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 Bismarck. National parks are ranked by closest straight line distance, measured from representative points in Bismarck, ND 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. Theodore Roosevelt National Park (North Dakota)
- Distance: 117 miles
- Driving time: 2.2 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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2 / 63#2. Badlands National Park (South Dakota)
- Distance: 229 miles
- Driving time: 6.0 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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3 / 63#3. Wind Cave National Park (South Dakota)
- Distance: 259 miles
- Driving time: 6.4 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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4 / 63#4. Voyageurs National Park (Minnesota)
- Distance: 394 miles
- Driving time: 8.0 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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5 / 63#5. Yellowstone National Park (Wyoming, Montana, Idaho)
- Distance: 486 miles
- Driving time: 9.2 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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6 / 63#6. Rocky Mountain National Park (Colorado)
- Distance: 504 miles
- Driving time: 10.8 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
7 / 63#7. Grand Teton National Park (Wyoming)
- Distance: 525 miles
- Driving time: 11.0 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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8 / 63#8. Isle Royale National Park (Michigan)
- Distance: 587 miles
- Driving time: 12.4 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. Glacier National Park (Montana)
- Distance: 619 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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10 / 63#10. Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park (Colorado)
- Distance: 668 miles
- Driving time: 15.8 hours
- Date founded: October 21, 1999
- 2025 visitors: 250,086 (#50 highest among all national parks)
- Park area: 30,779.83 acres
Kris Wiktor // Shutterstock
11 / 63#11. Great Sand Dunes National Park (Colorado)
- Distance: 673 miles
- Driving time: 14.5 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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12 / 63#12. Arches National Park (Utah)
- Distance: 714 miles
- Driving time: 16.2 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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13 / 63#13. Canyonlands National Park (Utah)
- Distance: 753 miles
- Driving time: 21.9 hours
- Date founded: September 12, 1964
- 2025 visitors: 796,057 (#29 highest among all national parks)
- Park area: 337,597.83 acres
Sopotnicki // Shutterstock
14 / 63#14. Mesa Verde National Park (Colorado)
- Distance: 773 miles
- Driving time: 18.0 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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15 / 63#15. Indiana Dunes National Park (Indiana)
- Distance: 778 miles
- Driving time: 13.4 hours
- Date founded: February 15, 2019
- 2025 visitors: 2,629,497 (#13 highest among all national parks)
- Park area: 15,349.08 acres
Paul Brady Photography // Shutterstock
16 / 63#16. Gateway Arch National Park (Missouri)
- Distance: 790 miles
- Driving time: 15.0 hours
- Date founded: February 22, 2018[47]
- 2025 visitors: 2,209,028 (#15 highest among all national parks)
- Park area: 192.83 acres
Layne V. Naylor // Shutterstock
17 / 63#17. Capitol Reef National Park (Utah)
- Distance: 792 miles
- Driving time: 17.8 hours
- Date founded: December 18, 1971
- 2025 visitors: 1,388,476 (#22 highest among all national parks)
- Park area: 241,904.50 acres
ronnybas frimages // Shutterstock
18 / 63#18. Bryce Canyon National Park (Utah)
- Distance: 861 miles
- Driving time: 18.5 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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19 / 63#19. Great Basin National Park (Nevada)
- Distance: 867 miles
- Driving time: 17.7 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
20 / 63#20. Zion National Park (Utah)
- Distance: 905 miles
- Driving time: 18.4 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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21 / 63#21. Petrified Forest National Park (Arizona)
- Distance: 935 miles
- Driving time: 19.9 hours
- Date founded: December 9, 1962
- 2025 visitors: 315,951 (#48 highest among all national parks)
- Park area: 221,390.21 acres
Josemaria Toscano // Shutterstock
22 / 63#22. Grand Canyon National Park (Arizona)
- Distance: 943 miles
- Driving time: 21.7 hours
- Date founded: February 26, 1919
- 2025 visitors: 4,430,653 (#4 highest among all national parks)
- Park area: 1,201,647.03 acres
Zack Frank // Shutterstock
23 / 63#23. North Cascades National Park (Washington)
- Distance: 947 miles
- Driving time: 19.6 hours
- Date founded: October 2, 1968
- 2025 visitors: 46,925 (#57 highest among all national parks)
- Park area: 504,780.94 acres
Zack Frank // Shutterstock
24 / 63#24. Hot Springs National Park (Arkansas)
- Distance: 949 miles
- Driving time: 18.2 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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25 / 63#25. Mount Rainier National Park (Washington)
- Distance: 981 miles
- Driving time: 18.0 hours
- Date founded: March 2, 1899
- 2025 visitors: 1,635,342 (#20 highest among all national parks)
- Park area: 236,381.64 acres
Galyna Andrushko // Shutterstock
26 / 63#26. White Sands National Park (New Mexico)
- Distance: 1,011 miles
- Driving time: 19.9 hours
- Date founded: December 20, 2019[111]
- 2025 visitors: 659,742 (#35 highest among all national parks)
- Park area: 146,344.31 acres
Wangkun Jia // Shutterstock
27 / 63#27. Mammoth Cave National Park (Kentucky)
- Distance: 1,014 miles
- Driving time: 18.7 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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28 / 63#28. Carlsbad Caverns National Park (New Mexico)
- Distance: 1,032 miles
- Driving time: 20.5 hours
- Date founded: May 14, 1930
- 2025 visitors: 410,778 (#46 highest among all national parks)
- Park area: 46,766.45 acres
Zack Frank // Shutterstock
29 / 63#29. Cuyahoga Valley National Park (Ohio)
- Distance: 1,039 miles
- Driving time: 18.2 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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30 / 63#30. Guadalupe Mountains National Park (Texas)
