National Park Visitation | Go Outside Book

National Park Visitation

How the 59 U.S. national parks rank by the number of visitors

By RON LIZZI - GoOutsideBook.com

 

 

Below are 2017 annual visitation statistics from the National Park Service for the 59 U.S. national parks, in three tables:

 

 

The total number of recreational visitors to all the national parks in 2017 was 84,053,610, up 1.4% from 2016, with 38 of 59 parks seeing increases.*

 

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 VISITORS

Park Name State(s) Visitors / Rank Change from Previous Year
Visitors / % Change / Rank
Great Smoky Mountains NP NC, TN 11,338,893 1  +26,107 +0.2% 37 
Grand Canyon NP AZ 6,254,238 2  +284,427 +4.8% 29 
Zion NP UT 4,504,812 3  +209,685 +4.9% 28 
Rocky Mountain NP CO 4,437,215 4  -80,370 -1.8% 42 
Yosemite NP CA 4,336,890 5  -691,978 -13.8% 56 
Yellowstone NP ID, MT, WY 4,116,524 6  -140,653 -3.3% 46 
Acadia NP ME 3,509,271 7  +205,878 +6.2% 22 
Olympic NP WA 3,401,996 8  +11,775 +0.3% 36 
Grand Teton NP WY 3,317,000 9  +46,924 +1.4% 33 
Glacier NP MT 3,305,512 10  +358,831 +12.2% 11 
Joshua Tree NP CA 2,853,619 11  +348,333 +13.9% 8 
Bryce Canyon NP UT 2,571,684 12  +206,574 +8.7% 17 
Cuyahoga Valley NP OH 2,226,879 13  -196,511 -8.1% 51 
Hawaii Volcanoes NP HI 2,016,702 14  +129,122 +6.8% 21 
Hot Springs NP AR 1,561,616 15  +17,316 +1.1% 34 
Arches NP UT 1,539,028 16  -46,690 -2.9% 45 
Shenandoah NP VA 1,458,874 17  +21,533 +1.5% 32 
Mount Rainier NP WA 1,415,867 18  +58,954 +4.3% 30 
Death Valley NP CA, NV 1,294,827 19  -1,456 -0.1% 41 
Sequoia NP CA 1,291,256 20  +36,568 +2.9% 31 
Capitol Reef NP UT 1,150,165 21  +85,261 +8.0% 19 
Haleakala NP HI 1,112,390 22  -151,168 -12.0% 52 
Badlands NP SD 1,054,325  23  +58,062 +5.8% 24 
Everglades NP FL 1,018,557 24  +87,650 +9.4% 16 
