These are the national parks where visitors spend the most money

NPS reveals most profitable national parks

By Sarah Joseph Published September 18, 2024

Man running through the desert landscape of The Grand Canyon. — Brian Erickson / Unsplash

Not everything about National Parks is rainbows and unicorns, but the National Park Service (NPS) has just released an eye-opening study on the positive economic contributions of their parks to local communities, states, and the nation as a whole. In short, our National Parks boost the economy through tourism (which brought in a whopping $26.4 billion last year), job creation, and infrastructure development. Businesses in the area, such as lodging and restaurants, have also seen a significant bump in their economic contributions this year due to National Park tourism. But which parks bring in the most bank?

Here are the top 5 most profitable National Parks according to the NPS

Great Smoky Mountains National Park sunset view — Jon Bilous / Shutterstock

The Great Smoky Mountains in Tennessee and North Carolina
- Annual Visitor Spending: $2.19 billion
- Annual visitors: 12 million
- Admission: Free
The Golden Gate National Recreation Area
- Annual Visitor Spending: $1.51 billion
- Annual visitors: 15 million
- Admission: Free
Blue Ridge Parkway in Virginia and North Carolina
- Annual Visitor Spending: $1.39 billion
- Annual visitors: 15 million
- Admission: Free
Grand Canyon National Park in Arizona
- Annual Visitor Spending: $768.41 million
- Annual visitors: 5-6 million
- Admission: $35 for a vehicle pass (valid for 7 days)
Teton National Park in Wyoming
- Annual Visitor Spending: $737.98 million
- Annual visitors: 3-4 million
- Admission: $35 for a vehicle pass (valid for 7 days)

Parks without admission fees like the Great Smoky Mountains and the Golden Gate Recreational Area seem to have higher visitor numbers, however fee-based parks like Grand Canyon and Teton still generate significant revenue. Whether free or fee-based, national parks play a crucial role in boosting surrounding communities and supporting a wide array of businesses.

Topics

Contributor

Sarah is a lover of all things outdoors. With a bright sense of adventure and a heart for the mountains, she is always…

Outdoors

This is when you should avoid visiting Hawai’i Volcanoes National Park this month

Conservation efforts under weigh at Hawai'i Volcanoes National Park

Lava at Hawai'i Volcanoes National Park

Hawai'i Volcanoes National Park is well-known for its volcanic activity. The park is home to Kīlauea, one of the most active volcanoes in the world, and Mauna Loa, the world’s largest volcano. Visitors are drawn to the rare opportunity to witness the power of volcanic processes, and this November will be no different. If you're planning on visiting the Hawai'i Volcanoes National Park this month, be aware that the National Park Service has planned a few flight operations in November to aid in monitoring conservation efforts. Here's everything you need to know about how these operations and might impact your trip (and what you should do).
Hawai'i Volcanoes National Park's November flight operations

These flight operations are crucial to Hawai'i Volcanoes National Park because they are primarily used for volcanic monitoring, but they could also transport materials for conservation efforts like the fencing project that is currently underway at Mauna Loa.

Outdoors

You’re now able to visit most of the Blue Ridge Parkway after hurricane damage

The National Park Service clears 55 miles of Hurricane Helene debris

Blue Ridge Parkway, North Carolina and Virginia

Restoration efforts have been under way at the Blue Ridge Parkway as the National Park Service clears the debris from Hurricane Helene. Fortunately, nearly 55 miles have been cleared as of October 30th. Visitors can now access all of the beautiful trails on the Blue Ridge Parkway from Milepost 411.8 to 421 from Black Balsam, and milepost 423.2 to 469, from N.C. 215 to U.S. 411.
These roads are now open along the Blue Ridge Parkway

Due to a landslide, the section between milepost 421 and 423.2 will remain closed. This area includes the Devil's Courthouse, which experienced severe damage during the hurricane.

Outdoors

How a recent sediment slump will affect your trip to Canyonlands National Park

Here's everything you need to know about staying safe in Cataract Canyon after the sediment slide

sediment slide alters water flow at canyonlands national park fishmouth slump 10 29 2024 d ippolito

Canyonlands National Park in Utah is the place to go if you'd like to see unique rock formations and colorful scenery, making it one of the best national parks. Home to famous viewpoints like Island in the Sky and The Needles, this national park is chock-full of adventure for you and your crew to enjoy, no matter what time of year you go. That said, you'll need to be a bit careful at this time. If you're thinking about boating or rafting anytime soon, be aware that a sediment slump has just altered the water flow at Canyonlands. Here's what you need to know.
Canyonlands National Park in Utah experiences major sediment slide

Between October 25 and October 29, 2024, a significant sediment slump occurred in Cataract Canyon's Narrow Canyon at river mile 175.1. Approximately 300 to 350 meters of the river-left shoreline collapsed into the main channel. This event has caused sediment and mud to shift, creating new rapids and altering water flow for about three miles upstream of the slump.