National parks saw record number of visits in 2024, but reported memo says not to publicize
U.S. national parks reported a record 331.9 million visits in 2024, but a memo from the National Park Service allegedly says not to publicize the numbers.
According to data published on the National Park Service website, there were 6.36 million more visits in 2024 than there were in 2023, with 28 parks setting new visitation records. Now, the National Park Service is directing employees not to share those numbers with the public unless they’re asked, The New York Times reports.
NPS record visits
What we know:
According to The Times, the internal memo said the National Park Service will "not issue a press release or other proactive communications, including social media posts" about the record number of visitors. The agency can, however, provide the information if asked.
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What we don't know:
It’s unclear why NPS, or the Interior Department that oversees it, would issue such a directive. FOX Television Stations has reached out to the National Park Service and the Interior Department for comment.
What They Said:
The NPS press team told FOX Television Stations that "the National Park Service shares important information with the public through a variety of channels, including our website, to ensure accessibility and transparency. In this case, we determined that publishing the annual visitation numbers online was the most effective way to make the data available. Any suggestion that this decision came from outside the NPS is inaccurate—our communications approach is guided solely by what best serves the public and our mission."
Confusion, chaos over National Park Service firings
Dig deeper:
The alleged memo comes amid widespread confusion and chaos at national parks following mass layoffs – and rehirings – as the Trump administration tries to significantly downsize the size of the federal workforce.
On Feb. 19, the Trump administration fired about 1,000 newly hired National Park Service employees who maintain and clean parks, educate visitors.
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Two days later, after the firings caused an uproar, the administration restored at least 50 jobs to help maintain and clean parks, educate visitors and collect admission fees, The Associated Press reported. Then, the park service issued a new memo stating that it will hire up to 7,700 seasonal positions this year, up from about 5,000 promised earlier and higher than the three-year average of 6,350 seasonal workers. The park service has about 20,000 employees.
An American flag waves in the breeze in front of the Zion Lodge on November 22, 2024 in Zion National Park, Utah. (Photo by George Rose/Getty Images)
The New York Times reports that more than 700 additional park employees submitted resignations in response to Elon Musk’s email offering workers the option to resign and continue to get paid through the end of September. More cuts could also be coming this week.
Why you should care:
Park advocates have warned that the permanent staff cuts will leave hundreds of national parks — including some of the most well-known and most heavily visited sites — understaffed and facing tough decisions about operating hours, public safety and resource protection.
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America’s most visited national parks
By the numbers:
The National Park Service oversees 433 national park sites in the U.S., with 63 of them including "national park" in their name. National park sites also include national battlefield sites, military parks, historical parks, national memorials, national lakeshores and more.
The following national parks saw the most visitors in 2024, according to the National Park Service:
- Great Smoky Mountains National Park (North Carolina and Tennessee): 12.2 million visits
- Zion National Park (Utah): 4.9 million visits
- Grand Canyon National Park (Arizona): 4.9 million visits
- Yellowstone National Park (Wyoming, Idaho and Montana): 4.7 million visits
- Rocky Mountain National Park (Colorado) 4.1 million visits
The Source: This report includes information from a New York Times report, a statement from the NPS press team emailed to FTS on March 10, 2025, the National Park Service’s website and The Associated Press.