And The Most And Least Popular National Parks Are …
It’s time to plan your spring and summer travel, and many find there’s no place better than a national park.
New numbers from the National Park Service show a total of nearly 332 million visits last year, a record high. Those numbers include parks, battlefields, recreation areas and other NPS sites.
When it comes to the 63 national parks themselves, there were some clear winners in the popularity contest. Here’s a look at the most and least popular national parks, with some weather insight, too.
If you go strictly by the visitor data, that would be Great Smoky Mountains National Park. The park, which stretches across parts of Tennessee and North Carolina, logged more than 12 million visits in 2024.
One reason the Great Smoky Mountains are so popular is their proximity to cities like Atlanta, Nashville and Knoxville, as well as the hotels, restaurants and other attractions in nearby Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge. The park is also full of gentle hiking trails easily accessible by car, making it a favorite for family roadtrippers from around the country.
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There’s also a major seasonal attraction.
“In fall, you get to enjoy some of the peak foliage colors, and temperatures feel really nice, too,” said weather.com digital meteorologist Sara Tonks. “Not as hot as summer, but you don’t need to bundle up like you do in the winter just yet.”
Zion recorded 4.94 million visits last year, barely edging out its closest competitor. Although not pulling in nearly the numbers of Great Smoky Mountains, it’s popular for some of the same reasons.
Las Vegas is only about two hours away via interstate, and Los Angeles is five to six hours. Salt Lake City is nearby, too.
(MORE: The Best National Parks To Visit Each Season)
The weather in the Desert Southwest is a little more extreme than in the Great Smoky Mountains, though, and can be downright dangerous in summer.
“First, average afternoon highs in the park are well into the 90s in lower elevations,” said weather.com senior digital meteorologist Jonathan Erdman. “Half the days in July reach into the triple digits, and 100s are also typical in June and August.”
(MORE: You’ll Need Reservations At These National Parks In 2025)
Then comes summer thunderstorm season.
“You can expect sometimes daily afternoon and evening thunderstorms in southern Utah during this monsoon season lasting from July through August, perhaps into early September,” Erdman said.
“For this reason, it’s best to do any hiking early in the day, not only because it’s less hot, but the threat of thunderstorms is lower. Avoid hiking in slot canyons when thunderstorms are in the area. Flash floods can quickly cascade through slot canyons with little or no warning, even from more distant thunderstorms.”
Virtually tied with Zion, the Grand Canyon logged 4.91 million visitors in 2024. For many, this park is a summer bucket list destination.
But it’s also considered a good one to visit in the shoulder seasons of spring and fall, when crowds are fewer and temperatures are cooler (sometimes very cool). One thing to note is that the North Rim is closed for the season until May 15, so a springtime visit will most likely focus on the South Rim.
Don’t forget your winter jacket. Morning lows in the 20s or 30s are typical in spring.
(MORE: Top 10 Most Visited National Parks Sites In 2023)
“Average highs at the South Rim are only in the 50s in March, 50s to low 60s in April and 60s to mid-70s in May. If trails into the canyon are open, while you still need to bring plenty of water, you probably won’t have to worry about dangerous heat at the valley floor as in other times of year,” Erdman said.
“Given the elevation, though, spring weather can throw a snowy curveball. I experienced this in my first trip to the canyon as a college student in March, when a 6-inch-plus snowstorm hit. Even light snow can prompt closure of some roads.”
These occasional spring storms have a benefit, Erdman added. They can clear out the air, making skies less hazy than in early summer.
“Also, once the storm is over, the view of the snow-covered canyon is pure magic,” he said.
4. Yellowstone, 4.7 million visits
5. Rocky Mountain, 4.15 million visits
6. Yosemite, 4.12 million visits
7. Acadia, 3.9 million visits
8. Olympic, 3.7 million visits
9. Grand Teton, 3.6 million visits
10. Glacier, 3.2 million visits
If you really want to experience nature in its most secluded form, head to Gates of the Arctic National Park and Preserve in northern Alaska. The park recorded just 11,907 visits last year. Besides its remote location, weather is definitely a downer here. Winter is exceptionally long and exceptionally cold, with temperatures well below zero. Snow and freezing conditions are possible year-round, even in summer.
Weather.com senior writer Jan Childs covers breaking news and features related to weather, space, climate change, the environment and everything in between.
