Approximately 323 million people visited American national parks in 2025, a 2.7% year-over-year decrease and the first annual decline since 2020.
President Woodrow Wilson in 1916 signed the act creating the National Park Service to leave natural and historic phenomenons "unimpaired for the enjoyment of future generations." Since then, our national parks have welcomed visitors from around the world to experience some of the best the country has to offer and showcase the country's natural beauty and cultural heritage. Today, the country's 63 national parks contain at least 247 species of endangered or threatened plants and animals, more than 75,000 archaeological sites, and 18,000 miles of trails.
Stacker compiled a list of the closest national parks to Las Vegas. National parks are ranked by closest straight line distance, measured from representative points in Las Vegas-Henderson-Paradise, NV Metro Area and each national park. Estimated driving times are from Here and are only available within the lower 48 states. All featured distances and driving times are estimated using representative locations from the center of each metro and national park—for some places within the metro area, the actual distance may be slightly shorter or longer to reach the closest entryway to a park.
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1 / 63#1. Death Valley National Park (California, Nevada)
- Distance: 101 miles
- Driving time: 2.9 hours
- Date founded: October 31, 1994
- 2025 visitors: 1,320,134 (#24 highest among all national parks)
- Park area: 3,408,406.73 acres
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2 / 63#2. Zion National Park (Utah)
- Distance: 132 miles
- Driving time: 3.3 hours
- Date founded: November 19, 1919
- 2025 visitors: 4,984,525 (#2 highest among all national parks)
- Park area: 147,242.66 acres
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3 / 63#3. Grand Canyon National Park (Arizona)
- Distance: 161 miles
- Driving time: 4.7 hours
- Date founded: February 26, 1919
- 2025 visitors: 4,430,653 (#4 highest among all national parks)
- Park area: 1,201,647.03 acres
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4 / 63#4. Joshua Tree National Park (California)
- Distance: 174 miles
- Driving time: 5.5 hours
- Date founded: October 31, 1994
- 2025 visitors: 2,932,644 (#12 highest among all national parks)
- Park area: 795,155.85 acres
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5 / 63#5. Bryce Canyon National Park (Utah)
- Distance: 183 miles
- Driving time: 5.3 hours
- Date founded: February 25, 1928
- 2025 visitors: 1,967,367 (#16 highest among all national parks)
- Park area: 35,835.08 acres
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6 / 63#6. Great Basin National Park (Nevada)
- Distance: 195 miles
- Driving time: 5.4 hours
- Date founded: October 27, 1986
- 2025 visitors: 161,210 (#54 highest among all national parks)
- Park area: 77,180.00 acres
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7 / 63#7. Kings Canyon National Park (California)
- Distance: 201 miles
- Driving time: 10.4 hours
- Date founded: March 4, 1940
- 2025 visitors: 779,791 (#30 highest among all national parks)
- Park area: 461,901.20 acres
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8 / 63#8. Sequoia National Park (California)
- Distance: 205 miles
- Driving time: 9.5 hours
- Date founded: September 25, 1890
- 2025 visitors: 1,378,337 (#23 highest among all national parks)
- Park area: 404,062.63 acres
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9 / 63#9. Capitol Reef National Park (Utah)
- Distance: 252 miles
- Driving time: 6.6 hours
- Date founded: December 18, 1971
- 2025 visitors: 1,388,476 (#22 highest among all national parks)
- Park area: 241,904.50 acres
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10 / 63#10. Yosemite National Park (California)
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11 / 63#11. Channel Islands National Park (California)
- Distance: 292 miles
- Date founded: March 5, 1980
- 2025 visitors: 227,186 (#51 highest among all national parks)
- Park area: 249,561.00 acres
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12 / 63#12. Petrified Forest National Park (Arizona)
- Distance: 305 miles
- Driving time: 5.6 hours
- Date founded: December 9, 1962
- 2025 visitors: 315,951 (#48 highest among all national parks)
