Closest national parks to Lansing

Written by:
July 17, 2026
SveKo // Shutterstock

Closest national parks to Lansing

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 Lansing. National parks are ranked by closest straight line distance, measured from representative points in Lansing-East Lansing, MI 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
Delmas Lehman // Shutterstock

#1. Indiana Dunes National Park (Indiana)

- Distance: 152 miles
- Driving time: 2.8 hours
- Date founded: February 15, 2019
- 2025 visitors: 2,629,497 (#13 highest among all national parks)
- Park area: 15,349.08 acres
2 / 63
Zack Frank // Shutterstock

#2. Cuyahoga Valley National Park (Ohio)

- Distance: 185 miles
- Driving time: 3.8 hours
- Date founded: October 11, 2000
- 2025 visitors: 3,025,325 (#11 highest among all national parks)
- Park area: 32,571.88 acres
3 / 63
Steve Heap // Shutterstock

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

- Distance: 371 miles
- Driving time: 8.2 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: 395 miles
- Driving time: 7.0 hours
- Date founded: July 1, 1941
- 2025 visitors: 660,734 (#34 highest among all national parks)
- Park area: 54,011.91 acres
5 / 63
Paul Brady Photography // Shutterstock

#5. Gateway Arch National Park (Missouri)

- Distance: 413 miles
- Driving time: 7.4 hours
- Date founded: February 22, 2018[47]
- 2025 visitors: 2,209,028 (#15 highest among all national parks)
- Park area: 192.83 acres
6 / 63
SveKo // Shutterstock

#6. Isle Royale National Park (Michigan)

- Distance: 417 miles
- Driving time: 8.8 hours
- Date founded: April 3, 1940
- 2025 visitors: 29,091 (#60 highest among all national parks)
- Park area: 571,790.30 acres
7 / 63
Jon Bilous // Shutterstock

#7. Shenandoah National Park (Virginia)

- Distance: 436 miles
- Driving time: 10.3 hours
- Date founded: December 26, 1935
- 2025 visitors: 1,682,152 (#19 highest among all national parks)
- Park area: 199,223.77 acres
8 / 63
ZakZeinert // Shutterstock

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

- Distance: 492 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
9 / 63
BlueBarronPhoto // Shutterstock

#9. Voyageurs National Park (Minnesota)

- Distance: 566 miles
- Driving time: 13.3 hours
- Date founded: April 8, 1975
- 2025 visitors: 206,326 (#53 highest among all national parks)
- Park area: 218,222.35 acres
10 / 63
Zack Frank // Shutterstock

#10. Congaree National Park (South Carolina)

- Distance: 652 miles
- Driving time: 13.3 hours
- Date founded: November 10, 2003
- 2025 visitors: 287,833 (#49 highest among all national parks)
- Park area: 26,476.47 acres
11 / 63
Zack Frank // Shutterstock

#11. Hot Springs National Park (Arkansas)

- Distance: 733 miles
- Driving time: 13.1 hours
- Date founded: March 4, 1921
- 2025 visitors: 2,494,611 (#14 highest among all national parks)
- Park area: 5,554.15 acres
12 / 63
Romiana Lee // Shutterstock

#12. Acadia National Park (Maine)

- Distance: 823 miles
- Driving time: 18.3 hours
- Date founded: February 26, 1919
- 2025 visitors: 4,079,318 (#7 highest among all national parks)
- Park area: 49,076.63 acres
13 / 63
Matt Ragen // Shutterstock

#13. Badlands National Park (South Dakota)

- Distance: 909 miles
- Driving time: 16.0 hours
- Date founded: November 10, 1978
- 2025 visitors: 1,139,361 (#26 highest among all national parks)
- Park area: 242,755.94 acres
14 / 63
Zack Frank // Shutterstock

#14. Wind Cave National Park (South Dakota)

- Distance: 959 miles
- Driving time: 17.4 hours
- Date founded: January 9, 1903
- 2025 visitors: 606,258 (#37 highest among all national parks)
- Park area: 33,970.84 acres
15 / 63
Laurens Hoddenbagh // Shutterstock

