Frequently Asked Questions (U.S. National Park Service) Official websites use .gov .gov website belongs to an official government organization in the United States. Secure .gov websites use HTTPS lock ) or means you've safely connected to the .gov website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites. Skip to global NPS navigation Skip to the main content Skip to the footer section National Park Service Exiting nps.gov Frequently Asked Questions Have questions? Start here for answers to frequently asked questions. If you do not find the answer to your question, please contact us About the National Park Service Who is the director of the National Park Service? The position of director of the National Park Service is currently vacant. Learn more about past directors of the National Park Service. What government agency oversees the National Park Service? The National Park Service is a bureau of the Department of the Interior . Directly overseeing its operation is the department's Assistant Secretary for Fish and Wildlife and Parks. How many employees are in the National Park Service? Permanent, temporary, and seasonal employees: Approximately 20,000 Volunteers: More than 131,000 in 2025 How old is the National Park System? The National Park Service was created by an act signed by President Woodrow Wilson on August 25, 1916. Yellowstone National Park was established by an act signed by President Ulysses S. Grant on March 1, 1872, as the nation's first national park. View the National Park System timeline What is the origin of the National Park Service arrowhead? The arrowhead was authorized as the official National Park Service emblem by the Secretary of the Interior on July 20, 1951. The components of the arrowhead may have been inspired by key attributes of the National Park System, with the sequoia tree and bison representing vegetation and wildlife, the mountains and water representing scenic and recreational values, and the arrowhead itself representing historical and archeological values. Read more about the history of the arrowhead and other elements of National Park Service visual design The National Park Service allows limited use of the arrowhead logo when doing so contributes to our work. Learn how to request permission to use the arrowhead How many areas are in the National Park System? The system includes 433 areas covering more than 85 million acres in every state, the District of Columbia, American Samoa, Guam, Puerto Rico, and the Virgin Islands. These areas include national parks, monuments, battlefields, military parks, historical parks, historic sites, lakeshores, seashores, recreation areas, scenic rivers and trails, and the White House. Learn more about national park designations . See the complete list of National Park Service units and related areas by type and number. What is the largest national park site? Smallest? Largest: Wrangell-St. Elias National Park and Preserve , Alaska, at 13.2 million acres Smallest: Thaddeus Kosciuszko National Memorial , Pennsylvania, at 0.02 acres Current information on acreage for units across the National Park System is also available How many people visit the national parks? In 2024, the total number of recreation visits to the national parks was 331,863,358. See more information about visitation What is the National Park Service budget? Fiscal Year (FY) 2014 Enacted: $2.98 billion FY 2015 Enacted: $2.615 billion FY 2016 Enacted:$2.851 billion FY 2017 Enacted: $2.932 billion Visiting the National Parks How do I obtain a park entrance pass? Only one-fourth of national parks charge entrance fees . In addition to park-specific passes, there are options for interagency entrance passes, including free or discounted passes for military, seniors, 4th graders, and people with a permanent disability. Please review all entrance pass options in advance to find the best option for your trip. It is easiest to obtain a pass at the first location you visit that charges an entrance fee. Find National Park Service locations that distribute interagency entrance passes Where can I find a park map? You can view maps on specific park websites or find national park, National Park System, National Trails System, and other maps How do I make reservations for camping/lodging in national parks? For campground reservations, visit Recreation.gov . Not all parks participate in this service; many campgrounds are first come, first served. For more information on specific camping and lodging services offered at the park(s) of your interest, please check specific park websites . You can also learn more about camping in national parks and find a map of parks with camping opportunities How do I reserve a tour in a park? You can book some park tours through Recreation.gov such as Pearl Harbor National Memorial, many Mammoth Cave National Park cave tours, Independence National Historical Park tours, and more. Not all parks participate in this reservation service. For more information on tours offered at a specific park, please see the park search Can I bring my pet to a national park? Some national parks welcome pets—in developed areas, on many trails and campgrounds, and in some lodging facilities. Learn more about pets in parks Can I bring my service dog to a national park? Yes, service dogs are legally permitted anywhere in a park that visitors can go. Learn more about service animals in national parks , including the difference between service animals and emotional support animals. What do I need to know about driving off road in national parks? Before you head out, check with the national parks that you intend to visit. In many national parks, off-road driving is illegal. Where off-road driving is allowed, the National Park Service regulates it. Miscellaneous How do I apply for a job with the National Park Service? National Park Service jobs, including both permanent and seasonal positions, are listed on USAJOBS . Learn more about working for us , including opportunities for students and volunteers and tips for applying for jobs. What are concessions? Concessioners provide park visitors with lodging, transportation, food services, shops, guiding, and other services. More than 480 NPS concession contracts in more than 100 different park units vary in size from small, family-owned businesses to national/international corporations. Learn more about commercial services in the National Park Service. How do I find out about contracting opportunities? Opportunities to contract with the National Park Service are posted to Sam.gov , the federal government’s electronic business portal. Where do I find out about grant and cooperative agreement programs and opportunities? To find out how to register, search for opportunities, and apply for financial assistance visit Grants.gov For specific information on National Park Service grants programs and financial assistance opportunities for historic preservation, natural resource conservation, recreation, education, and community engagement projects, visit these pages: American Battlefield Protection Program Challenge Cost Share Land and Water Conservation Fund Historic Preservation Fund Maritime Heritage Program National Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA) Program