- Park area: 221,390.21 acres
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13 / 63#13. Canyonlands National Park (Utah)
- Distance: 312 miles
- Driving time: 11.7 hours
- Date founded: September 12, 1964
- 2025 visitors: 796,057 (#29 highest among all national parks)
- Park area: 337,597.83 acres
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14 / 63#14. Pinnacles National Park (California)
- Distance: 343 miles
- Driving time: 8.0 hours
- Date founded: January 10, 2013
- 2025 visitors: 343,208 (#47 highest among all national parks)
- Park area: 26,685.73 acres
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15 / 63#15. Arches National Park (Utah)
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16 / 63#16. Mesa Verde National Park (Colorado)
- Distance: 368 miles
- Driving time: 9.1 hours
- Date founded: June 29, 1906
- 2025 visitors: 463,130 (#43 highest among all national parks)
- Park area: 52,485.17 acres
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17 / 63#17. Saguaro National Park (Arizona)
- Distance: 376 miles
- Driving time: 8.3 hours
- Date founded: October 14, 1994
- 2025 visitors: 847,749 (#28 highest among all national parks)
- Park area: 92,867.42 acres
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18 / 63#18. Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park (Colorado)
- Distance: 433 miles
- Driving time: 8.7 hours
- Date founded: October 21, 1999
- 2025 visitors: 250,086 (#50 highest among all national parks)
- Park area: 30,779.83 acres
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19 / 63#19. Lassen Volcanic National Park (California)
- Distance: 460 miles
- Driving time: 10.1 hours
- Date founded: August 9, 1916
- 2025 visitors: 504,777 (#40 highest among all national parks)
- Park area: 106,589.02 acres
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20 / 63#20. Great Sand Dunes National Park (Colorado)
- Distance: 536 miles
- Driving time: 11.9 hours
- Date founded: September 24, 2004
- 2025 visitors: 432,498 (#44 highest among all national parks)
- Park area: 107,341.87 acres
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21 / 63#21. White Sands National Park (New Mexico)
- Distance: 557 miles
- Driving time: 11.3 hours
- Date founded: December 20, 2019[111]
- 2025 visitors: 659,742 (#35 highest among all national parks)
- Park area: 146,344.31 acres
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22 / 63#22. Grand Teton National Park (Wyoming)
- Distance: 565 miles
- Driving time: 11.2 hours
- Date founded: February 26, 1929
- 2025 visitors: 3,800,648 (#8 highest among all national parks)
- Park area: 310,044.36 acres
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23 / 63#23. Rocky Mountain National Park (Colorado)
- Distance: 588 miles
- Driving time: 12.3 hours
- Date founded: January 26, 1915
- 2025 visitors: 4,171,431 (#6 highest among all national parks)
- Park area: 265,807.25 acres
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24 / 63#24. Crater Lake National Park (Oregon)
- Distance: 598 miles
- Driving time: 13.6 hours
- Date founded: May 22, 1902
- 2025 visitors: 632,242 (#36 highest among all national parks)
- Park area: 183,224.05 acres
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25 / 63#25. Redwood National Park (California)
- Distance: 598 miles
- Driving time: 15.6 hours
- Date founded: October 2, 1968
- 2025 visitors: 1,202,480 (#25 highest among all national parks)
- Park area: 138,999.37 acres
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26 / 63#26. Yellowstone National Park (Wyoming, Montana, Idaho)
- Distance: 625 miles
- Driving time: 11.6 hours
- Date founded: March 1, 1872
- 2025 visitors: 4,762,988 (#3 highest among all national parks)
- Park area: 2,219,790.71 acres
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27 / 63#27. Guadalupe Mountains National Park (Texas)
- Distance: 652 miles
- Driving time: 13.2 hours
- Date founded: October 15, 1966
- 2025 visitors: 206,423 (#52 highest among all national parks)
- Park area: 86,367.10 acres
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28 / 63#28. Carlsbad Caverns National Park (New Mexico)
- Distance: 666 miles
- Driving time: 13.4 hours
- Date founded: May 14, 1930
- 2025 visitors: 410,778 (#46 highest among all national parks)
- Park area: 46,766.45 acres
