National Parks Face Staffing Crisis Amid Summer Travel Surge

A classic summer vacation often begins with a trip to one of America’s national parks—but this year, travelers may encounter unexpected challenges. The National Park Service has lost nearly a quarter of its permanent workforce since January, according to internal data cited by a federal watchdog group.

Last year, U.S. national parks saw a record-breaking 331 million visits, and that number continues to grow. But now, fewer rangers and staff mean some parks are reducing capacity or delaying services like campground and picnic area openings.

At Great Smoky Mountains National Park, the most visited park in the country, nonprofit groups like Smokies Life are stepping in to help. “There’s been some reduced capacity,” said Jackie Harp, CEO of the group. “Campgrounds and picnic areas all opened later than typical.”

The challenges extend across the country. At Yosemite National Park, seasonal hiring delays forced some staff, including park managers and scientists, to take on tasks like restroom cleaning and trash removal—duties typically handled by dedicated maintenance crews.

At Crater Lake National Park in Oregon, Superintendent Kevin Heatley resigned just five months into the role, citing unsustainable workloads for staff, particularly around snow removal.

Despite these issues, many visitors remain undeterred. Tourists like Jan Bergman from Ohio say they noticed the crowds, but not enough to spoil their plans. “We had already booked our travel, so we came. Figured we would just make the best of it.”

Still, local businesses that rely on park traffic, like Rush Creek Lodge near Yosemite, say bookings are down. Owner Lee Zimmerman attributes the decline to early fears about staffing levels.

The National Park Service has not yet commented on the reported staffing changes. For now, the summer travel season continues, but concerns are growing about what the future may hold for the parks many consider America’s crown jewels.

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