News Release

Tourism to Stones River National Battlefield contributes $23.8 million to local economy.

Graph showing how Stones River National Battlefield supported local economies in 2024.

NPS

News Release Date: September 29, 2025

Contact: Benjamin Hayes, 615-893-9501

Murfreesboro, Tennessee – A new National Park Service report shows that 446,000 visitors to Stones River National Battlefield in 2024 spent $17.2 million in communities near the park. That spending had a cumulative benefit to the local economy of $23.8 million.

“People come to Stones River National Battlefield to explore our nation’s history, connect with nature, or get some exercise and end up supporting the US and local economies along the way,” said Superintendent Ben Hayes. “We’re proud that Stones River National Battlefield generates $23.8 million in revenue to communities near the park while preserving and interpreting our unique resources.”

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 Tennessee and how the National Park Service works with Tennessee communities to help preserve local history, conserve the environment, and provide outdoor recreation, go to www.nps.gov/tennessee.