Approximately 331 million people visited American national parks in 2024, representing a 2% year-over-year growth and the fourth straight year of growth.
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 Bloomington, Illinois. National parks are ranked by closest straight line distance, measured from representative points in Bloomington, IL 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. Indiana Dunes National Park (Indiana)
- Distance: 123 miles
- Driving time: 2.6 hours
- Date founded: February 15, 2019
- 2024 visitors: 2,705,209 (#13 highest among all national parks)
- Park area: 15,349.08 acres
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2 / 63#2. Gateway Arch National Park (Missouri)
- Distance: 147 miles
- Driving time: 2.6 hours
- Date founded: February 22, 2018
- 2024 visitors: 2,563,052 (#14 highest among all national parks)
- Park area: 192.83 acres
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3 / 63#3. Mammoth Cave National Park (Kentucky)
- Distance: 272 miles
- Driving time: 5.9 hours
- Date founded: July 1, 1941
- 2024 visitors: 747,042 (#28 highest among all national parks)
- Park area: 72,472.87 acres
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4 / 63#4. Cuyahoga Valley National Park (Ohio)
- Distance: 385 miles
- Driving time: 7.2 hours
- Date founded: October 11, 2000
- 2024 visitors: 2,912,454 (#12 highest among all national parks)
- Park area: 32,571.89 acres
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5 / 63#5. Great Smoky Mountains National Park (North Carolina, Tennessee)
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6 / 63#6. New River Gorge National Park (West Virginia)
- Distance: 448 miles
- Driving time: 9.1 hours
- Date founded: December 27, 2020
- 2024 visitors: 1,811,937 (#17 highest among all national parks)
- Park area: 7,021 acres
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7 / 63#7. Hot Springs National Park (Arkansas)
- Distance: 473 miles
- Driving time: 8.8 hours
- Date founded: March 4, 1921
- 2024 visitors: 2,461,812 (#16 highest among all national parks)
- Park area: 5,554.15 acres
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8 / 63#8. Isle Royale National Park (Michigan)
- Distance: 525 miles
- Driving time: 10.0 hours
- Date founded: April 3, 1940
- 2024 visitors: 28,806 (#58 highest among all national parks)
- Park area: 571,790.30 acres
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9 / 63#9. Shenandoah National Park (Virginia)
- Distance: 577 miles
- Driving time: 12.7 hours
- Date founded: December 26, 1935
- 2024 visitors: 1,720,211 (#18 highest among all national parks)
- Park area: 200,445.92 acres
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10 / 63#10. Voyageurs National Park (Minnesota)
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11 / 63#11. Congaree National Park (South Carolina)
- Distance: 642 miles
- Driving time: 13.0 hours
- Date founded: November 10, 2003
- 2024 visitors: 242,049 (#51 highest among all national parks)
- Park area: 26,692.60 acres
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12 / 63#12. Badlands National Park (South Dakota)
- Distance: 736 miles
- Driving time: 12.9 hours
- Date founded: November 10, 1978
- 2024 visitors: 1,094,245 (#25 highest among all national parks)
- Park area: 242,755.94 acres
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13 / 63#13. Wind Cave National Park (South Dakota)
- Distance: 781 miles
- Driving time: 14.3 hours
- Date founded: January 9, 1903
- 2024 visitors: 489,399 (#40 highest among all national parks)
- Park area: 33,970.84 acres
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14 / 63#14. Theodore Roosevelt National Park (North Dakota)
- Distance: 855 miles
- Driving time: 15.2 hours
- Date founded: November 10, 1978
- 2024 visitors: 732,951 (#31 highest among all national parks)
- Park area: 70,446.89 acres
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15 / 63#15. Rocky Mountain National Park (Colorado)
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16 / 63#16. Great Sand Dunes National Park (Colorado)
- Distance: 914 miles
- Driving time: 16.8 hours
- Date founded: September 24, 2004
- 2024 visitors: 437,661 (#44 highest among all national parks)
- Park area: 107,345.73 acres
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17 / 63#17. Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park (Colorado)
- Distance: 1,015 miles
- Driving time: 19.1 hours
- Date founded: October 21, 1999
- 2024 visitors: 335,862 (#49 highest among all national parks)
- Park area: 30,779.83 acres
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18 / 63#18. Carlsbad Caverns National Park (New Mexico)
- Distance: 1,040 miles
- Driving time: 18.3 hours
- Date founded: May 14, 1930
- 2024 visitors: 460,474 (#43 highest among all national parks)
- Park area: 46,766.45 acres
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19 / 63#19. Guadalupe Mountains National Park (Texas)
- Distance: 1,070 miles
- Driving time: 19.4 hours
- Date founded: October 15, 1966
- 2024 visitors: 226,134 (#52 highest among all national parks)
- Park area: 86,367.10 acres
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20 / 63#20. Mesa Verde National Park (Colorado)
