The numbers are in! We're happy to share that Great Smoky Mountains National Park has been recognized as the most visited national park for 2023, according to the annual visitation report.
Last week, the National Park Service (NPS) released data on 2023 attendance across their many sites. The NPS recorded an astonishing 325,498,646 recreation visits at 400 federally protected sites in 2023. 20 parks broke visitation records- many of which were lesser known parks! 1,400,000,000 visitation hours were clocked by national park visitors.
Great Smoky Mountains National Park was the most visited national park in 2023. The Smokies saw 13,297,647 visits! Visitors engaged in many activities, including hiking, fishing, biking, and driving the scenic byways.
"World renowned for its diversity of plant and animal life, the beauty of its ancient mountains, and the quality of its remnants of Southern Appalachian mountain culture, this is America's most visited national park." (Quote)
The ten most visited national parks were as follows:
Great Smoky Mountains National Park (13,297,647 visits)
Grand Canyon National Park (4,733,705 visits)
Zion National Park in Utah (4,623,238 visits)
Yellowstone National Park (4,501,382 visits)
Rocky Mountain National Park (4,115,837 visits)
Yosemite National Park (3,897,070 visits)
Acadia National Park (3,879,890 visits)
Grand Teton National Park (3,417,106 visits)
Joshua Tree National Park (3,270,404 visits)
Olympic National Park (2,947,503 visits)
The Smoky Mountains have remained the most visited national park for many years. In 2022, nearly 13 million people visited Great Smoky Mountains National Park, and in 2021, nearly 14 million people visited. Year after year, the Smokies surpass all of the other 62 national parks in terms of visitation. If you've visited, then you'll know why! As far as convenience, accessibility, beauty, and variety go, the Smokies can't be beat!
Did you visit the Smokies in 2023? Tell us about your trip in the comments!