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29 / 63#29. Wind Cave National Park (South Dakota)
- Distance: 794 miles
- Driving time: 14.7 hours
- Date founded: January 9, 1903
- 2025 visitors: 606,258 (#37 highest among all national parks)
- Park area: 33,970.84 acres
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30 / 63#30. Mount Rainier National Park (Washington)
- Distance: 812 miles
- Driving time: 17.7 hours
- Date founded: March 2, 1899
- 2025 visitors: 1,635,342 (#20 highest among all national parks)
- Park area: 236,381.64 acres
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31 / 63#31. Big Bend National Park (Texas)
- Distance: 835 miles
- Driving time: 17.5 hours
- Date founded: June 12, 1944
- 2025 visitors: 568,104 (#38 highest among all national parks)
- Park area: 801,163.21 acres
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32 / 63#32. Badlands National Park (South Dakota)
- Distance: 842 miles
- Driving time: 16.1 hours
- Date founded: November 10, 1978
- 2025 visitors: 1,139,361 (#26 highest among all national parks)
- Park area: 242,755.94 acres
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33 / 63#33. Glacier National Park (Montana)
- Distance: 870 miles
- Date founded: May 11, 1910
- 2025 visitors: 3,136,557 (#10 highest among all national parks)
- Park area: 1,013,125.99 acres
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34 / 63#34. North Cascades National Park (Washington)
- Distance: 917 miles
- Driving time: 20.3 hours
- Date founded: October 2, 1968
- 2025 visitors: 46,925 (#57 highest among all national parks)
- Park area: 504,780.94 acres
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35 / 63#35. Olympic National Park (Washington)
- Distance: 920 miles
- Driving time: 21.0 hours
- Date founded: June 29, 1938
- 2025 visitors: 3,584,187 (#9 highest among all national parks)
- Park area: 922,649.41 acres
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36 / 63#36. Theodore Roosevelt National Park (North Dakota)
- Distance: 952 miles
- Driving time: 18.2 hours
- Date founded: November 10, 1978
- 2025 visitors: 729,893 (#33 highest among all national parks)
- Park area: 70,446.89 acres
Zack Frank // Shutterstock
37 / 63#37. Hot Springs National Park (Arkansas)
- Distance: 1,243 miles
- Driving time: 21.4 hours
- Date founded: March 4, 1921
- 2025 visitors: 2,494,611 (#14 highest among all national parks)
- Park area: 5,554.15 acres
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38 / 63#38. Gateway Arch National Park (Missouri)
- Distance: 1,371 miles
- Driving time: 22.7 hours
- Date founded: February 22, 2018[47]
- 2025 visitors: 2,209,028 (#15 highest among all national parks)
- Park area: 192.83 acres
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39 / 63#39. Voyageurs National Park (Minnesota)
- Distance: 1,407 miles
- Driving time: 27.3 hours
- Date founded: April 8, 1975
- 2025 visitors: 206,326 (#53 highest among all national parks)
- Park area: 218,222.35 acres
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40 / 63#40. Indiana Dunes National Park (Indiana)
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41 / 63#41. Isle Royale National Park (Michigan)
- Distance: 1,575 miles
- Driving time: 30.6 hours
- Date founded: April 3, 1940
- 2025 visitors: 29,091 (#60 highest among all national parks)
- Park area: 571,790.30 acres
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42 / 63#42. Mammoth Cave National Park (Kentucky)
- Distance: 1,601 miles
- Driving time: 27.6 hours
- Date founded: July 1, 1941
- 2025 visitors: 660,734 (#34 highest among all national parks)
- Park area: 54,011.91 acres
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43 / 63#43. Great Smoky Mountains National Park (North Carolina, Tennessee)
- Distance: 1,758 miles
- Driving time: 29.3 hours
- Date founded: June 15, 1934
- 2025 visitors: 11,527,939 (#1 highest among all national parks)
- Park area: 522,426.88 acres
Zack Frank // Shutterstock
44 / 63#44. Cuyahoga Valley National Park (Ohio)
- Distance: 1,829 miles
- Driving time: 29.9 hours
- Date founded: October 11, 2000
- 2025 visitors: 3,025,325 (#11 highest among all national parks)
- Park area: 32,571.88 acres
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45 / 63#45. Glacier Bay National Park (Alaska)
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46 / 63#46. New River Gorge National Park (West Virginia)