- Distance: 1,082 miles
- Driving time: 20.9 hours
- Date founded: June 29, 1906
- 2024 visitors: 480,065 (#41 highest among all national parks)
- Park area: 52,485.17 acres
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21 / 63#21. Acadia National Park (Maine)
- Distance: 1,085 miles
- Driving time: 21.9 hours
- Date founded: February 26, 1919
- 2024 visitors: 3,961,661 (#7 highest among all national parks)
- Park area: 49,071.40 acres
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22 / 63#22. White Sands National Park (New Mexico)
- Distance: 1,097 miles
- Driving time: 19.2 hours
- Date founded: December 20, 2019
- 2024 visitors: 702,236 (#33 highest among all national parks)
- Park area: 146,344.31 acres
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23 / 63#23. Arches National Park (Utah)
- Distance: 1,111 miles
- Driving time: 19.5 hours
- Date founded: November 12, 1971
- 2024 visitors: 1,466,528 (#20 highest among all national parks)
- Park area: 76,678.98 acres
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24 / 63#24. Big Bend National Park (Texas)
- Distance: 1,124 miles
- Driving time: 21.5 hours
- Date founded: June 12, 1944
- 2024 visitors: 561,458 (#36 highest among all national parks)
- Park area: 801,163.21 acres
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25 / 63#25. Yellowstone National Park (Wyoming, Montana, Idaho)
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26 / 63#26. Canyonlands National Park (Utah)
- Distance: 1,138 miles
- Driving time: 26.7 hours
- Date founded: September 12, 1964
- 2024 visitors: 818,492 (#27 highest among all national parks)
- Park area: 337,597.83 acres
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27 / 63#27. Biscayne National Park (Florida)
- Distance: 1,141 miles
- Driving time: 20.4 hours
- Date founded: June 28, 1980
- 2024 visitors: 512,213 (#38 highest among all national parks)
- Park area: 172,971.11 acres
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28 / 63#28. Everglades National Park (Florida)
- Distance: 1,141 miles
- Driving time: 21.4 hours
- Date founded: May 30, 1934
- 2024 visitors: 741,983 (#29 highest among all national parks)
- Park area: 1,508,938.57 acres
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29 / 63#29. Grand Teton National Park (Wyoming)
- Distance: 1,147 miles
- Driving time: 20.2 hours
- Date founded: February 26, 1929
- 2024 visitors: 3,628,222 (#9 highest among all national parks)
- Park area: 310,044.36 acres
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30 / 63#30. Dry Tortugas National Park (Florida)
- Distance: 1,147 miles
- Driving time: 23.3 hours
- Date founded: October 26, 1992
- 2024 visitors: 84,873 (#55 highest among all national parks)
- Park area: 64,701.22 acres
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31 / 63#31. Petrified Forest National Park (Arizona)
- Distance: 1,202 miles
- Driving time: 20.3 hours
- Date founded: December 9, 1962
- 2024 visitors: 559,254 (#37 highest among all national parks)
- Park area: 221,390.21 acres
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32 / 63#32. Capitol Reef National Park (Utah)
- Distance: 1,203 miles
- Driving time: 21.1 hours
- Date founded: December 18, 1971
- 2024 visitors: 1,422,490 (#23 highest among all national parks)
- Park area: 241,904.50 acres
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33 / 63#33. Bryce Canyon National Park (Utah)
- Distance: 1,268 miles
- Driving time: 23.2 hours
- Date founded: February 25, 1928
- 2024 visitors: 2,498,075 (#15 highest among all national parks)
- Park area: 35,835.08 acres
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34 / 63#34. Grand Canyon National Park (Arizona)
- Distance: 1,299 miles
- Driving time: 23.8 hours
- Date founded: February 26, 1919
- 2024 visitors: 4,919,163 (#3 highest among all national parks)
- Park area: 1,201,647.03 acres
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35 / 63#35. Zion National Park (Utah)
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36 / 63#36. Saguaro National Park (Arizona)
- Distance: 1,330 miles
- Driving time: 24.2 hours
- Date founded: October 14, 1994
- 2024 visitors: 946,369 (#26 highest among all national parks)
- Park area: 92,876.75 acres
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37 / 63#37. Great Basin National Park (Nevada)
- Distance: 1,355 miles
- Driving time: 23.7 hours
- Date founded: October 27, 1986
- 2024 visitors: 152,068 (#54 highest among all national parks)
- Park area: 77,180.00 acres
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38 / 63#38. Glacier National Park (Montana)
- Distance: 1,358 miles
- Date founded: May 11, 1910
- 2024 visitors: 3,208,755 (#10 highest among all national parks)
- Park area: 1,013,126.39 acres
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39 / 63#39. Death Valley National Park (California, Nevada)
- Distance: 1,540 miles
- Driving time: 26.9 hours
- Date founded: October 31, 1994
- 2024 visitors: 1,440,484 (#21 highest among all national parks)
- Park area: 3,408,395.63 acres
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40 / 63#40. Joshua Tree National Park (California)
