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 Lafayette. National parks are ranked by closest straight line distance, measured from representative points in Lafayette, LA 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. Hot Springs National Park (Arkansas)
- Distance: 319 miles
- Driving time: 6.4 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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2 / 63#2. Mammoth Cave National Park (Kentucky)
- Distance: 604 miles
- Driving time: 11.5 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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3 / 63#3. Gateway Arch National Park (Missouri)
- Distance: 607 miles
- Driving time: 11.2 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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4 / 63#4. Great Smoky Mountains National Park (North Carolina, Tennessee)
- Distance: 633 miles
- Driving time: 12.1 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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5 / 63#5. Dry Tortugas National Park (Florida)
- Distance: 673 miles
- Driving time: 18.2 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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6 / 63#6. Big Bend National Park (Texas)
- Distance: 676 miles
- Driving time: 14.1 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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7 / 63#7. Congaree National Park (South Carolina)
- Distance: 713 miles
- Driving time: 12.9 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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8 / 63#8. Carlsbad Caverns National Park (New Mexico)
- Distance: 750 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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9 / 63#9. Everglades National Park (Florida)
- Distance: 752 miles
- Driving time: 16.2 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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10 / 63#10. Guadalupe Mountains National Park (Texas)
- Distance: 773 miles
- Driving time: 14.7 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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11 / 63#11. Biscayne National Park (Florida)
- Distance: 790 miles
- Driving time: 15.2 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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12 / 63#12. New River Gorge National Park (West Virginia)
- Distance: 841 miles
- Driving time: 15.2 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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13 / 63#13. Indiana Dunes National Park (Indiana)
- Distance: 853 miles
- Driving time: 15.4 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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14 / 63#14. White Sands National Park (New Mexico)
- Distance: 856 miles
- Driving time: 15.5 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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15 / 63#15. Great Sand Dunes National Park (Colorado)
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16 / 63#16. Cuyahoga Valley National Park (Ohio)
- Distance: 975 miles
- Driving time: 18.0 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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17 / 63#17. Shenandoah National Park (Virginia)
- Distance: 980 miles
- Driving time: 17.5 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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18 / 63#18. Rocky Mountain National Park (Colorado)
- Distance: 1,049 miles
- Driving time: 20.0 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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19 / 63#19. Mesa Verde National Park (Colorado)
- Distance: 1,069 miles
- Driving time: 20.0 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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20 / 63#20. Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park (Colorado)
- Distance: 1,073 miles
- Driving time: 20.7 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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21 / 63#21. Petrified Forest National Park (Arizona)
- Distance: 1,092 miles
- Driving time: 18.7 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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22 / 63#22. Saguaro National Park (Arizona)
- Distance: 1,104 miles
- Driving time: 18.8 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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23 / 63#23. Badlands National Park (South Dakota)
- Distance: 1,111 miles
- Driving time: 21.6 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. Wind Cave National Park (South Dakota)
- Distance: 1,130 miles
- Driving time: 21.7 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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25 / 63#25. Arches National Park (Utah)
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26 / 63#26. Canyonlands National Park (Utah)
- Distance: 1,169 miles
- Driving time: 26.7 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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27 / 63#27. Capitol Reef National Park (Utah)
- Distance: 1,232 miles
- Driving time: 24.1 hours
- Date founded: December 18, 1971
- 2025 visitors: 1,388,476 (#22 highest among all national parks)
- Park area: 241,904.50 acres
Josemaria Toscano // Shutterstock
28 / 63#28. Grand Canyon National Park (Arizona)
- Distance: 1,237 miles
- Driving time: 22.3 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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29 / 63#29. Isle Royale National Park (Michigan)
- Distance: 1,265 miles
- Driving time: 23.6 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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30 / 63#30. Bryce Canyon National Park (Utah)
