Insights Driven By Data: The Enduring Appeal of New York State Parks

I was 13 and not even in high school when the pandemic began. Suddenly, classes (and work meetings for others) became zoom calls and far fewer in-person experiences were available. I was confined to my home, but the even worse reality was that I was trapped in a digital world where all my education, communication, and recreation were completed online. Nothing was preventing me from going outside; unplugging is just a very difficult thing to do for a young teenager desperate to stay connected to the rest of society.

Eventually, once COVID protocols allowed for it, my family and I found our way back to tangible leisure activities that remained socially responsible: the New York State Park system. Watkins Glen, Taughannock Falls, and Robert H. Treman State Park were a few of the gorgeous places we would visit for some offline fulfillment. Taking in the sight of something greater than oneself, like a magnificent gorge or towering waterfall, is an excellent exercise in gratitude and can be wonderful for one’s mental health.

I was not an outlier during the pandemic. After months of being stuck indoors, families were eager to take advantage of the natural beauties offered by New York State:

As shown on the graph provided by Rove (with data sourced from New York State), State Park attendance dramatically rose by 101% from 2020 to 2021, likely due to relaxed lockdown restrictions. This number continued to rise in 2022 and, although there was a sharp decline of 47% in 2023 due to the pandemic largely subsiding, 2025’s attendance figure of 86 million still represents heightened interest in State Parks compared to pre-COVID numbers (+12% from 2019).

There is a clear, sustained interest in State Parks. Why? It’s not just lingering effects of the pandemic — COVID simply accelerated the issues that were already present. Advances in technology have improved our lives in so many ways, but they also contribute to an increased isolation and loss of connection with other humans and nature. For example:

• Third spaces like movie theaters, arcades, and bowling alleys are declining due to the rise of at-home entertainment like streaming services and gaming systems.
• The rise of remote work, though beneficial to many professionals, inherently means less human interaction than in-person work.
• Seemingly inconsequential moments of person-to-person exchange have been replaced, such as self-checkout in stores, greater prevalence of no-contact delivery services, and artificial intelligence available wherever you look.

When people feel like the only places they go to are the workplace and their home, and that the digital world is overtaking the real one, the common instinct for many is to escape and reconnect with nature. That’s what I do when distressed or burnt out, and it never fails to reinvigorate me.

Now, let’s take a look at some data from the June 2026 American Travel Sentiment Study by Longwoods International and Miles Partnership:

• The appetite for travel remains remarkably strong as 89% of American travelers plan to take a trip within the next six months.
• 40% say gas prices significantly affect their travel decisions.
• 35% of travelers say higher gas prices are causing them to reduce spending on retail purchases, while 31% are reducing entertainment and recreation spending.
• 41% report choosing destinations closer to home.

New York State Parks are uniquely positioned to benefit from these trends. Families looking for affordable escapes don't necessarily need flights or expensive resorts. Often, rejuvenation is just a short drive away. Even when budgets tighten, people still seek experiences that offer exceptional value. For many New Yorkers and other travelers, State Parks provide world-class scenery and recreation at a fraction of the cost of many traditional vacations and attractions.

In an era when many people feel overwhelmed by screens, busy schedules, and rising costs, nature provides something increasingly valuable: a chance to reconnect with the physical world and with one another.

Key takeaways:

1. The pandemic fast-tracked, rather than created, Americans' desire for outdoor recreation. Even after visitation normalized, New York State Parks continue to attract more visitors than they did before COVID.
2. State Parks satisfy needs that extend beyond leisure. They provide opportunities for connection, reflection, and relief from increasingly digital lifestyles.
3. Travel demand remains strong despite economic uncertainty. Nearly nine in ten Americans plan to travel within the next six months, though many are choosing destinations closer to home.
4. Affordability is becoming a competitive advantage. Rising costs are encouraging travelers to seek experiences that offer exceptional value, making state parks particularly appealing.
5. Nature has become a modern form of wellness. As people spend more time online and fewer moments in shared physical spaces, outdoor destinations provide something increasingly scarce: presence, perspective, and human connection.