America’s national parks remain among the country’s most treasured destinations, and the latest visitation data shows just how popular the most-visited among them are. According to figures released by the National Park Service for 2025, the park system as a whole drew more than 323 million recreation visits, a slight dip from the record set the prior year, partly attributed to a lengthy government shutdown that fall. Among the designated national parks specifically, a familiar set of giants topped the list, led by one park that drew more than twice the visitors of any other. With 2026 marking a milestone anniversary year for the country, interest in the parks remains strong. Here are the ten most visited U.S. national parks, counted down to number one.
10. Glacier National Park
Rounding out the top ten is Glacier National Park in Montana, beloved for its dramatic mountain scenery, alpine lakes, and the famous Going-to-the-Sun Road. Its rugged beauty draws millions to the northern Rockies each year.
Glacier National Park earns its place among the most visited with its spectacular glaciated landscapes, pristine lakes, and iconic scenic drive. Visitors come for the hiking, wildlife, and stunning mountain vistas. Its remote northern location does little to diminish its popularity. Glacier’s tenth-place finish reflects the enduring appeal of its dramatic Rocky Mountain scenery, capping a top ten that spans the country from the Appalachians to the Pacific and showcases the diversity of America’s most beloved national parks.
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9. Olympic National Park
In ninth place is Olympic National Park in Washington State, prized for its remarkable diversity of landscapes, from temperate rainforests to rugged coastline to glacier-capped peaks. Its varied terrain makes it a favorite for nature lovers.
Olympic National Park’s extraordinary variety, encompassing mossy rainforests, wild beaches, and snow-capped mountains, draws millions seeking diverse natural beauty in a single park. Visitors can explore wildly different ecosystems within its bounds. The park’s unique range of landscapes sets it apart. Olympic’s ninth-place finish highlights the appeal of its remarkable diversity, a park where rainforest, coast, and mountains meet, securing its spot among the most visited national parks in the country.
8. Grand Teton National Park
Eighth on the list is Grand Teton National Park in Wyoming, famed for the jagged, dramatic peaks of the Teton Range rising above valleys, lakes, and the Snake River. Its iconic mountain skyline draws visitors from around the world.
Grand Teton National Park captivates visitors with its sharp, soaring peaks reflected in clear mountain lakes, offering some of the most striking scenery in the Rockies. Hiking, wildlife viewing, and the dramatic skyline are major draws. Its proximity to Yellowstone adds to its popularity. Grand Teton’s eighth-place finish reflects the powerful draw of its iconic mountain landscape, one of the most photographed and beloved in the national park system, and a magnet for nature and mountain lovers.
7. Acadia National Park
In seventh place is Acadia National Park in Maine, the crown jewel of the Northeast, known for its rocky Atlantic coastline, granite peaks, and the chance to catch some of the country’s earliest sunrises. Its New England beauty draws crowds each year.
Acadia National Park enchants visitors with its dramatic meeting of mountains and sea, where granite cliffs, forests, and the rugged coast create stunning scenery. Visitors flock to its carriage roads, summits, and shoreline. As the Northeast’s premier park, it draws devoted crowds. Acadia’s seventh-place finish underscores the enduring popularity of its coastal beauty, a beloved destination that brings the splendor of the national parks to the eastern seaboard.
6. Rocky Mountain National Park
Sixth on the list is Rocky Mountain National Park in Colorado, celebrated for its high peaks, alpine tundra, and the famous Trail Ridge Road that climbs above the tree line. Its accessible mountain grandeur makes it a favorite.
Rocky Mountain National Park draws millions with its towering peaks, pristine alpine lakes, and high-altitude scenery accessible via one of the highest paved roads in the country. Wildlife, hiking, and mountain views are major attractions. Its proximity to Denver boosts its popularity. Rocky Mountain’s sixth-place finish reflects the broad appeal of its accessible alpine grandeur, a beloved Colorado park that offers visitors a stunning taste of the high Rockies.
5. Yosemite National Park
In fifth place is Yosemite National Park in California, world-famous for its towering granite cliffs, giant sequoias, and thundering waterfalls. Landmarks like El Capitan and Half Dome make it one of the most iconic parks anywhere.
