America’s National Parks Are a $56 Billion Economic Engine

America’s national parks are a major economic engine. In 2024, outdoor recreation made up 2.4 percent of U.S. GDP, according to Bureau of Economic Analysis data, as Americans flocked to trails, waterways, and campsites in record numbers. National parks alone saw their highest visitation ever—generating $56 billion in total economic output. In this interview, edited for length and clarity, Bilmes discusses the economic contributions, and future, of the U.S. National Park System.