Established nearly 110 years ago, the National Park Service manages and preserves the U.S.’s most stunning and iconic outdoor areas. The system’s 420-plus national parks attracted more than 320 million visitors in 2023, although some are more popular than others, particularly parks that have high national and global profiles.
As July is official Park and Recreation month and since the summer is typically a busy travel season, it seems like an ideal time to offer a rundown of the 10 most-visited parks in 2023, along with information on how much it costs to purchase or rent a home close to them. After all, outdoor amenities have always been a draw for homebuyers, so if that lifestyle is part of your long-term or short-term plan, you can start budgeting your finances accordingly.
If you do plan to visit a designated national park this summer, be aware that many of the most popular have implemented reservation systems in 2024 to help with crowd control.
Note: Housing market data in this analysis is taken from CoreLogic’s Real Estate Data Analytics Suite. Population numbers estimates are taken from U.S. Census Bureau data.
Great Smoky Mountains National Park
Nestled on the border between Tennessee and North Carolina, Great Smoky Mountains National Park hosted about 13.3 million visitors in 2023, almost three times as much as the next most-popular park.
Great Smoky Mountains’ convenient location likely boosts its draw, as it sits about 40 miles equidistant from both the small-to-midsized cities of Asheville, North Carolina (population estimate 94,000 as of 2022) and Knoxville, Tennessee (2022 population estimate of 196,000). Locals in these two scenic cities enjoy not only day-trip access to the park’s 522,000 acres and 150 trails but also thriving downtown areas that offer plenty of dining, entertainment, and shopping options.
Asheville, North Carolina
Median home sales price, 2023: $364,000
Median home sales price change, 2022-2023: 5.7%
Median three-bedroom rental price, 2023: $2,149
Median three-bedroom rental price change, 2022-2023: 13.9%
Knoxville, Tennessee
Median home sales price, 2023: $278,000
Median home sales price change, 2022-2023: 8.1%
Median three-bedroom rental price, 2023: $1,948
Median three-bedroom rental price change, 2022-2023: 17.6%
Grand Canyon National Park
There are several national parks that have become almost synonymous with the American West, and the Grand Canyon is certainly one. Carved out by the Colorado River over the past 6 million years, the massive, 1.2-million-acre Grand Canyon National Park attracted 4.7 million visitors in 2023, though those who arrive during the summer months should be prepared for temperatures that typically exceed 100 degrees Fahrenheit (depending on elevation).
While the daytime summer temperatures are still warm in Flagstaff, the nearest major city to the Grand Canyon, they are slightly more tolerable at night due to the city’s mile-high-plus elevation. Home to Northern Arizona University, Flagstaff boasts a thriving cultural scene and is a regional winter-sports destination.
Flagstaff, Arizona
Median home sales price, 2023: $442,000
Median home sales price change, 2022-2023: 0.3%
Median three-bedroom rental price, 2023: $2,838
Median three-bedroom rental price change, 2022-2023: 11.7%
Zion National Park
Among the Southwest’s crown jewels is Zion National Park, the most popular park of the five that call Utah home. The 4.6 million people who made their way to Zion last year got the opportunity to take in the park’s dramatic red rock formations, slot canyons, and otherworldly views.
If you want to become a regular at Zion, the closest major town in which to put down roots is St. George, Utah, about 30 miles southwest of the park and 120 miles from Las Vegas on Interstate 15. Besides quick access to multiple state parks, the city of 105,000 has its own system of parks and trails that allow residents to get out in the great outdoors without leaving town. But like other places in the southwestern U.S., St. George is likely not the ideal place for those who cannot handle frequent and extreme heat.
St. George, Utah
Median home sales price, 2023: $459,000
Median home sales price change, 2022-2023: -7.9%
Median three-bedroom rental price, 2023: $1,881
Median three-bedroom rental price change, 2022-2023: -1%
Yellowstone National Park
Mostly located in Wyoming but also spanning parts of Idaho and Montana, Yellowstone National Park is a perennial favorite with tourists from around the world, with many of the 4.5 million visitors in 2023 no doubt coming for a glimpse of the famous Old Faithful geyser. In addition, Yellowstone is a paradise for wildlife enthusiasts, with its native species including moose, elk, bears, cougars, and wolves, to name just a few.
Located about 80 miles north of Yellowstone is Bozeman, Montana, a city of about 53,000 and home to Montana State University. Like many college towns, Bozeman has no shortage of restaurants, shopping, and cultural activities, and like many Rocky Mountain enclaves, it offers plenty in the way of outdoor activities.
Bozeman, Montana
Median home sales price, 2023: $570,000
Median home sales price change, 2022-2023: -3.3%
Median three-bedroom rental price, 2023: $2,814
Median three-bedroom rental price change, 2022-2023: 14%
Rocky Mountain National Park
With an elevation of more than 7,500 feet above sea level, the air in Colorado’s Rocky Mountain National Park is as breathtaking as its vistas, as its 4.1 million visitors last year can attest. Like many other parks in the Mountain West, Rocky Mountain offers hundreds of miles of trails to test hikers’ legs and lungs, wildlife-watching opportunities and fishing.
