Multimodal Transportation

A shuttle bus at Yosemite National Park

NPS

Multimodal transportation includes walking, biking, buses, rail, ferries, cars, and trucks.

Multimodal transportation systems connect communities to parks, help manage congestion and ease parking shortages for areas at or nearing capacity. Multimodal transportation can also contribute to improving air quality, soundscapes and reduce wildlife-vehicle collisions.

In addition to multimodal transportation, the NPS is exploring how technology can enhance all forms of transportation in parks. Over the past decade, the NPS has increasingly explored the use of intelligent transportation systems (ITS) to address access, congestion, and environmental problems which risk tarnishing the visitor experience and damaging environmental resources.

National Park Service National Transit Inventory and Performance Report

Annually, the NPS conducts a transit inventory and measure performance to:

1. Identify NPS transit systems nationwide;
2. Track the operational performance of each system; and
3. Inventory NPS and non-NPS owned transit vehicles and collect detailed vehicle information.

The 2024 National Transit Inventory Report is the latest available report. Past reports can be found in the Transportation Resource Library.

Pedals & Peds= Active Transportation

Bicycles, Pedestrians & Multi-Use Trails

Active transportation—by foot, bicycle, and other non-motorized modes-- is a great way for people to connect with parks.

Powerful People Movers

Buses & Shuttles

Buses and shuttle systems help alleviate the impacts of private automobiles on your national parks and reduce congestion.

Tours and Transportation

Ferries and Water-Based Transportation

Almost 13 million passengers ride ferries in national parks each year.

Multimodal Transportation Facts

In 2024, the NPS had 96 transit systems in 58 parks nationwide with 32.6 million passenger boardings.

• 53% of the transit systems involve shuttles, buses, vans, and trams
• 37% of the systems use boats and ferries 
• Trains, trolleys, snowmobiles, and aircraft represent 10% of the systems 

Of the 96 transit system, the top 10 transit systems accounted for 82% of the passenger boardings in 2024. The systems with over a million boardings are located at Statute of Liberty National Monument, Zion National Park, Grand Canyon National Park, Alcatraz (Golden Gate National Park), and Pearl Harbor National Memorial. 

An archive of National Transit Inventory reports from previous years can be found at Resource Library - Federal Lands Transportation Program (U.S. National Park Service) (nps.gov)