Closest national parks to Kansas City
Zack Frank // Shutterstock
Closest national parks to Kansas City
Approximately 331 million people visited American national parks in 2024, representing a 2% year-over-year growth and the fourth straight year of growth.
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 Kansas City. National parks are ranked by closest straight line distance, measured from representative points in Kansas City, MO-KS 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. Gateway Arch National Park (Missouri)
– Distance: 231 miles
– Driving time: 3.7 hours
– Date founded: February 22, 2018
– 2024 visitors: 2,563,052 (#14 highest among all national parks)
– Park area: 192.83 acres 
Zack Frank // Shutterstock
#2. Hot Springs National Park (Arkansas)
– Distance: 315 miles
– Driving time: 6.7 hours
– Date founded: March 4, 1921
– 2024 visitors: 2,461,812 (#16 highest among all national parks)
– Park area: 5,554.15 acres 
Delmas Lehman // Shutterstock
#3. Indiana Dunes National Park (Indiana)
– Distance: 433 miles
– Driving time: 8.3 hours
– Date founded: February 15, 2019
– 2024 visitors: 2,705,209 (#13 highest among all national parks)
– Park area: 15,349.08 acres 
Wangkun Jia // Shutterstock
#4. Mammoth Cave National Park (Kentucky)
– Distance: 471 miles
– Driving time: 8.6 hours
– Date founded: July 1, 1941
– 2024 visitors: 747,042 (#28 highest among all national parks)
– Park area: 72,472.87 acres 
Matt Ragen // Shutterstock
#5. Badlands National Park (South Dakota)
– Distance: 534 miles
– Driving time: 10.0 hours
– Date founded: November 10, 1978
– 2024 visitors: 1,094,245 (#25 highest among all national parks)
– Park area: 242,755.94 acres
Zack Frank // Shutterstock
#6. Wind Cave National Park (South Dakota)
– Distance: 569 miles
– Driving time: 11.0 hours
– Date founded: January 9, 1903
– 2024 visitors: 489,399 (#40 highest among all national parks)
– Park area: 33,970.84 acres 
Anna Krivitskaya // Shutterstock
#7. Rocky Mountain National Park (Colorado)
– Distance: 602 miles
– Driving time: 10.0 hours
– Date founded: January 26, 1915
– 2024 visitors: 4,154,349 (#5 highest among all national parks)
– Park area: 265,847.74 acres 
Kris Wiktor // Shutterstock
#8. Great Sand Dunes National Park (Colorado)
– Distance: 607 miles
– Driving time: 11.2 hours
– Date founded: September 24, 2004
– 2024 visitors: 437,661 (#44 highest among all national parks)
– Park area: 107,345.73 acres 
ZakZeinert // Shutterstock
#9. Great Smoky Mountains National Park (North Carolina, Tennessee)
– Distance: 641 miles
– Driving time: 11.9 hours
– Date founded: June 15, 1934
– 2024 visitors: 12,191,834 (#1 highest among all national parks)
– Park area: 522,426.88 acres 
BlueBarronPhoto // Shutterstock
#10. Voyageurs National Park (Minnesota)
– Distance: 665 miles
– Driving time: 11.1 hours
– Date founded: April 8, 1975
– 2024 visitors: 199,030 (#53 highest among all national parks)
– Park area: 218,222.35 acres 
SveKo // Shutterstock
#11. Isle Royale National Park (Michigan)
– Distance: 698 miles
– Driving time: 14.0 hours
– Date founded: April 3, 1940
– 2024 visitors: 28,806 (#58 highest among all national parks)
– Park area: 571,790.30 acres 
Zack Frank // Shutterstock
#12. Cuyahoga Valley National Park (Ohio)
– Distance: 701 miles
– Driving time: 11.7 hours
– Date founded: October 11, 2000
– 2024 visitors: 2,912,454 (#12 highest among all national parks)
– Park area: 32,571.89 acres 
SL-Photography // Shutterstock
#13. Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park (Colorado)
– Distance: 717 miles
– Driving time: 13.7 hours
– Date founded: October 21, 1999
– 2024 visitors: 335,862 (#49 highest among all national parks)
– Park area: 30,779.83 acres 
Laurens Hoddenbagh // Shutterstock
#14. Theodore Roosevelt National Park (North Dakota)
– Distance: 718 miles
– Driving time: 13.8 hours
– Date founded: November 10, 1978
– 2024 visitors: 732,951 (#31 highest among all national parks)
