Closest national parks to Columbus

Approximately 237 million people visited American national parks in 2020, representing a 28% year-over-year decrease attributed to the coronavirus pandemic. Many parks were forced to close to combat the spread of the virus, but that’s not the whole story—when the parks were open, many of them saw record crowds as throngs of people desperate to safely enjoy nature descended onto parks when they reopened.

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 Columbus. National parks are ranked by closest straight line distance, measured from representative points in the Columbus 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.

Be sure to check with individual parks before you visit to find out about ongoing, pandemic-related safety precautions at the National Park Service’s COVID-19 page.

#1. Cuyahoga Valley National Park (Ohio)

– Distance: 111 miles
– Driving time: 2.0 hours
– Date founded: October 11, 2000
– 2020 visitors: 2,755,628 (#7 highest among all national parks)
– Park area: 32,571.88 acres

#2. New River Gorge National Park (West Virginia)

– Distance: 161 miles
– Driving time: 4.2 hours
– Date founded: December 27, 2020
– 2020 visitors: 1,054,374 (#19 highest among all national parks)
– Park area: 7,021 acres

#3. Indiana Dunes National Park (Indiana)

– Distance: 250 miles
– Driving time: 5.2 hours
– Date founded: February 15, 2019
– 2020 visitors: 2,293,106 (#11 highest among all national parks)
– Park area: 15,349.08 acres

#4. Shenandoah National Park (Virginia)

– Distance: 260 miles
– Driving time: 7.5 hours
– Date founded: December 26, 1935
– 2020 visitors: 1,666,265 (#14 highest among all national parks)
– Park area: 199,223.77 acres

#5. Mammoth Cave National Park (Kentucky)

– Distance: 261 miles
– Driving time: 4.8 hours
– Date founded: July 1, 1941
– 2020 visitors: 290,392 (#41 highest among all national parks)
– Park area: 54,011.91 acres

#6. Great Smoky Mountains National Park (North Carolina, Tennessee)

– Distance: 298 miles
– Driving time: 6.5 hours
– Date founded: June 15, 1934
– 2020 visitors: 12,095,720 (#1 highest among all national parks)
– Park area: 522,426.88 acres

7 / 63Paul Brady Photography // Shutterstock

#7. Gateway Arch National Park (Missouri)

– Distance: 405 miles
– Driving time: 6.5 hours
– Date founded: February 22, 2018[47]
– 2020 visitors: 486,021 (#31 highest among all national parks)
– Park area: 192.83 acres

#8. Congaree National Park (South Carolina)

– Distance: 442 miles
– Driving time: 9.3 hours
– Date founded: November 10, 2003
– 2020 visitors: 119,306 (#51 highest among all national parks)
– Park area: 26,476.47 acres

#9. Isle Royale National Park (Michigan)

– Distance: 629 miles
– Driving time: 12.7 hours
– Date founded: April 3, 1940
– 2020 visitors: 6,493 (#59 highest among all national parks)
– Park area: 571,790.30 acres

#10. Hot Springs National Park (Arkansas)

– Distance: 677 miles
– Driving time: 11.8 hours
– Date founded: March 4, 1921
– 2020 visitors: 1,348,215 (#16 highest among all national parks)
– Park area: 5,554.15 acres

#11. Voyageurs National Park (Minnesota)

– Distance: 770 miles
– Driving time: 15.4 hours
– Date founded: April 8, 1975
– 2020 visitors: 263,091 (#44 highest among all national parks)
– Park area: 218,222.35 acres

#12. Acadia National Park (Maine)

– Distance: 808 miles
– Driving time: 16.7 hours
– Date founded: February 26, 1919
– 2020 visitors: 2,669,034 (#8 highest among all national parks)
– Park area: 49,076.63 acres

#13. Biscayne National Park (Florida)

– Distance: 1,000 miles
– Driving time: 18.3 hours
– Date founded: June 28, 1980
– 2020 visitors: 402,770 (#36 highest among all national parks)
– Park area: 172,971.11 acres

#14. Everglades National Park (Florida)

