Mar 13, 2026 - News
Utah's outdoor economy surged over past decade
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Utah's outdoor recreation economy generated nearly $10 billion in 2024, about 3.3% of the state's GDP, according to new U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis data.
The big picture: Utah ranked third in the U.S. for outdoor recreation GDP growth over the past decade — an 8% increase — behind Idaho and Tennessee.
By the numbers: The outdoor recreation economy accounted for 2.4% of U.S. GDP in 2024, or about $700 billion, per the data.
- Utah's outdoor economy in 2024 was up 2.6% compared to 2023.
Zoom out: Among the states, outdoor recreation accounted for the highest shares of GDP in Hawai'i (6.1%), Alaska (5.3%) and Montana (4.9%).
- ⛷️ "Snow activities" added $7.6 billion nationwide, with the largest contributions from Colorado ($1.6 billion), California ($730.5 million) and Utah ($598.2 million).