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 Monroe, Michigan. National parks are ranked by closest straight line distance, measured from representative points in Monroe, 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.
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1 / 63#1. Cuyahoga Valley National Park (Ohio)
- Distance: 111 miles
- Driving time: 2.4 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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2 / 63#2. Indiana Dunes National Park (Indiana)
- Distance: 185 miles
- Driving time: 3.5 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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3 / 63#3. New River Gorge National Park (West Virginia)
- Distance: 294 miles
- Driving time: 6.8 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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4 / 63#4. Mammoth Cave National Park (Kentucky)
- Distance: 355 miles
- Driving time: 6.5 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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5 / 63#5. Shenandoah National Park (Virginia)
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6 / 63#6. Gateway Arch National Park (Missouri)
- Distance: 420 miles
- Driving time: 7.5 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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7 / 63#7. Great Smoky Mountains National Park (North Carolina, Tennessee)
- Distance: 430 miles
- Driving time: 8.2 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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8 / 63#8. Isle Royale National Park (Michigan)
- Distance: 494 miles
- Driving time: 10.1 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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9 / 63#9. Congaree National Park (South Carolina)
- Distance: 580 miles
- Driving time: 11.9 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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10 / 63#10. Voyageurs National Park (Minnesota)
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11 / 63#11. Hot Springs National Park (Arkansas)
- Distance: 728 miles
- Driving time: 13.2 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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12 / 63#12. Acadia National Park (Maine)
- Distance: 789 miles
- Driving time: 16.8 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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13 / 63#13. Badlands National Park (South Dakota)
- Distance: 972 miles
- Driving time: 16.8 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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14 / 63#14. Wind Cave National Park (South Dakota)
- Distance: 1,021 miles
- Driving time: 18.1 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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15 / 63#15. Theodore Roosevelt National Park (North Dakota)
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16 / 63#16. Biscayne National Park (Florida)
- Distance: 1,138 miles
- Driving time: 20.7 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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17 / 63#17. Everglades National Park (Florida)
- Distance: 1,153 miles
- Driving time: 21.8 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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18 / 63#18. Rocky Mountain National Park (Colorado)
- Distance: 1,154 miles
- Driving time: 19.1 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. Dry Tortugas National Park (Florida)
- Distance: 1,192 miles
- Driving time: 23.6 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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20 / 63#20. Great Sand Dunes National Park (Colorado)
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21 / 63#21. Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park (Colorado)
- Distance: 1,297 miles
- Driving time: 23.3 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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22 / 63#22. Carlsbad Caverns National Park (New Mexico)
- Distance: 1,334 miles
- Driving time: 23.2 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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23 / 63#23. Guadalupe Mountains National Park (Texas)
- Distance: 1,364 miles
- Driving time: 24.4 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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24 / 63#24. Yellowstone National Park (Wyoming, Montana, Idaho)
- Distance: 1,369 miles
- Driving time: 25.1 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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25 / 63#25. Mesa Verde National Park (Colorado)
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26 / 63#26. Grand Teton National Park (Wyoming)
- Distance: 1,387 miles
- Driving time: 24.4 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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27 / 63#27. Arches National Park (Utah)
- Distance: 1,390 miles
- Driving time: 23.7 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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28 / 63#28. White Sands National Park (New Mexico)
- Distance: 1,393 miles
- Driving time: 24.2 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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29 / 63#29. Big Bend National Park (Texas)
- Distance: 1,409 miles
- Driving time: 26.5 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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30 / 63#30. Canyonlands National Park (Utah)
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31 / 63#31. Capitol Reef National Park (Utah)
- Distance: 1,483 miles
- Driving time: 25.3 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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32 / 63#32. Petrified Forest National Park (Arizona)
- Distance: 1,495 miles
- Driving time: 25.3 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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33 / 63#33. Glacier National Park (Montana)
- Distance: 1,548 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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34 / 63#34. Bryce Canyon National Park (Utah)
- Distance: 1,550 miles
- Driving time: 27.4 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. Grand Canyon National Park (Arizona)
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36 / 63#36. Zion National Park (Utah)
- Distance: 1,601 miles
- Driving time: 27.9 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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37 / 63#37. Saguaro National Park (Arizona)
- Distance: 1,625 miles
- Driving time: 28.8 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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38 / 63#38. Great Basin National Park (Nevada)
- Distance: 1,628 miles
- Driving time: 27.9 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. Death Valley National Park (California, Nevada)
- Distance: 1,822 miles
- Driving time: 31.1 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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40 / 63#40. Joshua Tree National Park (California)
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41 / 63#41. North Cascades National Park (Washington)
- Distance: 1,876 miles
- Driving time: 35.9 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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42 / 63#42. Kings Canyon National Park (California)
- Distance: 1,897 miles
- Driving time: 38.9 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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43 / 63#43. Mount Rainier National Park (Washington)
- Distance: 1,905 miles
- Driving time: 34.4 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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44 / 63#44. Sequoia National Park (California)
- Distance: 1,913 miles
- Driving time: 37.7 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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45 / 63#45. Yosemite National Park (California)
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46 / 63#46. Crater Lake National Park (Oregon)
- Distance: 1,958 miles
- Driving time: 34.9 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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47 / 63#47. Virgin Islands National Park (U.S. Virgin Islands)
- Distance: 1,965 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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48 / 63#48. Lassen Volcanic National Park (California)
- Distance: 1,968 miles
- Driving time: 33.8 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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49 / 63#49. Olympic National Park (Washington)
- Distance: 1,983 miles
- Driving time: 36.5 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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50 / 63#50. Channel Islands National Park (California)
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51 / 63#51. Pinnacles National Park (California)
- Distance: 2,040 miles
- Driving time: 36.3 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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52 / 63#52. Redwood National Park (California)
- Distance: 2,079 miles
- Driving time: 38.6 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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53 / 63#53. Glacier Bay National Park (Alaska)
- Distance: 2,549 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: 2,729 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: 3,002 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. Gates of the Arctic National Park (Alaska)
- Distance: 3,069 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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58 / 63#58. Lake Clark National Park (Alaska)
- Distance: 3,112 miles
- Date founded: December 2, 1980
- 2025 visitors: 19,778 (#61 highest among all national parks)
- Park area: 2,619,816.49 acres
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59 / 63#59. Katmai National Park (Alaska)
- Distance: 3,197 miles
- Date founded: December 2, 1980
- 2025 visitors: 34,479 (#59 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: 4,406 miles
- Date founded: July 1, 1961
- 2025 visitors: 853,711 (#27 highest among all national parks)
- Park area: 33,264.62 acres
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62 / 63#62. Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park (Hawaii)
- Distance: 4,412 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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63 / 63#63. National Park of American Samoa (American Samoa)
- Distance: 6,728 miles
- Date founded: October 31, 1988
- 2025 visitors: 43,258 (#58 highest among all national parks)
- Park area: 8,256.67 acres
