Closest national parks to Augusta

Written by:
July 17, 2026
Zack Frank // Shutterstock

Closest national parks to Augusta

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 Augusta. National parks are ranked by closest straight line distance, measured from representative points in Augusta-Richmond County, GA-SC 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.

1 / 63
Zack Frank // Shutterstock

#1. Congaree National Park (South Carolina)

- Distance: 73 miles
- Driving time: 2.0 hours
- Date founded: November 10, 2003
- 2025 visitors: 287,833 (#49 highest among all national parks)
- Park area: 26,476.47 acres
2 / 63
ZakZeinert // Shutterstock

#2. Great Smoky Mountains National Park (North Carolina, Tennessee)

- Distance: 177 miles
- Driving time: 5.1 hours
- Date founded: June 15, 1934
- 2025 visitors: 11,527,939 (#1 highest among all national parks)
- Park area: 522,426.88 acres
3 / 63
Steve Heap // Shutterstock

#3. New River Gorge National Park (West Virginia)

- Distance: 322 miles
- Driving time: 6.1 hours
- Date founded: December 27, 2020
- 2025 visitors: 1,958,440 (#17 highest among all national parks)
- Park area: 7,021 acres
4 / 63
Wangkun Jia // Shutterstock

#4. Mammoth Cave National Park (Kentucky)

- Distance: 346 miles
- Driving time: 7.5 hours
- Date founded: July 1, 1941
- 2025 visitors: 660,734 (#34 highest among all national parks)
- Park area: 54,011.91 acres
5 / 63
Jon Bilous // Shutterstock

#5. Shenandoah National Park (Virginia)

- Distance: 404 miles
- Driving time: 7.8 hours
- Date founded: December 26, 1935
- 2025 visitors: 1,682,152 (#19 highest among all national parks)
- Park area: 199,223.77 acres
6 / 63
Zack Frank // Shutterstock

#6. Cuyahoga Valley National Park (Ohio)

- Distance: 537 miles
- Driving time: 10.0 hours
- Date founded: October 11, 2000
- 2025 visitors: 3,025,325 (#11 highest among all national parks)
- Park area: 32,571.88 acres
7 / 63
Claudia G Cooper // Shutterstock

#7. Biscayne National Park (Florida)

- Distance: 550 miles
- Driving time: 9.9 hours
- Date founded: June 28, 1980
- 2025 visitors: 486,567 (#41 highest among all national parks)
- Park area: 172,971.11 acres
8 / 63
Simon Dannhauer // Shutterstock

#8. Everglades National Park (Florida)

- Distance: 564 miles
- Driving time: 10.7 hours
- Date founded: May 30, 1934
- 2025 visitors: 778,198 (#31 highest among all national parks)
- Park area: 1,508,938.57 acres
9 / 63
Paul Brady Photography // Shutterstock

#9. Gateway Arch National Park (Missouri)

- Distance: 581 miles
- Driving time: 10.5 hours
- Date founded: February 22, 2018[47]
- 2025 visitors: 2,209,028 (#15 highest among all national parks)
- Park area: 192.83 acres
10 / 63
Varina C // Shutterstock

#10. Dry Tortugas National Park (Florida)

- Distance: 611 miles
- Driving time: 12.8 hours
- Date founded: October 26, 1992
- 2025 visitors: 89,355 (#56 highest among all national parks)
- Park area: 64,701.22 acres
11 / 63
Delmas Lehman // Shutterstock

#11. Indiana Dunes National Park (Indiana)

- Distance: 630 miles
- Driving time: 12.9 hours
- Date founded: February 15, 2019
- 2025 visitors: 2,629,497 (#13 highest among all national parks)
- Park area: 15,349.08 acres
12 / 63
Zack Frank // Shutterstock

#12. Hot Springs National Park (Arkansas)

