The Most Visited City Parks in the United States

Most of the major cities in the United States have their great tourist attraction buildings like museums and zoos located in city parks. These are the most visited city parks in the United States on a yearly basis.

Listed is every city park in the United States that receives at least 10 million visits by tourists and people each year. All these city parks are great tourist attractions loaded with museums, zoos, and hiking paths, and all are located near the major hotels in each city, and most are within easy walking distance of the hotels.

So these popular city parks are visited by many tourists, as well as locals who all enjoy the visitor attractions offered in these most visited city parks in the United States.

The Most Visited City Parks in the United States

1. Central Park - 42 million annual visitors

Central Park in New York City is the most visited city park in the United States by a large margin attracting some 42 million visitors per year. Central Park was opened in 1857, and contains 857 acres of land.

Visitor attractions in Central Park include a zoo, a conservatory garden, walking and running paths, a reservoir, a lake and pond with boating offered, the Belvedere Castle, sculptures and fountains, concerts and plays, 21 playgrounds, woods and large rock outcroppings, two skating rinks, and a swimming pool. Central Park is within easy walking distance of most of the major hotels in Manhattan.

2. The National Mall in Washington, DC - 33.5 million annual visitors

The National Mall in Washington, DC receives some 33.5 million tourists a year who come to see the great visitor attractions in Washington. Sites generally included in the National Mall are the Smithsonian and all its included museums, like the Museum of Natural History and the National Art Galleries, the Washington Monument, the Lincoln Memorial, the Grant Memorial, many statues, and memorials.

Protests are often held at the National Mall as well as concerts and the annual 4th of July concert, and fireworks celebrations. Most of the major hotels in Washington, DC are within easy walking distance of the National Mall.

3. Lincoln Park in Chicago - 20 million annual visitors

Some 20 million people a year visit Lincoln Park in Chicago, which is 1,208 acres, located along the Lake Michigan shoreline and within easy walking distance of many Chicago hotels. Visitor attractions in Lincoln Park include the Lincoln Park Zoo; Lincoln Park Conservatory; the Chicago History Museum; a nature museum, 15 baseball fields; six basketball courts; 35 tennis courts; 160 volleyball courts; a driving range and golf course; walking, hiking and biking paths; and beaches and harbors along Lake Michigan.

4. Mission Bay Park in San Diego - 17 million annual visitors

Some 17 million tourists a year visit Mission Bay Park which is a 4,235 acre man-made aquatic park consisting of about 50 percent land and 50 percent water.

Popular tourist activities in Mission Bay Park include sailing, wakeboarding, jet skiing, boating, sunbathing on the beaches, biking, skating, walking, running, beach volleyball, wind surfing, water skiing, and camping. Popular tourist attractions in Mission Bay Park include Sea World, Mission Bay Aquatic Center, and the Belmont Park amusement park with roller coasters.

5. Forest Park in St. Louis, Missouri - 15 million annual visitors

Forest Park in St. Louis, Missouri is 1,293 acres large, and receives around 15 million visits a year from tourists. Visitor attractions in the St. Louis park include the Missouri History Museum, the St. Louis Art Museum, the McDonnell Planetarium, the St. Louis Zoo, the Jewel Box greenhouse, a field-house, a boathouse, a skating rink, a tennis center, and the World's Fair Pavilion. Located near many St. Louis hotels, this park also offers walking paths past a 75-foot waterfall, and an annual balloon race.

6. Golden Gate Park in San Francisco - 14.5 million annual visitors

Over 14.5 million people and tourists a year visit beautiful Golden Gate Park in San Francisco which is 1,017 acres large. Tourist attractions in Golden Gate Park include the California Academy of Sciences natural history museum, the beautiful Japanese Tea Garden with pagoda, a fine arts museum, the Conservatory of Flowers, the Kezar Stadium, the Music Concourse where concerts are held, the San Francisco Botanical Garden, Stow and Spreckels Lakes, Golden Gate Park Stadium, the Bison Paddock, a couple windmills, a beach chalet, and of course many walking, hiking, biking, and skating paths.

7. Griffith Park in Los Angeles - 12 million annual visitors

Some 12 million people a year visit the 4,210 acre Griffith Park in Los Angeles, which is famous for being seen in any number of Hollywood movies. Visitor attractions in Griffith Park include the famous Griffith Observatory and planetarium, the Greek Theatre where concerts are held, the Los Angeles Zoo, the famous Hollywood Sign, museums, two golf courses, athletic fields, and many hiking trails up in the mountains above LA.

8. Bryant Park in New York - 12 million annual visitors

Bryant Park is located in Midtown Manhattan.

9. Balboa Park in San Diego - 10 million annual visitors

Balboa Park in San Diego is 1,200 acres large, and visited by 10 million people a year. Tourists visit Balboa Park to see the beautiful gardens and Spanish Architecture in the park, as well as visitor attractions including most of the main museums in San Diego, a golf course, a tennis center, a swimming pool, and great walking and biking paths.

9. Prospect Park in Brooklyn - 10 million annual visitors

Prospect Park in Brooklyn is the fourth most visited park in New York City and tenth most in the nation, with some 10 million visitors per year.