Yosemite National Park drew well over 4 million visitors, enthralling them with its monumental granite formations, waterfalls, and ancient sequoias, drawing them to its monumental scenery. The iconic Yosemite Valley, El Capitan, and Half Dome are world-renowned. Its fame and beauty keep it perennially popular. Yosemite’s fifth-place finish reflects its status as one of the most celebrated landscapes on Earth, a California treasure whose grandeur continues to draw millions of visitors from around the globe.
4. Grand Canyon National Park
Fourth on the list is Grand Canyon National Park in Arizona, home to one of the most awe-inspiring natural wonders in the world. The immense, colorful canyon drew well over 4 million visitors marveling at its sheer scale.
Grand Canyon National Park overwhelms visitors with the staggering scale and beauty of the mile-deep canyon carved by the Colorado River. The stunning vistas from the rim are among the most famous views in the world. Its iconic status ensures enormous popularity. The Grand Canyon’s fourth-place finish reflects its enduring draw as one of the planet’s great natural wonders, a destination that leaves visitors awestruck and remains a bucket-list trip for travelers everywhere.
3. Yellowstone National Park
In third place is Yellowstone National Park, spanning parts of Wyoming, Montana, and Idaho, the world’s first national park and a wonderland of geysers, hot springs, and wildlife. It drew well over 4.7 million visitors in 2025.
Yellowstone National Park captivates visitors with its geothermal wonders, including the famous Old Faithful geyser, along with abundant wildlife and dramatic landscapes. As the world’s first national park, it holds a special place in history. Its unique features draw millions every year. Yellowstone’s third-place finish reflects its status as an iconic, one-of-a-kind park, a place of geysers, bison, and natural marvels that continues to enchant visitors from around the world.
2. Zion National Park
Just missing the top spot is Zion National Park in Utah, renowned for its towering red and tan sandstone cliffs, narrow canyons, and dramatic hikes. It drew nearly 5 million visitors, making it one of the most popular parks in the West.
Zion National Park draws nearly 5 million visitors with its soaring sandstone walls, the scenic Zion Canyon, and famous hikes like the Narrows and Angels Landing. Its dramatic desert scenery and adventurous trails are major draws. The park’s popularity has surged in recent years. Zion’s second-place finish reflects its rise as one of the most beloved parks in the country, a Utah gem whose stunning red-rock landscapes captivate millions of visitors annually.
1. Great Smoky Mountains National Park
Topping the list by a wide margin is Great Smoky Mountains National Park, straddling North Carolina and Tennessee, which drew more than 11.5 million recreation visits in 2025, more than twice as many as any other national park. Its accessibility and beauty make it the most visited of all.
Great Smoky Mountains National Park led all national parks with more than 11.5 million visits, drawn by its misty ridges, lush forests, abundant wildlife, and rich history. Its location within a day’s drive of much of the eastern U.S., and the lack of an entrance fee, boost its popularity. The park’s beauty and accessibility make it a perennial favorite. Great Smoky Mountains’ first-place finish, by more than double the runner-up, cements its status as America’s most visited national park, a beloved and accessible treasure of the Appalachian Mountains.
What the Rankings Reveal
Taken together, these ten parks reveal where Americans most love to experience the great outdoors, from the misty Smokies to the red rocks of Zion to the geysers of Yellowstone. Accessibility, iconic scenery, and famous landmarks all play a role in drawing the biggest crowds, with the most-visited park welcoming more than double the visitors of any other. The list spans the country, showcasing the diversity of America’s national parks.
With the National Park Service marking a major anniversary year in 2026, interest in the parks remains strong, even as the system navigates challenges like crowding and staffing at its most popular sites. For travelers, these ten parks offer some of the most spectacular and beloved landscapes in the country, though their popularity means planning ahead, and considering less-crowded times or lesser-known parks, can make for a better visit. Whether seeking iconic vistas or quiet trails, America’s national parks continue to inspire millions of visitors and remain a cherished part of the nation’s heritage.
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