You May Be Surprised To Learn The Two Most Visited National Parks In The U.S. Are Both In North Carolina
From the mountains to the sea, we really do have it all here in North Carolina – including the two most visited National Parks (a park and a unit) in America! (Some states aren’t fortunate enough to have even one National Park.) When it comes to scenic and spectacular outdoor recreation, the Tar Heel State is a popular place for natives and tourists alike.
We’re aware that these uncertain times are limiting many aspects of life as we all practice social and physical distancing. While we’re continuing to feature destinations that make our state wonderful, we don’t expect or encourage you to go check them out immediately. We believe that supporting local attractions is important now more than ever and we hope our articles inspire your future adventures! And on that note, please nominate your favorite local business that could use some love right now: https://www.onlyinyourstate.com/nominate/
According to official stats tallied by the National Park Service, the Blue Ridge Parkway and the Great Smoky Mountains National Park combined saw a monumental 38.5 million visitors in 2018.
Of those stats, the Blue Ridge Parkway saw 16.6 million visitors who spent a whopping 92.4 million hours exploring the scenic drive and the sights along the way. A few of the highlights are below...
An impressive 26 tunnels are found along the Blue Ridge Parkway; the majority of them are in North Carolina. Pictured here, the Twin Tunnels are found at milepost 344.5 and 344.7.
Scenic views and swoon-worthy overlooks abound in the North Carolina mileage of the BRP. Nearly 120 overlooks in NC afford magnificent views. This is the view from the parking area at the Waterrock Knob Visitor Center at milepost 451.2.
At the same time, in 2018, the Great Smoky Mountains National Park received 21.9 million visitors who spent a total of 88.9 million hours in the park. Keep reading for some highlights of the sights found in the North Carolina portion of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park.
A stop at the Oconaluftee Visitor Center near Cherokee affords a unique opportunity to see a herd of elk grazing (or not) in the field of the Farm Museum.
Mingus Mill, located near Cherokee, was built in 1886 and still has an operating sluice and some machinery. The setting couldn't be any more picturesque or reminiscent of a bygone era in the Smoky Mountains.
How fortunate are we to have the two most popular National Park locations right here at home? When was the last time you reconnected with either one? Let’s make this the year to spend more time exploring both!
Keep reading here to explore 19 of the Blue Ridge Parkway tunnels located in North Carolina!
Robin Jarvis is a travel and entertainment writer and editor for OnlyInYourState.com with a bachelor's degree in Journalism. Her love for travel has taken her to many parts of the world. She spent more than two decades living on the coast in South Carolina and currently lives in the mountains of North Carolina - although she still makes it back to see family in South Carolina quite often. When she's not working, she loves to hike, kayak, and check out new adventures. Get in touch at [email protected]
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