 
Acadia NP ME 3,437,286 7  -100,289 -2.8% 51 
Grand Teton NP WY 3,405,614 8  -85,537 -2.5% 48 
Olympic NP WA 3,245,806 9  +141,351 +4.6% 27 
Glacier NP MT 3,049,839 10  +84,530 +2.9% 32 
Joshua Tree NP CA 2,988,547 11  +46,165 +1.6% 36 
Bryce Canyon NP UT 2,594,904 12  -84,574 -3.2% 52 
Cuyahoga Valley NP OH 2,237,997 13  +141,944 +6.8% 22 
Indiana Dunes NP IN 2,134,285 14  +378,206 +21.5% 9 
Gateway Arch NP MO 2,055,309 15  +39,129 +1.9% 34 
Death Valley NP CA, NV 1,740,945 16  +62,285 +3.7% 29 
Arches NP UT 1,659,702 17  -3,855 -0.2% 42 
Mount Rainier NP WA 1,501,621 18  -16,870 -1.1% 44 
Hot Springs NP AR 1,467,153 19  -39,734 -2.6% 49 
Shenandoah NP VA 1,425,507 20  +160,627 +12.7% 13 
Hawaii Volcanoes NP HI 1,368,376 21  +251,485 +22.5% 8 
Sequoia NP CA 1,246,053 22  +16,459 +1.3% 37 
Capitol Reef NP UT 1,226,519 23  -1,108 -0.1% 40 
Everglades NP FL 1,118,300 24  +521,176 +87.3% 3 
Saguaro NP AZ 1,020,226 25  +62,821 +6.6% 23 
Haleakala NP HI 994,394 26  -49,690 -4.8% 54 
Badlands NP SD 970,998  27  -37,944 -3.8% 53 
Canyonlands NP UT 733,996 28  -5,453 -0.7% 43 
Biscayne NP FL 708,522 29  +239,269 +51.0% 4 
Crater Lake NP OR 704,512 30  -16,147 -2.2% 46 
Theodore Roosevelt NP ND 691,658 31  -57,731 -7.7% 59 
Glacier Bay NP & PRES AK 672,087 32  +74,172 +12.4% 14 
Petrified Forest NP AZ 643,588 33  -1,334 -0.2% 41 
Kings Canyon NP CA 632,110 34  -66,913 -9.6% 60 
Wind Cave NP SD 615,350 35  -41,047 -6.3% 57 
White Sands NP NM 608,785 36  +5,777 +1.0% 39 
Denali NP & PRES AK 601,152 37  +6,492 +1.1% 38 
Mesa Verde NP CO 556,203 38  -7,217 -1.3% 45 
Mammoth Cave NP KY 551,590 39  +18,384 +3.4% 31 
Great Sand Dunes NP & PRES CO 527,546 40  +84,641 +19.1% 10 
Lassen Volcanic NP CA 517,039 41  +17,604 +3.5% 30 
Redwood NP CA 504,722 42  +22,186 +4.6% 26 
Big Bend NP TX 463,832 43  +23,741 +5.4% 25 
Carlsbad Caverns NP NM 440,691 44  -25,221 -5.4% 55 
Black Canyon of the Gunnison NP CO 432,818 45  +123,856 +40.1% 5 
Channel Islands NP CA 409,630 46  +43,380 +11.8% 15 
Kenai Fjords NP AK 356,601 47  +35,005 +10.9% 16 
Voyageurs NP MN 232,974 48  -6,682 -2.8% 50 
Guadalupe Mountains NP TX 188,833 49  +16,486 +9.6% 20 
Pinnacles NP CA 177,224 50  -44,928 -20.2% 62 
Congaree NP SC 159,445 51  +13,516 +9.3% 21 
Virgin Islands NP VI 133,398 52  +21,111 +18.8% 11 
Great Basin NP NV 131,802 53  -21,292 -13.9% 61 
Katmai NP & PRES* AK 84,167 54  +46,349 +122.6% 1 
Dry Tortugas NP FL 79,200 55  +22,390 +39.4% 6 
Wrangell-St. Elias NP & PRES AK 74,518 56  -4,932 -6.2% 56 
National Park of American Samoa AS 60,006 57  +31,380 +109.6% 2 
North Cascades NP WA 38,208 58  +8,123 +27.0% 7 
Isle Royale NP MI 26,410 59  +612 +2.4% 33 
Lake Clark NP & PRES AK 17,157 60  +2,678 +18.5% 12 
Kobuk Valley NP* AK 15,766 61  +829 +5.5% 24 
Gates of the Arctic NP & PRES AK 10,518 62  +927 +9.7% 19 

 

 

 

