National Park System Visits Fell 28% in 2020

Visits to the national park system plunged in 2020 as the coronavirus pandemic temporarily closed parks across the country and kept many people from traveling. The 237 million recreational visits in 2020 were 90 million fewer than in 2019, according to the National Park Service—a 28 percent decline. The number of visits in 2020 was the smallest since 1980, a time when there were many fewer parks (325 versus 423 in 2020). Not every park saw a decline in visitors, however. 

Top 10 national parks visited in 2020, number of visits (and percent change in visits 2019–20)

1. Great Smoky Mountains NP: 12.1 million (-4%)

2. Yellowstone NP: 3.8 million (-5%)

3. Zion NP: 3.6 million (-20%)

4. Rocky Mountain NP: 3.3 million (-29%) 

5. Grand Teton NP: 3.3 million (-3%)

6. Grand Canyon NP: 2.9 million (-52%)

7. Cuyahoga Valley NP: 2.8 million (+23%)

8. Acadia NP: 2.7 million (-22%)

9. Olympic NP: 2.5 million (-23%)

10. Joshua Tree NP: 2.4 million (-20%)

Great Smoky Mountains National Park has been the most visited national park since 1944. It maintained its number-one position despite the pandemic. 

Two national parks fell off the top-10 list in 2020: Yosemite fell from 5th to 12th place, and Glacier fell from 10th to 13th place. Two national parks moved onto the top-10 list in 2020: Cuyahoga Valley rose from 13th to 7th place as visits there increased by 23 percent, and Joshua Tree rose from 11th to 10th place despite fewer visitors.

Source: National Park Service, Annual Visitation Highlights

Record High Participation in Outdoor Recreation in 2020

More people participated in outdoor recreation in 2020 than ever before, most likely because of the coronavirus pandemic. The 53 percent majority of Americans aged 6 or older engaged in an outdoor recreational activity in 2020—a record high, according to the Outdoor Foundation. "Outdoor spaces became places of refuge to safely socialize, improve physical and mental health, connect with family and recover from screen fatigue," the Foundation states in its annual report.

Percent of people aged 6-plus participating in the five most popular outdoor activities in 2020 (and percent participating in 2019)

1. Running: 21.0% (20.2%)

2. Hiking: 19.0% (16.4%)

3. Fishing: 18.0% (16.6%)

4. Bicycling: 17.3% (16.1%)

5. Camping: 15.8% (13.8%)

As more couch potatoes were forced to venture outside, the overall enthusiasm of participants took a noticeable hit, the Foundation reports. "About one-quarter of new participants say they do not want to continue their new activity, a number that may grow sharply as consumers return to pre-pandemic habits."

Source: Outdoor Foundation, 2021 Outdoor Participation Trends Report

The Most Popular Outdoor Recreational Activities

Nearly half of Americans aged 6 or older (49 percent) participate in outdoor recreational activities during a year's time, according to the Outdoor Foundation. Annual participation has been at the 49 percent level for the past decade. Here are the outdoor fitness activities in which at least 10 percent of people aged 6 or older participate at least once a year...

Most popular outdoor fitness activities
Running: 19%
Fishing: 17%
Bicycling: 16%
Hiking: 15%
Camping: 14%

Among those who do not participate in outdoor recreational activities, 46 percent would like to do so. Family responsibilities are cited as the biggest obstacle to their participation.

Source: Outdoor Foundation, 2018 Outdoor Participation Report

Fishing, Hunting, and Wildlife-Associated Recreation

If your customers are people who hunt, fish, or watch birds and other wildlife, you're in luck. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service provides an in-depth look at them in its 2016 National Survey of Fishing, Hunting and Wildlife-Associated Recreation. The report provides detailed demographic, spending, and activity profiles of Americans aged 16 or older who participated in hunting, fishing, and/or wildlife observation. The survey, which is fielded by the Census Bureau every five years, has been ongoing since 1955.

Among the three recreational activities examined, wildlife watching is by far most popular. More than one-third (34 percent) of Americans aged 16 or older participated in wildlife watching in 2016 compared with 14 percent who fished and 4 percent who hunted. The survey defines wildlife watching as closely observing, feeding, and/or photographing wildlife, or visiting natural areas with wildlife observation as the primary objective.

