News Release

Tourism to Chickamauga and Chattanooga National Military Park contributes $87,209,000 to local economy

Date: September 25, 2025
Contact: Brad Bennett, 706-866-9241

A new National Park Service report shows that 1,003,081 visitors to Chickamauga and Chattanooga National Military Park in 2024 spent $70,550,000 in communities near the park. That spending supported the local area.

“People come to Chickamauga and Chattanooga National Military Park to learn about the rich stories associated with the park’s indigenous and Civil War history, and while here, they end up supporting the US and local economies along the way,” said Superintendent Brad Bennett. “We’re proud that Chickamauga and Chattanooga National Military Park supports 746 jobs and $87,209,000 in revenue to communities near the park.

The National Park Service report, 2024 National Park Visitor Spending Effects, finds that visitors spent $29 billion in communities near national parks. This spending provided $18.8 billion in labor income and $56.3 in economic output to the U.S. economy. The lodging sector had the highest direct contributions with $11.1 billion in economic output. Restaurants received the next greatest direct contributions with $5.7 billion in economic output.

An interactive tool is available to explore visitor spending, labor income, and total economic contribution by sector for national, state and local economies. Users can also view year-by-year trend data. The interactive tool and report are available on the NPS website.

To learn more about national parks in Georgia/Tennessee and how the National Park Service works with Georgia/Tennessee communities to help preserve local history, conserve the environment, and provide outdoor recreation, go to www.nps.gov/georgia or www.nps.gov/tennessee.