National parks across the United States have long been celebrated for their breathtaking landscapes and the sense of wonder they inspire in millions of visitors each year. But beyond their natural beauty, these public lands serve as a powerful economic engine for communities from Nevada’s rugged deserts to California’s iconic valleys. Yet, this vital system now stands at a crossroads, threatened by budget cuts, staffing shortages, and the looming specter of a federal government shutdown.
Recent figures underscore the enormous impact national parks have on local economies. According to data from the National Park Service (NPS), visitor spending at national parks soared by nearly 10% from 2023 to 2024, reaching an estimated $29 billion in local gateway regions this year. Hotels received the lion’s share of this spending—$11.1 billion, or 38.29% of the total—while restaurants saw $5.7 billion and recreation industries took in $2.6 billion. Altogether, the national economic output from park-related visitor spending reached a staggering $56.3 billion, as reported by the NPS and highlighted by the National Parks Conservation Association (NPCA).
The story is much the same in Nevada, where outdoor recreation isn’t just a pastime—it’s a pillar of the state’s economy. In 2023, Nevada’s outdoor recreation sector contributed $8.1 billion in value added GDP, making the state 10th in the nation for outdoor recreation’s share of the economy. “Our public lands fuel our economy—it’s that simple,” wrote Senator Catherine Cortez Masto and former National Park Service superintendent Mark Butler in a recent op-ed. The numbers back them up: 4.6 million park visitors spent more than $239 million in local Nevada communities last year, supporting over 2,490 jobs and generating more than $300 million in economic output.
These visitors don’t just flock to Nevada’s national parks—they also pass through local towns, supporting small businesses and hospitality workers. Many use Harry Reid International Airport as a gateway to nearby wonders like Zion National Park in Utah, Joshua Tree in California, and the Grand Canyon in Arizona. Towns such as Beatty and Mesquite benefit directly, as travelers stop for meals, fuel, and overnight stays. The ripple effect is undeniable: outdoor recreation makes up 3.3 percent of Nevada’s gross domestic product, according to the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis.
But this economic lifeline is now fraying. Since the start of the Trump administration, the National Park Service has lost 24 percent of its permanent workforce, leading to shortened operating hours, delayed maintenance, and the closure of visitor centers across Nevada’s parks. “When a trail is closed, a visitor center is shuttered or a campground goes without upkeep, it doesn’t just inconvenience tourists—it sends them packing. And when they leave, so does their money,” Cortez Masto and Butler observed.
The consequences are especially stark in rural areas like the town of Baker, which sits on the doorstep of Great Basin National Park. Known for its ancient bristlecone pines and Nevada’s only glacier, the park is a magnet for visitors. But when ranger programs are eliminated or services are cut back, the tourists—and their spending—can quickly dry up. Local businesses, from tour guides to hotel staff, feel the pinch.
Urban sites aren’t immune, either. Lake Mead National Recreation Area, just outside Las Vegas, is one of the most visited parks in the nation, drawing millions annually and supporting thousands of jobs. Yet, with fewer rangers on duty, trash accumulates and infrastructure repairs lag, raising safety concerns and tarnishing the visitor experience. “What kind of impression does that leave on families planning their next vacation?” the op-ed asked pointedly.
California’s parks tell a similar story of both economic boom and looming risk. Golden Gate National Recreation Area in the Bay Area recorded the highest visitor spending in the state at $1.8 billion in 2024, second only nationally to Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Yosemite National Park saw $629 million in visitor spending, Joshua Tree $179 million, Death Valley $146 million, and Sequoia $120 million. The uptick in spending was driven in part by a surge in visitation—up by 6 million people between 2023 and 2024, according to the NPS report.
Yet park advocates are sounding the alarm. The staffing crisis—rooted in cuts made by the Trump administration earlier in 2025—means that parks are struggling to keep up with the demands of rising visitation. The threat of a government shutdown on October 1, 2025, only adds to the uncertainty. If Congress fails to pass a spending package, national parks could face partial or complete closures, resulting in losses of up to $77 million a day from local gateway communities and $1 million a day from parks themselves, the NPCA warns.
“A shutdown would furlough thousands of staff, drain millions in revenue from communities that rely on park tourism, jeopardize the protection of historic and natural resources, and upend plans for countless visitors,” said NPCA president Theresa Pierno in a press release. The memories of the last government shutdown from December 2018 to January 2019 still linger. During that period, parks operated with skeleton crews, leading to vandalism, overflowing trash, and damage to natural and cultural resources. “Americans watched helplessly as Joshua Trees were cut down, park buildings were vandalized, prehistoric petroglyphs were defaced, trash overflowed leading to wildlife impacts, and human waste piled up,” Pierno recalled. “Visitor safety and irreplaceable natural and cultural resources were put at serious risk. We cannot allow this to happen again.”
The Trump administration has threatened additional staffing cuts to federal agencies should a shutdown occur, leaving NPS employees on shaky ground. “National parks are meant to have the highest level of conservation protection, and that doesn’t change because the government shuts down. If Congress fails to do its job and fund the government, parks may have no choice but to close their gates to safeguard our most cherished places and keep visitors safe,” Pierno emphasized.
For communities across the West, the stakes couldn’t be higher. National parks and public lands aren’t just about preserving nature—they’re about preserving jobs and sustaining local economies. As Senator Cortez Masto and Mark Butler put it, “Investing in our parks isn’t just about preserving nature. It’s about preserving jobs. It’s about protecting our reputation as a destination for adventure, solitude and discovery. And it’s about supporting Nevadans—from tour guides in Ely to hotel staff in Boulder City—who rely on the steady hum of tourism tied to public lands.”
As Congress debates the nation’s budget priorities, the fate of America’s national parks—and the communities that depend on them—hangs in the balance. The outcome will shape not just the landscapes we cherish, but the livelihoods and identities of those who call these places home.
