In recent years, U.S. national parks have experienced unprecedented visitor numbers, peaking at 332 million visitors in 2024 and slightly decreasing to 323 million in 2025. Despite this influx of tourists, the benefits for nearby communities—known as “gateway” communities—are not always straightforward.
Gateway communities, located within 60 miles of park boundaries, play a crucial role in supporting the tourism ecosystem by providing lodging, food, and guided experiences. While stable business environments are generally advantageous, these communities face unique challenges.
In 2024, tourists injected a record US$29 billion directly into national parks, with an additional $56 billion spent on essential services in gateway towns, supporting approximately 340,100 jobs. However, these economic gains are tempered by several risks that are unique to gateway businesses.
Fluctuating Park Boundaries
Park boundaries can change, affecting nearby businesses.
For instance, businesses like small hotels and guide services can experience economic shifts when national monument boundaries are altered. This was evident when President Donald Trump, on July 13, 2026, reduced the size of Utah’s Grand Staircase–Escalante and Bears Ears National Monuments. Such changes can impact the economic stability of businesses relying on proximity to these parks.
Visitor Management Strategies
Efforts to manage park congestion can unpredictably impact gateway businesses.
With varying congestion sources like vehicles and hikers, the National Park Service continually experiments with access strategies. For instance, Yosemite National Park has revised its reservation policy multiple times since 2020, causing visitor wait times to fluctuate significantly. Sudden policy reversals, such as the end of timed-entry reservations at Arches and Canyonlands in 2026, leave businesses to cope with the consequences.
Kai Palmer from Desert Highlights in Moab expressed concerns that guide tours might be disrupted by long entrance waits, a reality that many gateway businesses face.
Climate and Weather Challenges
Extreme weather, increasingly linked to climate change, poses a significant risk.
For example, Colorado’s Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park experienced a complete closure in July 2025 due to a wildfire, impacting local businesses that rely on park visitors. Additionally, drought conditions in Yellowstone gateway towns have affected activities like guided fishing, demonstrating the vulnerability of these businesses to climate fluctuations.
Such events can lead to substantial financial losses, as seen when a 2022 flood severely impacted access to Yellowstone, resulting in significant economic setbacks for local businesses.
Housing and Workforce Constraints
High living costs in gateway areas limit workforce availability.
The scarcity of affordable housing near parks like Acadia exacerbates staffing challenges for gateway businesses. The “amenity trap” paradox, where the attractiveness of these areas raises property values and encourages short-term rentals, further strains housing availability.
In areas like Jackson Hole, Wyoming, businesses have had to reduce operating hours due to staffing shortages. Similarly, in Zion National Park, many employees endure lengthy commutes due to a lack of nearby housing.
These challenges collectively transform gateway entrepreneurship into a high-risk endeavor, as businesses navigate fluctuating park boundaries, climate impacts, and housing shortages in an increasingly complex environment.
