CASPER, Wyo. — Yellowstone National Park reported a significant increase in recreational visits this August, with numbers reaching 846,389. This figure shows a 45% increase from the previous year’s August total of 582,211 and a 3% bump from August 2019, which saw 820,006 visits.
The upward trend isn’t limited to August alone. In 2023, the park has already hosted 3,313,244 visitors, reflecting a 36% increase from 2022’s 2,437,607 and a 6% rise from the 3,114,697 seen in 2019.
The park’s year-to-date figures through August over recent years are as follows:
- 2023 – 3,313,244
- 2022 – 2,437,607 (Note: The park underwent a closure for flooding from June 13 to June 21, reopening with three entrances on June 22.)
- 2021 – 3,590,609
- 2020 – 2,556,528 (Note: The park was inaccessible from May 1 to May 17, with two entrances reopening on May 18 and the rest on June 1.)
- 2019 – 3,114,697
- 2018 – 3,136,241
To provide context, 2019’s visitation figures are frequently referenced when analyzing 2023’s data. This is due to 2019 being the last full year before the outbreak of COVID-19 and the subsequent visitation shifts in the years that followed. The park’s challenges continued into 2022, when a historic flood event led to the park’s temporary closure in June.
For a more comprehensive breakdown of visitation statistics and the methodology behind these figures, those interested can visit here.
