Home

 › 

Travel

 › 

The 30 Most Popular National Monuments in the US

The 30 Most Popular National Monuments in the US

In the summer travelers usually flock to national parks. National monuments, however, are less-crowded alternatives that often shine a light on the history of the U.S. Many of the country’s most popular national monuments have patriotic significance, while others are visited for the scenic beauty.

To identify the most popular national monuments in 2020, 24/7 Tempo reviewed last year’s recreational visits published in the National Park Service’s annual visitation report. The NPS aggregates visitation data for various government land designations and visitation purposes. Only national monuments (NM) were considered in our analysis. 

The NPS takes care of more than 85 million acres in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, and U.S. territories. Though NPS locations are generally referred to as parks, there are several name designations. The NPS manages a total of 84 national monuments. 

Monuments in the West and Southwest are the most visited — perhaps suggesting people living in those regions are the biggest fans of national monuments. Of the 30 most visited in 2020, six are in Arizona, four in California, and three in New Mexico.

Exploring the wilderness, hiking through mountains, and sleeping under the stars are just some of the nature experiences these parks have to offer, often free of charge. And these are the national parks that had the most visitors in 2020.

Source: kenlund / Flickr

30. Tuzigoot
> Recreation visits in 2020: 78,358
> Share of all NM recreation visits in 2020: 0.86%
> Location: Clarkdale, Arizona

Source: desertsolitaire / iStock via Getty Images

29. Sunset Crater Volcano
> Recreation visits in 2020: 83,669
> Share of all NM recreation visits in 2020: 0.92%
> Location: Flagstaff, Arizona

Source: JessicaHarrison / iStock via Getty Images

28. John Day Fossil Beds
> Recreation visits in 2020: 88,571
> Share of all NM recreation visits in 2020: 0.97%
> Location: Kimberly, Oregon

Source: Aaron Hawkins / iStock via Getty Images

27. Timpanogos Cave
> Recreation visits in 2020: 92,481
> Share of all NM recreation visits in 2020: 1.02%
> Location: American Fork, Utah

Source: Wilsilver77 / iStock via Getty Images

26. Bandelier
> Recreation visits in 2020: 94,948
> Share of all NM recreation visits in 2020: 1.05%
> Location: Los Alamos, New Mexico

Source: spendadaytouring / Flickr

25. Little Bighorn Battlefield
> Recreation visits in 2020: 97,461
> Share of all NM recreation visits in 2020: 1.07%
> Location: Crow Agency, Montana

Source: kropic / iStock Editorial via Getty Images

24. Governors Island
> Recreation visits in 2020: 102,915
> Share of all NM recreation visits in 2020: 1.13%
> Location: New York City

Source: ES3N / iStock via Getty Images

23. Walnut Canyon
> Recreation visits in 2020: 107,422
> Share of all NM recreation visits in 2020: 1.18%
> Location: Flagstaff, Arizona

Source: demerzel21 / iStock via Getty Images

22. Devils Postpile
> Recreation visits in 2020: 108,590
> Share of all NM recreation visits in 2020: 1.20%
> Location: Mammoth Lakes, California

Source: raybouk / Flickr

21. Lava Beds
> Recreation visits in 2020: 111,258
> Share of all NM recreation visits in 2020: 1.22%
> Location: Tulelake, California

Source: zrfphoto / iStock via Getty Images

20. El Malpais
> Recreation visits in 2020: 139,336
> Share of all NM recreation visits in 2020: 1.53%
> Location: Grants, New Mexico

Source: desertsolitaire / iStock via Getty Images

19. Wupatki
> Recreation visits in 2020: 146,074
> Share of all NM recreation visits in 2020: 1.61%
> Location: Flagstaff, Arizona

Source: jcapaldi / Flickr

18. Fort McHenry
> Recreation visits in 2020: 163,224
> Share of all NM recreation visits in 2020: 1.80%
> Location: Baltimore, Maryland

Source: LIKE HE / iStock via Getty Images

17. Scotts Bluff
> Recreation visits in 2020: 181,900
> Share of all NM recreation visits in 2020: 2.00%
> Location: Gering, Nebraska

Source: Ron and Patty Thomas / E+ via Getty Images

16. Organ Pipe Cactus
> Recreation visits in 2020: 191,512
> Share of all NM recreation visits in 2020: 2.11%
> Location: Ajo, Arizona

Source: lauradyoung / iStock via Getty Images

15. Fort Frederica
> Recreation visits in 2020: 210,892
> Share of all NM recreation visits in 2020: 2.32%
> Location: St. Simons Island, Georgia

Source: DCorn / iStock via Getty Images

14. Montezuma Castle
> Recreation visits in 2020: 242,028
> Share of all NM recreation visits in 2020: 2.66%
> Location: Camp Verde, Arizona

Source: Bartfett / iStock via Getty Images

13. Craters of the Moon
> Recreation visits in 2020: 250,872
> Share of all NM recreation visits in 2020: 2.76%
> Location: Arco, Idaho

Source: SeanPavonePhoto / iStock via Getty Images

12. Castillo de San Marcos
> Recreation visits in 2020: 251,061
> Share of all NM recreation visits in 2020: 2.76%
> Location: Saint Augustine, Florida

Source: zrfphoto / iStock via Getty Images

11. Dinosaur
> Recreation visits in 2020: 264,145
> Share of all NM recreation visits in 2020: 2.91%
> Location: Jensen, Utah

Source: Chris Dziuba / iStock via Getty Images

10. Muir Woods
> Recreation visits in 2020: 324,232
> Share of all NM recreation visits in 2020: 3.57%
> Location: Mill Valley, California

Source: kojihirano / iStock via Getty Images

9. Petroglyph
> Recreation visits in 2020: 356,492
> Share of all NM recreation visits in 2020: 3.92%
> Location: Albuquerque, New Mexico

Source: stephenallen75 / iStock via Getty Images

8. Fort Pulaski
> Recreation visits in 2020: 357,970
> Share of all NM recreation visits in 2020: 3.94%
> Location: Savannah, Georgia

Source: LaserLens / iStock via Getty Images

7. Devils Tower
> Recreation visits in 2020: 423,997
> Share of all NM recreation visits in 2020: 4.67%
> Location: Devils Tower, Wyoming

Source: evanbrogan / iStock via Getty Images

6. Colorado
> Recreation visits in 2020: 435,625
> Share of all NM recreation visits in 2020: 4.80%
> Location: Fruita, Colorado

Source: nantela / iStock via Getty Images

5. Cabrillo
> Recreation visits in 2020: 523,878
> Share of all NM recreation visits in 2020: 5.77%
> Location: San Diego, California

Source: KGrif / iStock via Getty Images

4. Fort Matanzas
> Recreation visits in 2020: 543,590
> Share of all NM recreation visits in 2020: 5.98%
> Location: Saint Augustine, Florida

Source: GCShutter / E+ via Getty Images

3. Statue of Liberty
> Recreation visits in 2020: 576,396
> Share of all NM recreation visits in 2020: 6.34%
> Location: Liberty Island, New York

Source: tupungato / iStock Editorial via Getty Images

2. Castle Clinton
> Recreation visits in 2020: 633,793
> Share of all NM recreation visits in 2020: 6.98%
> Location: New York City

Source: Sara Edwards / iStock via Getty Images

1. Cedar Breaks
> Recreation visits in 2020: 845,867
> Share of all NM recreation visits in 2020: 9.31%
> Location: Brian Head, Utah

To top