The 15 Most Popular National Parks

America is home to 63 wonderful national parks. Find out which ones had the most visitors in 2020.

1 minute read

November 16, 2021, 12:00 PM PST

By Clement Lau


National Parks

Grand Teton National Park was the fifth most-visited national park according to data collected earlier this year. | Ignacio Salaverria / Shutterstock

With the COVID-19 pandemic and associated restrictions, it seems that most of us have enjoyed and appreciated the great outdoors a bit more.  National parks, in particular, have been some of the most popular destinations, especially for those who are fortunate enough to live near one.  The U.S. has 63 national parks which are designated for the natural beauty, unique geological features, diverse ecosystems, and recreational opportunities that they offer. While they are all worth visiting, some national parks are visited more than others. In this article, Elizabeth Rhodes highlights the 15 most visited ones which include:

  1. Great Smoky Mountains National Park (North Carolina and Tennessee)
  2. Yellowstone National Park (Wyoming, Montana, and Idaho)
  3. Zion National Park (Utah)
  4. Rocky Mountains National Park (Colorado)
  5. Grand Teton National Park (Wyoming)
  6. Grand Canyon National Park (Arizona)
  7. Cuyahoga Valley National Park (Ohio)
  8. Acadia National Park (Maine)
  9. Olympic National Park (Washington)
  10. Joshua Tree National Park (California)
  11. Indiana Dunes National Park (Indiana)
  12. Yosemite National Park (California)
  13. Glacier National Park (Montana)
  14. Shenandoah National Park (Virginia)
  15. Bryce Canyon National Park (Utah)

For more information, please read the source article. Additional information about these and other national parks are available on the National Park Service (NPS) website.  

Thursday, May 6, 2021 in Travel And Leisure

portrait of professional woman

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching. Mary G., Urban Planner

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching.

Mary G., Urban Planner

Use Code 25for25 at checkout for 25% off an annual plan!

Interior of Place Versailles mall in Montreal, Canada.

Montreal Mall to Become 6,000 Housing Units

Place Versailles will be transformed into a mixed-use complex over the next 25 years.

May 22, 2025 - CBC

Logo for Planetizen Federal Action Tracker with black and white image of U.S. Capitol with water ripple overlay.

Planetizen Federal Action Tracker

A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.

May 28, 2025 - Diana Ionescu

Rendering of California High-Speed Rail station with bullet train.

California High-Speed Rail's Plan to Right Itself

The railroad's new CEO thinks he can get the project back on track. The stars will need to align this summer.

May 19, 2025 - Benjamin Schneider

Aerial view of homes and businesses destroyed by Altadena wildfire.

Tenant Advocates: Rent Gouging Rampant After LA Wildfires

The Rent Brigade says it's found evidence of thousands of likely instances of rent gouging. In some cases, the landlords accused of exploiting the fires had made campaign donations to those responsible for enforcement.

May 29 - Shelterforce Magazine

View of downtown Seattle with construction cranes and cloudy sky as seen from top of Space Needle.

Seattle’s Upzoning Plan is Ambitious, Light on Details

The city passed a ‘bare-bones’ framework to comply with state housing laws that paves the way for more middle housing, but the debate over how and where to build is just getting started.

May 29 - The Urbanist

Woman and man in orange safety vests and hard hats doing surveying work at road construction site.

DOJ Seeks to End USDOT Affirmative Action Program

The Disadvantaged Business Enterprise Program encouraged contracting with minority- and women-owned businesses in the transportation sector, where these groups are vastly underrepresented.

May 29 - The Washington Post