Outdoor recreation on federal public lands and waters is fuelling America’s economy, according to a new report by Outdoor Recreation Roundtable (ORR).
Outdoor Recreation on Federal Public Lands & Waters: A Valuable American Asset, conducted by Southwick Associates, reveals the immense, often overlooked value these landscapes and waterways generate every day. The new analysis underscores that conserving and maintaining access to natural resources for recreation is not only a business imperative but also a consistent, high-return investment in the nation’s health and economic growth.
“Outdoor recreation on America’s public lands and waters isn’t just about life-changing experiences—it contributes to our economy in a major way and is one of our greatest investments in people and communities. When we care for these special places and keep them public, they give back tenfold—fuelling local economies, strengthening rural businesses, improving public health, and connecting us to our shared outdoor heritage. This new report shows that access to outdoor recreation on federal public lands and waters can sustain our nation’s well-being and prosperity for generations to come,” said Jessica Turner, president of ORR.
Outdoor recreation already drives $1.2tn in economic output and supports 5m US jobs each year, according to the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis. But until now, there was no clear, comprehensive picture of how federal public lands and waters contribute to those numbers. For the first time, ORR’s report gives a complete look at the value that outdoor recreation on federal public lands and waters generate every day.
It shows $351m is added to the US economy every day from recreation on federal lands and waters – the equivalent to hosting eight Super Bowls every month in economic impact.
Through receipts, permits, entrance fees, leases, and other payments, outdoor recreation on federal public lands and waters directly contributes at least half a billion dollars annually to federal coffers.
Maintaining federal public lands for outdoor recreation is an investment that yields returns including $128bn in economic activity and nearly $6bn in federal tax revenue, and significant contributions to the physical and mental health of Americans.
Of the 5m American jobs created by outdoor recreation, one out of five depend on federal public lands.
According to the report, outdoor recreation on federal public lands and waters is a sustainable, appreciating asset. It delivers compounding returns for our economy, supports public health, and safeguards opportunity for future generations.
“Federal public lands and waters are the foundation of the outdoor recreation economy. We wanted to quantify what that really means so this appreciating and sustainable asset can be considered on America’s balance sheet. What we found is that access to outdoor recreation on America’s public lands and waters contributes an average of $351m to the economy every day,” said Whitney Porter Schwartz, senior vice president at ORR.
“The data underscores that conserving and maintaining access to these landscapes and waterways is not only a business imperative but also a consistent, high-return investment in the nation’s health and economic growth.”
