The United States’ National Park System is second to none, containing a network of hundreds of preserved natural areas that are open for all people to visit and enjoy. You’ll be amazed at how many people pass through the U.S.’s most popular national parks in any given year. Here are the three which receive the most visitors.
Great Smoky Mountains National Park
Around 12.5 million people visited the Great Smoky Mountains National Park in Tennessee and North Carolina in 2020. Accessible to millions of people in the southeast, the draw of this gorgeous natural area are its medium-sized mountains, streams, forests, and waterfalls.
Grand Canyon National Park
While it doesn’t quite reach the GSMNP in terms of visitors per year, reaching around 6 million, it is still an impressive figure. The Grand Canyon National Park needs no introduction, as its massive crevasse hosting the Colorado River is one of the most famous sights on Earth.
Rocky Mountain National Park
A typical year sees nearly 5 million people visit this Colorado gem, containing some of the highest mountains in the contiguous United States. Snow-capped peaks, alpine meadows, and wildlife abound in this gem, which is close and accessible from the city of Denver.