#15. Theodore Roosevelt National Park (North Dakota)

- Distance: 972 miles
- Driving time: 17.8 hours
- Date founded: November 10, 1978
- 2025 visitors: 729,893 (#33 highest among all national parks)
- Park area: 70,446.89 acres
16 / 63
Anna Krivitskaya // Shutterstock

#16. Rocky Mountain National Park (Colorado)

- Distance: 1,102 miles
- Driving time: 18.4 hours
- Date founded: January 26, 1915
- 2025 visitors: 4,171,431 (#6 highest among all national parks)
- Park area: 265,807.25 acres
17 / 63
Kris Wiktor // Shutterstock

#17. Great Sand Dunes National Park (Colorado)

- Distance: 1,161 miles
- Driving time: 21.1 hours
- Date founded: September 24, 2004
- 2025 visitors: 432,498 (#44 highest among all national parks)
- Park area: 107,341.87 acres
18 / 63
Claudia G Cooper // Shutterstock

#18. Biscayne National Park (Florida)

- Distance: 1,206 miles
- Driving time: 22.0 hours
- Date founded: June 28, 1980
- 2025 visitors: 486,567 (#41 highest among all national parks)
- Park area: 172,971.11 acres
19 / 63
Simon Dannhauer // Shutterstock

#19. Everglades National Park (Florida)

- Distance: 1,220 miles
- Driving time: 23.1 hours
- Date founded: May 30, 1934
- 2025 visitors: 778,198 (#31 highest among all national parks)
- Park area: 1,508,938.57 acres
20 / 63
SL-Photography // Shutterstock

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

- Distance: 1,250 miles
- Driving time: 22.5 hours
- Date founded: October 21, 1999
- 2025 visitors: 250,086 (#50 highest among all national parks)
- Park area: 30,779.83 acres
21 / 63
Varina C // Shutterstock

#21. Dry Tortugas National Park (Florida)

- Distance: 1,254 miles
- Driving time: 24.8 hours
- Date founded: October 26, 1992
- 2025 visitors: 89,355 (#56 highest among all national parks)
- Park area: 64,701.22 acres
22 / 63
Lane V. Erickson // Shutterstock

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

- Distance: 1,303 miles
- Driving time: 24.3 hours
- Date founded: March 1, 1872
- 2025 visitors: 4,762,988 (#3 highest among all national parks)
- Park area: 2,219,790.71 acres
23 / 63
Doug Meek // Shutterstock

#23. Carlsbad Caverns National Park (New Mexico)

- Distance: 1,312 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
24 / 63
Zack Frank // Shutterstock

#24. Grand Teton National Park (Wyoming)

- Distance: 1,323 miles
- Driving time: 23.6 hours
- Date founded: February 26, 1929
- 2025 visitors: 3,800,648 (#8 highest among all national parks)
- Park area: 310,044.36 acres
25 / 63
Sopotnicki // Shutterstock

#25. Mesa Verde National Park (Colorado)

- Distance: 1,326 miles
- Driving time: 24.9 hours
- Date founded: June 29, 1906
- 2025 visitors: 463,130 (#43 highest among all national parks)
- Park area: 52,485.17 acres
26 / 63
Manamana // Shutterstock

#26. Arches National Park (Utah)

- Distance: 1,341 miles
- Driving time: 23.0 hours
- Date founded: November 12, 1971
- 2025 visitors: 1,511,740 (#21 highest among all national parks)
- Park area: 76,678.98 acres
27 / 63
ShuPhoto // Shutterstock

#27. Guadalupe Mountains National Park (Texas)

- Distance: 1,343 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
28 / 63
Galyna Andrushko // Shutterstock

#28. White Sands National Park (New Mexico)

- Distance: 1,366 miles
- Driving time: 23.9 hours
- Date founded: December 20, 2019[111]
- 2025 visitors: 659,742 (#35 highest among all national parks)
- Park area: 146,344.31 acres
29 / 63
Manamana // Shutterstock

