GATLINBURG, Tenn. (WATE) — The Great Smoky Mountains National Park brought in an estimated $2 billion in visitor spending to gateway regions in 2024.

The National Park Service has published its 2024 report on Visitor Spending Effects, revealing that 12,191,834 people visiting the parks spent $2,041,287 in nearby communities of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park (GSMNP). This expenditure contributed to 20,349 jobs and added $2,857,978 to the local economies surrounding the park.

According to the report, 95.2% of this spending came from visitors who were not locals. Of the spending around the Smokies, 76.3% occurred in Tennessee and 23.7% on the North Carolina side. Lodging emerged as the sector most affected by this influx, with a total of $974 million, followed by $364 million spent on restaurants. For more information, refer to the comprehensive data available here.

Acting Superintendent Charles Sellars stated, “Visitors come to the Smokies for activities such as hiking, driving, and camping, which end up bolstering both local and national economies.” He added, “We take pride in knowing that tourism to the Great Smoky Mountains National Park brings more than $2.8 billion to its nearby communities.”

The economic impact of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park surpassed that of any other national park in the United States. In comparison, the Golden Gate National Recreation Area reported $1.8 billion in visitor spending, with the Blue Ridge Parkway following at $1.5 billion. The Golden Gate NRA, however, topped visitor numbers with 17,187,508 guests in 2024.

However, despite leading in spending, the Smokies experienced a 7% decrease in expenditure compared to 2023, when the NPS recorded that 13,297,647 visitors spent $2,198,538 in nearby areas. While spending decreased by 3.2% from 2022, it had risen 57% since 2021.

Visitor Spending around the Great Smoky Mountains National Park

• 2024: 12,191,834 visitors / $2,041,287
• 2023: 13,297,647 visitors / $2,198,538
• 2022: 12,937,633 visitors / $2,110,462
• 2021: 14,161,548 visitors / $1,292,745
• 2020: 12,095,721 visitors / $1,024,024

Even though NPS reported a decline in overall spending, Sevier and Blount counties benefited from an uptick in tourism expenses in 2024. Blount County noted a 6% increase in visitor spending for 2024, while Sevier County experienced a 2.03% rise from 2023 to 2024.

Additionally, NPS provided information on visitor spending for the state of Tennessee. In 2024, 12.6 million park visitors spent an estimated $1.7 billion in local gateway regions while visiting NPS lands in Tennessee. This spending supported 17,400 jobs, generated $882 million in labor income, contributed $1.6 billion in value added, and resulted in $2.5 billion in economic output statewide. This marks an increase from 2023, when $10,545,648 in visitor spending was reported.

National Park Lands Visitor Spending in Tennessee

• 2024: 12,571,305 visitors / $1,744.6 million
• 2023: 10,545,648 visitors / $1,400.6 million
• 2022: 10,407,084 visitors / $1,368.6 million
• 2021: 11,030,443 visitors / $869.7 million
• 2020: 9,672,076 visitors / $698.1 million

There are 13 national sites managed by the NPS in Tennessee. To learn more about how NPS works to preserve local history, conserve the environment, and provide outdoor recreation, visit www.nps.gov/state/tn.