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 Minneapolis. National parks are ranked by closest straight line distance, measured from representative points in Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI 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. Voyageurs National Park (Minnesota)
- Distance: 236 miles
- Driving time: 4.6 hours
- Date founded: April 8, 1975
- 2025 visitors: 206,326 (#53 highest among all national parks)
- Park area: 218,222.35 acres
SveKo // Shutterstock
2 / 63#2. Isle Royale National Park (Michigan)
- Distance: 306 miles
- Driving time: 7.3 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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3 / 63#3. Indiana Dunes National Park (Indiana)
- Distance: 393 miles
- Driving time: 7.1 hours
- Date founded: February 15, 2019
- 2025 visitors: 2,629,497 (#13 highest among all national parks)
- Park area: 15,349.08 acres
Matt Ragen // Shutterstock
4 / 63#4. Badlands National Park (South Dakota)
- Distance: 466 miles
- Driving time: 8.0 hours
- Date founded: November 10, 1978
- 2025 visitors: 1,139,361 (#26 highest among all national parks)
- Park area: 242,755.94 acres
Paul Brady Photography // Shutterstock
5 / 63#5. Gateway Arch National Park (Missouri)
- Distance: 474 miles
- Driving time: 8.9 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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6 / 63#6. Theodore Roosevelt National Park (North Dakota)
- Distance: 506 miles
- Driving time: 8.2 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
7 / 63#7. Wind Cave National Park (South Dakota)
- Distance: 516 miles
- Driving time: 9.4 hours
- Date founded: January 9, 1903
- 2025 visitors: 606,258 (#37 highest among all national parks)
- Park area: 33,970.84 acres
Zack Frank // Shutterstock
8 / 63#8. Cuyahoga Valley National Park (Ohio)
- Distance: 649 miles
- Driving time: 11.6 hours
- Date founded: October 11, 2000
- 2025 visitors: 3,025,325 (#11 highest among all national parks)
- Park area: 32,571.88 acres
Wangkun Jia // Shutterstock
9 / 63#9. Mammoth Cave National Park (Kentucky)
- Distance: 662 miles
- Driving time: 12.3 hours
- Date founded: July 1, 1941
- 2025 visitors: 660,734 (#34 highest among all national parks)
- Park area: 54,011.91 acres
Anna Krivitskaya // Shutterstock
10 / 63#10. Rocky Mountain National Park (Colorado)
- Distance: 704 miles
- Driving time: 14.3 hours
- Date founded: January 26, 1915
- 2025 visitors: 4,171,431 (#6 highest among all national parks)
- Park area: 265,807.25 acres
Zack Frank // Shutterstock
11 / 63#11. Hot Springs National Park (Arkansas)
- Distance: 730 miles
- Driving time: 13.4 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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12 / 63#12. New River Gorge National Park (West Virginia)
- Distance: 795 miles
- Driving time: 15.4 hours
- Date founded: December 27, 2020
- 2025 visitors: 1,958,440 (#17 highest among all national parks)
- Park area: 7,021 acres
Kris Wiktor // Shutterstock
13 / 63#13. Great Sand Dunes National Park (Colorado)
- Distance: 812 miles
- Driving time: 16.7 hours
- Date founded: September 24, 2004
- 2025 visitors: 432,498 (#44 highest among all national parks)
- Park area: 107,341.87 acres
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14 / 63#14. Great Smoky Mountains National Park (North Carolina, Tennessee)
- Distance: 827 miles
- Driving time: 15.6 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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15 / 63#15. Yellowstone National Park (Wyoming, Montana, Idaho)
- Distance: 845 miles
- Driving time: 15.5 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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16 / 63#16. Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park (Colorado)
- Distance: 869 miles
- Driving time: 18.2 hours
- Date founded: October 21, 1999
- 2025 visitors: 250,086 (#50 highest among all national parks)
- Park area: 30,779.83 acres
Zack Frank // Shutterstock
17 / 63#17. Grand Teton National Park (Wyoming)
- Distance: 871 miles
- Driving time: 17.3 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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18 / 63#18. Shenandoah National Park (Virginia)
- Distance: 892 miles
- Driving time: 18.2 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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19 / 63#19. Arches National Park (Utah)
- Distance: 947 miles
- Driving time: 18.9 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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20 / 63#20. Mesa Verde National Park (Colorado)
- Distance: 961 miles
