AAA says National Parks are becoming Travel Alternative

Tampa, FL – National parks are gaining popularity as more Americans decide to travel closer to home. Frequent reports of unrest in Europe have some would-be international travelers looking for a domestic alternative, and many are finding it in national parks.

Visitation to national parks reached an all-time high in 2015, with more than 307 million visitors, according to the National Park Service.

“The demand for national parks is off the charts this year, as Americans seek new and exciting domestic destinations,” said Mark Jenkins, spokesman, AAA – The Auto Club Group. “Those choosing to travel internationally are finding great deals, in light of recent unrest in European countries. Yet national parks are a viable alternative for those who prefer to stay in the states, because of their beautiful landscapes and endless opportunities for adventure.”

Travelers can expect these parks to get even busier in the year ahead as the U.S. National Park Service celebrates its 100^th anniversary on August 25th.

Top 5 Most Visited National Parks in 2015 (National Park Service)

1. Great Smoky Mountains (10.7 million)
2. Grand Canyon (5.5 million)
3. Rocky Mountain (4.16 million)
4. Yosemite (4.10 million)
5. Yellowstone (4.1 million)

According to a recent AAA survey, the majority of Americans (79%) say they are as likely (42 percent) or more likely (37 percent) to visit a national park in the next 12 months, building on the momentum of this year’s centennial celebrations.

Eighty-five percent of Americans have visited at least one national park, and a majority say the national parks are a “must-see” vacation destination (73 percent). National parks are growing in popularity among younger generations, with nearly half of Millennials (46 percent) citing that they are more likely to visit a national park in the next year, outpacing both Generation X and Baby Boomers.

“It’s not surprising to see that younger generations are particularly interested in visiting national parks,” added Jenkins. “Travel is part of Millennials’ DNA, and they consistently seek experiential travel opportunities, a major draw for national park visitors.”

National Parks on Most Americans’ Bucket Lists (National AAA survey)

1. Yellowstone (33%)
2. Yosemite (17%)
3. Grand Canyon (12%)

Preferred times to visit national parks (National AAA survey)

1. Spring (35%)
2. Fall (33%)
3. Summer (27%)

Travelers planning trips to national parks for the remainder of 2016 can enjoy a discount on select dates in honor of the National Park Service’s 100^th anniversary. All sites that charge an entrance fee will offer free admission August 25th-28th, September 24th and November 11th.

Results from the AAA survey reveal additional details about Americans’ national park vacation preferences:

• The vast majority (91 percent) of visitors to national parks drive to their destination. The remainder chooses to fly (18 percent), ride on trains or buses (10 percent each) or take a cruise or boat (7 percent).
• The majority of Americans (66 percent) typically stay in a hotel, motel or lodge when visiting a national park. Camping (41 percent), vacation rentals or cabins (38 percent), staying with friends and family (33 percent) and bed and breakfasts (27 percent) are also popular accommodation options.
• Visitors’ favorite national park activities include walking or hiking on park trails (53 percent) and sightseeing (35 percent).

AAA offers travelers a variety of tools and resources to plan a national park vacation.

Featuring one-of-a-kind national park itineraries, AAA Vacations is a collection of specially designed cruises, guided tours and independent vacations offering unique, engaging travel experiences. TripTik Travel Planner on AAA.com and the mapping section of the AAA Mobile app include nearly 200 Travel Guides and Drive Trips — many featuring national parks — to help travelers plan the perfect road trip either from their PC or on their phone.

Both tools help travelers map complete travel routes, locate the lowest gas prices, identify exclusive member discounts, and find more than 58,000 AAA Approved and Diamond Rated hotels and restaurants and more. For more information, visit AAA.com/Travel or your stop by your local AAA office, where travel counselors can provide personalized plans for your next vacation.

To evaluate national park travel intentions, AAA contracted with a national research company to perform a telephone survey of 1,012 adults living in the continental United States. Survey results are an accurate representation of the total continental U.S. population with a margin of error of +/- 3.9 percent at a 95 percent confidence level. The survey was conducted June 23-26, 2016.

About The Auto Club Group

The Auto Club Group (ACG) is the second largest AAA club in North America.  ACG and its affiliates provide membership, travel, insurance and financial services offerings to over 9 million members across eleven states and two U.S. territories including Florida, Georgia, Iowa, Michigan, Nebraska, North Dakota, Tennessee, Wisconsin, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands; most of Illinois and Minnesota; and a portion of Indiana. 

ACG belongs to the national AAA federation with more than 56 million members in the United States and Canada and whose mission includes protecting and advancing freedom of mobility and improving traffic safety.