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41 / 63#41. Kings Canyon National Park (California)
- Distance: 1,619 miles
- Driving time: 35.4 hours
- Date founded: March 4, 1940
- 2024 visitors: 699,389 (#34 highest among all national parks)
- Park area: 461,901.20 acres
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42 / 63#42. Sequoia National Park (California)
- Distance: 1,634 miles
- Driving time: 33.5 hours
- Date founded: September 25, 1890
- 2024 visitors: 1,309,573 (#24 highest among all national parks)
- Park area: 404,062.63 acres
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43 / 63#43. Yosemite National Park (California)
- Distance: 1,648 miles
- Driving time: 32.6 hours
- Date founded: October 1, 1890
- 2024 visitors: 4,121,807 (#6 highest among all national parks)
- Park area: 761,747.50 acres
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44 / 63#44. North Cascades National Park (Washington)
- Distance: 1,679 miles
- Driving time: 32.1 hours
- Date founded: October 2, 1968
- 2024 visitors: 16,485 (#62 highest among all national parks)
- Park area: 504,780.94 acres
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45 / 63#45. Mount Rainier National Park (Washington)
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46 / 63#46. Lassen Volcanic National Park (California)
- Distance: 1,711 miles
- Driving time: 29.7 hours
- Date founded: August 9, 1916
- 2024 visitors: 357,651 (#47 highest among all national parks)
- Park area: 106,589.02 acres
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47 / 63#47. Crater Lake National Park (Oregon)
- Distance: 1,717 miles
- Driving time: 30.8 hours
- Date founded: May 22, 1902
- 2024 visitors: 504,942 (#39 highest among all national parks)
- Park area: 183,224.05 acres
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48 / 63#48. Channel Islands National Park (California)
- Distance: 1,734 miles
- Date founded: March 5, 1980
- 2024 visitors: 262,581 (#50 highest among all national parks)
- Park area: 249,561.00 acres
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49 / 63#49. Pinnacles National Park (California)
- Distance: 1,764 miles
- Driving time: 32.0 hours
- Date founded: January 10, 2013
- 2024 visitors: 354,076 (#48 highest among all national parks)
- Park area: 26,685.73 acres
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50 / 63#50. Olympic National Park (Washington)
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51 / 63#51. Redwood National Park (California)
- Distance: 1,829 miles
- Driving time: 34.2 hours
- Date founded: October 2, 1968
- 2024 visitors: 622,883 (#35 highest among all national parks)
- Park area: 138,999.37 acres
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52 / 63#52. Virgin Islands National Park (U.S. Virgin Islands)
- Distance: 2,094 miles
- Date founded: August 2, 1956
- 2024 visitors: 423,029 (#45 highest among all national parks)
- Park area: 15,052.33 acres
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53 / 63#53. Glacier Bay National Park (Alaska)
- Distance: 2,427 miles
- Date founded: December 2, 1980
- 2024 visitors: 736,282 (#30 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: 2,625 miles
- Date founded: December 2, 1980
- 2024 visitors: 81,670 (#56 highest among all national parks)
- Park area: 8,323,146.48 acres
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55 / 63#55. Kenai Fjords National Park (Alaska)
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56 / 63#56. Denali National Park (Alaska)
- Distance: 2,914 miles
- Date founded: February 26, 1917
- 2024 visitors: 466,227 (#42 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: 3,008 miles
- Date founded: December 2, 1980
- 2024 visitors: 18,505 (#60 highest among all national parks)
- Park area: 2,619,816.49 acres
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58 / 63#58. Gates of the Arctic National Park (Alaska)
- Distance: 3,014 miles
- Date founded: December 2, 1980
- 2024 visitors: 11,907 (#63 highest among all national parks)
- Park area: 7,523,897.45 acres
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59 / 63#59. Katmai National Park (Alaska)
- Distance: 3,076 miles
- Date founded: December 2, 1980
- 2024 visitors: 36,230 (#57 highest among all national parks)
- Park area: 3,674,529.33 acres
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60 / 63#60. Kobuk Valley National Park (Alaska)
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61 / 63#61. Haleakalā National Park (Hawaii)
- Distance: 4,133 miles
- Date founded: July 1, 1961
- 2024 visitors: 732,477 (#32 highest among all national parks)
- Park area: 33,488.98 acres
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62 / 63#62. Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park (Hawaii)
- Distance: 4,136 miles
- Date founded: August 1, 1916
- 2024 visitors: 1,433,593 (#22 highest among all national parks)
- Park area: 344,812.18 acres
Lloyd Wallin Photography // Shutterstock
63 / 63#63. National Park of American Samoa (American Samoa)
- Distance: 6,433 miles
- Date founded: October 31, 1988
- 2024 visitors: 22,567 (#59 highest among all national parks)
- Park area: 8,256.67 acres
