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 Fairbanks. National parks are ranked by closest straight line distance, measured from representative points in Fairbanks, AK Metro Area and each national park. All featured distances 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. Denali National Park (Alaska)
- Distance: 152 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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2 / 63#2. Gates of the Arctic National Park (Alaska)
- Distance: 286 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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3 / 63#3. Wrangell–St. Elias National Park (Alaska)
- Distance: 292 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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4 / 63#4. Lake Clark National Park (Alaska)
- Distance: 336 miles
- Date founded: December 2, 1980
- 2025 visitors: 19,778 (#61 highest among all national parks)
- Park area: 2,619,816.49 acres
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5 / 63#5. Kenai Fjords National Park (Alaska)
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6 / 63#6. Kobuk Valley National Park (Alaska)
- Distance: 408 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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7 / 63#7. Katmai National Park (Alaska)
- Distance: 510 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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8 / 63#8. Glacier Bay National Park (Alaska)
- Distance: 530 miles
- Date founded: December 2, 1980
- 2025 visitors: 740,044 (#32 highest among all national parks)
- Park area: 3,223,383.43 acres
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9 / 63#9. Olympic National Park (Washington)
- Distance: 1,439 miles
- Driving time: 44.3 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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10 / 63#10. North Cascades National Park (Washington)
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11 / 63#11. Mount Rainier National Park (Washington)
- Distance: 1,546 miles
- Driving time: 43.7 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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12 / 63#12. Glacier National Park (Montana)
- Distance: 1,622 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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13 / 63#13. Crater Lake National Park (Oregon)
- Distance: 1,781 miles
- Driving time: 48.8 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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14 / 63#14. Redwood National Park (California)
- Distance: 1,847 miles
- Driving time: 50.9 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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15 / 63#15. Lassen Volcanic National Park (California)
- Distance: 1,948 miles
- Driving time: 52.7 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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16 / 63#16. Yellowstone National Park (Wyoming, Montana, Idaho)
- Distance: 1,956 miles
- Driving time: 45.9 hours
- Date founded: March 1, 1872
- 2025 visitors: 4,762,988 (#3 highest among all national parks)
- Park area: 2,219,790.71 acres
Zack Frank // Shutterstock
17 / 63#17. Grand Teton National Park (Wyoming)
- Distance: 1,999 miles
- Driving time: 47.3 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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18 / 63#18. Theodore Roosevelt National Park (North Dakota)
- Distance: 2,015 miles
- Driving time: 45.9 hours
- Date founded: November 10, 1978
- 2025 visitors: 729,893 (#33 highest among all national parks)
- Park area: 70,446.89 acres
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19 / 63#19. Yosemite National Park (California)
- Distance: 2,159 miles
- Driving time: 57.2 hours
- Date founded: October 1, 1890
- 2025 visitors: 4,278,413 (#5 highest among all national parks)
- Park area: 761,747.50 acres
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20 / 63#20. Great Basin National Park (Nevada)
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21 / 63#21. Wind Cave National Park (South Dakota)
- Distance: 2,206 miles
- Driving time: 49.2 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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22 / 63#22. Pinnacles National Park (California)
- Distance: 2,213 miles
- Driving time: 55.9 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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23 / 63#23. Badlands National Park (South Dakota)
- Distance: 2,223 miles
- Driving time: 49.8 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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24 / 63#24. Voyageurs National Park (Minnesota)
- Distance: 2,241 miles
- Driving time: 51.8 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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25 / 63#25. Kings Canyon National Park (California)
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26 / 63#26. Sequoia National Park (California)
- Distance: 2,265 miles
- Driving time: 60.4 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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27 / 63#27. Death Valley National Park (California, Nevada)
- Distance: 2,317 miles
- Driving time: 56.0 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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28 / 63#28. Capitol Reef National Park (Utah)
- Distance: 2,324 miles
- Driving time: 52.1 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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29 / 63#29. Rocky Mountain National Park (Colorado)
- Distance: 2,334 miles
- Driving time: 51.6 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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30 / 63#30. Arches National Park (Utah)
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31 / 63#31. Zion National Park (Utah)
- Distance: 2,335 miles
- Driving time: 52.8 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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32 / 63#32. Bryce Canyon National Park (Utah)
- Distance: 2,339 miles
- Driving time: 52.9 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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33 / 63#33. Canyonlands National Park (Utah)
- Distance: 2,355 miles
