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 Grand Forks. National parks are ranked by closest straight line distance, measured from representative points in Grand Forks, ND-MN 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: 189 miles
- Driving time: 4.1 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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2 / 63#2. Theodore Roosevelt National Park (North Dakota)
- Distance: 316 miles
- Driving time: 6.3 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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3 / 63#3. Isle Royale National Park (Michigan)
- Distance: 385 miles
- Driving time: 9.4 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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4 / 63#4. Badlands National Park (South Dakota)
- Distance: 393 miles
- Driving time: 9.0 hours
- Date founded: November 10, 1978
- 2025 visitors: 1,139,361 (#26 highest among all national parks)
- Park area: 242,755.94 acres
Zack Frank // Shutterstock
5 / 63#5. Wind Cave National Park (South Dakota)
- Distance: 436 miles
- Driving time: 10.4 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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6 / 63#6. Indiana Dunes National Park (Indiana)
- Distance: 643 miles
- Driving time: 12.0 hours
- Date founded: February 15, 2019
- 2025 visitors: 2,629,497 (#13 highest among all national parks)
- Park area: 15,349.08 acres
Anna Krivitskaya // Shutterstock
7 / 63#7. Rocky Mountain National Park (Colorado)
- Distance: 672 miles
- Driving time: 15.1 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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8 / 63#8. Yellowstone National Park (Wyoming, Montana, Idaho)
- Distance: 691 miles
- Driving time: 13.5 hours
- Date founded: March 1, 1872
- 2025 visitors: 4,762,988 (#3 highest among all national parks)
- Park area: 2,219,790.71 acres
Paul Brady Photography // Shutterstock
9 / 63#9. Gateway Arch National Park (Missouri)
- Distance: 718 miles
- Driving time: 13.6 hours
- Date founded: February 22, 2018[47]
- 2025 visitors: 2,209,028 (#15 highest among all national parks)
- Park area: 192.83 acres
Zack Frank // Shutterstock
10 / 63#10. Grand Teton National Park (Wyoming)
- Distance: 730 miles
- Driving time: 15.2 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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11 / 63#11. Glacier National Park (Montana)
- Distance: 792 miles
- Date founded: May 11, 1910
- 2025 visitors: 3,136,557 (#10 highest among all national parks)
- Park area: 1,013,125.99 acres
Kris Wiktor // Shutterstock
12 / 63#12. Great Sand Dunes National Park (Colorado)
- Distance: 824 miles
- Driving time: 18.4 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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13 / 63#13. Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park (Colorado)
- Distance: 841 miles
- Driving time: 19.8 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
14 / 63#14. Cuyahoga Valley National Park (Ohio)
- Distance: 880 miles
- Driving time: 16.7 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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15 / 63#15. Arches National Park (Utah)
- Distance: 899 miles
- Driving time: 20.3 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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16 / 63#16. Mammoth Cave National Park (Kentucky)
- Distance: 916 miles
- Driving time: 17.2 hours
- Date founded: July 1, 1941
- 2025 visitors: 660,734 (#34 highest among all national parks)
- Park area: 54,011.91 acres
Manamana // Shutterstock
17 / 63#17. Canyonlands National Park (Utah)
- Distance: 937 miles
- Driving time: 26.0 hours
- Date founded: September 12, 1964
- 2025 visitors: 796,057 (#29 highest among all national parks)
- Park area: 337,597.83 acres
Zack Frank // Shutterstock
18 / 63#18. Hot Springs National Park (Arkansas)
- Distance: 940 miles
- Driving time: 18.1 hours
- Date founded: March 4, 1921
- 2025 visitors: 2,494,611 (#14 highest among all national parks)
- Park area: 5,554.15 acres
Sopotnicki // Shutterstock
19 / 63#19. Mesa Verde National Park (Colorado)
- Distance: 944 miles
- Driving time: 22.1 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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20 / 63#20. Capitol Reef National Park (Utah)
- Distance: 981 miles
- Driving time: 21.8 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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21 / 63#21. New River Gorge National Park (West Virginia)
- Distance: 1,042 miles
- Driving time: 20.3 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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22 / 63#22. Bryce Canyon National Park (Utah)
- Distance: 1,051 miles
- Driving time: 22.7 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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23 / 63#23. Great Basin National Park (Nevada)
- Distance: 1,066 miles
- Driving time: 21.9 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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24 / 63#24. Great Smoky Mountains National Park (North Carolina, Tennessee)
- Distance: 1,082 miles
- Driving time: 20.6 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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25 / 63#25. Zion National Park (Utah)
- Distance: 1,097 miles
- Driving time: 22.7 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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26 / 63#26. Petrified Forest National Park (Arizona)
- Distance: 1,105 miles
- Driving time: 23.9 hours
- Date founded: December 9, 1962
- 2025 visitors: 315,951 (#48 highest among all national parks)
- Park area: 221,390.21 acres
Zack Frank // Shutterstock
27 / 63#27. North Cascades National Park (Washington)
- Distance: 1,120 miles
- Driving time: 24.3 hours
- Date founded: October 2, 1968
- 2025 visitors: 46,925 (#57 highest among all national parks)
- Park area: 504,780.94 acres
Josemaria Toscano // Shutterstock
28 / 63#28. Grand Canyon National Park (Arizona)
