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Visitor statistics

How many people visit Great Sand Dunes?

Last verified NPS Visitor Use Statistics1979–2025
432,498 recreation visits in 2025, #44 of 63 national parks. The record is 2021 (602,613). Every year since 1979, straight from the National Park Service’s own counts, including the years before it became a national park in 2004.
2025 visits
432,498
−1.2% vs 2024
Rank, 2025
#44
of 63 national parks
Record year
2021
602,613 visits
vs 2015
+44.4%
ten-year change
vs 1979
+166.1%
since the first full year
Busiest month ever
Jun 2021
123,564 visits

1979–2025

Every year since the counts began

Recreation visits per calendar year, as reported to the NPS Visitor Use Statistics office. The 2025 bar is highlighted; a missing bar means the park did not report all twelve months that year.
0301K603K1979: 162,546 visits1980: 142,427 visits1981: 172,505 visits1982: 175,273 visits1983: 150,177 visits1984: 141,833 visits1985: 182,713 visits1986: 221,449 visits1987: 225,937 visits1988: 274,286 visits1989: 266,321 visits1990: 272,136 visits1991: 295,070 visits1992: 290,654 visits1993: 294,282 visits1994: 312,225 visits1995: 323,663 visits1996: 309,283 visits1997: 309,855 visits1998: 279,768 visits1999: 286,745 visits2000: 260,789 visits2001: 277,523 visits2002: 234,776 visits2003: 251,375 visits2004: 267,204 visits2005: 279,589 visits2006: 258,660 visits2007: 285,121 visits2008: 273,903 visits2009: 289,955 visits2010: 283,284 visits2011: 280,058 visits2012: 254,674 visits2013: 242,841 visits2014: 271,774 visits2015: 299,513 visits2016: 388,308 visits2017: 486,935 visits2018: 442,905 visits2019: 527,546 visits2020: 461,532 visits2021: 602,613 visits2022: 493,428 visits2023: 512,219 visits2024: 437,661 visits2025: 432,498 visits1980198519901995200020052010201520202025
Show the full table (47 years) ↓
YearRecreation visitsChangeRank
2025432,498−1.2%#44
2024437,661−14.6%#44
2023512,219+3.8%#39
2022493,428−18.1%#41
2021602,613+30.6%#35
2020461,532−12.5%#32
2019527,546+19.1%#41
2018442,905−9.0%#44
2017486,935+25.4%#42
2016388,308+29.6%#45
2015299,513+10.2%#47
2014271,774+11.9%#47
2013242,841−4.6%#47
2012254,674−9.1%#47
2011280,058−1.1%#48
2010283,284−2.3%#47
2009289,955+5.9%#47
2008273,903−3.9%#47
2007285,121+10.2%#47
2006258,660−7.5%#47
2005279,589+4.6%#46
2004267,204+6.3%#47
2003251,375+7.1%#47
2002234,776−15.4%#49
2001277,523+6.4%#47
2000260,789−9.1%#47
1999286,745+2.5%#48
1998279,768−9.7%#47
1997309,855+0.2%#46
1996309,283−4.4%#45
1995323,663+3.7%#45
1994312,225+6.1%#44
1993294,282+1.2%#45
1992290,654−1.5%#46
1991295,070+8.4%#46
1990272,136+2.2%#46
1989266,321−2.9%#46
1988274,286+21.4%#44
1987225,937+2.0%#46
1986221,449+21.2%#45
1985182,713+28.8%#48
1984141,833−5.6%#50
1983150,177−14.3%#47
1982175,273+1.6%#45
1981172,505+21.1%#45
1980142,427−12.4%#47
1979162,546—#46

By decade

The long view

1970s
162,546
avg · 1 yr
1980s
195,292
avg · 10 yrs
1990s
297,368
avg · 10 yrs
2000s
267,890
avg · 10 yrs
2010s
347,784
avg · 10 yrs
2020s
489,992
avg · 6 yrs

Seasonality: in 1979–1983 the three busiest months carried 60% of the year’s visits; in 2021–2025 they carried 52% — visits have spread out across the year.

Average visits by month

2021–2025 · NPS IRMA
JFMAMJJASOND
Monthly recreation visits: Jan 5,413, Feb 7,187, Mar 19,654, Apr 26,517, May 71,427, Jun 94,559, Jul 91,000, Aug 68,987, Sep 50,483, Oct 39,055, Nov 12,982, Dec 8,421.

Quietest: JanuaryBusiest: June

The weather page puts these crowd levels beside each month’s temperatures.

About these numbers

Figures are the National Park Service’s monthly recreation-visit counts, retrieved from its public statistics service and summed by calendar year. A year is shown only when all twelve months were reported. The NPS revises recent months occasionally, so small differences from a later nps.gov table are normal. Rankings compare the 63 national parks for the same year. See every park ranked for 2025.

Sources · 2

  1. 1.NPS Visitor Use Statistics — monthly recreation visits by park, 1979–2025 · National Park Service (U.S. Department of the Interior)
  2. 2.NPS Visitor Use Statistics Definitions · National Park Service

FAQ

Great Sand Dunes visitor questions

How many people visit Great Sand Dunes National Park & Preserve each year?
432,498 recreation visits in 2025, ranking #44 of the 63 national parks. The 2010s averaged 347,784 a year.
What was Great Sand Dunes's busiest year?
2021, with 602,613 recreation visits — +39.3% more than 2025. The single busiest month on record was June 2021 (123,564 visits).
Is Great Sand Dunes getting more crowded?
2025 visits were +44.4% compared with 2015 and +54.7% compared with 2005.
What counts as a recreation visit?
The NPS counts a recreation visit as one person entering the park for recreation; someone who leaves and re-enters is counted again, and commuters, through-traffic and staff are excluded. Counts come from gate and traffic counters with park-specific multipliers, so they are estimates.
Why does the record start before Great Sand Dunes became a national park?
The NPS counts visits by park unit, and the unit kept the same statistics code when it was redesignated a national park in 2004. Earlier years are visits to the same place under its previous designation.

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