Camping and Parks

10 Most Popular National Parks in America (PHOTOS)

The National Park Service has released data on its most visited parks in America in 2015, and the most popular park was Great Smoky Mountain National Park.

Located at the border between North Carolina and Tennessee and world-renown for its ancient mountains, lush forests and diverse wildlife, Great Smoky Mountain National Park welcomed 10.7 million visitors last year, roughly twice as many visitors as the second most visited park, Arizona's Grand Canyon National Park.

Other top-visited national parks of 2015, listed in order, included Rocky Mountain National Park, Yosemite National Park, Yellowstone National Park, Zion National Park, Olympic National Park, Grand Teton National Park, Acadia National Park and Glacier National Park.

(MORE: America's 59 Amazing National Parks)

Meanwhile, the Blue Ridge Parkway, was the most visited site in the National Park Service system, which includes a total of 410 sites, welcoming 15.0 million people throughout the year.

Originally established on August 25, 1916 by President Woodrow Wilson, the National Park service started out managing only 14 national parks, 21 monuments and two reservations. Today it protects 410 sites, including 59 national parks, 14 shorelines, and numerous historical sites and monuments.

The NPS visitor data, released ahead of the National Park Service's centennial anniversary, reveals that more travelers have visited the national parks than ever before. In total, the park service welcomed a record-breaking 307.2 million tourists in 2015, representing a five percent increase from 2014, when the parks welcomed 292.8 million guests.

(MORE: 50 Amazing American Destinations to See Before They Change Forever)

"We're also getting ready to welcome even more people - the next generation of park visitors, supporters and advocates - in this, the centennial year of the National Park Service," National Park Service Director Jonathan B. Jarvis told CNN. The numers are also expected to increase due to the success of the #FindYourPark campaign, launched by the non-profit National Parks Foundation and National Park Service.

Click the slideshow above to see photos of these 10 popular national parks.

(For More Travel, Follow us on Facebook)