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 Sioux Falls. National parks are ranked by closest straight line distance, measured from representative points in Sioux Falls, SD 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. Badlands National Park (South Dakota)
- Distance: 277 miles
- Driving time: 4.2 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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2 / 63#2. Wind Cave National Park (South Dakota)
- Distance: 326 miles
- Driving time: 5.6 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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3 / 63#3. Theodore Roosevelt National Park (North Dakota)
- Distance: 396 miles
- Driving time: 8.4 hours
- Date founded: November 10, 1978
- 2025 visitors: 729,893 (#33 highest among all national parks)
- Park area: 70,446.89 acres
BlueBarronPhoto // Shutterstock
4 / 63#4. Voyageurs National Park (Minnesota)
- Distance: 398 miles
- Driving time: 8.5 hours
- Date founded: April 8, 1975
- 2025 visitors: 206,326 (#53 highest among all national parks)
- Park area: 218,222.35 acres
Paul Brady Photography // Shutterstock
5 / 63#5. Gateway Arch National Park (Missouri)
- Distance: 489 miles
- Driving time: 9.2 hours
- Date founded: February 22, 2018[47]
- 2025 visitors: 2,209,028 (#15 highest among all national parks)
- Park area: 192.83 acres
Anna Krivitskaya // Shutterstock
6 / 63#6. Rocky Mountain National Park (Colorado)
- Distance: 491 miles
- Driving time: 10.5 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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7 / 63#7. Isle Royale National Park (Michigan)
- Distance: 517 miles
- Driving time: 11.3 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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8 / 63#8. Indiana Dunes National Park (Indiana)
- Distance: 523 miles
- Driving time: 9.7 hours
- Date founded: February 15, 2019
- 2025 visitors: 2,629,497 (#13 highest among all national parks)
- Park area: 15,349.08 acres
Kris Wiktor // Shutterstock
9 / 63#9. Great Sand Dunes National Park (Colorado)
- Distance: 598 miles
- Driving time: 13.3 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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10 / 63#10. Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park (Colorado)
- Distance: 655 miles
- Driving time: 14.8 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
11 / 63#11. Hot Springs National Park (Arkansas)
- Distance: 655 miles
- Driving time: 12.3 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. Yellowstone National Park (Wyoming, Montana, Idaho)
- Distance: 676 miles
- Driving time: 12.3 hours
- Date founded: March 1, 1872
- 2025 visitors: 4,762,988 (#3 highest among all national parks)
- Park area: 2,219,790.71 acres
Zack Frank // Shutterstock
13 / 63#13. Grand Teton National Park (Wyoming)
- Distance: 692 miles
- Driving time: 12.8 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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14 / 63#14. Mammoth Cave National Park (Kentucky)
- Distance: 721 miles
- Driving time: 14.2 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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15 / 63#15. Arches National Park (Utah)
- Distance: 735 miles
- Driving time: 15.2 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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16 / 63#16. Mesa Verde National Park (Colorado)
- Distance: 746 miles
- Driving time: 17.0 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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17 / 63#17. Canyonlands National Park (Utah)
- Distance: 769 miles
- Driving time: 21.0 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. Cuyahoga Valley National Park (Ohio)
- Distance: 804 miles
- Driving time: 14.3 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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19 / 63#19. Capitol Reef National Park (Utah)
- Distance: 826 miles
- Driving time: 16.8 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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20 / 63#20. Carlsbad Caverns National Park (New Mexico)
- Distance: 880 miles
- Driving time: 17.7 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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21 / 63#21. White Sands National Park (New Mexico)
- Distance: 891 miles
- Driving time: 17.7 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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22 / 63#22. Glacier National Park (Montana)
- Distance: 892 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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23 / 63#23. Bryce Canyon National Park (Utah)
- Distance: 896 miles
- Driving time: 18.9 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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24 / 63#24. Great Smoky Mountains National Park (North Carolina, Tennessee)
- Distance: 897 miles
- Driving time: 17.7 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. Petrified Forest National Park (Arizona)
- Distance: 897 miles
- Driving time: 18.8 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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26 / 63#26. Guadalupe Mountains National Park (Texas)
- Distance: 906 miles
- Driving time: 18.8 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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27 / 63#27. New River Gorge National Park (West Virginia)
- Distance: 913 miles
- Driving time: 17.9 hours
- Date founded: December 27, 2020
- 2025 visitors: 1,958,440 (#17 highest among all national parks)
- Park area: 7,021 acres
Galyna Andrushko // Shutterstock