- Driving time: 20.4 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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21 / 63#21. Canyonlands National Park (Utah)
- Distance: 982 miles
- Driving time: 24.6 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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22 / 63#22. Glacier National Park (Montana)
- Distance: 1,010 miles
- Date founded: May 11, 1910
- 2025 visitors: 3,136,557 (#10 highest among all national parks)
- Park area: 1,013,125.99 acres
Zack Frank // Shutterstock
23 / 63#23. Congaree National Park (South Carolina)
- Distance: 1,025 miles
- Driving time: 19.4 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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24 / 63#24. Capitol Reef National Park (Utah)
- Distance: 1,038 miles
- Driving time: 20.4 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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25 / 63#25. Carlsbad Caverns National Park (New Mexico)
- Distance: 1,075 miles
- Driving time: 20.0 hours
- Date founded: May 14, 1930
- 2025 visitors: 410,778 (#46 highest among all national parks)
- Park area: 46,766.45 acres
Galyna Andrushko // Shutterstock
26 / 63#26. White Sands National Park (New Mexico)
- Distance: 1,095 miles
- Driving time: 20.6 hours
- Date founded: December 20, 2019[111]
- 2025 visitors: 659,742 (#35 highest among all national parks)
- Park area: 146,344.31 acres
ShuPhoto // Shutterstock
27 / 63#27. Guadalupe Mountains National Park (Texas)
- Distance: 1,102 miles
- Driving time: 21.1 hours
- Date founded: October 15, 1966
- 2025 visitors: 206,423 (#52 highest among all national parks)
- Park area: 86,367.10 acres
ronnybas frimages // Shutterstock
28 / 63#28. Bryce Canyon National Park (Utah)
- Distance: 1,108 miles
- Driving time: 22.3 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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29 / 63#29. Petrified Forest National Park (Arizona)
- Distance: 1,111 miles
- Driving time: 21.7 hours
- Date founded: December 9, 1962
- 2025 visitors: 315,951 (#48 highest among all national parks)
- Park area: 221,390.21 acres
Arlene Waller // Shutterstock
30 / 63#30. Great Basin National Park (Nevada)
- Distance: 1,157 miles
- Driving time: 22.1 hours
- Date founded: October 27, 1986
- 2025 visitors: 161,210 (#54 highest among all national parks)
- Park area: 77,180.00 acres
Galyna Andrushko // Shutterstock
31 / 63#31. Zion National Park (Utah)
- Distance: 1,158 miles
- Driving time: 22.8 hours
- Date founded: November 19, 1919
- 2025 visitors: 4,984,525 (#2 highest among all national parks)
- Park area: 147,242.66 acres
Josemaria Toscano // Shutterstock
32 / 63#32. Grand Canyon National Park (Arizona)
- Distance: 1,168 miles
- Driving time: 24.1 hours
- Date founded: February 26, 1919
- 2025 visitors: 4,430,653 (#4 highest among all national parks)
- Park area: 1,201,647.03 acres
Eric Foltz // Shutterstock
33 / 63#33. Big Bend National Park (Texas)
- Distance: 1,221 miles
- Driving time: 22.7 hours
- Date founded: June 12, 1944
- 2025 visitors: 568,104 (#38 highest among all national parks)
- Park area: 801,163.21 acres
Romiana Lee // Shutterstock
34 / 63#34. Acadia National Park (Maine)
- Distance: 1,230 miles
- Driving time: 26.0 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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35 / 63#35. Saguaro National Park (Arizona)
- Distance: 1,280 miles
- Driving time: 25.4 hours
- Date founded: October 14, 1994
- 2025 visitors: 847,749 (#28 highest among all national parks)
- Park area: 92,867.42 acres
Zack Frank // Shutterstock
36 / 63#36. North Cascades National Park (Washington)
- Distance: 1,338 miles
- Driving time: 25.6 hours
- Date founded: October 2, 1968
- 2025 visitors: 46,925 (#57 highest among all national parks)
- Park area: 504,780.94 acres
Diane Fetzner // Shutterstock
37 / 63#37. Mount Rainier National Park (Washington)
- Distance: 1,369 miles
- Driving time: 24.1 hours
- Date founded: March 2, 1899
- 2025 visitors: 1,635,342 (#20 highest among all national parks)
- Park area: 236,381.64 acres
Bryan Brazil // Shutterstock
38 / 63#38. Death Valley National Park (California, Nevada)
- Distance: 1,373 miles
- Driving time: 26.1 hours
- Date founded: October 31, 1994
- 2025 visitors: 1,320,134 (#24 highest among all national parks)
- Park area: 3,408,406.73 acres
Dennis Silvas // Shutterstock
39 / 63#39. Joshua Tree National Park (California)
- Distance: 1,432 miles
- Driving time: 28.4 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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40 / 63#40. Kings Canyon National Park (California)
- Distance: 1,433 miles