- Distance: 639 miles
- Driving time: 10.8 hours
- Date founded: March 4, 1921
- 2025 visitors: 2,494,611 (#14 highest among all national parks)
- Park area: 5,554.15 acres
13 / 63
Romiana Lee // Shutterstock

#13. Acadia National Park (Maine)

- Distance: 1,053 miles
- Driving time: 21.2 hours
- Date founded: February 26, 1919
- 2025 visitors: 4,079,318 (#7 highest among all national parks)
- Park area: 49,076.63 acres
14 / 63
SveKo // Shutterstock

#14. Isle Royale National Park (Michigan)

- Distance: 1,066 miles
- Driving time: 21.6 hours
- Date founded: April 3, 1940
- 2025 visitors: 29,091 (#60 highest among all national parks)
- Park area: 571,790.30 acres
15 / 63
BlueBarronPhoto // Shutterstock

#15. Voyageurs National Park (Minnesota)

- Distance: 1,181 miles
- Driving time: 22.7 hours
- Date founded: April 8, 1975
- 2025 visitors: 206,326 (#53 highest among all national parks)
- Park area: 218,222.35 acres
16 / 63
Eric Foltz // Shutterstock

#16. Big Bend National Park (Texas)

- Distance: 1,288 miles
- Driving time: 24.7 hours
- Date founded: June 12, 1944
- 2025 visitors: 568,104 (#38 highest among all national parks)
- Park area: 801,163.21 acres
17 / 63
Doug Meek // Shutterstock

#17. Carlsbad Caverns National Park (New Mexico)

- Distance: 1,307 miles
- Driving time: 21.4 hours
- Date founded: May 14, 1930
- 2025 visitors: 410,778 (#46 highest among all national parks)
- Park area: 46,766.45 acres
18 / 63
Matt Ragen // Shutterstock

#18. Badlands National Park (South Dakota)

- Distance: 1,312 miles
- Driving time: 23.9 hours
- Date founded: November 10, 1978
- 2025 visitors: 1,139,361 (#26 highest among all national parks)
- Park area: 242,755.94 acres
19 / 63
ShuPhoto // Shutterstock

#19. Guadalupe Mountains National Park (Texas)

- Distance: 1,335 miles
- Driving time: 22.5 hours
- Date founded: October 15, 1966
- 2025 visitors: 206,423 (#52 highest among all national parks)
- Park area: 86,367.10 acres
20 / 63
Zack Frank // Shutterstock

#20. Wind Cave National Park (South Dakota)

- Distance: 1,352 miles
- Driving time: 25.0 hours
- Date founded: January 9, 1903
- 2025 visitors: 606,258 (#37 highest among all national parks)
- Park area: 33,970.84 acres
21 / 63
Kris Wiktor // Shutterstock

#21. Great Sand Dunes National Park (Colorado)

- Distance: 1,353 miles
- Driving time: 23.7 hours
- Date founded: September 24, 2004
- 2025 visitors: 432,498 (#44 highest among all national parks)
- Park area: 107,341.87 acres
22 / 63
Anna Krivitskaya // Shutterstock

#22. Rocky Mountain National Park (Colorado)

- Distance: 1,386 miles
- Driving time: 24.0 hours
- Date founded: January 26, 1915
- 2025 visitors: 4,171,431 (#6 highest among all national parks)
- Park area: 265,807.25 acres
23 / 63
Galyna Andrushko // Shutterstock

#23. White Sands National Park (New Mexico)

- Distance: 1,400 miles
- Driving time: 23.6 hours
- Date founded: December 20, 2019[111]
- 2025 visitors: 659,742 (#35 highest among all national parks)
- Park area: 146,344.31 acres
24 / 63
Laurens Hoddenbagh // Shutterstock

#24. Theodore Roosevelt National Park (North Dakota)

- Distance: 1,460 miles
- Driving time: 27.4 hours
- Date founded: November 10, 1978
- 2025 visitors: 729,893 (#33 highest among all national parks)
- Park area: 70,446.89 acres
25 / 63
SL-Photography // Shutterstock