28 / 63#28. Zion National Park (Utah)
- Distance: 946 miles
- Driving time: 19.0 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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29 / 63#29. Great Basin National Park (Nevada)
- Distance: 952 miles
- Driving time: 18.2 hours
- Date founded: October 27, 1986
- 2025 visitors: 161,210 (#54 highest among all national parks)
- Park area: 77,180.00 acres
Josemaria Toscano // Shutterstock
30 / 63#30. Grand Canyon National Park (Arizona)
- Distance: 953 miles
- Driving time: 20.7 hours
- Date founded: February 26, 1919
- 2025 visitors: 4,430,653 (#4 highest among all national parks)
- Park area: 1,201,647.03 acres
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31 / 63#31. Shenandoah National Park (Virginia)
- Distance: 1,030 miles
- Driving time: 20.9 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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32 / 63#32. Big Bend National Park (Texas)
- Distance: 1,042 miles
- Driving time: 20.6 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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33 / 63#33. Saguaro National Park (Arizona)
- Distance: 1,068 miles
- Driving time: 22.5 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
34 / 63#34. Congaree National Park (South Carolina)
- Distance: 1,101 miles
- Driving time: 21.5 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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35 / 63#35. Death Valley National Park (California, Nevada)
- Distance: 1,163 miles
- Driving time: 22.2 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
36 / 63#36. North Cascades National Park (Washington)
- Distance: 1,211 miles
- Driving time: 23.7 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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37 / 63#37. Joshua Tree National Park (California)
- Distance: 1,218 miles
- Driving time: 24.5 hours
- Date founded: October 31, 1994
- 2025 visitors: 2,932,644 (#12 highest among all national parks)
- Park area: 795,155.85 acres
Diane Fetzner // Shutterstock
38 / 63#38. Mount Rainier National Park (Washington)
- Distance: 1,226 miles
- Driving time: 21.9 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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39 / 63#39. Kings Canyon National Park (California)
- Distance: 1,227 miles
- Driving time: 30.1 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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40 / 63#40. Yosemite National Park (California)
- Distance: 1,241 miles
- Driving time: 27.2 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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41 / 63#41. Sequoia National Park (California)
- Distance: 1,245 miles
- Driving time: 28.9 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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42 / 63#42. Crater Lake National Park (Oregon)
- Distance: 1,263 miles
- Driving time: 25.3 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
43 / 63#43. Lassen Volcanic National Park (California)
- Distance: 1,274 miles
- Driving time: 24.3 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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44 / 63#44. Olympic National Park (Washington)
- Distance: 1,312 miles
- Driving time: 24.4 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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45 / 63#45. Pinnacles National Park (California)
- Distance: 1,365 miles
- Driving time: 26.6 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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46 / 63#46. Channel Islands National Park (California)
- Distance: 1,370 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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47 / 63#47. Redwood National Park (California)
- Distance: 1,384 miles
- Driving time: 28.7 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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48 / 63#48. Acadia National Park (Maine)
- Distance: 1,430 miles
- Driving time: 28.6 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. Dry Tortugas National Park (Florida)
- Distance: 1,527 miles
- Driving time: 31.0 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: 1,547 miles
- Driving time: 29.1 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: 1,557 miles
- Driving time: 28.1 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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52 / 63#52. Glacier Bay National Park (Alaska)
- Distance: 1,987 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: 2,197 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: 2,445 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: 2,496 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. Virgin Islands National Park (U.S. Virgin Islands)
- Distance: 2,555 miles
- Date founded: August 2, 1956
- 2025 visitors: 471,074 (#42 highest among all national parks)
- Park area: 15,052.53 acres
Malachi Jacobs // Shutterstock
57 / 63#57. Lake Clark National Park (Alaska)
- Distance: 2,577 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: 2,623 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: 2,635 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: 2,777 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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61 / 63#61. Haleakalā National Park (Hawaii)
- Distance: 3,719 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: 3,729 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: 6,101 miles
- Date founded: October 31, 1988
- 2025 visitors: 43,258 (#58 highest among all national parks)
- Park area: 8,256.67 acres
