Maine State Parks welcomed a total of 3.12 million visitors in 2024, according to an announcement by 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 exceeded the three-million-visitor milestone. The figure represents a 6.5% increase over 2023.
The increase in visitation was driven largely by a 7.3% rise in day-use attendance. The numbers reflect Maine’s appeal as a year-round destination for recreation, despite a slight decline of 0.8% in camping attendance. BPL officials attributed the decrease to the early closure of Cobscook Bay State Park for a construction project.
Individual parks also showed significant trends, with Reid State Park experiencing an 18% rise in attendance, while Popham Beach State Park saw a 7% decline. BPL noted that the decrease at Popham Beach was likely due to erosion from severe storms in January 2024.
In a breakdown of visitation over the past six years, 2024’s total of 3.12 million visitors closely mirrored prior record years, including 2021 and 2022, which saw 3.3 million and 3.28 million visitors.
As Maine gears up for the 2025 camping season, the BPL announced key dates for reservations. Starting February 3, visitors can book campsites at Lily Bay State Park and Sebago Lake State Park, with group camping and picnic shelter reservations also opening that day via phone. In the event of office closures, February 4 will serve as a storm date.
According to a press release, reservations for other parks, excluding Cobscook Bay and Aroostook State Parks, will open on February 6.
Major improvement projects at Cobscook Bay and Aroostook have temporarily delayed bookings, and completion dates for these upgrades remain undetermined. If storm-related closures occur, reservations will instead begin on February 7.