Wildlife watching is more popular than fishing or hunting, and it is growing faster and generates more spending. Between 2006 and 2016, the number of wildlife watchers grew 21 percent—from 71 million to 86 million. The number of birdwatchers alone (45 million) almost surpasses the number of anglers and hunters combined. Wildlife watchers spent $76 billion in 2016. The number of people who fish grew from 30 million to 36 million between 2006 and 2016. Anglers spent $46 billion on fishing equipment and services in 2016. The number of hunters fell during the decade, from 12.5 million to 11.5 million. Hunters spent $26 billion in 2016.

Source: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, 2016 National Survey of Fishing, Hunting and Wildlife-Associated Recreation

Live Arts Attendance Falls—Maybe

Are the live arts in decline, or is the latest survey by the National Endowment for the Arts simply picking up on changes in arts preferences? The 2012 survey of arts participation reveals what may be a worrisome decline in attendance at live arts events, or it may reveal nothing more than shifting tastes.

Only 33 percent of adults attended at least one live arts performance in 2012, reports the NEA. This figure—the lowest ever recorded—was down from 35 percent in 2008 and a high of 41 percent in 1992. But the NEA counts only attendance at performances of classical music, opera, jazz, ballet, musical and non-musical plays, and visits to art museums and galleries. Rock concerts do not count, for example, and as musical tastes have shifted over the decades this omission may be wrongly skewing participation rates downward. Newly added to the survey in 2012 is a question about attendance at any live music performance. Over time, the answer to that question will help determine whether the live arts are in decline or preferences are simply shifting. Thirty-two percent of adults reported attending any live music event in 2012, with the percentage peaking at 41 percent among 18-to-24-year-olds.

Not all arts audiences are small or shrinking. The percentage of adults who went out to a movie grew from 53 to 59 percent between 2008 and 2012. The percentage who read at least one book for personal interest held steady at about 54 percent. Fully 71 percent of adults consumed art through electronic media such as television, radio, or the Internet.

Source: National Endowment for the Arts, How a Nation Engages with Art

The Public Library

Percentage of Americans aged 18 or older who visited a public library in the past year: 60%.

Source: 2012 General Social Survey

Favorite Outdoor Activities

The five most popular outdoor activities among people aged 25 or older, based on percent participating in 2012:

1. Fishing, 15.7%
2. Running, 14.9%
3. Bicycling, 12.0%
4. Hiking, 11.7%
5. Camping, 11.5%

The five most popular outdoor activities among people aged 25 or older, based on frequency of participation during 2012:

1. Running, 87.2 outings per runner
2. Bicycling, 58.4 outings per cyclist
3. Birdwatching, 40.7 outings per birdwatcher
4. Backpacking, 33.4 outings per backpacker
5. Wildlife viewing, 29.9 outings per viewer

Source: Outdoor Foundation, Outdoor Recreation Participation Topline Report

How Many Have a Swimming Pool?

Percentage of occupied housing units with a swimming pool on the property: 16%.

Source: Census Bureau, 2011 American Housing Survey

Who Belongs?

The average middle-aged or older American belongs to 3.7 organizations, according to a study of community involvement by AARP. The number is highest among Gen Xers (aged 31 to 47) at 4.9. It falls to 3.8 among Boomers (aged 48 to 66) and the Silent generation (aged 67 to 83), and bottoms out at 2.8 among Americans aged 84 or older.

Membership in a religious organization is most popular, at 59 percent, making it the only type of organization to which the majority of middle-aged or older Americans belong. Far behind in second place is a health club, of which 23 percent of middle-aged or older Americans are members. Professional/trade/business organizations rank third, followed by neighborhood/homeowners associations.

The majority of each generation belongs to a religious organization. Membership in health clubs is highest among Gen Xers (31 percent), is a lower 22 to 23 percent among Boomers and the Silent Generation, and falls to 9 percent among Americans aged 84 or older. Membership in a neighborhood/homeowners association does not vary much by age, ranging from 18 to 21 percent.

Source: AARP, Civic Engagement among Mid-Life and Older Adults: Findings from the 2012 Survey on Civic Engagement

Hunting, Fishing, and Feeding Birds

Every five years, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service sponsors a survey to determine how many Americans hunt, fish, or watch wildlife.

According to the latest survey results, 14 million Americans hunt (6 percent of the population aged 16 or older), 33 million fish (14 percent of the population), and 72 million watch wildlife (30 percent of the population). Feeding birds is the single most popular wildlife-associated recreational activity, with 53 million Americans participating.

Source: U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, 2011 National Survey of Fishing, Hunting, and Wildlife-Associated Recreation