Which U.S. National Park Service national park recorded the most visits in 2024?

Great Smoky Mountains National Park recorded the most visits of any U.S. national park in 2024.

The park welcomed 12,191,834 recreational visitors in 2024, according to National Park Service visitation figures. It has ranked among the country's most visited national parks for decades, helped by its location near major population centers and the absence of an entrance fee.

Great Smoky Mountains National Park straddles the Tennessee–North Carolina border and protects more than 522,000 acres of Appalachian forests, ridges, streams, and historic settlements. The Appalachian Trail crosses the park, and U.S. Route 441 connects its Tennessee and North Carolina entrances.

The park was established in 1934 and formally dedicated by President Franklin D. Roosevelt in 1940. It is also a UNESCO World Heritage Site and an International Biosphere Reserve. High visitation does not mean it is the largest park: Alaska's Wrangell–St. Elias is vastly larger by area.