– Distance: 1,015 miles
– Driving time: 19.4 hours
– Date founded: May 30, 1934
– 2020 visitors: 702,319 (#25 highest among all national parks)
– Park area: 1,508,938.57 acres

#15. Badlands National Park (South Dakota)

– Distance: 1,045 miles
– Driving time: 18.2 hours
– Date founded: November 10, 1978
– 2020 visitors: 916,932 (#21 highest among all national parks)
– Park area: 242,755.94 acres

16 / 63U.S. National Park Service // Wikimedia Commons

#16. Dry Tortugas National Park (Florida)

– Distance: 1,057 miles
– Driving time: 21.3 hours
– Date founded: October 26, 1992
– 2020 visitors: 48,543 (#55 highest among all national parks)
– Park area: 64,701.22 acres

#17. Wind Cave National Park (South Dakota)

– Distance: 1,092 miles
– Driving time: 19.6 hours
– Date founded: January 9, 1903
– 2020 visitors: 448,405 (#33 highest among all national parks)
– Park area: 33,970.84 acres

18 / 63Laurens Hoddenbagh // Shutterstock

#18. Theodore Roosevelt National Park (North Dakota)

– Distance: 1,139 miles
– Driving time: 20.0 hours
– Date founded: November 10, 1978
– 2020 visitors: 551,303 (#28 highest among all national parks)
– Park area: 70,446.89 acres

#19. Rocky Mountain National Park (Colorado)

– Distance: 1,201 miles
– Driving time: 19.9 hours
– Date founded: January 26, 1915
– 2020 visitors: 3,305,199 (#4 highest among all national parks)
– Park area: 265,807.25 acres

#20. Great Sand Dunes National Park (Colorado)

– Distance: 1,229 miles
– Driving time: 21.1 hours
– Date founded: September 24, 2004
– 2020 visitors: 461,532 (#32 highest among all national parks)
– Park area: 107,341.87 acres

#21. Carlsbad Caverns National Park (New Mexico)

– Distance: 1,319 miles
– Driving time: 22.1 hours
– Date founded: May 14, 1930
– 2020 visitors: 183,835 (#45 highest among all national parks)
– Park area: 46,766.45 acres

#22. Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park (Colorado)

– Distance: 1,333 miles
– Driving time: 23.5 hours
– Date founded: October 21, 1999
– 2020 visitors: 341,620 (#39 highest among all national parks)
– Park area: 30,779.83 acres

#23. Guadalupe Mountains National Park (Texas)

– Distance: 1,349 miles
– Driving time: 23.2 hours
– Date founded: October 15, 1966
– 2020 visitors: 151,256 (#49 highest among all national parks)
– Park area: 86,367.10 acres

#24. Big Bend National Park (Texas)

– Distance: 1,373 miles
– Driving time: 25.4 hours
– Date founded: June 12, 1944
– 2020 visitors: 393,907 (#37 highest among all national parks)
– Park area: 801,163.21 acres

#25. White Sands National Park (New Mexico)

– Distance: 1,387 miles
– Driving time: 22.9 hours
– Date founded: December 20, 2019[111]
– 2020 visitors: 415,383 (#34 highest among all national parks)
– Park area: 146,344.31 acres

#26. Mesa Verde National Park (Colorado)

– Distance: 1,397 miles
– Driving time: 25.1 hours
– Date founded: June 29, 1906
– 2020 visitors: 287,477 (#42 highest among all national parks)
– Park area: 52,485.17 acres

#27. Arches National Park (Utah)

– Distance: 1,430 miles
– Driving time: 24.1 hours
– Date founded: November 12, 1971
– 2020 visitors: 1,238,083 (#17 highest among all national parks)
– Park area: 76,678.98 acres

#28. Yellowstone National Park (Wyoming, Montana, Idaho)

– Distance: 1,446 miles
– Driving time: 26.5 hours
– Date founded: March 1, 1872
– 2020 visitors: 3,806,306 (#2 highest among all national parks)
– Park area: 2,219,790.71 acres

#29. Canyonlands National Park (Utah)

– Distance: 1,456 miles
– Driving time: 31.2 hours
– Date founded: September 12, 1964
– 2020 visitors: 493,914 (#30 highest among all national parks)
– Park area: 337,597.83 acres