– Park area: 70,446.89 acres 
Steve Heap // Shutterstock
#15. New River Gorge National Park (West Virginia)
– Distance: 726 miles
– Driving time: 12.4 hours
– Date founded: December 27, 2020
– 2024 visitors: 1,811,937 (#17 highest among all national parks)
– Park area: 7,021 acres 
Doug Meek // Shutterstock
#16. Carlsbad Caverns National Park (New Mexico)
– Distance: 730 miles
– Driving time: 13.6 hours
– Date founded: May 14, 1930
– 2024 visitors: 460,474 (#43 highest among all national parks)
– Park area: 46,766.45 acres 
ShuPhoto // Shutterstock
#17. Guadalupe Mountains National Park (Texas)
– Distance: 761 miles
– Driving time: 14.7 hours
– Date founded: October 15, 1966
– 2024 visitors: 226,134 (#52 highest among all national parks)
– Park area: 86,367.10 acres 
Sopotnicki // Shutterstock
#18. Mesa Verde National Park (Colorado)
– Distance: 775 miles
– Driving time: 15.3 hours
– Date founded: June 29, 1906
– 2024 visitors: 480,065 (#41 highest among all national parks)
– Park area: 52,485.17 acres 
Galyna Andrushko // Shutterstock
#19. White Sands National Park (New Mexico)
– Distance: 782 miles
– Driving time: 13.8 hours
– Date founded: December 20, 2019
– 2024 visitors: 702,236 (#33 highest among all national parks)
– Park area: 146,344.31 acres 
Manamana // Shutterstock
#20. Arches National Park (Utah)
– Distance: 816 miles
– Driving time: 14.1 hours
– Date founded: November 12, 1971
– 2024 visitors: 1,466,528 (#20 highest among all national parks)
– Park area: 76,678.98 acres 
Eric Foltz // Shutterstock
#21. Big Bend National Park (Texas)
– Distance: 836 miles
– Driving time: 16.1 hours
– Date founded: June 12, 1944
– 2024 visitors: 561,458 (#36 highest among all national parks)
– Park area: 801,163.21 acres 
Manamana // Shutterstock
#22. Canyonlands National Park (Utah)
– Distance: 839 miles
– Driving time: 21.3 hours
– Date founded: September 12, 1964
– 2024 visitors: 818,492 (#27 highest among all national parks)
– Park area: 337,597.83 acres 
Zack Frank // Shutterstock
#23. Congaree National Park (South Carolina)
– Distance: 840 miles
– Driving time: 15.9 hours
– Date founded: November 10, 2003
– 2024 visitors: 242,049 (#51 highest among all national parks)
– Park area: 26,692.60 acres 
Jon Bilous // Shutterstock
#24. Shenandoah National Park (Virginia)
– Distance: 869 miles
– Driving time: 15.9 hours
– Date founded: December 26, 1935
– 2024 visitors: 1,720,211 (#18 highest among all national parks)
– Park area: 200,445.92 acres 
Felix Lipov // Shutterstock
#25. Petrified Forest National Park (Arizona)
– Distance: 888 miles
– Driving time: 14.9 hours
– Date founded: December 9, 1962
– 2024 visitors: 559,254 (#37 highest among all national parks)
– Park area: 221,390.21 acres 
Layne V. Naylor // Shutterstock
#26. Capitol Reef National Park (Utah)
– Distance: 906 miles
– Driving time: 15.7 hours
– Date founded: December 18, 1971
– 2024 visitors: 1,422,490 (#23 highest among all national parks)
– Park area: 241,904.50 acres 
Zack Frank // Shutterstock
#27. Grand Teton National Park (Wyoming)
– Distance: 911 miles
– Driving time: 16.1 hours
– Date founded: February 26, 1929
– 2024 visitors: 3,628,222 (#9 highest among all national parks)
– Park area: 310,044.36 acres 
Lane V. Erickson // Shutterstock
#28. Yellowstone National Park (Wyoming, Montana, Idaho)
– Distance: 915 miles
– Driving time: 17.2 hours
– Date founded: March 1, 1872
– 2024 visitors: 4,744,353 (#4 highest among all national parks)
– Park area: 2,219,790.71 acres 
ronnybas frimages // Shutterstock
#29. Bryce Canyon National Park (Utah)
– Distance: 968 miles
– Driving time: 17.8 hours
– Date founded: February 25, 1928
– 2024 visitors: 2,498,075 (#15 highest among all national parks)
– Park area: 35,835.08 acres 
Josemaria Toscano // Shutterstock
#30. Grand Canyon National Park (Arizona)
– Distance: 991 miles
– Driving time: 18.5 hours
– Date founded: February 26, 1919
– 2024 visitors: 4,919,163 (#3 highest among all national parks)