- Driving time: 33.9 hours
- Date founded: March 4, 1940
- 2025 visitors: 779,791 (#30 highest among all national parks)
- Park area: 461,901.20 acres
Hank Shiffman // Shutterstock
41 / 63#41. Crater Lake National Park (Oregon)
- Distance: 1,436 miles
- Driving time: 27.5 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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42 / 63#42. Yosemite National Park (California)
- Distance: 1,443 miles
- Driving time: 31.0 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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43 / 63#43. Olympic National Park (Washington)
- Distance: 1,445 miles
- Driving time: 26.3 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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44 / 63#44. Sequoia National Park (California)
- Distance: 1,453 miles
- Driving time: 32.7 hours
- Date founded: September 25, 1890
- 2025 visitors: 1,378,337 (#23 highest among all national parks)
- Park area: 404,062.63 acres
Zack Frank // Shutterstock
45 / 63#45. Lassen Volcanic National Park (California)
- Distance: 1,462 miles
- Driving time: 28.1 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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46 / 63#46. Dry Tortugas National Park (Florida)
- Distance: 1,527 miles
- Driving time: 30.3 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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47 / 63#47. Everglades National Park (Florida)
- Distance: 1,528 miles
- Driving time: 28.4 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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48 / 63#48. Biscayne National Park (Florida)
- Distance: 1,529 miles
- Driving time: 27.4 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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49 / 63#49. Redwood National Park (California)
- Distance: 1,564 miles
- Driving time: 30.8 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. Pinnacles National Park (California)
- Distance: 1,569 miles
- Driving time: 30.3 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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51 / 63#51. Channel Islands National Park (California)
- Distance: 1,582 miles
- Date founded: March 5, 1980
- 2025 visitors: 227,186 (#51 highest among all national parks)
- Park area: 249,561.00 acres
Laurie Gronewold // Shutterstock
52 / 63#52. Glacier Bay National Park (Alaska)
- Distance: 2,043 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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53 / 63#53. Wrangell–St. Elias National Park (Alaska)
- Distance: 2,238 miles
- Date founded: December 2, 1980
- 2025 visitors: 108,840 (#55 highest among all national parks)
- Park area: 8,323,146.48 acres
Sean Pavone // Shutterstock
54 / 63#54. Virgin Islands National Park (U.S. Virgin Islands)
- Distance: 2,470 miles
- Date founded: August 2, 1956
- 2025 visitors: 471,074 (#42 highest among all national parks)
- Park area: 15,052.53 acres
Tomasz Wozniak // Shutterstock
55 / 63#55. Kenai Fjords National Park (Alaska)
- Distance: 2,496 miles
- Date founded: December 2, 1980
- 2025 visitors: 425,369 (#45 highest among all national parks)
- Park area: 669,650.05 acres
Marc Cappelletti // Shutterstock
56 / 63#56. Denali National Park (Alaska)
- Distance: 2,525 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. Lake Clark National Park (Alaska)
- Distance: 2,621 miles
- Date founded: December 2, 1980
- 2025 visitors: 19,778 (#61 highest among all national parks)
- Park area: 2,619,816.49 acres
BlueBarronPhoto // Shutterstock
58 / 63#58. Gates of the Arctic National Park (Alaska)
- Distance: 2,626 miles
- Date founded: December 2, 1980
- 2025 visitors: 14,923 (#62 highest among all national parks)
- Park area: 7,523,897.45 acres
Robert Harding Video // Shutterstock
59 / 63#59. Katmai National Park (Alaska)
- Distance: 2,693 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
60 / 63#60. Kobuk Valley National Park (Alaska)
- Distance: 2,782 miles
- Date founded: December 2, 1980
- 2025 visitors: 7,786 (#63 highest among all national parks)
- Park area: 1,750,716.16 acres
MH Anderson Photography // Shutterstock
61 / 63#61. Haleakalā National Park (Hawaii)
- Distance: 3,911 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: 3,925 miles
- Date founded: August 1, 1916
- 2025 visitors: 1,877,854 (#18 highest among all national parks)
- Park area: 325,605.28 acres
Lloyd Wallin Photography // Shutterstock
63 / 63#63. National Park of American Samoa (American Samoa)
- Distance: 6,313 miles
- Date founded: October 31, 1988
- 2025 visitors: 43,258 (#58 highest among all national parks)
- Park area: 8,256.67 acres
