Overall visits to National Parks across America have increased by 13,512,648 million in 2023, from 2022, which makes a total of 325,498,646 people visited National Parks. The United States is the land of beautiful national parks to explore, each of them has its unique attraction and special features, they are different in their beauty, scenic views, mystery, wildlife, and peaceful atmosphere. In this article you will explore the 10 Most Visited National Parks In The US with us.
National Parks are always a good vacation spot. They aren’t free but a lot cheaper than other theme parks. These nationally protected Parks provide real Landscapes with unique geographical features and home to diverse ecosystems, and abundant wildlife, national parks across the U.S. are getting popular with time.
We have compiled a list of the top 10 national parks you should visit. Each location is a unique destination that offers scenic beauty, wildlife, lakes, rivers, and many outdoor activities, like camping, climbing, and rafting. Plus discover the trails available for hiking. Find out the best season to go.
According to the National Park Service’s (NPS) latest data the exact amount of visitors to National Parks in 2023 are:
| No. | National Park | State(s) | Visitors |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Great Smoky Mountains | North Carolina, Tennessee | 13,297,647 |
| 2 | Grand Canyon | Arizona | 4,733,705 |
| 3 | Zion | Utah | 4,623,238 |
| 4 | Yellowstone | Idaho, Montana, Wyoming | 4,501,382 |
| 5 | Rocky Mountain | Colorado | 4,115,837 |
| 6 | Yosemite | California | 3,897,070 |
| 7 | Acadia | Maine | 3,879,890 |
| 8 | Grand Teton | Wyoming | 3,417,106 |
| 9 | Joshua Tree | California | 3,270,404 |
| 10 | Olympic | Washington | 2,947,503 |
1. Great Smoky Mountains, North Carolina, Tennessee (13,297,647 visitors)
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Great Smoky Mountains is in the number one position in 2023 according to the National Parks Services. It is undoubtedly the most beautiful and most visited park in the United States.
It has a lot of hiking trails, CLINGMANS DOME is the the highest point of the Smokey Mountain with an elevation of 6,634 feet, this is the starting point of many hiking trails such as Forney Ridge Trail, and Andrew Bald.
Great Smokey Mountain has beautiful scenic areas, DEEP CREEK is one the most beautiful points of the mountains, it has amazing waterfalls and mesmerizing scenic views.
2. Grand Canyon National Park, Arizona, (4,733,705 visitors)
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The Grand Canyon National Park is at the number two position among the most visited national parks in the US. The average number of visitors to this park was 5-6 million per year before the pandemic.
Grand Canyon is also the natural wonder of the world, it is popular for its unique scenic views and wildlife. It has a lot of breathtaking views, it is a great place to explore and experience nature closely.
The best time to visit the Grand Canyon is from September to October, this is the time when you can have a peaceful and relaxing time.
3. Zion National Park, Utah, (4,623,238 visitors)
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Zion National Park was the third most visited park in the United States in 2023, with 4,623,238 visitors.
Zion National Park in Utah has some of the most jaw-dropping views and spectacular hikes in America. Massive sandstone cliffs tower over the valley floor. And narrow slot canyons hug the river below.
Whether you’re an adventure seeker or a casual hiker, there’s something to do for everyone in this incredible park.
It is located in southwest Utah that has beautiful steep red cliffs, forest trails, petroglyphs, emerald pools, and so much more. This is one of the most amazing national parks in the country and it’s one of the Big Five national parks in Utah.
4. Yellowstone, Idaho, Montana, Wyoming, (4,501,382 visitors)
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The Yellow Stone National Park is in the 4th position among the most visited national parks in the US. It is a very unique and one-of-a-kind park in the United States.
This park used to be a volcano, It had a huge eruption in the 1800s that left a massive wild crater, The water here is blue and crystal clear.
The basin of the volcano is 45 miles wide, the experts said that the lava is still there about three miles under the surface, when the snowmelt and all the groundwater seeps down and hits the lava it heats up and the steam comes up through break outs and the vents and geysers.
It’s something you have never seen anything like this before, Old Faithful erupts about every 90 minutes which is enough time to watch it, walk around and see all the geysers in the area then come back and see.
September is the best time to visit the Yellow Stone because this is not a very busy time, you will find smaller crowds and beautiful foliage at this time.
5. Rocky Mountain, Colorado, (4,115,837 Visitors)
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Colorado’s Rocky Mountain National Park is in 5th position, and very popular in the USA, This park is also known as the crown jewel of the American Rockies, it sits high on the Continental Divide and is part of the Rocky Mountains Range, which runs from Canada to New Mexico.
This is the place where wildlife can roam around freely. A dream where chains of sub-alpine lakes form mirrored steps into the sky, and alpine tundra lifts over 60 granite peaks 12,000 feet into the heavens.