The small town of Estes Park, adjacent to one of Rocky Mountain’s main entrances, is a logical jumping-off point for checking out the park, but the nearby college city of Boulder has far more available housing options. Backed by the distinctive Flatirons rock formations, Boulder is popular with outdoor enthusiasts for its hiking, mountain biking, and rock-climbing options, as well as its typically sunny, low-humidity weather. But median rents in Boulder reached more than $3,000 last year, possibly reflecting both increased demand from University of Colorado students and Denver-based employees who can now work at least partially remote.
Boulder, Colorado
Median home sales price, 2023: $660,000
Median home sales price change, 2022-2023: 1%
Median three-bedroom rental price, 2023: $3,271
Median three-bedroom rental price change, 2022-2023: 12.7%
Yosemite National Park
With its enormous, iconic slabs of rock and breathtaking waterfalls, Yosemite’s long-time popularity is understandable, with 3.9 million people converging last year alone to take in the majesty of California’s High Sierra mountain range. It’s also understandable why Yosemite was one of the first National Parks, established more than 130 years ago. Long before getting to the park involved battling gridlock, noted photographer Ansel Adams captured its pristine beauty on many occasions.
Fresno is the unofficial gateway to Yosemite, situated about 60 miles south of the park’s entrance. The city’s population of more than 540,000 people makes it California’s fifth largest and also the most populous in the Central Valley, a primarily agricultural region that produces a sizable amount of the produce and nuts grown in the U.S. Fresno is also a much less expensive option for homebuyers who have been priced out of expensive Bay Area and Southern California housing markets.
Fresno, California
Median home sales price, 2023: $389,000
Median home sales price change, 2022-2023: -0.8%
Median three-bedroom rental price, 2023: $2,043
Median three-bedroom rental price change, 2022-2023: 9.9%
Acadia National Park
Showcasing the beauty of what is arguably one of the most dramatic stretches of coastline on the Eastern Seaboard, Maine’s Acadia attracted 3.9 million visitors in 2023, despite its somewhat remote location. Besides its one-of-a-kind views of the rocky shoreline and access to secluded beaches and ponds, Acadia’s lighthouses are not to be missed.
While the 5,500-person town of Bar Harbor is the absolute closest place to enter Acadia, its size means that housing options are limited. For those looking for more to choose from, the city of Bangor is about 40 miles to the northwest. Situated on the Penobscot River, the little city has a small-town vibe and is known for author Stephen King’s unmistakable mansion. And while Bangor is currently the least expensive of the towns and cities on this list, it may not be a relative bargain for much longer, as home prices rose by almost 20% year over year in 2023.
Bangor, Maine
Median home sales price, 2023: $239,000
Median home sales price change, 2022-2023: 17.9%
Median three-bedroom rental price, 2023: $1,793
Median three-bedroom rental price change, 2022-2023: 13.3%
Grand Teton National Park
Named for the two towering, jagged mountains that dominate its landscape, Grand Teton offers 250 miles of trails for hikers of all skill levels, as well as several lakes for boating, kayaking, and fishing. With 3.4 million visitors last year, Grand Teton (like its neighbor Yellowstone) is also an ideal place to observe a variety of wildlife.
The park sits just outside the winter sports mecca of Jackson, Wyoming, which has a population of less than 11,000. Jackson’s walkable downtown is centered on its town square and is surrounded by shops and restaurants. But the cost of owning a home this close to so much natural beauty and outdoor perks is likely to give some prospective buyers sticker shock, with Jackson’s median home sales price at more than $720,000 in 2023.
Jackson, Wyoming
Median home sales price, 2023: $723,000
Median home sales price change, 2022-2023: -15.1%
Median three-bedroom rental price, 2023: Data not available
Median three-bedroom rental price change, 2022-2023: Data not available
Joshua Tree National Park
About 130 miles east of the sprawling Los Angeles Basin is Joshua Tree, a desert oasis that attracted 3.3 million visitors in 2023. Best known for a large number of its namesake trees, which grow only in the American Southwest, the park also features unique rock formations, which are popular with both hikers and climbers.
While posh Palm Springs is technically the closest town to Joshua Tree, parts of the Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA) aren’t much farther, especially when using Southern California’s extensive network of freeways. At the heart of the region known as the Inland Empire, the area is also easily accessible from the Los Angeles metro and Orange County, perhaps striking a good balance for homebuyers who want equal access to both the desert landscape and urban amenities and culture.
Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, California metro area
Median home sales price, 2023: $521,000
Median home sales price change, 2022-2023: -1.5%
Median three-bedroom rental price, 2023: $2,702
Median three-bedroom rental price change, 2022-2023: 9.5%
Olympic National Park
The jewel of Washington’s remote Olympic Peninsula, the eponymous park is packed with the lush greenery and evergreen trees that are synonymous with the Pacific Northwest. Visitors to Olympic, which numbered 2.9 million in 2023, can also explore the rugged Washington coastline or enjoy other outdoor activities such as hiking, fishing, and boating.
Washington’s capital of Olympia offers the easiest access to the park, which is around 50 miles away and located at the southern tip of the Puget Sound. Home to Evergreen State College, Olympia has a thriving arts and music scene. And both home prices and rents are substantially less expensive than they are an hour away in the Seattle area.
Olympia, Washington
Median home sales price, 2023: $417,000
Median home sales price change, 2022-2023: -12.8%
Median three-bedroom rental price, 2023: $2,393
Median three-bedroom rental price change, 2022-2023: 4%
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