- Distance: 1,053 miles
- Driving time: 21.6 hours
- Date founded: October 15, 1966
- 2025 visitors: 206,423 (#52 highest among all national parks)
- Park area: 86,367.10 acres
f11photo // Shutterstock
31 / 63#31. Olympic National Park (Washington)
- Distance: 1,055 miles
- Driving time: 20.3 hours
- Date founded: June 29, 1938
- 2025 visitors: 3,584,187 (#9 highest among all national parks)
- Park area: 922,649.41 acres
Hank Shiffman // Shutterstock
32 / 63#32. Crater Lake National Park (Oregon)
- Distance: 1,068 miles
- Driving time: 21.6 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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33 / 63#33. Death Valley National Park (California, Nevada)
- Distance: 1,098 miles
- Driving time: 21.7 hours
- Date founded: October 31, 1994
- 2025 visitors: 1,320,134 (#24 highest among all national parks)
- Park area: 3,408,406.73 acres
Zack Frank // Shutterstock
34 / 63#34. Lassen Volcanic National Park (California)
- Distance: 1,115 miles
- Driving time: 23.7 hours
- Date founded: August 9, 1916
- 2025 visitors: 504,777 (#40 highest among all national parks)
- Park area: 106,589.02 acres
kojihirano // Shutterstock
35 / 63#35. Saguaro National Park (Arizona)
- Distance: 1,129 miles
- Driving time: 23.6 hours
- Date founded: October 14, 1994
- 2025 visitors: 847,749 (#28 highest among all national parks)
- Park area: 92,867.42 acres
Stephen Moehle // Shutterstock
36 / 63#36. Yosemite National Park (California)
- Distance: 1,131 miles
- Driving time: 26.6 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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37 / 63#37. Kings Canyon National Park (California)
- Distance: 1,139 miles
- Driving time: 29.6 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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38 / 63#38. Sequoia National Park (California)
- Distance: 1,162 miles
- Driving time: 28.3 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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39 / 63#39. New River Gorge National Park (West Virginia)
- Distance: 1,180 miles
- Driving time: 21.9 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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40 / 63#40. Great Smoky Mountains National Park (North Carolina, Tennessee)
- Distance: 1,188 miles
- Driving time: 21.9 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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41 / 63#41. Joshua Tree National Park (California)
- Distance: 1,195 miles
- Driving time: 24.0 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. Redwood National Park (California)
- Distance: 1,203 miles
- Driving time: 25.2 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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43 / 63#43. Big Bend National Park (Texas)
- Distance: 1,223 miles
- Driving time: 24.5 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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44 / 63#44. Pinnacles National Park (California)
- Distance: 1,261 miles
- Driving time: 26.0 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. Shenandoah National Park (Virginia)
- Distance: 1,282 miles
- Driving time: 24.6 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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46 / 63#46. Channel Islands National Park (California)
- Distance: 1,311 miles
- Date founded: March 5, 1980
- 2025 visitors: 227,186 (#51 highest among all national parks)
- Park area: 249,561.00 acres
Zack Frank // Shutterstock
47 / 63#47. Congaree National Park (South Carolina)
- Distance: 1,391 miles
- Driving time: 25.8 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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48 / 63#48. Acadia National Park (Maine)
- Distance: 1,586 miles
- Driving time: 32.4 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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49 / 63#49. Glacier Bay National Park (Alaska)
- Distance: 1,685 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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50 / 63#50. Dry Tortugas National Park (Florida)
- Distance: 1,831 miles
- Driving time: 36.3 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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51 / 63#51. Everglades National Park (Florida)
- Distance: 1,851 miles
- Driving time: 34.4 hours
- Date founded: May 30, 1934
- 2025 visitors: 778,198 (#31 highest among all national parks)
- Park area: 1,508,938.57 acres
Claudia G Cooper // Shutterstock
52 / 63#52. Biscayne National Park (Florida)
- Distance: 1,860 miles
- Driving time: 33.3 hours
- Date founded: June 28, 1980
- 2025 visitors: 486,567 (#41 highest among all national parks)
- Park area: 172,971.11 acres
Martin Capek // Shutterstock
53 / 63#53. Wrangell–St. Elias National Park (Alaska)
- Distance: 1,893 miles
- Date founded: December 2, 1980
- 2025 visitors: 108,840 (#55 highest among all national parks)
- Park area: 8,323,146.48 acres
Tomasz Wozniak // Shutterstock
54 / 63#54. Kenai Fjords National Park (Alaska)
- Distance: 2,142 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
55 / 63#55. Denali National Park (Alaska)
- Distance: 2,191 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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56 / 63#56. Lake Clark National Park (Alaska)
- Distance: 2,273 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
57 / 63#57. Gates of the Arctic National Park (Alaska)
- Distance: 2,322 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
58 / 63#58. Katmai National Park (Alaska)
- Distance: 2,333 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. Kobuk Valley National Park (Alaska)
- Distance: 2,475 miles
- Date founded: December 2, 1980
- 2025 visitors: 7,786 (#63 highest among all national parks)
- Park area: 1,750,716.16 acres
Sean Pavone // Shutterstock
60 / 63#60. Virgin Islands National Park (U.S. Virgin Islands)
- Distance: 2,844 miles
- Date founded: August 2, 1956
- 2025 visitors: 471,074 (#42 highest among all national parks)
- Park area: 15,052.53 acres
MH Anderson Photography // Shutterstock
61 / 63#61. Haleakalā National Park (Hawaii)
- Distance: 3,558 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: 3,578 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: 6,013 miles
- Date founded: October 31, 1988
- 2025 visitors: 43,258 (#58 highest among all national parks)
- Park area: 8,256.67 acres