- Distance: 1,128 miles
- Driving time: 25.8 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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29 / 63#29. Shenandoah National Park (Virginia)
- Distance: 1,129 miles
- Driving time: 23.8 hours
- Date founded: December 26, 1935
- 2025 visitors: 1,682,152 (#19 highest among all national parks)
- Park area: 199,223.77 acres
Galyna Andrushko // Shutterstock
30 / 63#30. White Sands National Park (New Mexico)
- Distance: 1,148 miles
- Driving time: 23.7 hours
- Date founded: December 20, 2019[111]
- 2025 visitors: 659,742 (#35 highest among all national parks)
- Park area: 146,344.31 acres
Doug Meek // Shutterstock
31 / 63#31. Carlsbad Caverns National Park (New Mexico)
- Distance: 1,152 miles
- Driving time: 24.1 hours
- Date founded: May 14, 1930
- 2025 visitors: 410,778 (#46 highest among all national parks)
- Park area: 46,766.45 acres
Diane Fetzner // Shutterstock
32 / 63#32. Mount Rainier National Park (Washington)
- Distance: 1,166 miles
- Driving time: 22.6 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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33 / 63#33. Guadalupe Mountains National Park (Texas)
- Distance: 1,176 miles
- Driving time: 25.2 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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34 / 63#34. Olympic National Park (Washington)
- Distance: 1,232 miles
- Driving time: 25.0 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
35 / 63#35. Crater Lake National Park (Oregon)
- Distance: 1,268 miles
- Driving time: 26.0 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
36 / 63#36. Congaree National Park (South Carolina)
- Distance: 1,279 miles
- Driving time: 24.5 hours
- Date founded: November 10, 2003
- 2025 visitors: 287,833 (#49 highest among all national parks)
- Park area: 26,476.47 acres
kojihirano // Shutterstock
37 / 63#37. Saguaro National Park (Arizona)
- Distance: 1,292 miles
- Driving time: 27.7 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. Death Valley National Park (California, Nevada)
- Distance: 1,296 miles
- Driving time: 25.9 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
39 / 63#39. Lassen Volcanic National Park (California)
- Distance: 1,319 miles
- Driving time: 28.4 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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40 / 63#40. Big Bend National Park (Texas)
- Distance: 1,327 miles
- Driving time: 26.6 hours
- Date founded: June 12, 1944
- 2025 visitors: 568,104 (#38 highest among all national parks)
- Park area: 801,163.21 acres
Stephen Moehle // Shutterstock
41 / 63#41. Yosemite National Park (California)
- Distance: 1,335 miles
- Driving time: 30.8 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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42 / 63#42. Kings Canyon National Park (California)
- Distance: 1,340 miles
- Driving time: 33.7 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. Sequoia National Park (California)
- Distance: 1,363 miles
- Driving time: 32.5 hours
- Date founded: September 25, 1890
- 2025 visitors: 1,378,337 (#23 highest among all national parks)
- Park area: 404,062.63 acres
Dennis Silvas // Shutterstock
44 / 63#44. Joshua Tree National Park (California)
- Distance: 1,385 miles
- Driving time: 28.2 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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45 / 63#45. Acadia National Park (Maine)
- Distance: 1,389 miles
- Driving time: 30.9 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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46 / 63#46. Redwood National Park (California)
- Distance: 1,406 miles
- Driving time: 29.4 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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47 / 63#47. Pinnacles National Park (California)
- Distance: 1,465 miles
- Driving time: 30.2 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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48 / 63#48. Channel Islands National Park (California)
- Distance: 1,509 miles
- Date founded: March 5, 1980
- 2025 visitors: 227,186 (#51 highest among all national parks)
- Park area: 249,561.00 acres
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49 / 63#49. Dry Tortugas National Park (Florida)
- Distance: 1,774 miles
- Driving time: 34.8 hours
- Date founded: October 26, 1992
- 2025 visitors: 89,355 (#56 highest among all national parks)
- Park area: 64,701.22 acres
Simon Dannhauer // Shutterstock
50 / 63#50. Everglades National Park (Florida)
- Distance: 1,779 miles
- Driving time: 32.9 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
51 / 63#51. Biscayne National Park (Florida)
- Distance: 1,782 miles
- Driving time: 31.9 hours
- Date founded: June 28, 1980
- 2025 visitors: 486,567 (#41 highest among all national parks)
- Park area: 172,971.11 acres
Laurie Gronewold // Shutterstock
52 / 63#52. Glacier Bay National Park (Alaska)
- Distance: 1,790 miles
- Date founded: December 2, 1980
- 2025 visitors: 740,044 (#32 highest among all national parks)
- Park area: 3,223,383.43 acres
Martin Capek // Shutterstock
53 / 63#53. Wrangell–St. Elias National Park (Alaska)
- Distance: 1,983 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: 2,242 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: 2,270 miles
- Date founded: February 26, 1917
- 2025 visitors: 543,300 (#39 highest among all national parks)
- Park area: 4,740,911.16 acres
Malachi Jacobs // Shutterstock
56 / 63#56. Lake Clark National Park (Alaska)
- Distance: 2,367 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: 2,374 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: 2,440 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: 2,531 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: 2,720 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: 3,761 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: 3,781 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: 6,217 miles
- Date founded: October 31, 1988
- 2025 visitors: 43,258 (#58 highest among all national parks)
- Park area: 8,256.67 acres