This park has many hiking trails and two of the highest scenic roads in the USA. Most visitors begin their Rocky Mountain adventure at the eastern entrance, just outside Estes Park. Just 7 miles into the park, hop off at Sprague Lake, the lake is a favorite with trout fishermen the lake is ideal for families and folks with limited mobility.
Bear Lake is another easy hike, take the short loop around Bear Lake, which passes through a magical shoreline of spruce, aspen, and lodgepole pine.
The best time to visit Rocky Mountain is from September to the beginning of October.
6. Yosemite, California, (3,897,070 Visitors)
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This Beautiful National Park ranks number 6 in 2023, among the most visited national parks in the US.
This is located in California and was established in 1890, Yosemite National Park is one of America’s greatest treasures with almost 1,000 acres, it is best known for its towering granite cliffs, waterfalls, giant sequoia groves, and pristine meadows.
If you want to avoid the summer crowd, which is the peak time in Yosemite National Park, then we recommend visiting this place in early fall, or if you want to see the Horsetail Fall which happens in February then this is the best time to visit, but remember the Horsetail Fall needs a reservation now so plan your visit accordingly.
7. Acadia National Park, Maine, (3,879,890 Visitors)
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Acadia National Park is on number 7th position, millions of visitors come here every year, it has the best bird-watching area, the park spans both a modest amount of Maine’s mainland and the entirety of the state’s venerable Mount Desert Island. Acadia National Park is a national park in Maine that spans nearly 50,000 acres of the Atlantic Coast.
The majority of the park sits on Maine’s Mount Desert Island, and it offers some pretty staggering sights with its plentiful woodland and beautiful, rocky beaches. There’s plenty to do and see while visiting the area.
The best time to visit Acadia National Park is in the fall, the foliage in New England is amazing, and if you visit here from Mid to late October you will find the foliage in full bloom.
8. Grand Teton, Wyoming, (3,417,106 visitors)
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Grand Teton National Park is in the number 8 position, in the most visited national parks.
It is in Northwestern Wyoming, It takes almost an hour to drive from the south end to the north end.
In the north section of the park if you keep heading north on that road you’ll head up to Yellowstone National Park, if you’re in the national park heading south you’re heading toward Jackson Wyoming.
You can start your visit to this park with a hike from the Lupine meadows, several hikes starts from this point, you could try hiking to Bradley Lake which is a moderate six miles round trip, you could hike to Bradley and Taggart lakes which would be about 1600 feet elevation change and a little over 10 miles round trip, considered a moderate height, you could hike to Delta Lake which is becoming more popular, this would be a mile round trip.
Early July will be the best time to visit this park.
9. Joshua Tree, California, (3,270,404, Visitors)
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Joshua Tree National Park is located in California, this amazing park is less than 3 hour’s away from San Diego, California, this popular attraction should be on your travel bucket list.
Joshua Tree is known for its rugged rock formations and desert landscapes, and the famous Joshua trees are scattered throughout the entire park, this is the national park that you probably only need two to three days to explore, there are not too many hikes so two to three days would be the best to explore this park.
The best times to visit this place are fall and winter, you will see lots of wildflowers in spring, and March and April are the peak seasons.
10. Olympic National Park, Washington, (2,947,503 Visitors)
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The Olympic National Park comes on number 10. This is a beautiful attraction for visitors in the State of Washington, in the Northwest of the United States. It is renowned for its diversity and stunning landscapes, peaks with glaciers, alpine meadows, old growth forest, temperate rainforest, Pacific coastline with some of the wildest and most beautiful beaches in the world. Designated by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site.
The Olympic National Park coastline is famous for its beautiful beaches in the world. With amazing views, sea-stacks, piles of driftwood, tide-pools and miles of coast line to explore they are popular for beach combing, backpacking, and hiking along the Pacific Ocean, and less for sunbathing.
Olympic National Park during the winter months provides beautiful views and limited tourists. If you are traveling to the Olympic National Park for the first time, I will suggest you visit all of the popular tourist spots such as Hurricane Ridge, Hoh Rainforest and Rialto Beach, just to name a few.
Final Thoughts
We have shared this list according to the National Park Service’s (NPS) latest data on the exact amount of visitors to National Parks in 2023, Each park is unique and beautiful, Explore the top 10 National Parks in the United States such as Zion, Yellowstone, Yosemite, Grand Canyon, Acadia, and Rocky Mountains.
FAQs
What is the most visited national park in the USA?
According to the National Park Service’s (NPS) latest data The Great Smoky Mountains, North Carolina, Tennessee is number one in the most visited Parks in 2023 with 13,297,647 visitors.
What is the least visited national park in the US?
Gates of the Arctic National Park & Preserve in Alaska had the least visitors in 2023 with total visitors of 11,000, this park has no treks and roads.