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 Homosassa Springs. National parks are ranked by closest straight line distance, measured from representative points in Homosassa Springs, FL 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. Everglades National Park (Florida)
- Distance: 264 miles
- Driving time: 6.5 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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2 / 63#2. Biscayne National Park (Florida)
- Distance: 269 miles
- Driving time: 5.5 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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3 / 63#3. Dry Tortugas National Park (Florida)
- Distance: 291 miles
- Driving time: 8.0 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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4 / 63#4. Congaree National Park (South Carolina)
- Distance: 356 miles
- Driving time: 6.8 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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5 / 63#5. Great Smoky Mountains National Park (North Carolina, Tennessee)
- Distance: 474 miles
- Driving time: 9.5 hours
- Date founded: June 15, 1934
- 2025 visitors: 11,527,939 (#1 highest among all national parks)
- Park area: 522,426.88 acres
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6 / 63#6. Mammoth Cave National Park (Kentucky)
- Distance: 609 miles
- Driving time: 11.4 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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7 / 63#7. New River Gorge National Park (West Virginia)
- Distance: 641 miles
- Driving time: 11.7 hours
- Date founded: December 27, 2020
- 2025 visitors: 1,958,440 (#17 highest among all national parks)
- Park area: 7,021 acres
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8 / 63#8. Shenandoah National Park (Virginia)
- Distance: 710 miles
- Driving time: 13.3 hours
- Date founded: December 26, 1935
- 2025 visitors: 1,682,152 (#19 highest among all national parks)
- Park area: 199,223.77 acres
Zack Frank // Shutterstock
9 / 63#9. Hot Springs National Park (Arkansas)
- Distance: 728 miles
- Driving time: 14.2 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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10 / 63#10. Gateway Arch National Park (Missouri)
- Distance: 803 miles
- Driving time: 14.5 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
11 / 63#11. Cuyahoga Valley National Park (Ohio)
- Distance: 856 miles
- Driving time: 15.7 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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12 / 63#12. Indiana Dunes National Park (Indiana)
- Distance: 918 miles
- Driving time: 16.8 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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13 / 63#13. Big Bend National Park (Texas)
- Distance: 1,249 miles
- Driving time: 24.1 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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14 / 63#14. Carlsbad Caverns National Park (New Mexico)
- Distance: 1,320 miles
- Driving time: 23.1 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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15 / 63#15. Acadia National Park (Maine)
- Distance: 1,331 miles
- Driving time: 26.3 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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16 / 63#16. Virgin Islands National Park (U.S. Virgin Islands)
- Distance: 1,342 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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17 / 63#17. Guadalupe Mountains National Park (Texas)
- Distance: 1,344 miles
- Driving time: 24.2 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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18 / 63#18. Isle Royale National Park (Michigan)
- Distance: 1,365 miles
- Driving time: 25.7 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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19 / 63#19. White Sands National Park (New Mexico)
- Distance: 1,424 miles
- Driving time: 25.5 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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20 / 63#20. Great Sand Dunes National Park (Colorado)
- Distance: 1,455 miles
- Driving time: 26.4 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. Voyageurs National Park (Minnesota)
- Distance: 1,462 miles
- Driving time: 26.6 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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22 / 63#22. Badlands National Park (South Dakota)
- Distance: 1,506 miles
- Driving time: 27.8 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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23 / 63#23. Rocky Mountain National Park (Colorado)
- Distance: 1,526 miles
- Driving time: 28.0 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. Wind Cave National Park (South Dakota)
- Distance: 1,538 miles
- Driving time: 28.9 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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25 / 63#25. Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park (Colorado)
- Distance: 1,588 miles
- Driving time: 29.9 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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26 / 63#26. Mesa Verde National Park (Colorado)
- Distance: 1,603 miles
- Driving time: 29.5 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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27 / 63#27. Petrified Forest National Park (Arizona)
- Distance: 1,648 miles
- Driving time: 27.9 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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28 / 63#28. Saguaro National Park (Arizona)
- Distance: 1,675 miles
- Driving time: 28.6 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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29 / 63#29. Theodore Roosevelt National Park (North Dakota)
- Distance: 1,681 miles
- Driving time: 31.1 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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30 / 63#30. Arches National Park (Utah)
- Distance: 1,686 miles
- Driving time: 31.3 hours
- Date founded: November 12, 1971
- 2025 visitors: 1,511,740 (#21 highest among all national parks)
- Park area: 76,678.98 acres
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31 / 63#31. Canyonlands National Park (Utah)
