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Novel findings from the official NPS visitation dataset, packaged for reporters with methodology, downloadable CSVs, and charts cleared for editorial use.

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Every release on this page is computed directly from the official NPS Visitor Use Statistics data package. We publish the headline finding, the per-unit data table, the methodology, and downloadable assets so the math is verifiable in under 60 seconds.

If you cover national parks, public lands, or U.S. travel, you're welcome to use these analyses with attribution. A suggested citation line appears on each release. For data verification, regional pulls, or interview requests, contact information is on every page.

May 28, 2026 · Data release
−8.1 pp

The shoulder season is the new peak season at America's national parks

Two-thirds of the units we could measure are seeing it. Of the 354 National Park Service units with complete monthly data from 2012 to 2024, 233 gained shoulder-season share. At Yellowstone, summer's share of the year fell 8 points in a decade.

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Independent site. Not affiliated with or endorsed by the National Park Service. The underlying data comes from official NPS Visitor Use Statistics; editorial analysis and methodology are ours. The NPS Arrowhead and other NPS marks are not used.

Last updated · 2026-05-28