– Park area: 1,201,647.03 acres 
kojihirano // Shutterstock
#31. Saguaro National Park (Arizona)
– Distance: 1,013 miles
– Driving time: 18.7 hours
– Date founded: October 14, 1994
– 2024 visitors: 946,369 (#26 highest among all national parks)
– Park area: 92,876.75 acres 
Galyna Andrushko // Shutterstock
#32. Zion National Park (Utah)
– Distance: 1,018 miles
– Driving time: 18.3 hours
– Date founded: November 19, 1919
– 2024 visitors: 4,946,592 (#2 highest among all national parks)
– Park area: 147,242.66 acres 
Arlene Waller // Shutterstock
#33. Great Basin National Park (Nevada)
– Distance: 1,067 miles
– Driving time: 18.3 hours
– Date founded: October 27, 1986
– 2024 visitors: 152,068 (#54 highest among all national parks)
– Park area: 77,180.00 acres 
Pung // Shutterstock
#34. Glacier National Park (Montana)
– Distance: 1,185 miles
– Date founded: May 11, 1910
– 2024 visitors: 3,208,755 (#10 highest among all national parks)
– Park area: 1,013,126.39 acres 
Varina C // Shutterstock
#35. Dry Tortugas National Park (Florida)
– Distance: 1,196 miles
– Driving time: 25.2 hours
– Date founded: October 26, 1992
– 2024 visitors: 84,873 (#55 highest among all national parks)
– Park area: 64,701.22 acres 
Simon Dannhauer // Shutterstock
#36. Everglades National Park (Florida)
– Distance: 1,225 miles
– Driving time: 23.3 hours
– Date founded: May 30, 1934
– 2024 visitors: 741,983 (#29 highest among all national parks)
– Park area: 1,508,938.57 acres 
Bryan Brazil // Shutterstock
#37. Death Valley National Park (California, Nevada)
– Distance: 1,239 miles
– Driving time: 21.5 hours
– Date founded: October 31, 1994
– 2024 visitors: 1,440,484 (#21 highest among all national parks)
– Park area: 3,408,395.63 acres 
Claudia G Cooper // Shutterstock
#38. Biscayne National Park (Florida)
– Distance: 1,239 miles
– Driving time: 22.3 hours
– Date founded: June 28, 1980
– 2024 visitors: 512,213 (#38 highest among all national parks)
– Park area: 172,971.11 acres 
Dennis Silvas // Shutterstock
#39. Joshua Tree National Park (California)
– Distance: 1,245 miles
– Driving time: 22.2 hours
– Date founded: October 31, 1994
– 2024 visitors: 2,991,874 (#11 highest among all national parks)
– Park area: 795,155.85 acres 
Patrick Poendl // Shutterstock
#40. Kings Canyon National Park (California)
– Distance: 1,322 miles
– Driving time: 29.4 hours
– Date founded: March 4, 1940
– 2024 visitors: 699,389 (#34 highest among all national parks)
– Park area: 461,901.20 acres 
Virrage Images // Shutterstock
#41. Sequoia National Park (California)
– Distance: 1,336 miles
– Driving time: 28.2 hours
– Date founded: September 25, 1890
– 2024 visitors: 1,309,573 (#24 highest among all national parks)
– Park area: 404,062.63 acres 
Stephen Moehle // Shutterstock
#42. Yosemite National Park (California)
– Distance: 1,358 miles
– Driving time: 28.2 hours
– Date founded: October 1, 1890
– 2024 visitors: 4,121,807 (#6 highest among all national parks)
– Park area: 761,747.50 acres 
Romiana Lee // Shutterstock
#43. Acadia National Park (Maine)
– Distance: 1,402 miles
– Driving time: 26.3 hours
– Date founded: February 26, 1919
– 2024 visitors: 3,961,661 (#7 highest among all national parks)
– Park area: 49,071.40 acres 
Ethan Daniels // Shutterstock
#44. Channel Islands National Park (California)
– Distance: 1,427 miles
– Date founded: March 5, 1980
– 2024 visitors: 262,581 (#50 highest among all national parks)
– Park area: 249,561.00 acres 
Zack Frank // Shutterstock
#45. Lassen Volcanic National Park (California)
– Distance: 1,441 miles
– Driving time: 26.0 hours
– Date founded: August 9, 1916
– 2024 visitors: 357,651 (#47 highest among all national parks)
– Park area: 106,589.02 acres 
Hank Shiffman // Shutterstock
#46. Crater Lake National Park (Oregon)
– Distance: 1,466 miles
– Driving time: 27.3 hours
– Date founded: May 22, 1902
– 2024 visitors: 504,942 (#39 highest among all national parks)
– Park area: 183,224.05 acres 
Yhelfman // Shutterstock
