Unpacked by AFAR · Friday, July 24, 2026
The Great Smoky Mountains National Park is the most visited national park in the U.S., and the Blue Ridge Parkway attracts more visitors annually than the Grand Canyon, Yellowstone, and Yosemite combined. These popular destinations are located near Asheville.
“Here's the scale of what's out there. The Great Smoky Mountains is the most visited National Park in the country. And the Blue Ridge Parkway pulls in more people in a year than the Grand Canyon, Yellowstone and Yosemite combined.”
“So, two of the busiest places in the whole park system and they both sit right on Asheville's doorstep.”