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 Norfolk. National parks are ranked by closest straight line distance, measured from representative points in Virginia Beach-Norfolk-Newport News, VA-NC 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 www.nps.gov/coronavirus.
#1. Shenandoah National Park (Virginia)
– Distance: 158 miles
– Driving time: 3.5 hours
– Date founded: December 26, 1935
– 2020 visitors: 1,666,265 (#14 highest among all national parks)
– Park area: 199,223.77 acres
#2. New River Gorge National Park (West Virginia)
– Distance: 269 miles
– Driving time: 5.6 hours
– Date founded: December 27, 2020
– 2020 visitors: 1,054,374 (#19 highest among all national parks)
– Park area: 7,021 acres
#3. Congaree National Park (South Carolina)
– Distance: 321 miles
– Driving time: 6.6 hours
– Date founded: November 10, 2003
– 2020 visitors: 119,306 (#51 highest among all national parks)
– Park area: 26,476.47 acres
#4. Great Smoky Mountains National Park (North Carolina, Tennessee)
– Distance: 403 miles
– Driving time: 8.4 hours
– Date founded: June 15, 1934
– 2020 visitors: 12,095,720 (#1 highest among all national parks)
– Park area: 522,426.88 acres
#5. Cuyahoga Valley National Park (Ohio)
– Distance: 411 miles
– Driving time: 8.5 hours
– Date founded: October 11, 2000
– 2020 visitors: 2,755,628 (#7 highest among all national parks)
– Park area: 32,571.88 acres
#6. Mammoth Cave National Park (Kentucky)
– Distance: 534 miles
– Driving time: 10.9 hours
– Date founded: July 1, 1941
– 2020 visitors: 290,392 (#41 highest among all national parks)
– Park area: 54,011.91 acres
#7. Indiana Dunes National Park (Indiana)
– Distance: 659 miles
– Driving time: 13.1 hours
– Date founded: February 15, 2019
– 2020 visitors: 2,293,106 (#11 highest among all national parks)
– Park area: 15,349.08 acres
#8. Acadia National Park (Maine)
– Distance: 677 miles
– Driving time: 15.0 hours
– Date founded: February 26, 1919
– 2020 visitors: 2,669,034 (#8 highest among all national parks)
– Park area: 49,076.63 acres
#9. Gateway Arch National Park (Missouri)
– Distance: 762 miles
– Driving time: 13.6 hours
– Date founded: February 22, 2018[47]
– 2020 visitors: 486,021 (#31 highest among all national parks)
– Park area: 192.83 acres
#10. Biscayne National Park (Florida)
– Distance: 798 miles
– Driving time: 14.6 hours
– Date founded: June 28, 1980
– 2020 visitors: 402,770 (#36 highest among all national parks)
– Park area: 172,971.11 acres
#11. Everglades National Park (Florida)
– Distance: 834 miles
– Driving time: 15.6 hours
– Date founded: May 30, 1934
– 2020 visitors: 702,319 (#25 highest among all national parks)
– Park area: 1,508,938.57 acres
#12. Dry Tortugas National Park (Florida)
– Distance: 921 miles
– Driving time: 17.7 hours
– Date founded: October 26, 1992
– 2020 visitors: 48,543 (#55 highest among all national parks)
– Park area: 64,701.22 acres
#13. Hot Springs National Park (Arkansas)
– Distance: 946 miles
– Driving time: 16.6 hours
– Date founded: March 4, 1921
– 2020 visitors: 1,348,215 (#16 highest among all national parks)
– Park area: 5,554.15 acres
#14. Isle Royale National Park (Michigan)
– Distance: 993 miles
– Driving time: 20.6 hours
– Date founded: April 3, 1940
– 2020 visitors: 6,493 (#59 highest among all national parks)
– Park area: 571,790.30 acres
#15. Voyageurs National Park (Minnesota)
– Distance: 1,158 miles
– Driving time: 23.7 hours
– Date founded: April 8, 1975
– 2020 visitors: 263,091 (#44 highest among all national parks)
– Park area: 218,222.35 acres
#16. Badlands National Park (South Dakota)
– Distance: 1,450 miles
– Driving time: 26.5 hours
– Date founded: November 10, 1978
– 2020 visitors: 916,932 (#21 highest among all national parks)
– Park area: 242,755.94 acres
#17. Virgin Islands National Park (U.S. Virgin Islands)
– Distance: 1,458 miles
– Date founded: August 2, 1956
