Closest national parks to San Diego
Josemaria Toscano // Shutterstock
Closest national parks to San Diego
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 San Diego. National parks are ranked by closest straight line distance, measured from representative points in San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA 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.
Dennis Silvas // Shutterstock
#1. Joshua Tree National Park (California)
– Distance: 73 miles
– Driving time: 3.4 hours
– Date founded: October 31, 1994
– 2024 visitors: 2,991,874 (#11 highest among all national parks)
– Park area: 795,155.85 acres 
Ethan Daniels // Shutterstock
#2. Channel Islands National Park (California)
– Distance: 167 miles
– Date founded: March 5, 1980
– 2024 visitors: 262,581 (#50 highest among all national parks)
– Park area: 249,561.00 acres 
Bryan Brazil // Shutterstock
#3. Death Valley National Park (California, Nevada)
– Distance: 222 miles
– Driving time: 6.4 hours
– Date founded: October 31, 1994
– 2024 visitors: 1,440,484 (#21 highest among all national parks)
– Park area: 3,408,395.63 acres 
Virrage Images // Shutterstock
#4. Sequoia National Park (California)
– Distance: 259 miles
– Driving time: 9.3 hours
– Date founded: September 25, 1890
– 2024 visitors: 1,309,573 (#24 highest among all national parks)
– Park area: 404,062.63 acres 
Patrick Poendl // Shutterstock
#5. Kings Canyon National Park (California)
– Distance: 279 miles
– Driving time: 10.2 hours
– Date founded: March 4, 1940
– 2024 visitors: 699,389 (#34 highest among all national parks)
– Park area: 461,901.20 acres
Josemaria Toscano // Shutterstock
#6. Grand Canyon National Park (Arizona)
– Distance: 337 miles
– Driving time: 8.8 hours
– Date founded: February 26, 1919
– 2024 visitors: 4,919,163 (#3 highest among all national parks)
– Park area: 1,201,647.03 acres 
Yhelfman // Shutterstock
#7. Pinnacles National Park (California)
– Distance: 345 miles
– Driving time: 7.4 hours
– Date founded: January 10, 2013
– 2024 visitors: 354,076 (#48 highest among all national parks)
– Park area: 26,685.73 acres 
Galyna Andrushko // Shutterstock
#8. Zion National Park (Utah)
– Distance: 362 miles
– Driving time: 8.6 hours
– Date founded: November 19, 1919
– 2024 visitors: 4,946,592 (#2 highest among all national parks)
– Park area: 147,242.66 acres 
Stephen Moehle // Shutterstock
#9. Yosemite National Park (California)
– Distance: 365 miles
– Driving time: 9.3 hours
– Date founded: October 1, 1890
– 2024 visitors: 4,121,807 (#6 highest among all national parks)
– Park area: 761,747.50 acres 
kojihirano // Shutterstock
#10. Saguaro National Park (Arizona)
– Distance: 370 miles
– Driving time: 8.1 hours
– Date founded: October 14, 1994
– 2024 visitors: 946,369 (#26 highest among all national parks)
– Park area: 92,876.75 acres 
ronnybas frimages // Shutterstock
#11. Bryce Canyon National Park (Utah)
– Distance: 407 miles
– Driving time: 10.6 hours
– Date founded: February 25, 1928
– 2024 visitors: 2,498,075 (#15 highest among all national parks)
– Park area: 35,835.08 acres 
Felix Lipov // Shutterstock
#12. Petrified Forest National Park (Arizona)
– Distance: 425 miles
– Driving time: 9.0 hours
– Date founded: December 9, 1962
– 2024 visitors: 559,254 (#37 highest among all national parks)
– Park area: 221,390.21 acres 
Arlene Waller // Shutterstock
#13. Great Basin National Park (Nevada)
– Distance: 433 miles
– Driving time: 11.7 hours
– Date founded: October 27, 1986
– 2024 visitors: 152,068 (#54 highest among all national parks)
– Park area: 77,180.00 acres 
Layne V. Naylor // Shutterstock
#14. Capitol Reef National Park (Utah)
– Distance: 476 miles
– Driving time: 11.9 hours
– Date founded: December 18, 1971
– 2024 visitors: 1,422,490 (#23 highest among all national parks)
– Park area: 241,904.50 acres 
Manamana // Shutterstock