#25. Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park (Colorado)

- Distance: 1,479 miles
- Driving time: 27.3 hours
- Date founded: October 21, 1999
- 2025 visitors: 250,086 (#50 highest among all national parks)
- Park area: 30,779.83 acres
26 / 63
Sean Pavone // Shutterstock

#26. Virgin Islands National Park (U.S. Virgin Islands)

- Distance: 1,492 miles
- Date founded: August 2, 1956
- 2025 visitors: 471,074 (#42 highest among all national parks)
- Park area: 15,052.53 acres
27 / 63
Sopotnicki // Shutterstock

#27. Mesa Verde National Park (Colorado)

- Distance: 1,514 miles
- Driving time: 26.8 hours
- Date founded: June 29, 1906
- 2025 visitors: 463,130 (#43 highest among all national parks)
- Park area: 52,485.17 acres
28 / 63
Manamana // Shutterstock

#28. Arches National Park (Utah)

- Distance: 1,579 miles
- Driving time: 28.1 hours
- Date founded: November 12, 1971
- 2025 visitors: 1,511,740 (#21 highest among all national parks)
- Park area: 76,678.98 acres
29 / 63
Felix Lipov // Shutterstock

#29. Petrified Forest National Park (Arizona)

- Distance: 1,589 miles
- Driving time: 25.1 hours
- Date founded: December 9, 1962
- 2025 visitors: 315,951 (#48 highest among all national parks)
- Park area: 221,390.21 acres
30 / 63
Manamana // Shutterstock

#30. Canyonlands National Park (Utah)

- Distance: 1,596 miles
- Driving time: 33.4 hours
- Date founded: September 12, 1964
- 2025 visitors: 796,057 (#29 highest among all national parks)
- Park area: 337,597.83 acres
31 / 63
kojihirano // Shutterstock

#31. Saguaro National Park (Arizona)

- Distance: 1,656 miles
- Driving time: 27.3 hours
- Date founded: October 14, 1994
- 2025 visitors: 847,749 (#28 highest among all national parks)
- Park area: 92,867.42 acres
32 / 63
Layne V. Naylor // Shutterstock

#32. Capitol Reef National Park (Utah)

- Distance: 1,664 miles
- Driving time: 29.6 hours
- Date founded: December 18, 1971
- 2025 visitors: 1,388,476 (#22 highest among all national parks)
- Park area: 241,904.50 acres
33 / 63
Zack Frank // Shutterstock

#33. Grand Teton National Park (Wyoming)

- Distance: 1,702 miles
- Driving time: 29.9 hours
- Date founded: February 26, 1929
- 2025 visitors: 3,800,648 (#8 highest among all national parks)
- Park area: 310,044.36 acres
34 / 63
Lane V. Erickson // Shutterstock

#34. Yellowstone National Park (Wyoming, Montana, Idaho)

- Distance: 1,704 miles
- Driving time: 30.9 hours
- Date founded: March 1, 1872
- 2025 visitors: 4,762,988 (#3 highest among all national parks)
- Park area: 2,219,790.71 acres
35 / 63
ronnybas frimages // Shutterstock

#35. Bryce Canyon National Park (Utah)

- Distance: 1,718 miles
- Driving time: 31.6 hours
- Date founded: February 25, 1928
- 2025 visitors: 1,967,367 (#16 highest among all national parks)
- Park area: 35,835.08 acres
36 / 63
Josemaria Toscano // Shutterstock

#36. Grand Canyon National Park (Arizona)

- Distance: 1,718 miles
- Driving time: 28.6 hours
- Date founded: February 26, 1919
- 2025 visitors: 4,430,653 (#4 highest among all national parks)
- Park area: 1,201,647.03 acres
37 / 63
Galyna Andrushko // Shutterstock

#37. Zion National Park (Utah)

