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 Trenton. National parks are ranked by closest straight line distance, measured from representative points in Trenton-Princeton, NJ 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. Shenandoah National Park (Virginia)
- Distance: 230 miles
- Driving time: 4.8 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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2 / 63#2. Cuyahoga Valley National Park (Ohio)
- Distance: 365 miles
- Driving time: 6.6 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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3 / 63#3. New River Gorge National Park (West Virginia)
- Distance: 375 miles
- Driving time: 7.3 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. Acadia National Park (Maine)
- Distance: 435 miles
- Driving time: 9.5 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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5 / 63#5. Congaree National Park (South Carolina)
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6 / 63#6. Great Smoky Mountains National Park (North Carolina, Tennessee)
- Distance: 577 miles
- Driving time: 10.4 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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7 / 63#7. Mammoth Cave National Park (Kentucky)
- Distance: 651 miles
- Driving time: 12.0 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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8 / 63#8. Indiana Dunes National Park (Indiana)
- Distance: 652 miles
- Driving time: 11.2 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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9 / 63#9. Gateway Arch National Park (Missouri)
- Distance: 835 miles
- Driving time: 13.9 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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10 / 63#10. Isle Royale National Park (Michigan)
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11 / 63#11. Biscayne National Park (Florida)
- Distance: 1,055 miles
- Driving time: 19.3 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. Voyageurs National Park (Minnesota)
- Distance: 1,060 miles
- Driving time: 21.8 hours
- Date founded: April 8, 1975
- 2025 visitors: 206,326 (#53 highest among all national parks)
- Park area: 218,222.35 acres
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13 / 63#13. Hot Springs National Park (Arkansas)
- Distance: 1,083 miles
- Driving time: 18.8 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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14 / 63#14. Everglades National Park (Florida)
- Distance: 1,092 miles
- Driving time: 20.4 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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15 / 63#15. Dry Tortugas National Park (Florida)
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16 / 63#16. Badlands National Park (South Dakota)
- Distance: 1,443 miles
- Driving time: 24.5 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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17 / 63#17. Wind Cave National Park (South Dakota)
- Distance: 1,493 miles
- Driving time: 25.9 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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18 / 63#18. Theodore Roosevelt National Park (North Dakota)
- Distance: 1,504 miles
- Driving time: 26.5 hours
- Date founded: November 10, 1978
- 2025 visitors: 729,893 (#33 highest among all national parks)
- Park area: 70,446.89 acres
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19 / 63#19. Rocky Mountain National Park (Colorado)
- Distance: 1,622 miles
- Driving time: 26.8 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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20 / 63#20. Virgin Islands National Park (U.S. Virgin Islands)
- Distance: 1,625 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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21 / 63#21. Great Sand Dunes National Park (Colorado)
- Distance: 1,659 miles
- Driving time: 28.4 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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22 / 63#22. Carlsbad Caverns National Park (New Mexico)
- Distance: 1,743 miles
- Driving time: 29.4 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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23 / 63#23. Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park (Colorado)
- Distance: 1,760 miles
- Driving time: 30.6 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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24 / 63#24. Guadalupe Mountains National Park (Texas)
- Distance: 1,773 miles
- Driving time: 30.5 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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25 / 63#25. Big Bend National Park (Texas)
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26 / 63#26. White Sands National Park (New Mexico)
- Distance: 1,815 miles
- Driving time: 30.3 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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27 / 63#27. Mesa Verde National Park (Colorado)
- Distance: 1,827 miles
- Driving time: 32.3 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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28 / 63#28. Yellowstone National Park (Wyoming, Montana, Idaho)
- Distance: 1,839 miles
- Driving time: 32.5 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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29 / 63#29. Arches National Park (Utah)
- Distance: 1,855 miles
- Driving time: 31.3 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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30 / 63#30. Grand Teton National Park (Wyoming)
- Distance: 1,858 miles
- Driving time: 31.9 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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31 / 63#31. Canyonlands National Park (Utah)
- Distance: 1,883 miles
- Driving time: 38.3 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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32 / 63#32. Petrified Forest National Park (Arizona)
- Distance: 1,943 miles
- Driving time: 31.5 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. Capitol Reef National Park (Utah)
- Distance: 1,948 miles
- Driving time: 32.8 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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34 / 63#34. Glacier National Park (Montana)
- Distance: 2,003 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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35 / 63#35. Bryce Canyon National Park (Utah)
- Distance: 2,013 miles
- Driving time: 34.8 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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36 / 63#36. Grand Canyon National Park (Arizona)
- Distance: 2,044 miles
- Driving time: 35.0 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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37 / 63#37. Saguaro National Park (Arizona)
- Distance: 2,059 miles
- Driving time: 35.2 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. Zion National Park (Utah)
- Distance: 2,064 miles
- Driving time: 35.3 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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39 / 63#39. Great Basin National Park (Nevada)
- Distance: 2,097 miles
- Driving time: 35.3 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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40 / 63#40. Death Valley National Park (California, Nevada)
- Distance: 2,286 miles
- Driving time: 38.5 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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41 / 63#41. Joshua Tree National Park (California)
- Distance: 2,300 miles
- Driving time: 38.7 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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42 / 63#42. North Cascades National Park (Washington)
- Distance: 2,332 miles
- Driving time: 43.8 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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43 / 63#43. Kings Canyon National Park (California)
- Distance: 2,363 miles
- Driving time: 46.4 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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44 / 63#44. Mount Rainier National Park (Washington)
- Distance: 2,368 miles
- Driving time: 42.3 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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45 / 63#45. Sequoia National Park (California)
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46 / 63#46. Yosemite National Park (California)
- Distance: 2,390 miles
- Driving time: 45.2 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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47 / 63#47. Crater Lake National Park (Oregon)
- Distance: 2,429 miles
- Driving time: 42.8 hours
- Date founded: May 22, 1902
- 2025 visitors: 632,242 (#36 highest among all national parks)
- Park area: 183,224.05 acres
Zack Frank // Shutterstock
48 / 63#48. Lassen Volcanic National Park (California)
- Distance: 2,440 miles
- Driving time: 41.4 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: 2,441 miles
- Driving time: 45.0 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: 2,507 miles
- Driving time: 43.8 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: 2,551 miles
- Driving time: 46.2 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: 2,948 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: 3,111 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. Denali National Park (Alaska)
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56 / 63#56. Kenai Fjords National Park (Alaska)
- Distance: 3,380 miles
- Date founded: December 2, 1980
- 2025 visitors: 425,369 (#45 highest among all national parks)
- Park area: 669,650.05 acres
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57 / 63#57. Gates of the Arctic National Park (Alaska)
- Distance: 3,397 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: 3,490 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
59 / 63#59. Kobuk Valley National Park (Alaska)
- Distance: 3,554 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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60 / 63#60. Katmai National Park (Alaska)
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61 / 63#61. Haleakalā National Park (Hawaii)
- Distance: 4,875 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: 4,880 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: 7,161 miles
- Date founded: October 31, 1988
- 2025 visitors: 43,258 (#58 highest among all national parks)
- Park area: 8,256.67 acres
