Mar 24, 2026 - Things to Do

Great Smoky Mountains still the nation's top park

Adam Tamburin

Views of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park are seen in Tennessee, United States on November 10, 2018. — Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Photo: Patrick Gorski/NurPhoto via Getty Images

The Great Smoky Mountains still tower over the rest of the country's parks, according to new attendance tallies from the National Park Service.

Why it matters: The Smokies are a cultural and financial cornerstone in Tennessee. Visits there boost the state's economy and reflect the splendor of our natural surroundings.

By the numbers: More than 11.5 million visitors passed through Great Smoky Mountains National Park last year, the data shows.

That tally easily extends the Smokies' reign as the most popular national park.
No. 2 on the list — Zion National Park in Utah — hosted 4.9 million visitors in 2025.

Yes, but: Tennessee splits the honor with North Carolina because the Smokies straddle the state line.

The big picture: While the Smokies are not at risk of losing their high ranking, attendance is down in recent years.

The park hit a pandemic-era peak of 14.1 million visitors in 2021.
The visitor count in 2024 hit 12.2 million.

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Great Smoky Mountains still the nation's top park

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