#47. Pinnacles National Park (California)
– Distance: 1,468 miles
– Driving time: 26.8 hours
– Date founded: January 10, 2013
– 2024 visitors: 354,076 (#48 highest among all national parks)
– Park area: 26,685.73 acres 
Diane Fetzner // Shutterstock
#48. Mount Rainier National Park (Washington)
– Distance: 1,480 miles
– Driving time: 26.8 hours
– Date founded: March 2, 1899
– 2024 visitors: 1,620,006 (#19 highest among all national parks)
– Park area: 236,381.64 acres 
Zack Frank // Shutterstock
#49. North Cascades National Park (Washington)
– Distance: 1,487 miles
– Driving time: 29.5 hours
– Date founded: October 2, 1968
– 2024 visitors: 16,485 (#62 highest among all national parks)
– Park area: 504,780.94 acres 
Bob Pool // Shutterstock
#50. Redwood National Park (California)
– Distance: 1,567 miles
– Driving time: 30.2 hours
– Date founded: October 2, 1968
– 2024 visitors: 622,883 (#35 highest among all national parks)
– Park area: 138,999.37 acres 
f11photo // Shutterstock
#51. Olympic National Park (Washington)
– Distance: 1,577 miles
– Driving time: 29.9 hours
– Date founded: June 29, 1938
– 2024 visitors: 3,717,267 (#8 highest among all national parks)
– Park area: 922,649.41 acres 
Sean Pavone // Shutterstock
#52. Virgin Islands National Park (U.S. Virgin Islands)
– Distance: 2,278 miles
– Date founded: August 2, 1956
– 2024 visitors: 423,029 (#45 highest among all national parks)
– Park area: 15,052.33 acres 
Laurie Gronewold // Shutterstock
#53. Glacier Bay National Park (Alaska)
– Distance: 2,310 miles
– Date founded: December 2, 1980
– 2024 visitors: 736,282 (#30 highest among all national parks)
– Park area: 3,223,383.43 acres 
Martin Capek // Shutterstock
#54. Wrangell–St. Elias National Park (Alaska)
– Distance: 2,525 miles
– Date founded: December 2, 1980
– 2024 visitors: 81,670 (#56 highest among all national parks)
– Park area: 8,323,146.48 acres 
Tomasz Wozniak // Shutterstock
#55. Kenai Fjords National Park (Alaska)
– Distance: 2,769 miles
– Date founded: December 2, 1980
– 2024 visitors: 419,468 (#46 highest among all national parks)
– Park area: 669,650.05 acres 
Marc Cappelletti // Shutterstock
#56. Denali National Park (Alaska)
– Distance: 2,828 miles
– Date founded: February 26, 1917
– 2024 visitors: 466,227 (#42 highest among all national parks)
– Park area: 4,740,911.16 acres 
Malachi Jacobs // Shutterstock
#57. Lake Clark National Park (Alaska)
– Distance: 2,903 miles
– Date founded: December 2, 1980
– 2024 visitors: 18,505 (#60 highest among all national parks)
– Park area: 2,619,816.49 acres 
Robert Harding Video // Shutterstock
#58. Katmai National Park (Alaska)
– Distance: 2,953 miles
– Date founded: December 2, 1980
– 2024 visitors: 36,230 (#57 highest among all national parks)
– Park area: 3,674,529.33 acres 
BlueBarronPhoto // Shutterstock
#59. Gates of the Arctic National Park (Alaska)
– Distance: 2,963 miles
– Date founded: December 2, 1980
– 2024 visitors: 11,907 (#63 highest among all national parks)
– Park area: 7,523,897.45 acres 
BlueBarronPhoto // Shutterstock
#60. Kobuk Valley National Park (Alaska)
– Distance: 3,116 miles
– Date founded: December 2, 1980
– 2024 visitors: 17,233 (#61 highest among all national parks)
– Park area: 1,750,716.16 acres 
jo Crebbin // Shutterstock
#61. Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park (Hawaii)
– Distance: 3,837 miles
– Date founded: August 1, 1916
– 2024 visitors: 1,433,593 (#22 highest among all national parks)
– Park area: 344,812.18 acres 
MH Anderson Photography // Shutterstock
#62. Haleakalā National Park (Hawaii)
– Distance: 3,837 miles
– Date founded: July 1, 1961
– 2024 visitors: 732,477 (#32 highest among all national parks)
– Park area: 33,488.98 acres 
Lloyd Wallin Photography // Shutterstock
#63. National Park of American Samoa (American Samoa)
– Distance: 6,116 miles
– Date founded: October 31, 1988
– 2024 visitors: 22,567 (#59 highest among all national parks)
– Park area: 8,256.67 acres 
