Closest national parks to South Bend

Written by:
July 17, 2026
ZakZeinert // Shutterstock

Closest national parks to South Bend

Approximately 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 contain at least 247 species of , more than 75,000 archaeological sites, and 18,000 miles of trails.

compiled a list of the closest national parks to South Bend. National parks are ranked by closest straight line distance, measured from representative points in South Bend-Mishawaka, IN-MI Metro Area and each national park. Estimated driving times are from 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鈥攆or some places within the metro area, the actual distance may be slightly shorter or longer to reach the closest entryway to a park.

1 / 63
Delmas Lehman // Shutterstock

#1. Indiana Dunes National Park (Indiana)

- Distance: 49 miles
- Driving time: 1.1 hours
- Date founded: February 15, 2019
- 2025 visitors: 2,629,497 (#13 highest among all national parks)
- Park area: 15,349.08 acres
2 / 63
Zack Frank // Shutterstock

#2. Cuyahoga Valley National Park (Ohio)

- Distance: 240 miles
- Driving time: 4.1 hours
- Date founded: October 11, 2000
- 2025 visitors: 3,025,325 (#11 highest among all national parks)
- Park area: 32,571.88 acres
3 / 63
Paul Brady Photography // Shutterstock

#3. Gateway Arch National Park (Missouri)

- Distance: 306 miles
- Driving time: 5.8 hours
- Date founded: February 22, 2018[47]
- 2025 visitors: 2,209,028 (#15 highest among all national parks)
- Park area: 192.83 acres
4 / 63
Wangkun Jia // Shutterstock

#4. Mammoth Cave National Park (Kentucky)

- Distance: 317 miles
- Driving time: 6.0 hours
- Date founded: July 1, 1941
- 2025 visitors: 660,734 (#34 highest among all national parks)
- Park area: 54,011.91 acres
5 / 63
Steve Heap // Shutterstock

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

- Distance: 370 miles
- Driving time: 8.5 hours
- Date founded: December 27, 2020
- 2025 visitors: 1,958,440 (#17 highest among all national parks)
- Park area: 7,021 acres
6 / 63
ZakZeinert // Shutterstock

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

- Distance: 443 miles
- Driving time: 9.1 hours
- Date founded: June 15, 1934
- 2025 visitors: 11,527,939 (#1 highest among all national parks)
- Park area: 522,426.88 acres
7 / 63
SveKo // Shutterstock

#7. Isle Royale National Park (Michigan)

- Distance: 453 miles
- Driving time: 10.0 hours
- Date founded: April 3, 1940
- 2025 visitors: 29,091 (#60 highest among all national parks)
- Park area: 571,790.30 acres
8 / 63
Jon Bilous // Shutterstock

#8. Shenandoah National Park (Virginia)

- Distance: 468 miles
- Driving time: 11.5 hours
- Date founded: December 26, 1935
- 2025 visitors: 1,682,152 (#19 highest among all national parks)
- Park area: 199,223.77 acres
9 / 63
BlueBarronPhoto // Shutterstock

#9. Voyageurs National Park (Minnesota)

- Distance: 569 miles
- Driving time: 11.5 hours
- Date founded: April 8, 1975
- 2025 visitors: 206,326 (#53 highest among all national parks)
- Park area: 218,222.35 acres
10 / 63
Zack Frank // Shutterstock

#10. Congaree National Park (South Carolina)

- Distance: 624 miles
- Driving time: 13.0 hours
- Date founded: November 10, 2003
- 2025 visitors: 287,833 (#49 highest among all national parks)
- Park area: 26,476.47 acres
11 / 63
Zack Frank // Shutterstock

#11. Hot Springs National Park (Arkansas)

- Distance: 627 miles
- Driving time: 11.5 hours
- Date founded: March 4, 1921
- 2025 visitors: 2,494,611 (#14 highest among all national parks)
- Park area: 5,554.15 acres
12 / 63
Matt Ragen // Shutterstock

#12. Badlands National Park (South Dakota)

- Distance: 843 miles
- Driving time: 14.3 hours
- Date founded: November 10, 1978
- 2025 visitors: 1,139,361 (#26 highest among all national parks)
- Park area: 242,755.94 acres
13 / 63
Zack Frank // Shutterstock

#13. Wind Cave National Park (South Dakota)

- Distance: 891 miles
- Driving time: 15.7 hours
- Date founded: January 9, 1903
- 2025 visitors: 606,258 (#37 highest among all national parks)
- Park area: 33,970.84 acres
14 / 63
Romiana Lee // Shutterstock

#14. Acadia National Park (Maine)

