Great Smoky Mountains Natl. Park — The National Park Service said around 13.3 million visitors stopped by the Great Smoky Mountains in 2023, spending around $2.2 billion in communities around the park.
The data was part of the 2023 National Park Visitor Spending Effects report, which found that around 325.5 million visitors stopped by national parks across the country. The report said national visitor spending outranked spending for each year dating back to around 2012, totaling around $26.4 billion.
The report said visitors spent the most money on lodging and restaurants, both nationally and in areas around the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. It also said 20232 visitor spending in the Great Smoky Mountains was higher than every previous year.
The report also found visitor spending at the Great Smoky Mountains was among the highest of all national parks, beating out spending at parks like the Grand Canyon, Golden Gate and Yellowstone national parks.