As travel restrictions and quarantine mandates have largely lifted across the United States and Americans are starting to travel again, many are undertaking road trips, and setting their sights on National Parks. Many of these saw record numbers of visitors this spring and are anticipating their busiest summer ever.
It’s no wonder. Not only do our National Parks feature popular canyons, waterfalls, old growth-forests, and snow-capped mountains; some also encompass far rarer sites such as deserts, fjords, temperate rainforests, and volcanoes. These are the National Parks that have grown the most in popularity since 1980.
To identify the most visited national park in every state and U.S. territory, 24/7 Tempo reviewed data tracked for 2020 by the National Park Service (NPS). The National Parks Social Science Program coordinates the collection of recreational visitation statistics for more than 400 government-run facilities throughout the year. These include many classifications of National Park — among them National Preserve, National Historic Site, National Recreation Area, National Monument, even National Seashore and National River.
This report documents the number of recreation visitors and visitor days for all NPS units that reported public use data in 2020 and displays the percent change from the previous year. As a result, and likely due to COVID-19-related closures in 2020, the most visited park in Delaware was not possible to identify. These are the most popular National Monuments.
Click here to see the most visited National Park in every state and U.S. territory
Although some parks and recreation areas that feature indoor spaces were closed in 2020, most outdoor parks remained open and some even waived entrance fees for part of the season. Those that remained open saw a surge in visitors and many were forced to limit access in order to prevent overcrowding. About 237 million people visited the country’s National Parks last year. Here are the most visited National Parks in 2020.
Now, as the National Park Service gears up for a record year, rangers ask that visitors consider using less popular trails, carry out their own trash if possible, and be ready for long wait times and crowded parking lots.
Source: RobHainer / iStock via Getty Images
Alabama: Little River Canyon National Preserve
> Visitors in 2020: 802,375 — #82 most out of 408 parks
> Visitors in 2019: 649,986 — #114 most out of 408 parks
> YoY change: 23.4% — #19 out of 408 parks
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Source: troutnut / iStock via Getty Images
Alaska: Kenai Fjords National Park
> Visitors in 2020: 115,882 — #206 most out of 408 parks
> Visitors in 2019: 356,601 — #161 most out of 408 parks
> YoY change: -67.5% — #313 out of 408 parks
American Samoa: National Park of American Samoa
> Visitors in 2020: 4,819 — #371 most out of 408 parks
> Visitors in 2019: 60,006 — #294 most out of 408 parks
> YoY change: -92.0% — #388 out of 408 parks
Arizona: Grand Canyon National Park
> Visitors in 2020: 2,897,098 — #16 most out of 408 parks
> Visitors in 2019: 5,974,411 — #6 most out of 408 parks
> YoY change: -51.5% — #264 out of 408 parks
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Source: mtnorton / Flickr
Arkansas: Buffalo National River
> Visitors in 2020: 1,478,846 — #45 most out of 408 parks
> Visitors in 2019: 1,326,282 — #68 most out of 408 parks
> YoY change: 11.5% — #37 out of 408 parks
Source: datmore / iStock via Getty Images
California: Golden Gate National Recreation Area
> Visitors in 2020: 12,400,045 — #1 most out of 408 parks
> Visitors in 2019: 15,002,227 — #1 most out of 408 parks
> YoY change: -17.3% — #133 out of 408 parks
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Source: Brian W. Schaller / Wikimedia Commons
Colorado: Rocky Mountain National Park
> Visitors in 2020: 3,305,199 — #9 most out of 408 parks
> Visitors in 2019: 4,670,053 — #10 most out of 408 parks
> YoY change: -29.2% — #178 out of 408 parks
Source: Nancy Kennedy / Shutterstock.com
Connecticut: Weir Farm National Historic Site
