The 20 National Park Service Sites That Draw the Most People
The United States National Park Service oversees and maintains 433 individual units or “parks.” Here are the 20 most popular U.S. National Park Service sites, ranked by recreation visits.
Note: official statistics for recreational visits for each calendar year are usually not finalized by the National Park Service until at least a few months into the next calendar year.
Blue Ridge Parkway
Location: Virginia, North Carolina
2025 recreation visits: 16,533,753
#1 among the most popular national park units is the Blue Ridge Parkway: a scenic drive that stretches 469 miles from Virginia to North Carolina. This national park is perfect for visitors who love mountain views, hiking, picnicking, and more.
There are many overlooks along the parkway where you can stop and take in the incredible scenery. Some of these overlooks include The Great Valley Overlook, Grandfather Mountain Overlook, and Elk Mountain Overlook.
Golden Gate National Recreation Area
Location: California
2025 recreation visits: 15,748,676
This national park includes 130 miles of trails and 37 natural and historic sites like the Presidio, Alcatraz Island, Muir Woods National Monument, Stinson Beach (in Marin County), China Beach (in San Francisco County), and more.
Great Smoky Mountains National Park
Location: North Carolina, Tennessee
2025 recreation visits: 11,527,939
Great Smoky Mountains National Park is located in eastern Tennessee and western North Carolina, and it’s home to some of the most beautiful scenery in the United States.
There are a ton of great things to do in Great Smoky Mountains National Park, including Cades Cove, Roaring Fork Motor Trail, amazing hikes, and more.
There are several campgrounds and one rustic lodge in the park, but there are also a lot of other great places to stay in the Smokies.
Natchez Trace Parkway
Location: Alabama, Mississippi, Tennessee
2025 recreation visits: 7,994,783
This 444-mile scenic drive and recreational road runs through three states from Natchez, Mississippi, to Nashville, Tennessee. Highlights include the Meriwether Lewis Burial Monument, Bynum Mounds (that date back to 100 BCE), and Mount Locust Historic House.
Lincoln Memorial
Location: Washington, DC
2025 recreation visits: 7,743,295
The famous Lincoln Memorial should be on everyone’s Washington, DC, bucket list. The seated statue of the United States’ 16th president measures 19 feet from foot to head, and he looks out over the beautiful reflecting pool and Washington Mall to the U.S. Capitol Building.
Gateway National Recreation Area
Location: New York, New Jersey
2025 recreation visits: 7,696,939
This large (27,000-acre) National Recreation Area marks the “gateway” from the ocean to New York Harbor. It spans from Sandy Hook, New Jersey, to New York City’s Breezy Point. Highlights include Fort Wadsworth, Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge, and the Sandy Hook Lighthouse.
Gulf Islands National Seashore
Location: Florida, Mississippi
2025 recreation visits: 7,576,923
Gulf Islands National Seashore is the largest national seashore, spanning 160 miles across 13 areas in two states: seven Mississippi barrier islands and one mainland area; five Florida areas and one on a U.S. Naval base.
George Washington Memorial Parkway
Location: Washington DC, Maryland, Virginia
2025 recreation visits: 6,732,932
This recreational driving route is a wonderful break from the busy roads around Washington, DC. The Parkway also “links sites that commemorate important episodes in American history and preserve habitat for local wildlife.”
The southern terminus of the Parkway is in Mount Vernon, Virginia, where you will find George Washington’s home on the Potomac River.
Appalachian National Scenic Trail
Location: Georgie to Maine
2025 recreation visits: 6,215,118
The famous Appalachian Trail is a nearly 2,200-mile walking trail that stretches from Georgia to Maine. The creation of the trail was privately funded. Today, the National Park Service, Appalachian Trail Conservancy, and a host of other groups, agencies, and individuals preserve and protect the trail for future generations.
Fun fact: 71 miles of the Appalachian Trail run through Great Smoky Mountains National Park.
Lake Mead National Recreation Area
Location: Arizona, Nevada
2025 recreation visits: 6,135,586
Lake Mead was the United States’ first National Recreation Area. At 1.5 million acres, it takes in land that includes mountains, canyons, and, of course, lakes Mead and Mohave.
Zion National Park
Location: Utah
2025 recreation visits: 4,984,525
If you’re yearning for a desert-filled adventure, Zion National Park has you covered. Located in southern Utah, Zion is one of the most beautiful national parks in the US.
One of Utah’s Mighty 5 National Parks, Zion is notable for its stunning landscape, and it’s also famous for its unique hikes: The Narrows and Angel’s Landing.
Vietnam Veterans Memorial
Location: Washington, DC
2025 recreation visits: 4,848,112
The beautiful and moving Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington, DC, lists the names of each of the 58,318 American servicemen and women who died in the tragic and unjust war in Vietnam.
The Memorial, designed by Maya Lin, was dedicated in 1982. Lin was still an undergraduate student at Yale University when her design was chosen as the winner of a national design competition for the Memorial.
Yellowstone National Park
Location: Wyoming, Montana
2025 recreation visits: 4,762,988
Yellowstone is one of the most visited national parks in the United States. It’s also one of the largest, featuring many popular attractions, including the world’s largest concentration of geysers (home of Old Faithful).
Yellowstone is also known for its amazing wildlife, beautiful Yellowstone Lake, and its own Grand Canyon. You’ll also find some wonderful places to stay.
Chesapeake & Ohio Canal National Historical Park
Location: Washington DC, Maryland, West Virginia
2025 recreation visits: 4,579,704
For almost 100 years, the 184.5-mile C&O Canal was used to transport products by water to market. The canal stretches from the District of Columbia to Western Maryland. This historical park was founded to help preserve the transportation history of the United States.
Grand Canyon National Park
Location: Arizona
2025 recreation visits: 4,430,653
In Arizona, the Colorado River carved a mile-deep canyon through ancient rock, creating one of the most incredible sights in the world. Explore the 1.2 million-acre park from either the North Rim or the South Rim.
Yosemite National Park
Location: California
2025 recreation visits: 4,278,413
Yosemite is one of the oldest protected natural spaces in the United States. Covering nearly 1,200 square miles, this park is known for its beautiful scenery, waterfalls, and famous El Capitan and Half-Dome.
Rocky Mountain National Park
Location: Colorado
2025 recreation visits: 4,171,431
Rocky Mountain National Park protects more than 400 square miles of beautiful mountain environments, such as meadows and alpine lakes. And don’t miss the 300+miles of hiking trails and wildlife viewing.
Acadia National Park
Location: Maine
2025 recreation visits: 4,079,318
Acadia National Park, located in Maine, is one of the most popular national parks on the East Coast. It’s also the only National Park in New England (not including other national park units). The boundaries of the park include Mount Desert Island, as well as several smaller islands.
World War II Memorial
Location: Washington, DC
2025 recreation visits: 3,993,717
This Memorial honors the service of those who sacrificed in World War II around the world. Located between the Washington and Lincoln Memorials in the heart of Washington DC, the memorial doesn’t just honor the 405,399 Americans who died in the war; it honors all of those who struggled and sacrificed in the fight against tyranny.
Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area
Location: New Jersey, Pennsylvania
2025 recreation visits: 3,986,709
Enjoy hiking, paddling, exploring historic places, and such in this beautiful area along the Delaware River. This 40-mile-long recreation area is full of natural beauty right in the midst of one of the most densely populated parts of the country.
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