- Driving time: 57.1 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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34 / 63#34. Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park (Colorado)
- Distance: 2,388 miles
- Driving time: 53.8 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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35 / 63#35. Isle Royale National Park (Michigan)
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36 / 63#36. Channel Islands National Park (California)
- Distance: 2,406 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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37 / 63#37. Grand Canyon National Park (Arizona)
- Distance: 2,434 miles
- Driving time: 56.5 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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38 / 63#38. Mesa Verde National Park (Colorado)
- Distance: 2,453 miles
- Driving time: 54.3 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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39 / 63#39. Joshua Tree National Park (California)
- Distance: 2,493 miles
- Driving time: 58.7 hours
- Date founded: October 31, 1994
- 2025 visitors: 2,932,644 (#12 highest among all national parks)
- Park area: 795,155.85 acres
Kris Wiktor // Shutterstock
40 / 63#40. Great Sand Dunes National Park (Colorado)
- Distance: 2,496 miles
- Driving time: 55.0 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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41 / 63#41. Petrified Forest National Park (Arizona)
- Distance: 2,552 miles
- Driving time: 56.7 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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42 / 63#42. Saguaro National Park (Arizona)
- Distance: 2,712 miles
- Driving time: 61.5 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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43 / 63#43. White Sands National Park (New Mexico)
- Distance: 2,783 miles
- Driving time: 60.5 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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44 / 63#44. Indiana Dunes National Park (Indiana)
- Distance: 2,789 miles
- Driving time: 58.9 hours
- Date founded: February 15, 2019
- 2025 visitors: 2,629,497 (#13 highest among all national parks)
- Park area: 15,349.08 acres
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45 / 63#45. Carlsbad Caverns National Park (New Mexico)
- Distance: 2,865 miles
- Driving time: 60.8 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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46 / 63#46. Guadalupe Mountains National Park (Texas)
- Distance: 2,870 miles
- Driving time: 62.2 hours
- Date founded: October 15, 1966
- 2025 visitors: 206,423 (#52 highest among all national parks)
- Park area: 86,367.10 acres
Paul Brady Photography // Shutterstock
47 / 63#47. Gateway Arch National Park (Missouri)
- Distance: 2,871 miles
- Driving time: 60.7 hours
- Date founded: February 22, 2018[47]
- 2025 visitors: 2,209,028 (#15 highest among all national parks)
- Park area: 192.83 acres
Zack Frank // Shutterstock
48 / 63#48. Cuyahoga Valley National Park (Ohio)
- Distance: 2,976 miles
- Driving time: 63.4 hours
- Date founded: October 11, 2000
- 2025 visitors: 3,025,325 (#11 highest among all national parks)
- Park area: 32,571.88 acres
Zack Frank // Shutterstock
49 / 63#49. Hot Springs National Park (Arkansas)
- Distance: 3,031 miles
- Driving time: 63.9 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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50 / 63#50. Haleakalā National Park (Hawaii)
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51 / 63#51. Mammoth Cave National Park (Kentucky)
- Distance: 3,075 miles
- Driving time: 64.0 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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52 / 63#52. Big Bend National Park (Texas)
- Distance: 3,077 miles
- Driving time: 67.3 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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53 / 63#53. Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park (Hawaii)
- Distance: 3,152 miles
- Date founded: August 1, 1916
- 2025 visitors: 1,877,854 (#18 highest among all national parks)
- Park area: 325,605.28 acres
Steve Heap // Shutterstock
54 / 63#54. New River Gorge National Park (West Virginia)
- Distance: 3,171 miles
- Driving time: 67.2 hours
- Date founded: December 27, 2020
- 2025 visitors: 1,958,440 (#17 highest among all national parks)
- Park area: 7,021 acres
Romiana Lee // Shutterstock
55 / 63#55. Acadia National Park (Maine)
- Distance: 3,193 miles
- Driving time: 80.2 hours
- Date founded: February 26, 1919
- 2025 visitors: 4,079,318 (#7 highest among all national parks)
- Park area: 49,076.63 acres
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56 / 63#56. Shenandoah National Park (Virginia)
- Distance: 3,226 miles
- Driving time: 70.7 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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57 / 63#57. Great Smoky Mountains National Park (North Carolina, Tennessee)
- Distance: 3,238 miles
- Driving time: 67.3 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
58 / 63#58. Congaree National Park (South Carolina)
- Distance: 3,431 miles
- Driving time: 72.2 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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59 / 63#59. Dry Tortugas National Park (Florida)
- Distance: 3,921 miles
- Driving time: 81.6 hours
- Date founded: October 26, 1992
- 2025 visitors: 89,355 (#56 highest among all national parks)
- Park area: 64,701.22 acres
Simon Dannhauer // Shutterstock
60 / 63#60. Everglades National Park (Florida)
- Distance: 3,935 miles
- Driving time: 79.7 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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61 / 63#61. Biscayne National Park (Florida)
- Distance: 3,940 miles
- Driving time: 78.7 hours
- Date founded: June 28, 1980
- 2025 visitors: 486,567 (#41 highest among all national parks)
- Park area: 172,971.11 acres
Sean Pavone // Shutterstock
62 / 63#62. Virgin Islands National Park (U.S. Virgin Islands)
- Distance: 4,841 miles
- Date founded: August 2, 1956
- 2025 visitors: 471,074 (#42 highest among all national parks)
- Park area: 15,052.53 acres
Lloyd Wallin Photography // Shutterstock
63 / 63#63. National Park of American Samoa (American Samoa)
- Distance: 5,584 miles
- Date founded: October 31, 1988
- 2025 visitors: 43,258 (#58 highest among all national parks)
- Park area: 8,256.67 acres