Saguaro NP AZ 964,760 25  +144,334 +17.6% 5 
Canyonlands NP UT 742,271 26  -33,947 -4.4% 47 
Crater Lake NP OR 711,749 27  -44,595 -5.9% 49 
Theodore Roosevelt NP ND 708,003 28  -45,877 -6.1% 50 
Kings Canyon NP CA 692,932 29  +85,453 +14.1% 7 
Denali NP & PRES AK 642,809 30  +55,397 +9.4% 15 
Petrified Forest NP AZ 627,757 31  -15,517 -2.4% 44 
Wind Cave NP SD 619,924 32  +2,547 +0.4% 35 
Mesa Verde NP CO 613,788 33  +30,261 +5.2% 25 
Mammoth Cave NP KY 587,853 34  +1,339 +0.2% 38 
Glacier Bay NP & PRES AK 547,057 35  +26,886 +5.2% 27 
Carlsbad Caverns NP NM 520,026 36  +53,253 +11.4% 12 
Lassen Volcanic NP CA 507,256 37  -28,812 -5.4% 48 
Great Sand Dunes NP & PRES CO 486,935 38  +98,627 +25.4% 3 
Biscayne NP FL 446,961 39  -67,748 -13.2% 54 
Redwood NP CA 445,000 40  -91,297 -17.0% 57 
Big Bend NP TX 440,276 41  +51,986 +13.4% 9 
Channel Islands NP CA 383,687 42  +18,880 +5.2% 26 
Black Canyon of the Gunnison NP CO 307,143 43  +69,125 +29.0% 2 
Virgin Islands NP VI 304,408 44  -106,935 -26.0% 58 
Kenai Fjords NP AK 303,598 45  -42,936 -12.4% 53 
Voyageurs NP MN 237,250 46  -4,662 -1.9% 43 
Pinnacles NP CA 233,334 47  +17,779 +8.2% 18 
Guadalupe Mountains NP TX 225,257 48  +43,418 +23.9% 4 
Great Basin NP NV 168,028 49  +23,182 +16.0% 6 
Congaree NP SC 159,595 50  +15,752 +11.0% 14 
National Park of American Samoa AS 69,468 51  +40,576 +140.4% 1 
Wrangell-St. Elias NP & PRES AK 68,292 52  -10,755 -13.6% 55 
Dry Tortugas NP FL 54,281 53  -19,380 -26.3% 59 
Katmai NP & PRES* AK 37,818 54  0 0% 39 
North Cascades NP WA 30,326 55  +1,680 +5.9% 23 
Isle Royale NP MI 28,196 56  +3,230 +12.9% 10 
Lake Clark NP & PRES AK 22,755 57  +1,653 +7.8% 20 
Kobuk Valley NP* AK 15,500 58  0 0% 40 
Gates of the Arctic NP & PRES AK 11,177 59  +1,130 +11.2% 13 