#15. Canyonlands National Park (Utah)
– Distance: 525 miles
– Driving time: 17.4 hours
– Date founded: September 12, 1964
– 2024 visitors: 818,492 (#27 highest among all national parks)
– Park area: 337,597.83 acres 
Sopotnicki // Shutterstock
#16. Mesa Verde National Park (Colorado)
– Distance: 550 miles
– Driving time: 12.9 hours
– Date founded: June 29, 1906
– 2024 visitors: 480,065 (#41 highest among all national parks)
– Park area: 52,485.17 acres 
Manamana // Shutterstock
#17. Arches National Park (Utah)
– Distance: 561 miles
– Driving time: 12.2 hours
– Date founded: November 12, 1971
– 2024 visitors: 1,466,528 (#20 highest among all national parks)
– Park area: 76,678.98 acres 
Zack Frank // Shutterstock
#18. Lassen Volcanic National Park (California)
– Distance: 578 miles
– Driving time: 12.1 hours
– Date founded: August 9, 1916
– 2024 visitors: 357,651 (#47 highest among all national parks)
– Park area: 106,589.02 acres 
Galyna Andrushko // Shutterstock
#19. White Sands National Park (New Mexico)
– Distance: 617 miles
– Driving time: 11.0 hours
– Date founded: December 20, 2019
– 2024 visitors: 702,236 (#33 highest among all national parks)
– Park area: 146,344.31 acres 
SL-Photography // Shutterstock
#20. Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park (Colorado)
– Distance: 636 miles
– Driving time: 14.1 hours
– Date founded: October 21, 1999
– 2024 visitors: 335,862 (#49 highest among all national parks)
– Park area: 30,779.83 acres 
Bob Pool // Shutterstock
#21. Redwood National Park (California)
– Distance: 696 miles
– Driving time: 17.1 hours
– Date founded: October 2, 1968
– 2024 visitors: 622,883 (#35 highest among all national parks)
– Park area: 138,999.37 acres 
ShuPhoto // Shutterstock
#22. Guadalupe Mountains National Park (Texas)
– Distance: 699 miles
– Driving time: 12.9 hours
– Date founded: October 15, 1966
– 2024 visitors: 226,134 (#52 highest among all national parks)
– Park area: 86,367.10 acres 
Kris Wiktor // Shutterstock
#23. Great Sand Dunes National Park (Colorado)
– Distance: 713 miles
– Driving time: 16.3 hours
– Date founded: September 24, 2004
– 2024 visitors: 437,661 (#44 highest among all national parks)
– Park area: 107,345.73 acres 
Doug Meek // Shutterstock
#24. Carlsbad Caverns National Park (New Mexico)
– Distance: 722 miles
– Driving time: 13.1 hours
– Date founded: May 14, 1930
– 2024 visitors: 460,474 (#43 highest among all national parks)
– Park area: 46,766.45 acres 
Hank Shiffman // Shutterstock
#25. Crater Lake National Park (Oregon)
– Distance: 743 miles
– Driving time: 14.4 hours
– Date founded: May 22, 1902
– 2024 visitors: 504,942 (#39 highest among all national parks)
– Park area: 183,224.05 acres 
Anna Krivitskaya // Shutterstock
#26. Rocky Mountain National Park (Colorado)
– Distance: 802 miles
– Driving time: 17.8 hours
– Date founded: January 26, 1915
– 2024 visitors: 4,154,349 (#5 highest among all national parks)
– Park area: 265,847.74 acres 
Zack Frank // Shutterstock
#27. Grand Teton National Park (Wyoming)
– Distance: 806 miles
– Driving time: 16.8 hours
– Date founded: February 26, 1929
– 2024 visitors: 3,628,222 (#9 highest among all national parks)
– Park area: 310,044.36 acres 
Eric Foltz // Shutterstock
#28. Big Bend National Park (Texas)
– Distance: 842 miles
– Driving time: 17.2 hours
– Date founded: June 12, 1944
– 2024 visitors: 561,458 (#36 highest among all national parks)
– Park area: 801,163.21 acres 
Lane V. Erickson // Shutterstock
#29. Yellowstone National Park (Wyoming, Montana, Idaho)
– Distance: 867 miles
– Driving time: 17.1 hours
– Date founded: March 1, 1872
– 2024 visitors: 4,744,353 (#4 highest among all national parks)
– Park area: 2,219,790.71 acres 
Diane Fetzner // Shutterstock
#30. Mount Rainier National Park (Washington)
– Distance: 989 miles
– Driving time: 20.9 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
