Survey of visitors shows parks generate more than $16 for every tax dollar used on operating costs
Styers siblings (from left) Khyrah, 8, Khalesi, 8, and Gavin, 12, all of Claysburg, fish near the spillway at Canoe Creek State Park on Friday afternoon.
Mirror photo by Patrick Waksmunski
Styers siblings (from left) Khalesi, 8, Gavin, 12, and Khyrah, 8, all of Claysburg, fish near the spillway at Canoe Creek State Park on Friday afternoon. Mirror photo by Patrick Waksmunski
Styers siblings (from left) twins Khalesi and Khyrah, 8, and Gavin, 12, all of Claysburg, fish near the spillway at Canoe Creek State Park on Friday afternoon.
Mirror photo by Patrick Waksmunski
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Pennsylvania’s system of state parks generated more than $16 for every tax dollar spent to operate them, according to a new analysis by Penn State researchers released Thursday by the Department of Conservation and Natural Re
State officials say the findings demonstrate the substantial return on investment that the outdoors industry provides to Pennsylvania’s economy.
The study found that state park visitors spent about $1.2 billion on state park trips. Pennsylvania residents accounted for just over three quarters of that spending, the study found.
“These economic contributions and their growth over time are a testament to strategic investments made in state parks,” said Andrew Mowen, Penn State Recreation, Park and Tourism Management professor and principal researcher for the study. “Many of the survey respondents visited state parks for day trips to maximize having beautiful state parks without having to spend money on a pass as some of our neighboring states require.”
The study also found that state park visitor spending directly supported 11,712 jobs and generated $457 million in labor income. Visitor spending also generated $85 million in state tax revenue in 2025.
Pennsylvania has 125 free-admission state parks, including four added to the network in the last four years. Pennsylvania is one of just 10 states that do not charge entry fees for state parks. Among neighboring states only Ohio and West Virginia do not charge entry fees at their state parks. Many states charge admission based on the vehicle, so visitors can escape the fee by entering on foot or bicycle, though due to the remote nature of many state parks, avoiding the vehicle fee can be difficult at most park locations.
State officials added Laurel Caverns State Park in Fayette County on Earth Day, last April. In 2022, the state added Vosburg Neck State Park in Wyoming County, Susquehanna Riverlands State Park in York County and Big Elk Creek State Park in Chester County.
Researchers calculated the spending estimates based on two surveys of more than 4,000 state park visitors.
Nearly 85% of those surveyed were Pennsylvania residents.
Respondents said they’d spent an average of $31.60 per person per day on their state park trips, with the biggest chunks of that spending going toward fuel and meals.
Thirty-two percent of those surveyed said they had at least a bachelor’s degree and 31.4% of those who responded reported income exceeding $100,000 a year.
Gov. Josh Shapiro’s administration launched an Office of Outdoor Recreation in 2023.
State officials say that since then, manufacturing for the outdoor recreation industry has grown 30% and contributes $3 billion to Pennsylvania’s economy. Tourism linked to outdoor recreation grew 15%.
State park visitor spending, on average
Restaurants: $8.75 per person per day
Groceries: $4.15 per person power day
Bars and fast food: $2.40 per person per day
State park visitor spending, cumulatively
Bars and fast food: $90 million
