Pymatuning State Park is the most-visited Pennsylvania state park, drawing over 3.8 million visitors in 2024 (this is the latest data available as of April 2026). Pennsylvania’s state parks cover 295,000 acres, charge no entry fee, and collectively welcomed nearly 25 million visitors in a single summer season.
The parks range from lakeside fishing destinations to whitewater rivers and National Natural Landmarks. If you’re visiting in spring, expect cool, misty conditions with temps hovering around 49°F and high humidity (as of April 2026), so layers and a waterproof jacket are your friends.
Most-Visited Pennsylvania State Parks in 2024
Visitor figures below come from 2024 data reported by GoErie.com and TribLive.com.
| Rank | Park | 2024 Visitors |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pymatuning State Park | 3.8 million+ |
| 2 | Presque Isle State Park | 3.5 million+ |
| 3 | Prince Gallitzin State Park | 1.9 million (nearly) |
| 4 | Point State Park | 1.5 million+ |
| 5 | Codorus State Park | 1.3 million+ |
| 6 | Moraine State Park | 1.09 million+ |
| 7 | Nockamixon State Park | 1.06 million+ |
| 8 | Marsh Creek State Park | 1 million+ |
| 9 | Tyler State Park | 1 million (nearly) |
| 10 | Ohiopyle State Park | 920,000 (nearly) |
| 11 | Raccoon Creek State Park | 735,000+ |
Pymatuning State Park: Pennsylvania’s Biggest and Busiest
Pymatuning State Park is the largest park in Pennsylvania at nearly 17,000 acres, with most of the land in Pennsylvania and a portion extending into Ohio. The park centers on Pymatuning Lake and runs activities year-round.
Fishing draws a large share of visitors. Target species include walleye, muskellunge, carp, crappie, perch, and bluegill. In winter, ice fishing and ice skating take over. The park’s year-round appeal is a key reason it holds the top spot for attendance.
Presque Isle State Park: Beaches and Rare Species
Presque Isle State Park in Erie sits on a 3,200-acre peninsula, the name translates from French as “almost an island.” It holds National Natural Landmark status and contains more endangered and rare species than any comparable area in Pennsylvania.
Activities include swimming, surfing, boating, fishing, hiking, and cycling. Sandy beaches make it stand out from most other Pennsylvania parks, and 3.5 million visitors in 2024 confirm its pull.
Prince Gallitzin, Point State Park, and the Mid-Tier Parks
Prince Gallitzin State Park, named after Father Demetrius Augustine Gallitzin who helped establish Cambria County, pulled nearly 1.9 million visitors in 2024. Bird watching, boating, and fishing are the main draws.
Point State Park in Pittsburgh is only 36 acres but attracted over 1.5 million visitors in 2024. The Fort Pitt Block House is the park’s headline historical site. If you’re in the city for a game, the Philadelphia Flyers vs. Detroit Red Wings at Xfinity Mobile Arena or an Altoona Curve vs. Harrisburg Senators minor league baseball game are solid ways to round out a Pennsylvania trip with some live sports energy.
Codorus State Park brought in more than 1.3 million visitors, with Lake Marburg as the focal point for water-based activities.
Moraine State Park in Portersville is a restoration story worth knowing. The land was heavily polluted from oil and gas drilling in the late 19th century. After restoration, it became a popular park and logged over 1.09 million visitors in 2024.
Nockamixon, Marsh Creek, and Tyler: The Million-Visitor Tier
Nockamixon State Park in Quakertown covers 5,286 acres around Lake Nockamixon. The name comes from the Lenni Lenape term meaning “at the place of soft soil.” The lake is designated a Trophy Bass Lake and regularly hosts bass tournaments, with species including walleye, muskellunge, pickerel, smallmouth bass, and largemouth bass.
On land, the park offers 3 miles of hiking trails, nearly 3 miles of cycling trails, and 20 miles of horseback riding trails. For overnight stays, 10 glamping cabins are available, equipped with furniture, bathrooms, and electric heat. Nockamixon drew over 1.06 million visitors in 2024 and sits close to Philadelphia.
Marsh Creek State Park in Downingtown covers more than 1,700 acres anchored by a 535-acre lake. You can rent rowboats, canoes, and sailboats at the lake, and sailboat races are sometimes held there given the favorable winds. A lifeguarded swimming pool operates from Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day. Winter options include ice fishing, ice boating, and sledding across 7 acres of hills. Fish species in the lake include black crappie, largemouth bass, channel catfish, yellow perch, and white sucker fish. The park recorded over 1 million visitors in 2024.