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31 / 63#31. Voyageurs National Park (Minnesota)
- Distance: 1,280 miles
- Driving time: 23.3 hours
- Date founded: April 8, 1975
- 2025 visitors: 206,326 (#53 highest among all national parks)
- Park area: 218,222.35 acres
Galyna Andrushko // Shutterstock
32 / 63#32. Zion National Park (Utah)
- Distance: 1,309 miles
- Driving time: 25.4 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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33 / 63#33. Theodore Roosevelt National Park (North Dakota)
- Distance: 1,323 miles
- Driving time: 26.0 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
34 / 63#34. Grand Teton National Park (Wyoming)
- Distance: 1,402 miles
- Driving time: 26.5 hours
- Date founded: February 26, 1929
- 2025 visitors: 3,800,648 (#8 highest among all national parks)
- Park area: 310,044.36 acres
Arlene Waller // Shutterstock
35 / 63#35. Great Basin National Park (Nevada)
- Distance: 1,409 miles
- Driving time: 27.0 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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36 / 63#36. Joshua Tree National Park (California)
- Distance: 1,424 miles
- Driving time: 24.2 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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37 / 63#37. Yellowstone National Park (Wyoming, Montana, Idaho)
- Distance: 1,426 miles
- Driving time: 27.3 hours
- Date founded: March 1, 1872
- 2025 visitors: 4,762,988 (#3 highest among all national parks)
- Park area: 2,219,790.71 acres
Bryan Brazil // Shutterstock
38 / 63#38. Death Valley National Park (California, Nevada)
- Distance: 1,496 miles
- Driving time: 26.4 hours
- Date founded: October 31, 1994
- 2025 visitors: 1,320,134 (#24 highest among all national parks)
- Park area: 3,408,406.73 acres
Patrick Poendl // Shutterstock
39 / 63#39. Kings Canyon National Park (California)
- Distance: 1,597 miles
- Driving time: 33.8 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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40 / 63#40. Sequoia National Park (California)
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41 / 63#41. Channel Islands National Park (California)
- Distance: 1,626 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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42 / 63#42. Acadia National Park (Maine)
- Distance: 1,638 miles
- Driving time: 30.3 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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43 / 63#43. Yosemite National Park (California)
- Distance: 1,661 miles
- Driving time: 32.1 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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44 / 63#44. Pinnacles National Park (California)
- Distance: 1,738 miles
- Driving time: 30.4 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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45 / 63#45. Glacier National Park (Montana)
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46 / 63#46. Lassen Volcanic National Park (California)
- Distance: 1,807 miles
- Driving time: 33.3 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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47 / 63#47. Crater Lake National Park (Oregon)
- Distance: 1,884 miles
- Driving time: 36.8 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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48 / 63#48. Virgin Islands National Park (U.S. Virgin Islands)
- Distance: 1,895 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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49 / 63#49. Redwood National Park (California)
- Distance: 1,947 miles
- Driving time: 38.5 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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50 / 63#50. Mount Rainier National Park (Washington)
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51 / 63#51. North Cascades National Park (Washington)
- Distance: 2,006 miles
- Driving time: 39.3 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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52 / 63#52. Olympic National Park (Washington)
- Distance: 2,077 miles
- Driving time: 39.9 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: 2,887 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: 3,113 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)
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56 / 63#56. Denali National Park (Alaska)
- Distance: 3,423 miles
- Date founded: February 26, 1917
- 2025 visitors: 543,300 (#39 highest among all national parks)
- Park area: 4,740,911.16 acres
Malachi Jacobs // Shutterstock
57 / 63#57. Lake Clark National Park (Alaska)
- Distance: 3,484 miles
- Date founded: December 2, 1980
- 2025 visitors: 19,778 (#61 highest among all national parks)
- Park area: 2,619,816.49 acres
Robert Harding Video // Shutterstock
58 / 63#58. Katmai National Park (Alaska)
- Distance: 3,518 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
59 / 63#59. Gates of the Arctic National Park (Alaska)
- Distance: 3,577 miles
- Date founded: December 2, 1980
- 2025 visitors: 14,923 (#62 highest among all national parks)
- Park area: 7,523,897.45 acres
BlueBarronPhoto // Shutterstock
60 / 63#60. Kobuk Valley National Park (Alaska)
- Distance: 3,728 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: 3,990 miles
- Date founded: August 1, 1916
- 2025 visitors: 1,877,854 (#18 highest among all national parks)
- Park area: 325,605.28 acres
MH Anderson Photography // Shutterstock
62 / 63#62. Haleakalā National Park (Hawaii)
- Distance: 4,012 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: 6,048 miles
- Date founded: October 31, 1988
- 2025 visitors: 43,258 (#58 highest among all national parks)
- Park area: 8,256.67 acres
