The 6 most visited national parks at the end of summer

As summer draws to a close, kids head back to school, and the final rush to the United States’ national parks takes place, we’ve been pondering a question: Which national parks are the most visited?

Visitor numbers don’t necessarily make a national park the “best,” but sometimes they can be an indication of how accessible it is, whether there are hiking trails suitable for both beginners and experts, or what weather conditions prevail in the park.

Let’s get started! Here are the six most visited national parks in the USA.

Founded in 1890, Yosemite National Park holds a special place in the hearts of many adventurers as one of the most famous parks in the USA. Over 4 million visitors flock to California every year to see the beautiful mountains, waterfalls and, of course, the 11-kilometer-long canyon of Yosemite Valley.

It’s no surprise that Rocky Mountain National Park makes this list, as the park is located just 55 miles northwest of Denver and is easily accessible by car once you land in Denver.

Established in 1915, the park sees about 4.1 million visitors annually, a number that continues to rise and break records every day. In addition to easy access, the weather is usually great and everything from mountains to alpine tundra to wetlands and even waterfalls draw visitors back year after year and generation after generation.

Yellowstone National Park, known as the world’s first national park, ranks fourth on this list with just over 4.5 million visitors annually. Although it is mostly located in Idaho, it spans three states. Visitors enjoy the Old Faithful geyser, the Subalpine Biosphere, and the park’s unique wildlife.

Perhaps the only factor that keeps this park from being higher on the list is the long journey one has to make to reach this particular park.

Located in Utah, Zion National Park is known for its incredible rock towers, vertical cliffs, and unique geography that allows for an interesting variety of plants and animals. Zion was established in 1919 and receives about 5 million visitors annually. Zion is easily accessible from Las Vegas as it is only a 170-mile drive. It is an incredible attraction because of its uniqueness as well as its popularity in numerous movies and westerns.

What is more iconic of the U.S. National Parks network than the Grand Canyon? Located 80 miles from Flagstaff, Grand Canyon National Park attracts over 5 million visitors each year who come to admire the 277-mile-long canyon, which can be up to 18 miles wide.

While the canyon itself was formed over 2 billion years ago, the park was established in 1919 as the country’s 15th national park.

Great Smoky Mountains National Park easily takes second place with nearly 13 million visitors each year, making it nearly three times the most visited national park. Over 800 miles of hiking trails spanning two states that are both very popular tourist destinations (Tennessee and North Carolina), as well as cool weather that invites many people to relax, make this park a no-brainer.

Offering virtually everything a novice hiker or seasoned adventurer could want, along with easy access and unimaginable freedom, this trail is unlikely to lose its top spot for a long time.