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These are the national parks where visitors spend the most money

NPS reveals most profitable national parks

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Man running through the desert landscape of The Grand Canyon.
Brian Erickson / Unsplash

Not everything about National Parks is rainbows and unicorns, but the National Park Service (NPS) has just released an eye-opening study on the positive economic contributions of their parks to local communities, states, and the nation as a whole. In short, our National Parks boost the economy through tourism (which brought in a whopping $26.4 billion last year), job creation, and infrastructure development. Businesses in the area, such as lodging and restaurants, have also seen a significant bump in their economic contributions this year due to National Park tourism. But which parks bring in the most bank?

Here are the top 5 most profitable National Parks according to the NPS

Great Smoky Mountains National Park sunset view
Jon Bilous / Shutterstock

  1. The Great Smoky Mountains in Tennessee and North Carolina

    • Annual Visitor Spending: $2.19 billion
    • Annual visitors: 12 million
    • Admission: Free

  2. The Golden Gate National Recreation Area

    • Annual Visitor Spending: $1.51 billion
    • Annual visitors: 15 million
    • Admission: Free

  3. Blue Ridge Parkway in Virginia and North Carolina

    • Annual Visitor Spending: $1.39 billion
    • Annual visitors: 15 million
    • Admission: Free

  4. Grand Canyon National Park in Arizona

    • Annual Visitor Spending: $768.41 million
    • Annual visitors: 5-6 million
    • Admission: $35 for a vehicle pass (valid for 7 days)

  5. Teton National Park in Wyoming

    • Annual Visitor Spending: $737.98 million
    • Annual visitors: 3-4 million
    • Admission: $35 for a vehicle pass (valid for 7 days)

Parks without admission fees like the Great Smoky Mountains and the Golden Gate Recreational Area seem to have higher visitor numbers, however fee-based parks like Grand Canyon and Teton still generate significant revenue. Whether free or fee-based, national parks play a crucial role in boosting surrounding communities and supporting a wide array of businesses.

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Sarah Joseph
Sarah Joseph
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