– 2020 visitors: 167,540 (#46 highest among all national parks)
– Park area: 15,052.53 acres
#18. Wind Cave National Park (South Dakota)
– Distance: 1,497 miles
– Driving time: 27.9 hours
– Date founded: January 9, 1903
– 2020 visitors: 448,405 (#33 highest among all national parks)
– Park area: 33,970.84 acres
#19. Theodore Roosevelt National Park (North Dakota)
– Distance: 1,548 miles
– Driving time: 28.3 hours
– Date founded: November 10, 1978
– 2020 visitors: 551,303 (#28 highest among all national parks)
– Park area: 70,446.89 acres
#20. Rocky Mountain National Park (Colorado)
– Distance: 1,589 miles
– Driving time: 27.0 hours
– Date founded: January 26, 1915
– 2020 visitors: 3,305,199 (#4 highest among all national parks)
– Park area: 265,807.25 acres
#21. Great Sand Dunes National Park (Colorado)
– Distance: 1,597 miles
– Driving time: 28.2 hours
– Date founded: September 24, 2004
– 2020 visitors: 461,532 (#32 highest among all national parks)
– Park area: 107,341.87 acres
#22. Carlsbad Caverns National Park (New Mexico)
– Distance: 1,623 miles
– Driving time: 28.0 hours
– Date founded: May 14, 1930
– 2020 visitors: 183,835 (#45 highest among all national parks)
– Park area: 46,766.45 acres
#23. Big Bend National Park (Texas)
– Distance: 1,634 miles
– Driving time: 30.8 hours
– Date founded: June 12, 1944
– 2020 visitors: 393,907 (#37 highest among all national parks)
– Park area: 801,163.21 acres
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#24. Guadalupe Mountains National Park (Texas)
– Distance: 1,653 miles
– Driving time: 29.1 hours
– Date founded: October 15, 1966
– 2020 visitors: 151,256 (#49 highest among all national parks)
– Park area: 86,367.10 acres
25 / 63Galyna Andrushko // Shutterstock
#25. White Sands National Park (New Mexico)
– Distance: 1,706 miles
– Driving time: 29.6 hours
– Date founded: December 20, 2019[111]
– 2020 visitors: 415,383 (#34 highest among all national parks)
– Park area: 146,344.31 acres
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#26. Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park (Colorado)
– Distance: 1,710 miles
– Driving time: 30.4 hours
– Date founded: October 21, 1999
– 2020 visitors: 341,620 (#39 highest among all national parks)
– Park area: 30,779.83 acres
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#27. Mesa Verde National Park (Colorado)
– Distance: 1,764 miles
– Driving time: 32.1 hours
– Date founded: June 29, 1906
– 2020 visitors: 287,477 (#42 highest among all national parks)
– Park area: 52,485.17 acreshttps://1935bedcf17311abf4c414f5eb21b869.safeframe.googlesyndication.com/safeframe/1-0-38/html/container.html
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#28. Arches National Park (Utah)
– Distance: 1,809 miles
– Driving time: 31.1 hours
– Date founded: November 12, 1971
– 2020 visitors: 1,238,083 (#17 highest among all national parks)
– Park area: 76,678.98 acres
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#29. Canyonlands National Park (Utah)
– Distance: 1,832 miles
– Driving time: 38.1 hours
– Date founded: September 12, 1964
– 2020 visitors: 493,914 (#30 highest among all national parks)
– Park area: 337,597.83 acres
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#30. Yellowstone National Park (Wyoming, Montana, Idaho)
– Distance: 1,852 miles
– Driving time: 33.9 hours
– Date founded: March 1, 1872
– 2020 visitors: 3,806,306 (#2 highest among all national parks)
– Park area: 2,219,790.71 acres
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31 / 63Zack Frank // Shutterstock
#31. Grand Teton National Park (Wyoming)
– Distance: 1,863 miles
– Driving time: 32.9 hours
– Date founded: February 26, 1929
– 2020 visitors: 3,289,638 (#5 highest among all national parks)
– Park area: 310,044.36 acres
32 / 63Felix Lipov // Shutterstock
#32. Petrified Forest National Park (Arizona)
– Distance: 1,863 miles
– Driving time: 30.8 hours
– Date founded: December 9, 1962