- Distance: 1,867 miles
- Driving time: 31.3 hours
- Date founded: December 27, 2020
- 2025 visitors: 1,958,440 (#17 highest among all national parks)
- Park area: 7,021 acres
Zack Frank // Shutterstock
47 / 63#47. Congaree National Park (South Carolina)
- Distance: 1,939 miles
- Driving time: 32.3 hours
- Date founded: November 10, 2003
- 2025 visitors: 287,833 (#49 highest among all national parks)
- Park area: 26,476.47 acres
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48 / 63#48. Shenandoah National Park (Virginia)
- Distance: 2,011 miles
- Driving time: 34.8 hours
- Date founded: December 26, 1935
- 2025 visitors: 1,682,152 (#19 highest among all national parks)
- Park area: 199,223.77 acres
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49 / 63#49. Dry Tortugas National Park (Florida)
- Distance: 2,066 miles
- Driving time: 41.0 hours
- Date founded: October 26, 1992
- 2025 visitors: 89,355 (#56 highest among all national parks)
- Park area: 64,701.22 acres
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50 / 63#50. Wrangell–St. Elias National Park (Alaska)
- Distance: 2,081 miles
- Date founded: December 2, 1980
- 2025 visitors: 108,840 (#55 highest among all national parks)
- Park area: 8,323,146.48 acres
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51 / 63#51. Everglades National Park (Florida)
- Distance: 2,149 miles
- Driving time: 38.6 hours
- Date founded: May 30, 1934
- 2025 visitors: 778,198 (#31 highest among all national parks)
- Park area: 1,508,938.57 acres
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52 / 63#52. Biscayne National Park (Florida)
- Distance: 2,184 miles
- Driving time: 37.6 hours
- Date founded: June 28, 1980
- 2025 visitors: 486,567 (#41 highest among all national parks)
- Park area: 172,971.11 acres
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53 / 63#53. Kenai Fjords National Park (Alaska)
- Distance: 2,244 miles
- Date founded: December 2, 1980
- 2025 visitors: 425,369 (#45 highest among all national parks)
- Park area: 669,650.05 acres
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54 / 63#54. Katmai National Park (Alaska)
- Distance: 2,369 miles
- Date founded: December 2, 1980
- 2025 visitors: 34,479 (#59 highest among all national parks)
- Park area: 3,674,529.33 acres
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55 / 63#55. Lake Clark National Park (Alaska)
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56 / 63#56. Denali National Park (Alaska)
- Distance: 2,396 miles
- Date founded: February 26, 1917
- 2025 visitors: 543,300 (#39 highest among all national parks)
- Park area: 4,740,911.16 acres
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57 / 63#57. Acadia National Park (Maine)
- Distance: 2,501 miles
- Driving time: 44.5 hours
- Date founded: February 26, 1919
- 2025 visitors: 4,079,318 (#7 highest among all national parks)
- Park area: 49,076.63 acres
BlueBarronPhoto // Shutterstock
58 / 63#58. Gates of the Arctic National Park (Alaska)
- Distance: 2,639 miles
- Date founded: December 2, 1980
- 2025 visitors: 14,923 (#62 highest among all national parks)
- Park area: 7,523,897.45 acres
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59 / 63#59. Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park (Hawaii)
- Distance: 2,695 miles
- Date founded: August 1, 1916
- 2025 visitors: 1,877,854 (#18 highest among all national parks)
- Park area: 325,605.28 acres
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60 / 63#60. Haleakalā National Park (Hawaii)
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61 / 63#61. Kobuk Valley National Park (Alaska)
- Distance: 2,764 miles
- Date founded: December 2, 1980
- 2025 visitors: 7,786 (#63 highest among all national parks)
- Park area: 1,750,716.16 acres
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62 / 63#62. Virgin Islands National Park (U.S. Virgin Islands)
- Distance: 3,288 miles
- Date founded: August 2, 1956
- 2025 visitors: 471,074 (#42 highest among all national parks)
- Park area: 15,052.53 acres
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63 / 63#63. National Park of American Samoa (American Samoa)
- Distance: 5,023 miles
- Date founded: October 31, 1988
- 2025 visitors: 43,258 (#58 highest among all national parks)
- Park area: 8,256.67 acres
