The Numbers Behind the Boom
Skyscanner's 2026 travel trends report reveals a remarkable surge in searches for national parks across the globe, with American parks leading the way. Great Smoky Mountains National Park is trending over 135% year-over-year, particularly among solo travelers. It's not an isolated spike. Airbnb reports high interest in Acadia, Shenandoah, Yosemite, and Jackson Hole (gateway to Grand Teton) for 2026 bookings.
The timing isn't coincidental. 2026 marks America's 250th anniversary of independence, and the National Park Service is celebrating with events at more than 50 parks connected to Revolutionary War history. Add in landmark centennials for parks authorized in 1926, including Great Smoky Mountains and Shenandoah, and you have a perfect storm of commemorative travel.
America 250 and the Parks
The National Park Service serves as steward to many of America's most significant historical sites: Independence Hall, the Statue of Liberty, Revolutionary War battlefields, and memorials to the nation's founders. For the 250th anniversary, these sites are receiving special attention and investment.
The Park Service has distributed $30 million in grants through its Semiquincentennial Grant Program for projects in more than 14 states, including work at Yorktown Battlefield and New Jersey's Old Barracks. America's National Parks organization has awarded an additional $250,000 to 11 NPS units through its "History Happens Here" 250th Grant Program.
Restoration work is underway at Minute Man National Historical Park for historic structures, monuments, and trails. Saratoga National Historical Park, site of the 1777 British surrender that turned the Revolutionary War, received a Great American Outdoors Act grant to make all tour road stops fully accessible ahead of that battle's 250th anniversary in 2027.
The 1926 Centennials
Beyond the national birthday, 2026 marks 100 years since President Calvin Coolidge signed legislation authorizing Great Smoky Mountains National Park on May 22, 1926. That same era saw authorization for Shenandoah National Park, creating what would become two of the most visited parks in the system.
Great Smoky Mountains holds the title of America's most visited national park, drawing over 12 million visitors annually. Its free admission (one of the few parks without an entrance fee) and location straddling North Carolina and Tennessee make it accessible to a huge population base. The centennial designation is expected to push those numbers even higher.
Shenandoah's 105-mile Skyline Drive offers one of the most scenic mountain routes on the East Coast. As covered in our guide to emerging destinations, travelers increasingly seek experiences that combine natural beauty with cultural significance. These centennial parks deliver both.
What's Driving Solo Traveler Interest
The 135% increase in Great Smoky Mountains searches among solo travelers reflects a broader 2026 travel pattern. National Geographic's travel outlook notes that solo travel is experiencing a renaissance, "fueled by online conversations that encourage self-discovery." National parks, with their structured trails, ranger programs, and relative safety, appeal to travelers exploring alone.
The parks also fit the "contemplative travel" trend emerging in 2026. Unlike beach resorts or city breaks, national parks offer a natural setting for disconnection and reflection. Many parks have limited cell service, which for certain travelers is a feature, not a bug.
For remote workers, parks near population centers (Shenandoah is under 100 miles from Washington D.C.) enable weekend trips that don't require extensive planning. As we explored in our analysis of flexible-work travel, this accessibility drives repeated visits rather than once-in-a-lifetime trips.
Beyond the East Coast
Western parks are also seeing anniversary-driven interest. Grand Teton National Park near Jackson Hole, Wyoming will celebrate its centennial in 2029, but advance planning for major park trips often starts years early. Yosemite, already one of the world's most iconic parks, benefits from California's massive population base and international recognition.
The America 250 celebrations extend through 2033, marking the 250th anniversary of the Treaty of Paris that ended the Revolutionary War. That extended timeline means park visitation could remain elevated for nearly a decade as different commemorations unfold.
Planning Considerations
The surge in interest creates practical challenges. Popular parks already implement reservation systems during peak seasons. Yosemite requires advance reservations for day-use entry during summer months. Great Smoky Mountains has timed entry permits for popular trailheads. These systems will likely expand as 2026 visitation increases.
Shoulder season travel (September-October, April-May) offers a balance between manageable crowds and decent weather. The centennial events themselves will cluster around specific dates, creating known peaks that informed travelers can avoid.
For those seeking the commemorative experience without the crowds, the 50+ Revolutionary War-connected parks include many lesser-known sites. Cowpens National Battlefield in South Carolina, for example, offers the historical significance without the crushing visitor numbers of better-known locations.
What This Means
National parks travel tends to spike around milestone anniversaries and then settle at a new, higher baseline. The 2016 National Park Service centennial drove record visitation that year, and annual numbers never fully returned to pre-centennial levels. Expect 2026 to follow a similar pattern.
For travelers, the window for "discovering" these parks is closing. What were once quiet spring weekdays at Shenandoah or off-season visits to the Smokies will increasingly require planning and reservations. The parks aren't going anywhere, but the experience of having them to yourself is becoming rarer.
The Bottom Line
America's 250th anniversary is more than a historical marker. It's reshaping where Americans travel in 2026. The national parks, already among the country's most treasured destinations, are positioned at the center of that story.