#31. Wind Cave National Park (South Dakota)
– Distance: 1,023 miles
– Driving time: 21.5 hours
– Date founded: January 9, 1903
– 2024 visitors: 489,399 (#40 highest among all national parks)
– Park area: 33,970.84 acres 
Matt Ragen // Shutterstock
#32. Badlands National Park (South Dakota)
– Distance: 1,069 miles
– Driving time: 22.8 hours
– Date founded: November 10, 1978
– 2024 visitors: 1,094,245 (#25 highest among all national parks)
– Park area: 242,755.94 acres 
f11photo // Shutterstock
#33. Olympic National Park (Washington)
– Distance: 1,089 miles
– Driving time: 22.7 hours
– Date founded: June 29, 1938
– 2024 visitors: 3,717,267 (#8 highest among all national parks)
– Park area: 922,649.41 acres 
Pung // Shutterstock
#34. Glacier National Park (Montana)
– Distance: 1,098 miles
– Date founded: May 11, 1910
– 2024 visitors: 3,208,755 (#10 highest among all national parks)
– Park area: 1,013,126.39 acres 
Zack Frank // Shutterstock
#35. North Cascades National Park (Washington)
– Distance: 1,106 miles
– Driving time: 23.5 hours
– Date founded: October 2, 1968
– 2024 visitors: 16,485 (#62 highest among all national parks)
– Park area: 504,780.94 acres 
Laurens Hoddenbagh // Shutterstock
#36. Theodore Roosevelt National Park (North Dakota)
– Distance: 1,190 miles
– Driving time: 24.9 hours
– Date founded: November 10, 1978
– 2024 visitors: 732,951 (#31 highest among all national parks)
– Park area: 70,446.89 acres 
Zack Frank // Shutterstock
#37. Hot Springs National Park (Arkansas)
– Distance: 1,366 miles
– Driving time: 24.3 hours
– Date founded: March 4, 1921
– 2024 visitors: 2,461,812 (#16 highest among all national parks)
– Park area: 5,554.15 acres 
Paul Brady Photography // Shutterstock
#38. Gateway Arch National Park (Missouri)
– Distance: 1,536 miles
– Driving time: 26.9 hours
– Date founded: February 22, 2018
– 2024 visitors: 2,563,052 (#14 highest among all national parks)
– Park area: 192.83 acres 
BlueBarronPhoto // Shutterstock
#39. Voyageurs National Park (Minnesota)
– Distance: 1,634 miles
– Driving time: 34.0 hours
– Date founded: April 8, 1975
– 2024 visitors: 199,030 (#53 highest among all national parks)
– Park area: 218,222.35 acres 
Delmas Lehman // Shutterstock
#40. Indiana Dunes National Park (Indiana)
– Distance: 1,731 miles
– Driving time: 31.7 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
#41. Mammoth Cave National Park (Kentucky)
– Distance: 1,754 miles
– Driving time: 30.8 hours
– Date founded: July 1, 1941
– 2024 visitors: 747,042 (#28 highest among all national parks)
– Park area: 72,472.87 acres 
SveKo // Shutterstock
#42. Isle Royale National Park (Michigan)
– Distance: 1,797 miles
– Driving time: 37.4 hours
– Date founded: April 3, 1940
– 2024 visitors: 28,806 (#58 highest among all national parks)
– Park area: 571,790.30 acres 
ZakZeinert // Shutterstock
#43. Great Smoky Mountains National Park (North Carolina, Tennessee)
– Distance: 1,900 miles
– Driving time: 32.9 hours
– Date founded: June 15, 1934
– 2024 visitors: 12,191,834 (#1 highest among all national parks)
– Park area: 522,426.88 acres 
Laurie Gronewold // Shutterstock
#44. Glacier Bay National Park (Alaska)
– Distance: 1,995 miles
– Date founded: December 2, 1980
– 2024 visitors: 736,282 (#30 highest among all national parks)
– Park area: 3,223,383.43 acres 
Zack Frank // Shutterstock
#45. Cuyahoga Valley National Park (Ohio)
– Distance: 2,010 miles
– Driving time: 34.9 hours
– Date founded: October 11, 2000
– 2024 visitors: 2,912,454 (#12 highest among all national parks)
– Park area: 32,571.89 acres 
Steve Heap // Shutterstock
#46. New River Gorge National Park (West Virginia)
– Distance: 2,028 miles
– Driving time: 35.5 hours
– Date founded: December 27, 2020
– 2024 visitors: 1,811,937 (#17 highest among all national parks)
– Park area: 7,021 acres 
Zack Frank // Shutterstock