- Distance: 1,766 miles
- Driving time: 32.1 hours
- Date founded: November 19, 1919
- 2025 visitors: 4,984,525 (#2 highest among all national parks)
- Park area: 147,242.66 acres
38 / 63
Arlene Waller // Shutterstock

#38. Great Basin National Park (Nevada)

- Distance: 1,835 miles
- Driving time: 32.2 hours
- Date founded: October 27, 1986
- 2025 visitors: 161,210 (#54 highest among all national parks)
- Park area: 77,180.00 acres
39 / 63
Dennis Silvas // Shutterstock

#39. Joshua Tree National Park (California)

- Distance: 1,947 miles
- Driving time: 32.3 hours
- Date founded: October 31, 1994
- 2025 visitors: 2,932,644 (#12 highest among all national parks)
- Park area: 795,155.85 acres
40 / 63
Pung // Shutterstock

#40. Glacier National Park (Montana)

- Distance: 1,956 miles
- Date founded: May 11, 1910
- 2025 visitors: 3,136,557 (#10 highest among all national parks)
- Park area: 1,013,125.99 acres
41 / 63
Bryan Brazil // Shutterstock

#41. Death Valley National Park (California, Nevada)

- Distance: 1,978 miles
- Driving time: 32.8 hours
- Date founded: October 31, 1994
- 2025 visitors: 1,320,134 (#24 highest among all national parks)
- Park area: 3,408,406.73 acres
42 / 63
Patrick Poendl // Shutterstock

#42. Kings Canyon National Park (California)

- Distance: 2,071 miles
- Driving time: 39.3 hours
- Date founded: March 4, 1940
- 2025 visitors: 779,791 (#30 highest among all national parks)
- Park area: 461,901.20 acres
43 / 63
Virrage Images // Shutterstock

#43. Sequoia National Park (California)

- Distance: 2,081 miles
- Driving time: 38.3 hours
- Date founded: September 25, 1890
- 2025 visitors: 1,378,337 (#23 highest among all national parks)
- Park area: 404,062.63 acres
44 / 63
Stephen Moehle // Shutterstock

#44. Yosemite National Park (California)

- Distance: 2,118 miles
- Driving time: 38.4 hours
- Date founded: October 1, 1890
- 2025 visitors: 4,278,413 (#5 highest among all national parks)
- Park area: 761,747.50 acres
45 / 63
Ethan Daniels // Shutterstock

#45. Channel Islands National Park (California)

- Distance: 2,144 miles
- Date founded: March 5, 1980
- 2025 visitors: 227,186 (#51 highest among all national parks)
- Park area: 249,561.00 acres
46 / 63
Yhelfman // Shutterstock

#46. Pinnacles National Park (California)

- Distance: 2,218 miles
- Driving time: 36.9 hours
- Date founded: January 10, 2013
- 2025 visitors: 343,208 (#47 highest among all national parks)
- Park area: 26,685.73 acres
47 / 63
Zack Frank // Shutterstock

#47. Lassen Volcanic National Park (California)

- Distance: 2,221 miles
- Driving time: 39.4 hours
- Date founded: August 9, 1916
- 2025 visitors: 504,777 (#40 highest among all national parks)
- Park area: 106,589.02 acres
48 / 63
Hank Shiffman // Shutterstock

#48. Crater Lake National Park (Oregon)

- Distance: 2,256 miles
- Driving time: 41.1 hours
- Date founded: May 22, 1902
- 2025 visitors: 632,242 (#36 highest among all national parks)
- Park area: 183,224.05 acres
49 / 63
Zack Frank // Shutterstock

#49. North Cascades National Park (Washington)

- Distance: 2,268 miles
- Driving time: 43.1 hours
- Date founded: October 2, 1968
- 2025 visitors: 46,925 (#57 highest among all national parks)
- Park area: 504,780.94 acres
50 / 63
Diane Fetzner // Shutterstock

#50. Mount Rainier National Park (Washington)

