Strong numbers reported for September 2023 Yellowstone visitation

We saw some strong numbers compiled by the National Park Service for September 2023 Yellowstone visitation, exceeding the number of visits reported in September 2022 and September 2019.

All in all, Yellowstone National Park hosted 838,458 recreation visits in September 2023. This is a 48 percent increase from September 2022 (567,587 recreational visits) and a 21 percent increase from September 2019 (693,118 recreational visits).

The 2019 number is important: that is the last year before the 2020 COVID shutdown impacted visitation. In addition, 2022 numbers were impacted by flooding and a partial shutdown in June.

So far in 2023, the park has hosted 4,161,602 recreation visits, up 38 percent from 2022 (3,005,194 recreation visits), and up 9 percent from 2019 (3,807,815 recreation visits). While we might not be back totally to normalcy in Yellowstone National Park, the 2023 numbers certainly are encouraging,

Here are the year-to-date trend for recreation visits over the last several years (through September): 

• 2023 – 4,161,602
• 2022 – 3,005,194 (The park was closed June 13 through June 21. Three entrances opened on June 22.)
• 2021 – 4,472,687
• 2020 – 3,393,642 (The park was closed March 24 through May 17. Two entrances opened on May 18 and the remaining three opened on June 1.)
• 2019 – 3,807,815
• 2018 – 3,860,695

More data on park visitation is available on the  NPS Stats website.