#29. Canyonlands National Park (Utah)

- Distance: 1,371 miles
- Driving time: 30.1 hours
- Date founded: September 12, 1964
- 2025 visitors: 796,057 (#29 highest among all national parks)
- Park area: 337,597.83 acres
30 / 63
Eric Foltz // Shutterstock

#30. Big Bend National Park (Texas)

- Distance: 1,399 miles
- Driving time: 26.4 hours
- Date founded: June 12, 1944
- 2025 visitors: 568,104 (#38 highest among all national parks)
- Park area: 801,163.21 acres
31 / 63
Layne V. Naylor // Shutterstock

#31. Capitol Reef National Park (Utah)

- Distance: 1,434 miles
- Driving time: 24.5 hours
- Date founded: December 18, 1971
- 2025 visitors: 1,388,476 (#22 highest among all national parks)
- Park area: 241,904.50 acres
32 / 63
Felix Lipov // Shutterstock

#32. Petrified Forest National Park (Arizona)

- Distance: 1,455 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
33 / 63
Pung // Shutterstock

#33. Glacier National Park (Montana)

- Distance: 1,475 miles
- Date founded: May 11, 1910
- 2025 visitors: 3,136,557 (#10 highest among all national parks)
- Park area: 1,013,125.99 acres
34 / 63
ronnybas frimages // Shutterstock

#34. Bryce Canyon National Park (Utah)

- Distance: 1,501 miles
- Driving time: 26.7 hours
- Date founded: February 25, 1928
- 2025 visitors: 1,967,367 (#16 highest among all national parks)
- Park area: 35,835.08 acres
35 / 63
Josemaria Toscano // Shutterstock

#35. Grand Canyon National Park (Arizona)

- Distance: 1,542 miles
- Driving time: 28.7 hours
- Date founded: February 26, 1919
- 2025 visitors: 4,430,653 (#4 highest among all national parks)
- Park area: 1,201,647.03 acres
36 / 63
Galyna Andrushko // Shutterstock

#36. Zion National Park (Utah)

- Distance: 1,553 miles
- Driving time: 27.2 hours
- Date founded: November 19, 1919
- 2025 visitors: 4,984,525 (#2 highest among all national parks)
- Park area: 147,242.66 acres
37 / 63
Arlene Waller // Shutterstock

#37. Great Basin National Park (Nevada)

- Distance: 1,574 miles
- Driving time: 27.2 hours
- Date founded: October 27, 1986
- 2025 visitors: 161,210 (#54 highest among all national parks)
- Park area: 77,180.00 acres
38 / 63
kojihirano // Shutterstock

#38. Saguaro National Park (Arizona)

- Distance: 1,593 miles
- Driving time: 28.7 hours
- Date founded: October 14, 1994
- 2025 visitors: 847,749 (#28 highest among all national parks)
- Park area: 92,867.42 acres
39 / 63
Bryan Brazil // Shutterstock

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

- Distance: 1,773 miles
- Driving time: 30.4 hours
- Date founded: October 31, 1994
- 2025 visitors: 1,320,134 (#24 highest among all national parks)
- Park area: 3,408,406.73 acres
40 / 63
Zack Frank // Shutterstock

#40. North Cascades National Park (Washington)

- Distance: 1,803 miles
- Driving time: 35.1 hours
- Date founded: October 2, 1968
- 2025 visitors: 46,925 (#57 highest among all national parks)
- Park area: 504,780.94 acres
41 / 63
Dennis Silvas // Shutterstock

#41. Joshua Tree National Park (California)

- Distance: 1,804 miles
- Driving time: 32.6 hours
- Date founded: October 31, 1994
- 2025 visitors: 2,932,644 (#12 highest among all national parks)
- Park area: 795,155.85 acres
42 / 63
Diane Fetzner // Shutterstock

#42. Mount Rainier National Park (Washington)

