California’s National Parks Expected to See Huge Crowds in 2026
If you’re planning a trip to a national park in California this year, expect company.
A new report from the vacation rental company Wander predicts California will rank as the second-most visited state for national park travel in 2026, trailing only Tennessee. With nine national parks—more than any other state—California already draws millions of visitors each year to landscapes ranging from towering redwoods to desert basins and volcanic peaks.
According to recent National Park Service data, several parks are already among the most heavily visited in the country. Yosemite National Park continues to lead the pack, attracting more than 4 million visitors annually, while Joshua Tree National Park regularly sees close to 3 million visitors each year. Other parks like Death Valley, Sequoia and Kings Canyon, and Redwood National and State Parks also bring large crowds looking to explore some of the most dramatic landscapes in the American West.
Meanwhile, parks such as Lassen Volcanic, Pinnacles, and Channel Islands National Park draw smaller—but still significant—numbers of visitors eager to hike, camp, and experience California’s diverse ecosystems.
One major factor that could push Yosemite’s visitation even higher in 2026 is the absence of the park’s vehicle reservation system, which had been used in recent years to manage peak summer crowds. Without that system in place this year, park officials and travelers alike expect heavier congestion at park entrances, full parking lots earlier in the day, and longer wait times in Yosemite Valley during busy weekends and holidays.
For visitors, that likely means planning ahead will be more important than ever. Arriving early in the morning, exploring lesser-known areas of the park, or visiting during shoulder seasons could help avoid the worst of the crowds.
With world-famous scenery, thousands of miles of hiking trails, and a growing interest in outdoor travel, California’s national parks appear poised for another blockbuster year.