SORTED BY PERCENTAGE CHANGE IN NUMBER OF VISITS

Park Name State(s) Visits / Rank Change from Previous Year
Visits / % Change / Rank
Katmai NP & PRES* AK 84,167 54  +46,349 +122.6% 1 
National Park of American Samoa AS 60,006 57  +31,380 +109.6% 2 
Everglades NP FL 1,118,300 24  +521,176 +87.3% 3 
Biscayne NP FL 708,522 29  +239,269 +51.0% 4 
Black Canyon of the Gunnison NP CO 432,818 45  +123,856 +40.1% 5 
Dry Tortugas NP FL 79,200 55  +22,390 +39.4% 6 
North Cascades NP WA 38,208 58  +8,123 +27.0% 7 
Hawaii Volcanoes NP HI 1,368,376 21  +251,485 +22.5% 8 
Indiana Dunes NP IN 2,134,285 14  +378,206 +21.5% 9 
Great Sand Dunes NP & PRES CO 527,546 40  +84,641 +19.1% 10 
Virgin Islands NP VI 133,398 52  +21,111 +18.8% 11 
Lake Clark NP & PRES AK 17,157 60  +2,678 +18.5% 12 
Shenandoah NP VA 1,425,507 20  +160,627 +12.7% 13 
Glacier Bay NP & PRES AK 672,087 32  +74,172 +12.4% 14 
Channel Islands NP CA 409,630 46  +43,380 +11.8% 15 
Kenai Fjords NP AK 356,601 47  +35,005 +10.9% 16 
Yosemite NP CA 4,422,861 5  +413,425 +10.3% 17 
Great Smoky Mountains NP NC, TN 12,547,743 1  +1,126,543 +9.9% 18 
Gates of the Arctic NP & PRES AK 10,518 62  +927 +9.7% 19 
Guadalupe Mountains NP TX 188,833 49  +16,486 +9.6% 20 
Congaree NP SC 159,445 51  +13,516 +9.3% 21 
Cuyahoga Valley NP OH 2,237,997 13  +141,944 +6.8% 22 
Saguaro NP AZ 1,020,226 25  +62,821 +6.6% 23 
Kobuk Valley NP* AK 15,766 61  +829 +5.5% 24 
Big Bend NP TX 463,832 43  +23,741 +5.4% 25 
Redwood NP CA 504,722 42  +22,186 +4.6% 26 
Olympic NP WA 3,245,806 9  +141,351 +4.6% 27 
Zion NP UT 4,488,268 4  +168,235 +3.9% 28 
Death Valley NP CA, NV 1,740,945 16  +62,285 +3.7% 29 
Lassen Volcanic NP CA 517,039 41  +17,604 +3.5% 30 
Mammoth Cave NP KY 551,590 39  +18,384 +3.4% 31 
Glacier NP MT 3,049,839 10  +84,530 +2.9% 32 
Isle Royale NP MI 26,410 59  +612 +2.4% 33 
Gateway Arch NP MO 2,055,309 15  +39,129 +1.9% 34 
Rocky Mountain NP CO 4,670,053 3  +79,560 +1.7% 35 
Joshua Tree NP CA 2,988,547 11  +46,165 +1.6% 36 
Sequoia NP CA 1,246,053 22  +16,459 +1.3% 37 
Denali NP & PRES AK 601,152 37  +6,492 +1.1% 38 
White Sands NP NM 608,785 36  +5,777 +1.0% 39 
Capitol Reef NP UT 1,226,519 23  -1,108 -0.1% 40 
Petrified Forest NP AZ 643,588 33  -1,334 -0.2% 41 
Arches NP UT 1,659,702 17  -3,855 -0.2% 42 
Canyonlands NP UT 733,996 28  -5,453 -0.7% 43 
Mount Rainier NP WA 1,501,621 18  -16,870 -1.1% 44 
Mesa Verde NP CO 556,203 38  -7,217 -1.3% 45 
Crater Lake NP OR 704,512 30  -16,147 -2.2% 46 
Yellowstone NP ID, MT, WY 4,020,288 6  -94,712 -2.3% 47 
Grand Teton NP WY 3,405,614 8  -85,537 -2.5% 48 
Hot Springs NP AR 1,467,153 19  -39,734 -2.6% 49 
Voyageurs NP MN 232,974 48  -6,682 -2.8% 50 
Acadia NP ME 3,437,286 7  -100,289 -2.8% 51 
Bryce Canyon NP UT 2,594,904 12  -84,574 -3.2% 52 
Badlands NP SD 970,998  27  -37,944 -3.8% 53 
Haleakala NP HI 994,394 26  -49,690 -4.8% 54 
Carlsbad Caverns NP NM 440,691 44  -25,221 -5.4% 55 
Wrangell-St. Elias NP & PRES AK 74,518 56  -4,932 -6.2% 56 
Wind Cave NP SD 615,350 35  -41,047 -6.3% 57 
Grand Canyon NP AZ 5,974,411 2  -406,084 -6.4% 58 
Theodore Roosevelt NP ND 691,658 31  -57,731 -7.7% 59 
Kings Canyon NP CA 632,110 34  -66,913 -9.6% 60 
Great Basin NP NV 131,802 53  -21,292 -13.9% 61 
Pinnacles NP CA 177,224 50  -44,928 -20.2% 62 

 

 

 