#47. Congaree National Park (South Carolina)
– Distance: 2,071 miles
– Driving time: 35.0 hours
– Date founded: November 10, 2003
– 2024 visitors: 242,049 (#51 highest among all national parks)
– Park area: 26,692.60 acres 
Varina C // Shutterstock
#48. Dry Tortugas National Park (Florida)
– Distance: 2,126 miles
– Driving time: 42.5 hours
– Date founded: October 26, 1992
– 2024 visitors: 84,873 (#55 highest among all national parks)
– Park area: 64,701.22 acres 
Jon Bilous // Shutterstock
#49. Shenandoah National Park (Virginia)
– Distance: 2,176 miles
– Driving time: 38.4 hours
– Date founded: December 26, 1935
– 2024 visitors: 1,720,211 (#18 highest among all national parks)
– Park area: 200,445.92 acres 
Simon Dannhauer // Shutterstock
#50. Everglades National Park (Florida)
– Distance: 2,219 miles
– Driving time: 40.3 hours
– Date founded: May 30, 1934
– 2024 visitors: 741,983 (#29 highest among all national parks)
– Park area: 1,508,938.57 acres 
Martin Capek // Shutterstock
#51. Wrangell–St. Elias National Park (Alaska)
– Distance: 2,239 miles
– Date founded: December 2, 1980
– 2024 visitors: 81,670 (#56 highest among all national parks)
– Park area: 8,323,146.48 acres 
Claudia G Cooper // Shutterstock
#52. Biscayne National Park (Florida)
– Distance: 2,260 miles
– Driving time: 39.5 hours
– Date founded: June 28, 1980
– 2024 visitors: 512,213 (#38 highest among all national parks)
– Park area: 172,971.11 acres 
Tomasz Wozniak // Shutterstock
#53. Kenai Fjords National Park (Alaska)
– Distance: 2,383 miles
– Date founded: December 2, 1980
– 2024 visitors: 419,468 (#46 highest among all national parks)
– Park area: 669,650.05 acres 
Robert Harding Video // Shutterstock
#54. Katmai National Park (Alaska)
– Distance: 2,491 miles
– Date founded: December 2, 1980
– 2024 visitors: 36,230 (#57 highest among all national parks)
– Park area: 3,674,529.33 acres 
Malachi Jacobs // Shutterstock
#55. Lake Clark National Park (Alaska)
– Distance: 2,530 miles
– Date founded: December 2, 1980
– 2024 visitors: 18,505 (#60 highest among all national parks)
– Park area: 2,619,816.49 acres 
jo Crebbin // Shutterstock
#56. Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park (Hawaii)
– Distance: 2,547 miles
– Date founded: August 1, 1916
– 2024 visitors: 1,433,593 (#22 highest among all national parks)
– Park area: 344,812.18 acres 
Marc Cappelletti // Shutterstock
#57. Denali National Park (Alaska)
– Distance: 2,550 miles
– Date founded: February 26, 1917
– 2024 visitors: 466,227 (#42 highest among all national parks)
– Park area: 4,740,911.16 acres 
MH Anderson Photography // Shutterstock
#58. Haleakalā National Park (Hawaii)
– Distance: 2,558 miles
– Date founded: July 1, 1961
– 2024 visitors: 732,477 (#32 highest among all national parks)
– Park area: 33,488.98 acres 
Romiana Lee // Shutterstock
#59. Acadia National Park (Maine)
– Distance: 2,697 miles
– Driving time: 49.7 hours
– Date founded: February 26, 1919
– 2024 visitors: 3,961,661 (#7 highest among all national parks)
– Park area: 49,071.40 acres 
BlueBarronPhoto // Shutterstock
#60. Gates of the Arctic National Park (Alaska)
– Distance: 2,808 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
#61. Kobuk Valley National Park (Alaska)
– Distance: 2,926 miles
– Date founded: December 2, 1980
– 2024 visitors: 17,233 (#61 highest among all national parks)
– Park area: 1,750,716.16 acres 
Sean Pavone // Shutterstock
#62. Virgin Islands National Park (U.S. Virgin Islands)
– Distance: 3,364 miles
– Date founded: August 2, 1956
– 2024 visitors: 423,029 (#45 highest among all national parks)
– Park area: 15,052.33 acres 
Lloyd Wallin Photography // Shutterstock
#63. National Park of American Samoa (American Samoa)
– Distance: 4,819 miles
– Date founded: October 31, 1988
– 2024 visitors: 22,567 (#59 highest among all national parks)
– Park area: 8,256.67 acres 
