George Washington Memorial Parkway Statistics

Published May 14, 2025

How many people visit the George Washington Memorial Parkway each year?

Up to 7.5 million people visit the George Washington Memorial Parkway each year.

Visitations in recent years:

  • 7,487,265 in 2019 (pre-pandemic).
  • 6,237,361 in 2020 (16.7% drop caused by the pandemic)
  • 7,397,120 in 2022
  • 7,391,260 in 2023
  • 6,782,717 in 2024 (an 8.3% decrease YoY).
Bar chart of annual recreational visits to the George Washington Memorial Parkway from 2018 to 2024.
Annual recreational visits to George Washington Memorial Parkway, 2018–2024.

How much do people spend at the George Washington Memorial Parkway yearly?

Tourism spending on the George Washington Memorial Parkway generates 241.24 million in 2023.

Note: 2023 spending data uses a new methodology and isn’t comparable to previous years.

  • $54.54 million in 2022, 10% increase from 2021.
  • $50.13 million in 2019, lower than 2022 but higher than pandemic years.
  • $42.09 million in 2020, lowest in recent years.
Bar chart of annual visitor spending at the George Washington Memorial Parkway from 2018 to 2023.
Visitor spending at George Washington Memorial Parkway, 2018–2023.

How many people visited the George Washington Memorial in 2024?

  • 6,782,717 people came to the George Washington Memorial Parkway in 2024, an 8.3% decrease from 2023 and 9.5% below numbers from 2019 (pre-pandemic).

How many people visit the George Washington Memorial Parkway per day?

  • 18,532 visitors come to the George Washington Memorial Parkway daily (based on 2024 data), however numbers fluctuate throughout the year.

How much does it cost to visit the George Washington Memorial Parkway?

  • There is no charge to visit the George Washington Memorial Parkway. It is an accessible destination for everyone.

When is the George Washington Memorial Parkway’s peak season?

The peak season for the George Washington Memorial Parkway is during warmer months.

  • Visitation increases from spring to late summer
  • April: almost 700,000 visitors (spring blooms)
  • May, June, August: over 700,000 visitors (good weather and school breaks)
  • July: busiest month, up to 800,000 visitors (peak summer vacation)
Bar chart of monthly visitors to the George Washington Memorial Parkway in 2024, with July the busiest month.
Monthly visitors to George Washington Memorial Parkway in 2024.

How popular is the George Washington Memorial Parkway?

  • The George Washington Memorial Parkway is a national parkway in the U.S. with attractive views, historic sites and recreation.
  • It was the #8 most visited park site in the USA in 2024.
Top 10 Most Visited Parks in 2024
RankParkRecreation Visitors
1Golden Gate NRA17,187,508
2Blue Ridge PKWY16,733,639
3Great Smoky Mountains NP12,191,834
4Gateway NRA8,929,035
5Lincoln Memorial8,479,349
6Gulf Islands NS7,801,176
7Natchez Trace PKWY7,364,833
8George Washington MEM PKWY6,782,717
9Lake Mead NRA6,412,854
10Vietnam Veterans MEM5,295,711

Why do people come to the George Washington Memorial Parkway?

Visitors come for the pleasing drives, historic sites and outdoor recreation:

  • Mount Vernon Trail – Biking and walking.
  • Arlington Memorial Bridge – Historic landmark.
  • Great Falls Park – Waterfalls and hiking trails.
  • Theodore Roosevelt Island – Nature escape.

What are the most common causes of visitor deaths at the George Washington Memorial Parkway?

Between 2007 and August 2024, a total of 52 deaths were recorded within the parkway. The most common causes included:

  • Motor Vehicle Crashes: 23 fatalities
  • Suicide: 10 fatalities
  • Undetermined Causes: 10 fatalities
  • Medical Events During Physical Activity: 4 fatalities
  • Drowning: 1 fatality
  • Environmental Exposure: 1 fatality
  • Homicide: 1 fatality
  • Legal Intervention: 1 fatality
  • Medical Events Not During Physical Activity: 1 fatality

RV rental in the USA

Horizontal bar chart of recorded causes of death at the George Washington Memorial Parkway, led by motor vehicle crashes.
Causes of death recorded at George Washington Memorial Parkway.

References

  1. National Park Visitation Statistics · irma.nps.gov