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Maine State Parks Draw Over 3 Million Visitors in 2024, Marking Third Year of Strong Attendance

Maine State Parks recorded 3.12 million visitors in 2024, according to the Maine Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry’s Bureau of Parks and Lands (BPL). This marks the third time in four years that the parks have surpassed three million visitors.

The attendance figure represents a 6.5% increase over 2023, with day-use visitation up by 7.3%. This indicates the growing popularity of Maine’s parks as destinations for outdoor activities.

However, camping attendance saw a slight decline of 0.8%, which the BPL attributed partly to the early closure of Cobscook Bay State Park due to a construction project, as reported in a news release.

Among the parks, Reid State Park saw a significant 18% increase in attendance. Conversely, Popham Beach State Park experienced a 7% drop in visitation, which is believed to be related to beach erosion caused by storms in January 2024.

In comparison to previous years, Maine State Parks had 2.93 million visitors in 2023, 3.28 million in 2022, and 3.3 million in both 2021 and 2020.

The figures show consistent high visitation over the past five years, with day-use visitors accounting for the majority of the total numbers each year. In 2024, of the 3.12 million visitors, 2.83 million were day-use visitors and 288,000 were campers.

Looking ahead, the BPL announced that reservations for Maine State Parks campgrounds for 2025 will open in early February.

On February 3, reservations will open for Lily Bay State Park and Sebago Lake State Park, and group camping and picnic shelter reservations will be available by phone.

The following week, on February 6, reservations will be open for all parks except Aroostook and Cobscook Bay, which are undergoing major improvements. The completion date for these upgrades has not yet been determined.

For those interested in reserving a spot, the BPL offers multiple options. Reservations can be made online at CampWithME.com, by phone for group camping and picnic shelter reservations, or by mail.

It’s important to note that Sebago Lake State Park requires a four-night minimum stay for February reservations, and weekends during the camping season have a two-night minimum stay requirement.

Maine State Parks offers a range of outdoor experiences for visitors, from hiking and camping to swimming, kayaking, and winter sports like snowshoeing and cross-country skiing.

Visitors can explore over 30 parks and historic sites, each offering unique opportunities to engage with nature and history, and enjoy family-friendly programs.

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Hi, you might find this article from Modern Campground interesting: Maine State Parks Draw Over 3 Million Visitors in 2024, Marking Third Year of Strong Attendance! This is the link: https://moderncampground.com/usa/maine/maine-state-parks-draw-over-3-million-visitors-in-2024-marking-third-year-of-strong-attendance/