MAMMOTH HOT SPRINGS, Wyo. — Yellowstone National Park hosted 846,389 recreation visits last month, a 45% increase in recreation visitation compared to August 2022, the park announced via a press release, Sept. 14.
Compared to pre-COVID visitation levels, it was a 3% increase. Visitation to the park this year is on par and slightly above pre-COVID visitation levels. In July, visitation was up 4% compared to 2019.
“So far in 2023, the park has hosted 3,313,244 recreation visits, up 36% from 2022 and up 6% from 2019,” the park said.
Year-to-date trend for recreation visits through August:
- ?2023 – 3,313,244
- 2022 – 2,437,607 (The park was closed June 13 through June 21. Three entrances opened June 22.)
- 2021 – 3,590,609
- 2020 – 2,556,528 (The park was closed May 1 through May 17. Two entrances opened May 18 and the remaining three opened June 1.)
- 2019 – 3,114,697
- 2018 – 3,136,241
?The National Park Service recently released a report detailing the economic impact visitation in Yellowstone and Grand Teton National Parks has on the local economies.
According to the report, in 2022, 3.3 million visitors to Yellowstone spent $452 million in surrounding communities. Grand Teton reported 2.8 million visitors, spending $597 million.