– 2020 visitors: 384,483 (#38 highest among all national parks)
– Park area: 221,390.21 acres
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#33. Capitol Reef National Park (Utah)
– Distance: 1,899 miles
– Driving time: 32.6 hours
– Date founded: December 18, 1971
– 2020 visitors: 981,038 (#20 highest among all national parks)
– Park area: 241,904.50 acres
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#34. Saguaro National Park (Arizona)
– Distance: 1,957 miles
– Driving time: 33.9 hours
– Date founded: October 14, 1994
– 2020 visitors: 762,226 (#24 highest among all national parks)
– Park area: 92,867.42 acres
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#35. Bryce Canyon National Park (Utah)
– Distance: 1,960 miles
– Driving time: 34.6 hours
– Date founded: February 25, 1928
– 2020 visitors: 1,464,655 (#15 highest among all national parks)
– Park area: 35,835.08 acres
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#36. Grand Canyon National Park (Arizona)
– Distance: 1,978 miles
– Driving time: 34.3 hours
– Date founded: February 26, 1919
– 2020 visitors: 2,897,098 (#6 highest among all national parks)
– Park area: 1,201,647.03 acres
37 / 63Galyna Andrushko // Shutterstock
#37. Zion National Park (Utah)
– Distance: 2,010 miles
– Driving time: 35.1 hours
– Date founded: November 19, 1919
– 2020 visitors: 3,591,254 (#3 highest among all national parks)
– Park area: 147,242.66 acres
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#38. Glacier National Park (Montana)
– Distance: 2,054 miles
– Date founded: May 11, 1910
– 2020 visitors: 1,698,864 (#13 highest among all national parks)
– Park area: 1,013,125.99 acres
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#39. Great Basin National Park (Nevada)
– Distance: 2,059 miles
– Driving time: 35.2 hours
– Date founded: October 27, 1986
– 2020 visitors: 120,248 (#50 highest among all national parks)
– Park area: 77,180.00 acreshttps://1935bedcf17311abf4c414f5eb21b869.safeframe.googlesyndication.com/safeframe/1-0-38/html/container.html
40 / 63Dennis Silvas // Shutterstock
#40. Joshua Tree National Park (California)
– Distance: 2,224 miles
– Driving time: 38.0 hours
– Date founded: October 31, 1994
– 2020 visitors: 2,399,542 (#10 highest among all national parks)
– Park area: 795,155.85 acres
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41 / 63Bryan Brazil // Shutterstock
#41. Death Valley National Park (California, Nevada)
– Distance: 2,230 miles
– Driving time: 38.3 hours
– Date founded: October 31, 1994
– 2020 visitors: 820,023 (#22 highest among all national parks)
– Park area: 3,408,406.73 acres
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#42. Kings Canyon National Park (California)
– Distance: 2,315 miles
– Driving time: 45.3 hours
– Date founded: March 4, 1940
– 2020 visitors: 415,077 (#35 highest among all national parks)
– Park area: 461,901.20 acreshttps://1935bedcf17311abf4c414f5eb21b869.safeframe.googlesyndication.com/safeframe/1-0-38/html/container.html
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#43. Sequoia National Park (California)
– Distance: 2,328 miles
– Driving time: 44.0 hours
– Date founded: September 25, 1890
– 2020 visitors: 796,086 (#23 highest among all national parks)
– Park area: 404,062.63 acres
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#44. Yosemite National Park (California)
– Distance: 2,351 miles
– Driving time: 44.2 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: 2,380 miles
– Driving time: 45.8 hours
– Date founded: October 2, 1968
– 2020 visitors: 30,885 (#56 highest among all national parks)
– Park area: 504,780.94 acres
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46 / 63Diane Fetzner // Shutterstock
#46. Mount Rainier National Park (Washington)
– Distance: 2,402 miles
– Driving time: 44.0 hours
– Date founded: March 2, 1899
– 2020 visitors: 1,160,754 (#18 highest among all national parks)