#30. Grand Teton National Park (Wyoming)

– Distance: 1,459 miles
– Driving time: 25.5 hours
– Date founded: February 26, 1929
– 2020 visitors: 3,289,638 (#5 highest among all national parks)
– Park area: 310,044.36 acres

#31. Petrified Forest National Park (Arizona)

– Distance: 1,512 miles
– Driving time: 24.2 hours
– Date founded: December 9, 1962
– 2020 visitors: 384,483 (#38 highest among all national parks)
– Park area: 221,390.21 acres

#32. Capitol Reef National Park (Utah)

– Distance: 1,522 miles
– Driving time: 25.6 hours
– Date founded: December 18, 1971
– 2020 visitors: 981,038 (#20 highest among all national parks)
– Park area: 241,904.50 acres

33 / 63ronnybas frimages // Shutterstock

#33. Bryce Canyon National Park (Utah)

– Distance: 1,586 miles
– Driving time: 27.7 hours
– Date founded: February 25, 1928
– 2020 visitors: 1,464,655 (#15 highest among all national parks)
– Park area: 35,835.08 acres

34 / 63Josemaria Toscano // Shutterstock

#34. Grand Canyon National Park (Arizona)

– Distance: 1,614 miles
– Driving time: 27.7 hours
– Date founded: February 26, 1919
– 2020 visitors: 2,897,098 (#6 highest among all national parks)
– Park area: 1,201,647.03 acres

#35. Saguaro National Park (Arizona)

– Distance: 1,629 miles
– Driving time: 27.9 hours
– Date founded: October 14, 1994
– 2020 visitors: 762,226 (#24 highest among all national parks)
– Park area: 92,867.42 acres

#36. Zion National Park (Utah)

– Distance: 1,637 miles
– Driving time: 28.3 hours
– Date founded: November 19, 1919
– 2020 visitors: 3,591,254 (#3 highest among all national parks)
– Park area: 147,242.66 acres

#37. Glacier National Park (Montana)

– Distance: 1,645 miles
– Date founded: May 11, 1910
– 2020 visitors: 1,698,864 (#13 highest among all national parks)
– Park area: 1,013,125.99 acres

#38. Great Basin National Park (Nevada)

– Distance: 1,675 miles
– Driving time: 28.3 hours
– Date founded: October 27, 1986
– 2020 visitors: 120,248 (#50 highest among all national parks)
– Park area: 77,180.00 acres

#39. Virgin Islands National Park (U.S. Virgin Islands)

– Distance: 1,841 miles
– Date founded: August 2, 1956
– 2020 visitors: 167,540 (#46 highest among all national parks)
– Park area: 15,052.53 acres

#40. Death Valley National Park (California, Nevada)

– Distance: 1,858 miles
– Driving time: 31.5 hours
– Date founded: October 31, 1994
– 2020 visitors: 820,023 (#22 highest among all national parks)
– Park area: 3,408,406.73 acres

#41. Joshua Tree National Park (California)

– Distance: 1,869 miles
– Driving time: 31.5 hours
– Date founded: October 31, 1994
– 2020 visitors: 2,399,542 (#10 highest among all national parks)
– Park area: 795,155.85 acres

#42. Kings Canyon National Park (California)

– Distance: 1,938 miles
– Driving time: 39.2 hours
– Date founded: March 4, 1940
– 2020 visitors: 415,077 (#35 highest among all national parks)
– Park area: 461,901.20 acres

#43. Sequoia National Park (California)

– Distance: 1,953 miles
– Driving time: 38.0 hours
– Date founded: September 25, 1890
– 2020 visitors: 796,086 (#23 highest among all national parks)
– Park area: 404,062.63 acres

#44. Yosemite National Park (California)

– Distance: 1,968 miles
– Driving time: 38.1 hours
– Date founded: October 1, 1890
– 2020 visitors: 2,268,313 (#12 highest among all national parks)
– Park area: 761,747.50 acres

45 / 63National Park Service/Deby Dixon // Wikimedia Commons

#45. North Cascades National Park (Washington)

