Pennsylvania state park visitors drop from pandemic peak

Visitors to Pennsylvania state parks dropped by 2.6 million so far this year in comparison to the same period last year, according to statistics from the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources.

Through August this year, 31,559,249 people visited the state’s 121 state parks, while the same period in 2020 set a record – pandemic and overall – of 34,227,859. That was a drop of 7.8 percent.

The end of August into the Labor Day weekend is generally considered the end of the busy summer season in state parks.

Despite the decline from 2020, January through August this year saw an increase of 14.2 percent over the same period in pre-pandemic 2019 – 31,559,249 compared to 27,636,924.

But, from January to April 2021, state park visitation was ahead of the 2020 pace.

The numbers by month were as follows:

• January: 1,777,890 in 2021; 1,238,918 in 2020; 1,109,926 in 2019
• February: 1,461,041 in 2021; 1,304,511 in 2020; 1,157,802 in 2019
• March: 2,718,664 in 2021; 2,270,546 in 2020; 1,777,821 in 2019
• April: 3,503,918 in 2021; 3,242,678 in 2020; 2,881,691 in 2019
• May: 4,866,431 in 2021; 5,752,835 in 2020; 4,243,178
• June: 5,841,412 in 2021; 6,644,590 in 2020; 6,615,064 in 2019
• July: 6,204,752 in 2021; 7,278,926 in 2020; 5,788,123 in 2019
• August: 5,185,141 in 2021; 6,494,855 in 2020; 5,063,319 in 2019

Throughout the pandemic, DCNR has faced record numbers and overcrowding at some of the busiest times of the year for Pennsylvania’s state parks and state forests.

• ALSO READ: Pennsylvania among stingiest states in spending on parks and rec: study

For example, in late May, the agency posted overcrowding alerts for 14 state parks and two state forest recreation areas noting that “a number of state parks and forest recreation areas have seen extreme crowding during the weekends and when the weather is warm. The extraordinary number of people is causing these places to turn away visitors. Overflow parking also may be closed.”

For more information, visit the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources website.

Contact Marcus Schneck at mschneck@pennlive.com.