SORTED BY PARK NAME

Park Name State(s) Visits / Rank Change from Previous Year
Visits / % Change / Rank
Acadia NP ME 3,437,286 7  -100,289 -2.8% 51 
Arches NP UT 1,659,702 17  -3,855 -0.2% 42 
Badlands NP SD 970,998  27  -37,944 -3.8% 53 
Big Bend NP TX 463,832 43  +23,741 +5.4% 25 
Biscayne NP FL 708,522 29  +239,269 +51.0% 4 
Black Canyon of the Gunnison NP CO 432,818 45  +123,856 +40.1% 5 
Bryce Canyon NP UT 2,594,904 12  -84,574 -3.2% 52 
Canyonlands NP UT 733,996 28  -5,453 -0.7% 43 
Capitol Reef NP UT 1,226,519 23  -1,108 -0.1% 40 
Carlsbad Caverns NP NM 440,691 44  -25,221 -5.4% 55 
Channel Islands NP CA 409,630 46  +43,380 +11.8% 15 
Congaree NP SC 159,445 51  +13,516 +9.3% 21 
Crater Lake NP OR 704,512 30  -16,147 -2.2% 46 
Cuyahoga Valley NP OH 2,237,997 13  +141,944 +6.8% 22 
Death Valley NP CA, NV 1,740,945 16  +62,285 +3.7% 29 
Denali NP & PRES AK 601,152 37  +6,492 +1.1% 38 
Dry Tortugas NP FL 79,200 55  +22,390 +39.4% 6 
Everglades NP FL 1,118,300 24  +521,176 +87.3% 3 
Gates of the Arctic NP & PRES AK 10,518 62  +927 +9.7% 19 
Gateway Arch NP MO 2,055,309 15  +39,129 +1.9% 34 
Glacier NP MT 3,049,839 10  +84,530 +2.9% 32 
Glacier Bay NP & PRES AK 672,087 32  +74,172 +12.4% 14 
Grand Canyon NP AZ 5,974,411 2  -406,084 -6.4% 58 
Grand Teton NP WY 3,405,614 8  -85,537 -2.5% 48 
Great Basin NP NV 131,802 53  -21,292 -13.9% 61 
Great Sand Dunes NP & PRES CO 527,546 40  +84,641 +19.1% 10 
Great Smoky Mountains NP NC, TN 12,547,743 1  +1,126,543 +9.9% 18 
Guadalupe Mountains NP TX 188,833 49  +16,486 +9.6% 20 
Haleakala NP HI 994,394 26  -49,690 -4.8% 54 
Hawaii Volcanoes NP HI 1,368,376 21  +251,485 +22.5% 8 
Hot Springs NP AR 1,467,153 19  -39,734 -2.6% 49 
Indiana Dunes NP IN 2,134,285 14  +378,206 +21.5% 9 
Isle Royale NP MI 26,410 59  +612 +2.4% 33 
Joshua Tree NP CA 2,988,547 11  +46,165 +1.6% 36 
Katmai NP & PRES* AK 84,167 54  +46,349 +122.6% 1 
Kenai Fjords NP AK 356,601 47  +35,005 +10.9% 16 
Kings Canyon NP CA 632,110 34  -66,913 -9.6% 60 
Kobuk Valley NP* AK 15,766 61  +829 +5.5% 24 
Lake Clark NP & PRES AK 17,157 60  +2,678 +18.5% 12 
Lassen Volcanic NP CA 517,039 41  +17,604 +3.5% 30 
Mammoth Cave NP KY 551,590 39  +18,384 +3.4% 31 
Mesa Verde NP CO 556,203 38  -7,217 -1.3% 45 
Mount Rainier NP WA 1,501,621 18  -16,870 -1.1% 44 
National Park of American Samoa AS 60,006 57  +31,380 +109.6% 2 
North Cascades NP WA 38,208 58  +8,123 +27.0% 7 
Olympic NP WA 3,245,806 9  +141,351 +4.6% 27 
Petrified Forest NP AZ 643,588 33  -1,334 -0.2% 41 
Pinnacles NP CA 177,224 50  -44,928 -20.2% 62 
Redwood NP CA 504,722 42  +22,186 +4.6% 26 
Rocky Mountain NP CO 4,670,053 3  +79,560 +1.7% 35 
Saguaro NP AZ 1,020,226 25  +62,821 +6.6% 23 
Sequoia NP CA 1,246,053 22  +16,459 +1.3% 37 
Shenandoah NP VA 1,425,507 20  +160,627 +12.7% 13 
Theodore Roosevelt NP ND 691,658 31  -57,731 -7.7% 59 
Virgin Islands NP VI 133,398 52  +21,111 +18.8% 11 
Voyageurs NP MN 232,974 48  -6,682 -2.8% 50 
White Sands NP NM 608,785 36  +5,777 +1.0% 39 
Wind Cave NP SD 615,350 35  -41,047 -6.3% 57 
Wrangell-St. Elias NP & PRES AK 74,518 56  -4,932 -6.2% 56 
Yellowstone NP ID, MT, WY 4,020,288 6  -94,712 -2.3% 47 
Yosemite NP CA 4,422,861 5  +413,425 +10.3% 17 
Zion NP UT 4,488,268 4  +168,235 +3.9% 28 

 

 

* Visitation figures for remote Alaskan parks that have no facilities or roads may be crude estimates.

 

 

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American Park Ratings