National Park Service Logs Record 331.9 Million Visits in 2024

Despite the milestone, staff cuts and a directive to downplay the achievement have raised concerns about the agency's future.

The National Park Service recorded 331.9 million recreational visits in 2024, surpassing the previous record set in 2016.
Golden Gate National Recreation Area became the most visited site with 17.18 million visits, overtaking Blue Ridge Parkway, which faced closures due to Hurricane Helene.
Among traditional national parks, Great Smoky Mountains National Park remained the most visited with 12.19 million visitors, followed by Zion and Grand Canyon.
Staffing challenges have escalated, with 1,000 employees fired, over 700 resigning, and seasonal job offers being reinstated after initial cuts.
An internal memo instructed parks not to proactively publicize the record-breaking figures, breaking from past practices of celebrating visitation milestones.