> Visitors in 2020: 25,430 — #297 most out of 408 parks
> Visitors in 2019: 38,700 — #324 most out of 408 parks
> YoY change: -34.3% — #200 out of 408 parks
Source: TylerFairbank / Getty Images
District of Columbia: Lincoln Memorial
> Visitors in 2020: 2,980,075 — #14 most out of 408 parks
> Visitors in 2019: 7,808,182 — #4 most out of 408 parks
> YoY change: -61.8% — #298 out of 408 parks
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Source: scgerding / iStock via Getty Images
Florida: Gulf Islands National Seashore
> Visitors in 2020: 3,052,959 — #12 most out of 408 parks
> Visitors in 2019: 4,363,870 — #15 most out of 408 parks
> YoY change: -30.0% — #181 out of 408 parks
Georgia: Chattahoochee River National Recreation Area
> Visitors in 2020: 3,066,877 — #11 most out of 408 parks
> Visitors in 2019: 3,393,133 — #25 most out of 408 parks
> YoY change: -9.6% — #107 out of 408 parks
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Source: U.S. National Park Service, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
Guam: War in the Pacific National Historical Park
> Visitors in 2020: 318,711 — #140 most out of 408 parks
> Visitors in 2019: 432,213 — #146 most out of 408 parks
> YoY change: -26.3% — #168 out of 408 parks
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Hawaii: Hawaii Volcanoes National Park
> Visitors in 2020: 589,775 — #95 most out of 408 parks
> Visitors in 2019: 1,368,376 — #65 most out of 408 parks
> YoY change: -56.9% — #278 out of 408 parks
Source: Bruce Ellis / Shutterstock.com
Idaho: Nez Perce National Historical Park
> Visitors in 2020: 301,473 — #145 most out of 408 parks
> Visitors in 2019: 216,068 — #202 most out of 408 parks
> YoY change: 39.5% — #10 out of 408 parks
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Illinois: Lincoln Home National Historic Site
> Visitors in 2020: 27,744 — #292 most out of 408 parks
> Visitors in 2019: 197,816 — #205 most out of 408 parks
> YoY change: -86.0% — #375 out of 408 parks
Source: J. Crocker / Wikimedia Commons
Indiana: Indiana Dunes National Park
> Visitors in 2020: 2,293,106 — #25 most out of 408 parks
> Visitors in 2019: 2,134,285 — #42 most out of 408 parks
> YoY change: 7.4% — #46 out of 408 parks
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Iowa: Herbert Hoover National Historic Site
> Visitors in 2020: 56,270 — #250 most out of 408 parks
> Visitors in 2019: 125,688 — #242 most out of 408 parks
> YoY change: -55.2% — #276 out of 408 parks
Kansas: Tallgrass Prairie National Preserve
> Visitors in 2020: 29,009 — #289 most out of 408 parks
> Visitors in 2019: 33,750 — #333 most out of 408 parks
> YoY change: -14.0% — #121 out of 408 parks
Source: aheflin / iStock via Getty Images
Kentucky: Cumberland Gap National Historical Park
> Visitors in 2020: 683,966 — #87 most out of 408 parks
> Visitors in 2019: 655,277 — #112 most out of 408 parks
> YoY change: 4.4% — #60 out of 408 parks
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Louisiana: Jean Lafitte National Historical Park and Preserve
> Visitors in 2020: 192,601 — #175 most out of 408 parks
> Visitors in 2019: 590,329 — #122 most out of 408 parks
> YoY change: -67.4% — #312 out of 408 parks
Source: Philippe Gratton / Getty Images
Maine: Acadia National Park
> Visitors in 2020: 2,669,034 — #20 most out of 408 parks
> Visitors in 2019: 3,437,286 — #23 most out of 408 parks
> YoY change: -22.4% — #152 out of 408 parks
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Maryland: Chesapeake & Ohio Canal National Historical Park
> Visitors in 2020: 3,715,211 — #11 most out of 408 parks
> Visitors in 2019: 3,888,758 — #23 most out of 408 parks
> YoY change: -4.5% — #85 out of 408 parks
Source: DenisTangneyJr / iStock via Getty Images
Massachusetts: Cape Cod National Seashore
> Visitors in 2020: 4,083,505 — #7 most out of 408 parks
> Visitors in 2019: 4,096,104 — #19 most out of 408 parks
> YoY change: -0.3% — #71 out of 408 parks
Source: csterken / iStock via Getty Images
Michigan: Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore
> Visitors in 2020: 1,718,696 — #39 most out of 408 parks
> Visitors in 2019: 1,570,001 — #58 most out of 408 parks
> YoY change: 9.5% — #42 out of 408 parks
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Source: Aaron Fulkerson - http://www.ninje.com, CC BY 2.5 , via Wikimedia Commons
Minnesota: Saint Croix National Scenic Riverway
> Visitors in 2020: 399,310 — #120 most out of 408 parks
> Visitors in 2019: 319,133 — #166 most out of 408 parks
> YoY change: 25.1% — #17 out of 408 parks
Source: JPaulMoore / iStock via Getty Images
Mississippi: Natchez Trace Parkway
> Visitors in 2020: 4,899,845.00 — #9 most out of 408 parks
> Visitors in 2019: 5,036,831 — #11 most out of 408 parks
> YoY change: -2.7% — #75 out of 408 parks
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Source: Tamara Harding / iStock via Getty Images
Missouri: Ozark National Scenic Riverway
> Visitors in 2020: 1,316,795 — #52 most out of 408 parks
> Visitors in 2019: 1,221,489 — #75 most out of 408 parks
> YoY change: 7.8% — #44 out of 408 parks
Montana: Yellowstone National Park
> Visitors in 2020: 1,941,215 — #34 most out of 408 parks
> Visitors in 2019: 2,050,346 — #45 most out of 408 parks
> YoY change: -5.3% — #91 out of 408 parks
Source: scgerding / iStock via Getty Images
Nebraska: Scotts Bluff National Monument
> Visitors in 2020: 181,900 — #180 most out of 408 parks
> Visitors in 2019: 166,007 — #218 most out of 408 parks
> YoY change: 9.6% — #41 out of 408 parks
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Source: CrackerClips / iStock via Getty Images
Nevada: Lake Mead National Recreation Area
> Visitors in 2020: 6,012,382 — #6 most out of 408 parks
> Visitors in 2019: 5,624,288 — #9 most out of 408 parks
> YoY change: 6.9% — #51 out of 408 parks
Source: Felix Lipov / Shutterstock.com
New Hampshire: Saint-Gaudens National Historical Park
> Visitors in 2020: 13,286 — #330 most out of 408 parks
> Visitors in 2019: 31,759 — #335 most out of 408 parks
> YoY change: -58.2% — #282 out of 408 parks
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Source: Leembe / iStock via Getty Images
New Jersey: Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area
> Visitors in 2020: 2,888,656 — #17 most out of 408 parks
> Visitors in 2019: 2,396,156 — #37 most out of 408 parks
> YoY change: 20.6% — #26 out of 408 parks
New Mexico: White Sands National Park
> Visitors in 2020: 415,383 — #116 most out of 408 parks
> Visitors in 2019: 608,785 — #118 most out of 408 parks
> YoY change: -31.8% — #191 out of 408 parks
Source: andykazie / iStock via Getty Images
New York: Gateway National Recreation Area
> Visitors in 2020: 6,382,680 — #4 most out of 408 parks
> Visitors in 2019: 7,803,348 — #4 most out of 408 parks
> YoY change: -18.2% — #134 out of 408 parks
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Source: jaredkay / Getty Images
North Carolina: Blue Ridge Parkway
> Visitors in 2020: 8,741,681 — #2 most out of 408 parks
> Visitors in 2019: 9,285,170 — #2 most out of 408 parks
> YoY change: -5.9% — #93 out of 408 parks
Source: iip-photo-archive / Flickr
North Dakota: Theodore Roosevelt National Park
> Visitors in 2020: 551,303 — #98 most out of 408 parks
> Visitors in 2019: 691,658 — #108 most out of 408 parks
> YoY change: -20.3% — #142 out of 408 parks
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Source: benedek / iStock via Getty Images
Ohio: Cuyahoga Valley National Park
> Visitors in 2020: 2,755,628 — #19 most out of 408 parks
> Visitors in 2019: 2,237,997 — #41 most out of 408 parks
> YoY change: 23.1% — #21 out of 408 parks
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Oklahoma: Chickasaw National Recreation Area
> Visitors in 2020: 1,348,122 — #51 most out of 408 parks
> Visitors in 2019: 1,422,612 — #63 most out of 408 parks
> YoY change: -5.2% — #90 out of 408 parks
Source: Dendron / Getty Images
Oregon: Crater Lake National Park
> Visitors in 2020: 670,500 — #89 most out of 408 parks
> Visitors in 2019: 704,512 — #107 most out of 408 parks
> YoY change: -4.8% — #89 out of 408 parks