– Distance: 1,971 miles
– Driving time: 37.3 hours
– Date founded: October 2, 1968
– 2020 visitors: 30,885 (#56 highest among all national parks)
– Park area: 504,780.94 acres

#46. Mount Rainier National Park (Washington)

– Distance: 1,993 miles
– Driving time: 35.9 hours
– Date founded: March 2, 1899
– 2020 visitors: 1,160,754 (#18 highest among all national parks)
– Park area: 236,381.64 acres

#47. Lassen Volcanic National Park (California)

– Distance: 2,029 miles
– Driving time: 35.7 hours
– Date founded: August 9, 1916
– 2020 visitors: 542,274 (#29 highest among all national parks)
– Park area: 106,589.02 acres

#48. Crater Lake National Park (Oregon)

– Distance: 2,030 miles
– Driving time: 36.0 hours
– Date founded: May 22, 1902
– 2020 visitors: 670,500 (#26 highest among all national parks)
– Park area: 183,224.05 acres

#49. Channel Islands National Park (California)

– Distance: 2,050 miles
– Date founded: March 5, 1980
– 2020 visitors: 167,290 (#47 highest among all national parks)
– Park area: 249,561.00 acres

#50. Olympic National Park (Washington)

– Distance: 2,075 miles
– Driving time: 38.0 hours
– Date founded: June 29, 1938
– 2020 visitors: 2,499,177 (#9 highest among all national parks)
– Park area: 922,649.41 acres

#51. Pinnacles National Park (California)

– Distance: 2,083 miles
– Driving time: 36.6 hours
– Date founded: January 10, 2013
– 2020 visitors: 165,740 (#48 highest among all national parks)
– Park area: 26,685.73 acres

#52. Redwood National Park (California)

– Distance: 2,145 miles
– Driving time: 39.8 hours
– Date founded: October 2, 1968
– 2020 visitors: 265,177 (#43 highest among all national parks)
– Park area: 138,999.37 acres

#53. Glacier Bay National Park (Alaska)

– Distance: 2,669 miles
– Date founded: December 2, 1980
– 2020 visitors: 5,748 (#60 highest among all national parks)
– Park area: 3,223,383.43 acres

#54. Wrangell–St. Elias National Park (Alaska)

– Distance: 2,854 miles
– Date founded: December 2, 1980
– 2020 visitors: 16,655 (#57 highest among all national parks)
– Park area: 8,323,146.48 acres

55 / 63National Park Service, Alaska Region // Wikimedia Commons

#55. Kenai Fjords National Park (Alaska)

– Distance: 3,117 miles
– Date founded: December 2, 1980
– 2020 visitors: 115,882 (#52 highest among all national parks)
– Park area: 669,650.05 acres

56 / 63Denali National Park and Preserve // Wikimedia Commons

#56. Denali National Park (Alaska)

– Distance: 3,130 miles
– Date founded: February 26, 1917
– 2020 visitors: 54,850 (#53 highest among all national parks)
– Park area: 4,740,911.16 acres

57 / 63National Park Service, Alaska Region // Wikimedia Commons

#57. Gates of the Arctic National Park (Alaska)

– Distance: 3,203 miles
– Date founded: December 2, 1980
– 2020 visitors: 2,872 (#63 highest among all national parks)
– Park area: 7,523,897.45 acres

58 / 63Ryjil Christianson // Wikimedia Commons

#58. Lake Clark National Park (Alaska)

– Distance: 3,238 miles
– Date founded: December 2, 1980
– 2020 visitors: 4,948 (#61 highest among all national parks)
– Park area: 2,619,816.49 acres

59 / 63Katmai National Park and Preserve // Wikimedia Commons

#59. Katmai National Park (Alaska)

– Distance: 3,318 miles
– Date founded: December 2, 1980
– 2020 visitors: 51,511 (#54 highest among all national parks)
– Park area: 3,674,529.33 acres

#60. Kobuk Valley National Park (Alaska)

– Distance: 3,361 miles
– Date founded: December 2, 1980
– 2020 visitors: 11,185 (#58 highest among all national parks)
– Park area: 1,750,716.16 acres