Tyler State Park in Newtown runs along Neshaminy Creek and covers more than 1,700 acres. It preserves 14 original buildings from the Tyler Estate, including the French Norman-style Solly House and a Colonial Revival barn. Over 23 miles of trails thread through the park, with the Schofield Ford Covered Bridge among the notable landmarks. Tyler attracted nearly 1 million visitors in 2024.
Ohiopyle and Raccoon Creek: Adventure and Wildflowers
Ohiopyle State Park in Ohiopyle is the go-to for whitewater rafting in Pennsylvania, with the Youghiogheny River providing the rapids. Notable waterfalls include Ohiopyle Falls and Cucumber Falls, which drops 30 feet. The Ferncliff Peninsula within the park is a National Historic Landmark, reachable via a 1.8-mile trail. The park carries historical weight too, it was once home to Indigenous people and later saw action during the French and Indian War. Ohiopyle logged nearly 920,000 visitors in 2024.
Raccoon Creek State Park in Hookstown spans over 7,500 acres, roughly 25 miles from Pittsburgh. The 101-acre Raccoon Lake includes a 500-foot sandy beach. The wildflower reserve is a standout feature, with 700 plant types spread across nearly 5 miles of trails. Frankfort Mineral Springs Falls and a historical spa with reputed healing waters add further interest. Over 735,000 people visited in 2024.
Why Pennsylvania State Park Visits Have Surged
The pandemic accelerated a trend that was already building. Between March and September during the COVID-19 period, Pennsylvania state parks saw an increase of over 7.4 million visits compared to the same period the previous year, a 26% jump. Nearly 100 individual parks recorded double-digit growth. Cherry Springs State Park in remote Potter County became so popular that visitors like Scott Kroll and his fiancee Taylor Blair arrived to find no camping spots available.
More recently, the Shapiro Administration’s “Still Open. Still Awesome.” campaign promoted overnight stays in state parks when federal site closures pushed demand toward state-managed land. The result: a 30% surge in campground reservations linked to those federal closures, and a 10% overall increase in summer reservations statewide. In one summer period, Pennsylvania’s state parks collectively welcomed nearly 25 million visitors. Honestly, if you’re combining a Pennsylvania parks trip with a broader US itinerary, our guides to things to do in New York State and things to do in New England pair well with a road trip through this part of the country.
The outdoor recreation industry tied to these parks now supports more than 168,000 jobs in Pennsylvania, contributes $9 billion in wages and salaries, and represents 2% of the state’s GDP. Since Governor Josh Shapiro took office, the industry has grown by 10%, adding $2 billion to the state’s economy and nearly 4,000 new jobs. Pennsylvania also established the Office of Outdoor Recreation and the Outdoor Business Alliance of Pennsylvania to build on that growth.
For fall foliage specifically, the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR) has reopened the Skywalk at Kinzua Bridge State Park in the Pennsylvania Wilds, and the Bureau of Forestry publishes weekly foliage reports starting each September 25.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the most-visited state park in Pennsylvania?
Pymatuning State Park is the most-visited, with over 3.8 million visitors in 2024. It is also the largest Pennsylvania state park at nearly 17,000 acres, spanning into Ohio, and is known for year-round fishing, ice skating, and ice fishing.
Do Pennsylvania state parks charge an entry fee?
No. Entry to all Pennsylvania state parks is free, year-round. The state has 124 state parks and forests open to the public at no cost. Not gonna lie, that’s a pretty rare deal for parks of this caliber, and it’s one reason visitor numbers keep climbing.
How many people visit Pennsylvania state parks each year?
In a recent summer season, Pennsylvania’s state parks collectively welcomed nearly 25 million visitors. During the COVID-19 period, visits increased by over 7.4 million (26%) compared to the prior year.
Which Pennsylvania state park is best for whitewater rafting?
Ohiopyle State Park on the Youghiogheny River is the top destination for whitewater rafting in Pennsylvania. The park also features Ohiopyle Falls and the 30-foot Cucumber Falls, and the Ferncliff Peninsula is a National Historic Landmark within its boundaries. If you’re into adventure activities in other parts of the US, you might also enjoy our guide to free things to do in Jacksonville, FL for a completely different vibe.