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Source: rabbit75_ist / iStock via Getty Images
Pennsylvania: Valley Forge National Historic Park
> Visitors in 2020: 2,012,832 — #33 most out of 408 parks
> Visitors in 2019: 2,259,944 — #43 most out of 408 parks
> YoY change: -10.9% — #111 out of 408 parks
Source: OGphoto / iStock via Getty Images
Puerto Rico: San Juan National Historic Site
> Visitors in 2020: 357,100 — #130 most out of 408 parks
> Visitors in 2019: 1,197,345 — #77 most out of 408 parks
> YoY change: -70.2% — #325 out of 408 parks
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Source: kickstand / Getty Images
Rhode Island: Roger Williams National Memorial
> Visitors in 2020: 13,971 — #328 most out of 408 parks
> Visitors in 2019: 59,419 — #295 most out of 408 parks
> YoY change: -76.5% — #343 out of 408 parks
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Source: ovidiuhrubaru / iStock
South Carolina: Fort Sumter and Fort Moultrie National Historical Park
> Visitors in 2020: 365,133 — #126 most out of 408 parks
> Visitors in 2019: 877,894 — #92 most out of 408 parks
> YoY change: -58.4% — #286 out of 408 parks
Source: Kjsmith47 / iStock via Getty Images
South Dakota: Mount Rushmore National Monument
> Visitors in 2020: 2,074,986 — #28 most out of 408 parks
> Visitors in 2019: 1,963,540 — #47 most out of 408 parks
> YoY change: 5.7% — #57 out of 408 parks
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Source: WerksMedia / iStock via Getty Images
Tennessee: Great Smoky Mountains National Park
> Visitors in 2020: 6,773,604 — #3 most out of 408 parks
> Visitors in 2019: 7,026,734 — #6 most out of 408 parks
> YoY change: -3.6% — #80 out of 408 parks
Source: milehightraveler / iStock / Getty Images Plus
Texas: Lake Meredith National Recreation Area
> Visitors in 2020: 1,612,784 — #42 most out of 408 parks
> Visitors in 2019: 1,328,340 — #67 most out of 408 parks
> YoY change: 21.4% — #23 out of 408 parks
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Source: Joecho-16 / Getty Images
Utah: Zion National Park
> Visitors in 2020: 3,591,254 — #8 most out of 408 parks
> Visitors in 2019: 4,488,268 — #13 most out of 408 parks
> YoY change: -20.0% — #139 out of 408 parks
Source: National Park Service
Vermont: Marsh-Billings-Rockefeller National Historical Park
> Visitors in 2020: 23,538 — #306 most out of 408 parks
> Visitors in 2019: 45,979 — #311 most out of 408 parks
> YoY change: -48.8% — #255 out of 408 parks
Virgin Islands: Virgin Islands National Park
> Visitors in 2020: 167,540 — #183 most out of 408 parks
> Visitors in 2019: 133,398 — #236 most out of 408 parks
> YoY change: 25.6% — #16 out of 408 parks
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Source: Mariordo (Mario Roberto Duran Ortiz), CC BY-SA 3.0 , via Wikimedia Commons
Virginia: George Washington Memorial Park Way
> Visitors in 2020: 6,237,361 — #5 most out of 408 parks
> Visitors in 2019: 7,487,265 — #5 most out of 408 parks
> YoY change: -16.7% — #130 out of 408 parks
Washington: Olympic National Park
> Visitors in 2020: 2,499,177 — #22 most out of 408 parks
> Visitors in 2019: 3,245,806 — #28 most out of 408 parks
> YoY change: -23.0% — #157 out of 408 parks
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Source: zrfphoto / iStock via Getty Images
West Virginia: New River Gorge National Park & Preserve
> Visitors in 2020: 1,054,374 — #63 most out of 408 parks
> Visitors in 2019: 1,195,721 — #78 most out of 408 parks
> YoY change: -11.8% — #116 out of 408 parks
Source: Bobak Ha'Eri, CC BY 3.0 , via Wikimedia Commons
Wisconsin: Saint Croix National Scenic Riverway
> Visitors in 2020: 399,310 — #120 most out of 408 parks
> Visitors in 2019: 319,133 — #166 most out of 408 parks
> YoY change: 25.1% — #17 out of 408 parks
Source: Michael Morse / Getty Images
Wyoming: Grand Teton National Park
> Visitors in 2020: 3,289,638 — #10 most out of 408 parks
> Visitors in 2019: 3,405,614 — #24 most out of 408 parks
> YoY change: -3.4% — #80 out of 408 parks
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