Outdoor recreation on federal public lands and waters is fueling America’s economy, according to a new report by Outdoor Recreation Roundtable (ORR). The analysis underscores that conserving and maintaining access to shared natural resources is an investment in U.S. economic growth.
The report explains that public lands and waters can produce near-inexhaustible returns because with each visit, a hiker, hunter, RVer, angler, or biker directly pays the federal government, spends money in gateway communities, supports manufacturing and retail businesses, and generates tax revenue.
“When properly managed, our federal public lands can support outdoor recreation and the associated economic activity for generations with little environmental impact,” states the report. This makes public lands and waters a sustainable, appreciating asset, as they deliver compounding returns for the economy, health, and future generations.
“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,” said Jessica Turner, president of ORR. “When we care for these special places and keep them public, they give back tenfold—fueling local economies, strengthening rural businesses, improving public health, and connecting us to our shared outdoor heritage.”
The analysis found that $351 million is added to the U.S. economy every day from recreation on federal lands and waters and that of the 5 million American jobs created by outdoor recreation, one out of five depend on federal public lands.
“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,” 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.”
The report notes that for public land assets to generate ongoing returns, the federal government must reinvest a portion of their proceeds back into operations and stewardship, including ensuring adequate trails, updated infrastructure like boat ramps and campgrounds, fire and flood response services, scientific fish and wildlife management, and more.
“While these programs are impactful, more support is always needed,” says the report. “Maintaining and growing the financial returns from federal land and water assets requires continual reinvestment. When public lands are neglected, visitation will decrease as will revenues.”
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