- Distance: 2,269 miles
- Driving time: 40.6 hours
- Date founded: March 2, 1899
- 2025 visitors: 1,635,342 (#20 highest among all national parks)
- Park area: 236,381.64 acres
51 / 63
Bob Pool // Shutterstock

#51. Redwood National Park (California)

- Distance: 2,351 miles
- Driving time: 44.2 hours
- Date founded: October 2, 1968
- 2025 visitors: 1,202,480 (#25 highest among all national parks)
- Park area: 138,999.37 acres
52 / 63
f11photo // Shutterstock

#52. Olympic National Park (Washington)

- Distance: 2,362 miles
- Driving time: 44.1 hours
- Date founded: June 29, 1938
- 2025 visitors: 3,584,187 (#9 highest among all national parks)
- Park area: 922,649.41 acres
53 / 63
Laurie Gronewold // Shutterstock

#53. Glacier Bay National Park (Alaska)

- Distance: 3,042 miles
- Date founded: December 2, 1980
- 2025 visitors: 740,044 (#32 highest among all national parks)
- Park area: 3,223,383.43 acres
54 / 63
Martin Capek // Shutterstock

#54. Wrangell–St. Elias National Park (Alaska)

- Distance: 3,240 miles
- Date founded: December 2, 1980
- 2025 visitors: 108,840 (#55 highest among all national parks)
- Park area: 8,323,146.48 acres
55 / 63
Tomasz Wozniak // Shutterstock

#55. Kenai Fjords National Park (Alaska)

- Distance: 3,497 miles
- Date founded: December 2, 1980
- 2025 visitors: 425,369 (#45 highest among all national parks)
- Park area: 669,650.05 acres
56 / 63
Marc Cappelletti // Shutterstock

#56. Denali National Park (Alaska)

- Distance: 3,528 miles
- Date founded: February 26, 1917
- 2025 visitors: 543,300 (#39 highest among all national parks)
- Park area: 4,740,911.16 acres
57 / 63
BlueBarronPhoto // Shutterstock

#57. Gates of the Arctic National Park (Alaska)

- Distance: 3,621 miles
- Date founded: December 2, 1980
- 2025 visitors: 14,923 (#62 highest among all national parks)
- Park area: 7,523,897.45 acres
58 / 63
Malachi Jacobs // Shutterstock

#58. Lake Clark National Park (Alaska)

- Distance: 3,624 miles
- Date founded: December 2, 1980
- 2025 visitors: 19,778 (#61 highest among all national parks)
- Park area: 2,619,816.49 acres
59 / 63
Robert Harding Video // Shutterstock

#59. Katmai National Park (Alaska)

- Distance: 3,691 miles
- Date founded: December 2, 1980
- 2025 visitors: 34,479 (#59 highest among all national parks)
- Park area: 3,674,529.33 acres
60 / 63
BlueBarronPhoto // Shutterstock

#60. Kobuk Valley National Park (Alaska)

- Distance: 3,778 miles
- Date founded: December 2, 1980
- 2025 visitors: 7,786 (#63 highest among all national parks)
- Park area: 1,750,716.16 acres
61 / 63
jo Crebbin // Shutterstock

#61. Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park (Hawaii)

- Distance: 4,552 miles
- Date founded: August 1, 1916
- 2025 visitors: 1,877,854 (#18 highest among all national parks)
- Park area: 325,605.28 acres
62 / 63
MH Anderson Photography // Shutterstock

#62. Haleakalā National Park (Hawaii)

- Distance: 4,563 miles
- Date founded: July 1, 1961
- 2025 visitors: 853,711 (#27 highest among all national parks)
- Park area: 33,264.62 acres
63 / 63
Lloyd Wallin Photography // Shutterstock

#63. National Park of American Samoa (American Samoa)

- Distance: 6,683 miles
- Date founded: October 31, 1988
- 2025 visitors: 43,258 (#58 highest among all national parks)
- Park area: 8,256.67 acres

Trending Now