Visiting our national parks is not only an epic and memorable experience, travelers are also supporting our national economy in a greater way than many might realize. A report released by the National Park Service shows that in 2023, national park visitors stimulated the economy by $55.6 billion!
2023 was a record-breaking year for U.S. national parks as interest in exploring our parks continues to increase year-over-year with the exception of the pandemic in 2020, when parks closed. 2023 saw 13 million more visits than the previous year and an increase in off-season park visitors as well.
The Department of the Interior published a report on August 27, 2024 showing how impactful our love for national parks was on local economies across America in 2023, and the numbers are pretty incredible.
National park visitors contributed $55.6 billion to the U.S. economy, according to the report. As the 325.5 million park visitors arrived in the cities and towns surrounding the national parks, they spent $26.4 billion as part of their trips, supporting the local economies nearby the biggest and most beautiful natural landscapes in our country.
In 2023, national park visitors created 11X the economic impact as football fans in the U.S.
To see how national parks compare to other economies, we took a look at how much money football fans spend when they travel to watch games. The economic impact of national park visitors is more than eleven times the annual contribution of football fans traveling to watch games, as the National Football League contributes an average of $5 billion per year to the U.S. economy, according to Sports Insider.
These billions of parks visitors also supported our economy by employing 415,000 people with jobs while enjoying their 2023 national park trips. Traveling to visit our national parks for a first-hand experience of the awe of nature, visitors stop at grocery stores, restaurants, and gas stations, and stay at local lodges, hotels, and campgrounds.
Communities at the gates of the national parks reported that visitors aren't just going to the parks and then returning straight home. Instead they are hanging around town, exploring and enjoying the local communities that appreciate and benefit from their business.
In 2023, an estimated 7.9 million national park visitors spent $716 million in Montana alone! Visitors traveling to see the parks and historical sites had a major positive impact on the communities of Montana, contributing to 10,900 jobs. This brought in an estimated $362 million in labor income and boosted Montana's economy by $551 million.
The state of Utah, home to five national parks, also had a record year in national parks revenue. National park visitors boosted Utah's economy by $1.9 billion in spending, contributing $3 billion to local communities. Utah's most popular park, Zion, brought in $676 million in visitor spending.
At each place they spend their money, national park visitors are helping support local businesses and create job opportunities across hospitality, restaurant, retail, and other sectors. Communities located near the gates to national parks see great benefits from these park visitors, including Groveland, California near Yosemite, Springdale, Utah near Zion, and Sequim, Washington outside of Olympic National Park.
In 2023, recreation industries surrounding the national parks experienced $2.2 billion in sales as they helped national park guests elevate their adventures with immersive experiences. This supported 34,400 jobs in recreation industries in 2023, according to the same report.
National parks supported 34,400 outdoor recreation jobs in 2023
The National Parks Service works with more than 5,000 businesses that provide park guests with recreational activities that include tours, whitewater rafting and boating.
Visitors support companies like All-Outdoors, a California whitewater rafting touring company that's been in business since 1962. For over 60 years All-Outdoors has taken visitors on rafting adventures on the Stanislaus River near Yosemite. Founded by George Armstrong, the company has been run by his family for three generations, taking more than 10,000 visitors on memorable rafting tours each year.
Another outdoor recreation company helping National Park visitors make the most of their trip is Austin Adventures. Started in 1985, Austin Adventures takes guests on biking, hiking, kayaking and zipline tours through national parks including Yellowstone National Park, Glacier National Park, Zion National Park and Teton National Park.
With 431 national parks to explore and at least one in each state, outdoor enthusiasts and families across America have hundreds of opportunities to create everlasting memories. The national parks span more than 85 million acres of the U.S., with most parks having multiple entrances for guests to access and support the local economies in the nearby towns.
As national park visitors travel and make their way to the parks, they are creating a positive impact on the U.S. economy. When adventure travelers support businesses and communities, everyone wins. The next time you're traveling to a national park, take notice of the businesses and communities that you are supporting and know that your dollars make a difference.
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