– Park area: 236,381.64 acres
47 / 63Ethan Daniels // Shutterstock
#47. Channel Islands National Park (California)
– Distance: 2,413 miles
– Date founded: March 5, 1980
– 2020 visitors: 167,290 (#47 highest among all national parks)
– Park area: 249,561.00 acres
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#48. Lassen Volcanic National Park (California)
– Distance: 2,424 miles
– Driving time: 42.8 hours
– Date founded: August 9, 1916
– 2020 visitors: 542,274 (#29 highest among all national parks)
– Park area: 106,589.02 acres
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#49. Crater Lake National Park (Oregon)
– Distance: 2,433 miles
– Driving time: 44.1 hours
– Date founded: May 22, 1902
– 2020 visitors: 670,500 (#26 highest among all national parks)
– Park area: 183,224.05 acres
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#50. Pinnacles National Park (California)
– Distance: 2,461 miles
– Driving time: 42.7 hours
– Date founded: January 10, 2013
– 2020 visitors: 165,740 (#48 highest among all national parks)
– Park area: 26,685.73 acres
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#51. Olympic National Park (Washington)
– Distance: 2,485 miles
– Driving time: 46.6 hours
– Date founded: June 29, 1938
– 2020 visitors: 2,499,177 (#9 highest among all national parks)
– Park area: 922,649.41 acres
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#52. Redwood National Park (California)
– Distance: 2,544 miles
– Driving time: 47.2 hours
– Date founded: October 2, 1968
– 2020 visitors: 265,177 (#43 highest among all national parks)
– Park area: 138,999.37 acres
53 / 63Alan Wu // Wikimedia Commons
#53. Glacier Bay National Park (Alaska)
– Distance: 3,063 miles
– Date founded: December 2, 1980
– 2020 visitors: 5,748 (#60 highest among all national parks)
– Park area: 3,223,383.43 acres
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#54. Wrangell–St. Elias National Park (Alaska)
– Distance: 3,240 miles
– Date founded: December 2, 1980
– 2020 visitors: 16,655 (#57 highest among all national parks)
– Park area: 8,323,146.48 acres
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#55. Kenai Fjords National Park (Alaska)
– Distance: 3,506 miles
– Date founded: December 2, 1980
– 2020 visitors: 115,882 (#52 highest among all national parks)
– Park area: 669,650.05 acres
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#56. Denali National Park (Alaska)
– Distance: 3,507 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: 3,561 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: 3,623 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: 3,710 miles
– Date founded: December 2, 1980
– 2020 visitors: 51,511 (#54 highest among all national parks)
– Park area: 3,674,529.33 acres
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#60. Kobuk Valley National Park (Alaska)
– Distance: 3,720 miles
– Date founded: December 2, 1980
– 2020 visitors: 11,185 (#58 highest among all national parks)
– Park area: 1,750,716.16 acreshttps://1935bedcf17311abf4c414f5eb21b869.safeframe.googlesyndication.com/safeframe/1-0-38/html/container.html
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#61. Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park (Hawaii)
– Distance: 4,826 miles
– Date founded: August 1, 1916
– 2020 visitors: 589,775 (#27 highest among all national parks)
– Park area: 325,605.28 acres
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#62. Haleakalā National Park (Hawaii)
– Distance: 4,829 miles
– Date founded: July 1, 1961
– 2020 visitors: 319,147 (#40 highest among all national parks)
– Park area: 33,264.62 acres
63 / 63Tavita Togia, National Park Service // Wikimedia Commons
#63. National Park of American Samoa (American Samoa)
– Distance: 7,034 miles
– Date founded: October 31, 1988
– 2020 visitors: 4,819 (#62 highest among all national parks)
– Park area: 8,256.67 acres