Mild spring weather, cheap gas prices and Hollywood could help the National Park Service (NPS) set visitation records for the second consecutive year, according to preliminary data from the agency.

As of Sept. 30, half of
the ten most popular sites managed by the National Park Service outside
of Washington D.C. reported visitation increased during the first nine
months of the year compared with the same period a year ago. Among those
reporting increases
were:

  •    
    Blue Ridge Parkway, up 10.0
    percent
  •     Great Smoky Mountains National Park, up 5.5
    percent
  •     Lake Mead
    National Recreation Area, up 5.0
    percent
  •     Grand
    Canyon National Park, up 14.8
    percent
  •     Yellowstone National Park, up 16.0
    percent

Share This