 

 

 

SORTED BY PERCENTAGE CHANGE IN NUMBER OF VISITORS

Park Name State(s) Visitors / Rank Change from Previous Year
Visitors / % Change / Rank
National Park of American Samoa AS 69,468 51  +40,576 +140.4% 1 
Black Canyon of the Gunnison NP CO 307,143 43  +69,125 +29.0% 2 
Great Sand Dunes NP & PRES CO 486,935 38  +98,627 +25.4% 3 
Guadalupe Mountains NP TX 225,257 48  +43,418 +23.9% 4 
Saguaro NP AZ 964,760 25  +144,334 +17.6% 5 
Great Basin NP NV 168,028 49  +23,182 +16.0% 6 
Kings Canyon NP CA 692,932 29  +85,453 +14.1% 7 
Joshua Tree NP CA 2,853,619 11  +348,333 +13.9% 8 
Big Bend NP TX 440,276 41  +51,986 +13.4% 9 
Isle Royale NP MI 28,196 56  +3,230 +12.9% 10 
Glacier NP MT 3,305,512 10  +358,831 +12.2% 11 
Carlsbad Caverns NP NM 520,026 36  +53,253 +11.4% 12 
Gates of the Arctic NP & PRES AK 11,177 59  +1,130 +11.2% 13 
Congaree NP SC 159,595 50  +15,752 +11.0% 14 
Denali NP & PRES AK 642,809 30  +55,397 +9.4% 15 
Everglades NP FL 1,018,557 24  +87,650 +9.4% 16 
Bryce Canyon NP UT 2,571,684 12  +206,574 +8.7% 17 
Pinnacles NP CA 233,334 47  +17,779 +8.2% 18 
Capitol Reef NP UT 1,150,165 21  +85,261 +8.0% 19 
Lake Clark NP & PRES AK 22,755 57  +1,653 +7.8% 20 
Hawaii Volcanoes NP HI 2,016,702 14  +129,122 +6.8% 21 
Acadia NP ME 3,509,271 7  +205,878 +6.2% 22 
North Cascades NP WA 30,326 55  +1,680 +5.9% 23 
Badlands NP SD 1,054,325  23  +58,062 +5.8% 24 
Mesa Verde NP CO 613,788 33  +30,261 +5.2% 25 
Channel Islands NP CA 383,687 42  +18,880 +5.2% 26 
Glacier Bay NP & PRES AK 547,057 35  +26,886 +5.2% 27 
Zion NP UT 4,504,812 3  +209,685 +4.9% 28 
Grand Canyon NP AZ 6,254,238 2  +284,427 +4.8% 29 
Mount Rainier NP WA 1,415,867 18  +58,954 +4.3% 30 
Sequoia NP CA 1,291,256 20  +36,568 +2.9% 31 
Shenandoah NP VA 1,458,874 17  +21,533 +1.5% 32 
Grand Teton NP WY 3,317,000 9  +46,924 +1.4% 33 
Hot Springs NP AR 1,561,616 15  +17,316 +1.1% 34 
Wind Cave NP SD 619,924 32  +2,547 +0.4% 35 
Olympic NP WA 3,401,996 8  +11,775 +0.3% 36 
Great Smoky Mountains NP NC, TN 11,338,893 1  +26,107 +0.2% 37 
Mammoth Cave NP KY 587,853 34  +1,339 +0.2% 38 
Katmai NP & PRES* AK 37,818 54  0 0% 39 
Kobuk Valley NP* AK 15,500 58  0 0% 40 
Death Valley NP CA, NV 1,294,827 19  -1,456 -0.1% 41 
Rocky Mountain NP CO 4,437,215 4  -80,370 -1.8% 42 
Voyageurs NP MN 237,250 46  -4,662 -1.9% 43 
Petrified Forest NP AZ 627,757 31  -15,517 -2.4% 44 
Arches NP UT 1,539,028 16  -46,690 -2.9% 45 
Yellowstone NP ID, MT, WY 4,116,524 6  -140,653 -3.3% 46 
Canyonlands NP UT 742,271 26  -33,947 -4.4% 47 
Lassen Volcanic NP CA 507,256 37  -28,812 -5.4% 48 
Crater Lake NP OR 711,749 27  -44,595 -5.9% 49 
Theodore Roosevelt NP ND 708,003 28  -45,877 -6.1% 50 
Cuyahoga Valley NP OH 2,226,879 13  -196,511 -8.1% 51 
Haleakala NP HI 1,112,390 22  -151,168 -12.0% 52 
Kenai Fjords NP AK 303,598 45  -42,936 -12.4% 53 
Biscayne NP FL 446,961 39  -67,748 -13.2% 54 
Wrangell-St. Elias NP & PRES AK 68,292 52  -10,755 -13.6% 55 
Yosemite NP CA 4,336,890 5  -691,978 -13.8% 56 
Redwood NP CA 445,000 40  -91,297 -17.0% 57 
Virgin Islands NP VI 304,408 44  -106,935 -26.0% 58 
Dry Tortugas NP FL 54,281 53  -19,380 -26.3% 59 

 

 

 