- Distance: 1,835 miles
- Driving time: 33.7 hours
- Date founded: March 2, 1899
- 2025 visitors: 1,635,342 (#20 highest among all national parks)
- Park area: 236,381.64 acres
43 / 63
Patrick Poendl // Shutterstock

#43. Kings Canyon National Park (California)

- Distance: 1,845 miles
- Driving time: 38.2 hours
- Date founded: March 4, 1940
- 2025 visitors: 779,791 (#30 highest among all national parks)
- Park area: 461,901.20 acres
44 / 63
Virrage Images // Shutterstock

#44. Sequoia National Park (California)

- Distance: 1,862 miles
- Driving time: 37.0 hours
- Date founded: September 25, 1890
- 2025 visitors: 1,378,337 (#23 highest among all national parks)
- Park area: 404,062.63 acres
45 / 63
Stephen Moehle // Shutterstock

#45. Yosemite National Park (California)

- Distance: 1,866 miles
- Driving time: 36.0 hours
- Date founded: October 1, 1890
- 2025 visitors: 4,278,413 (#5 highest among all national parks)
- Park area: 761,747.50 acres
46 / 63
Hank Shiffman // Shutterstock

#46. Crater Lake National Park (Oregon)

- Distance: 1,894 miles
- Driving time: 34.2 hours
- Date founded: May 22, 1902
- 2025 visitors: 632,242 (#36 highest among all national parks)
- Park area: 183,224.05 acres
47 / 63
Zack Frank // Shutterstock

#47. Lassen Volcanic National Park (California)

- Distance: 1,908 miles
- Driving time: 33.1 hours
- Date founded: August 9, 1916
- 2025 visitors: 504,777 (#40 highest among all national parks)
- Park area: 106,589.02 acres
48 / 63
f11photo // Shutterstock

#48. Olympic National Park (Washington)

- Distance: 1,911 miles
- Driving time: 35.8 hours
- Date founded: June 29, 1938
- 2025 visitors: 3,584,187 (#9 highest among all national parks)
- Park area: 922,649.41 acres
49 / 63
Ethan Daniels // Shutterstock

#49. Channel Islands National Park (California)

- Distance: 1,974 miles
- Date founded: March 5, 1980
- 2025 visitors: 227,186 (#51 highest among all national parks)
- Park area: 249,561.00 acres
50 / 63
Yhelfman // Shutterstock

#50. Pinnacles National Park (California)

- Distance: 1,987 miles
- Driving time: 35.4 hours
- Date founded: January 10, 2013
- 2025 visitors: 343,208 (#47 highest among all national parks)
- Park area: 26,685.73 acres
51 / 63
Bob Pool // Shutterstock

#51. Redwood National Park (California)

- Distance: 2,016 miles
- Driving time: 37.8 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
Sean Pavone // Shutterstock

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

- Distance: 2,044 miles
- Date founded: August 2, 1956
- 2025 visitors: 471,074 (#42 highest among all national parks)
- Park area: 15,052.53 acres
53 / 63
Laurie Gronewold // Shutterstock

#53. Glacier Bay National Park (Alaska)

- Distance: 2,470 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: 2,651 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: 2,915 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: 2,923 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: 2,992 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: 3,034 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: 3,118 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: 3,151 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
MH Anderson Photography // Shutterstock

#61. Haleakalā National Park (Hawaii)

- Distance: 4,350 miles
- Date founded: July 1, 1961
- 2025 visitors: 853,711 (#27 highest among all national parks)
- Park area: 33,264.62 acres
62 / 63
jo Crebbin // Shutterstock

#62. Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park (Hawaii)

- Distance: 4,358 miles
- Date founded: August 1, 1916
- 2025 visitors: 1,877,854 (#18 highest among all national parks)
- Park area: 325,605.28 acres
63 / 63
Lloyd Wallin Photography // Shutterstock

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

- Distance: 6,690 miles
- Date founded: October 31, 1988
- 2025 visitors: 43,258 (#58 highest among all national parks)
- Park area: 8,256.67 acres

Trending Now