Visitation up 8% in the Smokies in 2014
According to data collected by the National Park Service Visitor Use Statistics website, visitation to Great Smoky Mountains National Park increased by 8% in 2014, when compared to the prior year. In total, the park recorded 10,099,275 visitors in 2014, versus 9,040,430 in 2013.
Readers should note that visitation figures for 2013 were negatively impacted by the washout on Newfound Gap Road, as well as the Government Shutdown in October of that year, which occurred during one of the peak tourist seasons.
However, 2014 ranks as the fourth highest visitation count on record, and is only the fourth time visitation has ever exceeded the 10 million mark. 1999 still ranks as the highest when 10,283,598 people visited the park.
Here's a graphical look at visitation counts since the Smokies became a national park:
If you plan to visit the Smokies this upcoming year, please note that our hiking website also offers a wide variety of accommodation listings to help with your trip planning.
Jeff
Hiking in the Smokies
Readers should note that visitation figures for 2013 were negatively impacted by the washout on Newfound Gap Road, as well as the Government Shutdown in October of that year, which occurred during one of the peak tourist seasons.
However, 2014 ranks as the fourth highest visitation count on record, and is only the fourth time visitation has ever exceeded the 10 million mark. 1999 still ranks as the highest when 10,283,598 people visited the park.
Here's a graphical look at visitation counts since the Smokies became a national park:
If you plan to visit the Smokies this upcoming year, please note that our hiking website also offers a wide variety of accommodation listings to help with your trip planning.
Jeff
Hiking in the Smokies