SORTED BY PARK NAME

Park Name State(s) Visitors / Rank Change from Previous Year
Visitors / % Change / Rank
Acadia NP ME 3,509,271 7  +205,878 +6.2% 22 
Arches NP UT 1,539,028 16  -46,690 -2.9% 45 
Badlands NP SD 1,054,325  23  +58,062 +5.8% 24 
Big Bend NP TX 440,276 41  +51,986 +13.4% 9 
Biscayne NP FL 446,961 39  -67,748 -13.2% 54 
Black Canyon of the Gunnison NP CO 307,143 43  +69,125 +29.0% 2 
Bryce Canyon NP UT 2,571,684 12  +206,574 +8.7% 17 
Canyonlands NP UT 742,271 26  -33,947 -4.4% 47 
Capitol Reef NP UT 1,150,165 21  +85,261 +8.0% 19 
Carlsbad Caverns NP NM 520,026 36  +53,253 +11.4% 12 
Channel Islands NP CA 383,687 42  +18,880 +5.2% 26 
Congaree NP SC 159,595 50  +15,752 +11.0% 14 
Crater Lake NP OR 711,749 27  -44,595 -5.9% 49 
Cuyahoga Valley NP OH 2,226,879 13  -196,511 -8.1% 51 
Death Valley NP CA, NV 1,294,827 19  -1,456 -0.1% 41 
Denali NP & PRES AK 642,809 30  +55,397 +9.4% 15 
Dry Tortugas NP FL 54,281 53  -19,380 -26.3% 59 
Everglades NP FL 1,018,557 24  +87,650 +9.4% 16 
Gates of the Arctic NP & PRES AK 11,177 59  +1,130 +11.2% 13 
Glacier NP MT 3,305,512 10  +358,831 +12.2% 11 
Glacier Bay NP & PRES AK 547,057 35  +26,886 +5.2% 27 
Grand Canyon NP AZ 6,254,238 2  +284,427 +4.8% 29 
Grand Teton NP WY 3,317,000 9  +46,924 +1.4% 33 
Great Basin NP NV 168,028 49  +23,182 +16.0% 6 
Great Sand Dunes NP & PRES CO 486,935 38  +98,627 +25.4% 3 
Great Smoky Mountains NP NC, TN 11,338,893 1  +26,107 +0.2% 37 
Guadalupe Mountains NP TX 225,257 48  +43,418 +23.9% 4 
Haleakala NP HI 1,112,390 22  -151,168 -12.0% 52 
Hawaii Volcanoes NP HI 2,016,702 14  +129,122 +6.8% 21 
Hot Springs NP AR 1,561,616 15  +17,316 +1.1% 34 
Isle Royale NP MI 28,196 56  +3,230 +12.9% 10 
Joshua Tree NP CA 2,853,619 11  +348,333 +13.9% 8 
Katmai NP & PRES* AK 37,818 54  0 0% 39 
Kenai Fjords NP AK 303,598 45  -42,936 -12.4% 53 
Kings Canyon NP CA 692,932 29  +85,453 +14.1% 7 
Kobuk Valley NP* AK 15,500 58  0 0% 40 
Lake Clark NP & PRES AK 22,755 57  +1,653 +7.8% 20 
Lassen Volcanic NP CA 507,256 37  -28,812 -5.4% 48 
Mammoth Cave NP KY 587,853 34  +1,339 +0.2% 38 
Mesa Verde NP CO 613,788 33  +30,261 +5.2% 25 
Mount Rainier NP WA 1,415,867 18  +58,954 +4.3% 30 
National Park of American Samoa AS 69,468 51  +40,576 +140.4% 1 
North Cascades NP WA 30,326 55  +1,680 +5.9% 23 
Olympic NP WA 3,401,996 8  +11,775 +0.3% 36 
Petrified Forest NP AZ 627,757 31  -15,517 -2.4% 44 
Pinnacles NP CA 233,334 47  +17,779 +8.2% 18 
Redwood NP CA 445,000 40  -91,297 -17.0% 57 
Rocky Mountain NP CO 4,437,215 4  -80,370 -1.8% 42 
Saguaro NP AZ 964,760 25  +144,334 +17.6% 5 
Sequoia NP CA 1,291,256 20  +36,568 +2.9% 31 
Shenandoah NP VA 1,458,874 17  +21,533 +1.5% 32 
Theodore Roosevelt NP ND 708,003 28  -45,877 -6.1% 50 
Virgin Islands NP VI 304,408 44  -106,935 -26.0% 58 
Voyageurs NP MN 237,250 46  -4,662 -1.9% 43 
Wind Cave NP SD 619,924 32  +2,547 +0.4% 35 
Wrangell-St. Elias NP & PRES AK 68,292 52  -10,755 -13.6% 55 
Yellowstone NP ID, MT, WY 4,116,524 6  -140,653 -3.3% 46 
Yosemite NP CA 4,336,890 5  -691,978 -13.8% 56 
Zion NP UT 4,504,812 3  +209,685 +4.9% 28 

 

 

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

 

 

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American Park Ratings