- Distance: 1,696 miles
- Driving time: 36.1 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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32 / 63#32. Capitol Reef National Park (Utah)
- Distance: 1,762 miles
- Driving time: 33.6 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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33 / 63#33. Grand Canyon National Park (Arizona)
- Distance: 1,788 miles
- Driving time: 31.4 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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34 / 63#34. Bryce Canyon National Park (Utah)
- Distance: 1,807 miles
- Driving time: 34.7 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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35 / 63#35. Zion National Park (Utah)
- Distance: 1,851 miles
- Driving time: 34.8 hours
- Date founded: November 19, 1919
- 2025 visitors: 4,984,525 (#2 highest among all national parks)
- Park area: 147,242.66 acres
Zack Frank // Shutterstock
36 / 63#36. Grand Teton National Park (Wyoming)
- Distance: 1,865 miles
- Driving time: 33.8 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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37 / 63#37. Yellowstone National Park (Wyoming, Montana, Idaho)
- Distance: 1,876 miles
- Driving time: 34.8 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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38 / 63#38. Great Basin National Park (Nevada)
- Distance: 1,939 miles
- Driving time: 36.2 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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39 / 63#39. Joshua Tree National Park (California)
- Distance: 1,990 miles
- Driving time: 33.7 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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40 / 63#40. Death Valley National Park (California, Nevada)
- Distance: 2,050 miles
- Driving time: 35.4 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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41 / 63#41. Kings Canyon National Park (California)
- Distance: 2,149 miles
- Driving time: 42.1 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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42 / 63#42. Sequoia National Park (California)
- Distance: 2,154 miles
- Driving time: 41.1 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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43 / 63#43. Glacier National Park (Montana)
- Distance: 2,157 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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44 / 63#44. Channel Islands National Park (California)
- Distance: 2,192 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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45 / 63#45. Yosemite National Park (California)
- Distance: 2,207 miles
- Driving time: 41.3 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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46 / 63#46. Pinnacles National Park (California)
- Distance: 2,292 miles
- Driving time: 39.7 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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47 / 63#47. Lassen Volcanic National Park (California)
- Distance: 2,335 miles
- Driving time: 42.8 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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48 / 63#48. Crater Lake National Park (Oregon)
- Distance: 2,392 miles
- Driving time: 45.1 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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49 / 63#49. Mount Rainier National Park (Washington)
- Distance: 2,439 miles
- Driving time: 44.5 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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50 / 63#50. North Cascades National Park (Washington)
- Distance: 2,455 miles
- Driving time: 47.4 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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51 / 63#51. Redwood National Park (California)
- Distance: 2,471 miles
- Driving time: 48.1 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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52 / 63#52. Olympic National Park (Washington)
- Distance: 2,540 miles
- Driving time: 48.1 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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53 / 63#53. Glacier Bay National Park (Alaska)
- Distance: 3,274 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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54 / 63#54. Wrangell–St. Elias National Park (Alaska)
- Distance: 3,483 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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55 / 63#55. Kenai Fjords National Park (Alaska)
- Distance: 3,732 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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56 / 63#56. Denali National Park (Alaska)
- Distance: 3,779 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. Lake Clark National Park (Alaska)
- Distance: 3,864 miles
- Date founded: December 2, 1980
- 2025 visitors: 19,778 (#61 highest among all national parks)
- Park area: 2,619,816.49 acres
BlueBarronPhoto // Shutterstock
58 / 63#58. Gates of the Arctic National Park (Alaska)
- Distance: 3,889 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. Katmai National Park (Alaska)
- Distance: 3,921 miles
- Date founded: December 2, 1980
- 2025 visitors: 34,479 (#59 highest among all national parks)
- Park area: 3,674,529.33 acres
BlueBarronPhoto // Shutterstock
60 / 63#60. Kobuk Valley National Park (Alaska)
- Distance: 4,046 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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61 / 63#61. Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park (Hawaii)
- Distance: 4,566 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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62 / 63#62. Haleakalā National Park (Hawaii)
- Distance: 4,586 miles
- Date founded: July 1, 1961
- 2025 visitors: 853,711 (#27 highest among all national parks)
- Park area: 33,264.62 acres
Lloyd Wallin Photography // Shutterstock
63 / 63#63. National Park of American Samoa (American Samoa)
- Distance: 6,577 miles
- Date founded: October 31, 1988
- 2025 visitors: 43,258 (#58 highest among all national parks)
- Park area: 8,256.67 acres
