A new report shows that 819,000 visitors to Fredericksburg and Spotsylvania National Military Park in 2024 spent $57.6 million in communities near the park, and that spending had a cumulative benefit to the local economy of $78.1 million, the National Park Service announced Monday.
“Parks are one of America’s best-kept secrets, bringing lasting value to communities through conservation, recreation and economic growth,” Superintendent Lewis Rogers said in the announcement. “They protect our natural and historical heritage while boosting local economies through tourism and outdoor activity. Simply put, parks make places better—for people, for nature and for the future. We’re proud that Fredericksburg and Spotsylvania NMP generates $78.1 million in revenue to communities near the park.”
The Park Service report, “2024 National Park Visitor Spending Effects,” found that visitors spent $29 billion in communities near national parks. This spending provided $18.8 billion in labor income and $56.3 in economic output to the U.S. economy. The lodging sector had the highest direct contributions with $11.1 billion in economic output. Restaurants received the next greatest direct contributions with $5.7 billion in economic output.
An interactive tool is available for the public to explore visitor spending, labor income and total economic contribution by sector for national, state and local economies. Users can also view year-by-year trend data.