- Distance: 922 miles
- Driving time: 18.6 hours
- Date founded: February 26, 1919
- 2025 visitors: 4,079,318 (#7 highest among all national parks)
- Park area: 49,076.63 acres
15 / 63
Laurens Hoddenbagh // Shutterstock

#15. Theodore Roosevelt National Park (North Dakota)

- Distance: 928 miles
- Driving time: 16.1 hours
- Date founded: November 10, 1978
- 2025 visitors: 729,893 (#33 highest among all national parks)
- Park area: 70,446.89 acres
16 / 63
Anna Krivitskaya // Shutterstock

#16. Rocky Mountain National Park (Colorado)

- Distance: 1,018 miles
- Driving time: 16.7 hours
- Date founded: January 26, 1915
- 2025 visitors: 4,171,431 (#6 highest among all national parks)
- Park area: 265,807.25 acres
17 / 63
Kris Wiktor // Shutterstock

#17. Great Sand Dunes National Park (Colorado)

- Distance: 1,067 miles
- Driving time: 19.4 hours
- Date founded: September 24, 2004
- 2025 visitors: 432,498 (#44 highest among all national parks)
- Park area: 107,341.87 acres
18 / 63
SL-Photography // Shutterstock

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

- Distance: 1,161 miles
- Driving time: 20.9 hours
- Date founded: October 21, 1999
- 2025 visitors: 250,086 (#50 highest among all national parks)
- Park area: 30,779.83 acres
19 / 63
Claudia G Cooper // Shutterstock

#19. Biscayne National Park (Florida)

- Distance: 1,164 miles
- Driving time: 21.1 hours
- Date founded: June 28, 1980
- 2025 visitors: 486,567 (#41 highest among all national parks)
- Park area: 172,971.11 acres
20 / 63
Simon Dannhauer // Shutterstock

#20. Everglades National Park (Florida)

- Distance: 1,172 miles
- Driving time: 22.1 hours
- Date founded: May 30, 1934
- 2025 visitors: 778,198 (#31 highest among all national parks)
- Park area: 1,508,938.57 acres
21 / 63
Varina C // Shutterstock

#21. Dry Tortugas National Park (Florida)

- Distance: 1,196 miles
- Driving time: 24.0 hours
- Date founded: October 26, 1992
- 2025 visitors: 89,355 (#56 highest among all national parks)
- Park area: 64,701.22 acres
22 / 63
Doug Meek // Shutterstock

#22. Carlsbad Caverns National Park (New Mexico)

- Distance: 1,207 miles
- Driving time: 21.4 hours
- Date founded: May 14, 1930
- 2025 visitors: 410,778 (#46 highest among all national parks)
- Park area: 46,766.45 acres
23 / 63
Sopotnicki // Shutterstock

#23. Mesa Verde National Park (Colorado)

- Distance: 1,233 miles
- Driving time: 23.1 hours
- Date founded: June 29, 1906
- 2025 visitors: 463,130 (#43 highest among all national parks)
- Park area: 52,485.17 acres
24 / 63
ShuPhoto // Shutterstock

#24. Guadalupe Mountains National Park (Texas)

- Distance: 1,237 miles
- Driving time: 22.5 hours
- Date founded: October 15, 1966
- 2025 visitors: 206,423 (#52 highest among all national parks)
- Park area: 86,367.10 acres
25 / 63
Lane V. Erickson // Shutterstock

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

- Distance: 1,242 miles
- Driving time: 23.0 hours
- Date founded: March 1, 1872
- 2025 visitors: 4,762,988 (#3 highest among all national parks)
- Park area: 2,219,790.71 acres
26 / 63
Manamana // Shutterstock

#26. Arches National Park (Utah)

- Distance: 1,254 miles
- Driving time: 21.3 hours
- Date founded: November 12, 1971
- 2025 visitors: 1,511,740 (#21 highest among all national parks)
- Park area: 76,678.98 acres
27 / 63
Zack Frank // Shutterstock

#27. Grand Teton National Park (Wyoming)

- Distance: 1,258 miles
- Driving time: 22.0 hours
- Date founded: February 26, 1929
- 2025 visitors: 3,800,648 (#8 highest among all national parks)
- Park area: 310,044.36 acres
28 / 63
Galyna Andrushko // Shutterstock

#28. White Sands National Park (New Mexico)

- Distance: 1,262 miles
- Driving time: 22.3 hours
- Date founded: December 20, 2019[111]
- 2025 visitors: 659,742 (#35 highest among all national parks)
- Park area: 146,344.31 acres
29 / 63
Manamana // Shutterstock

#29. Canyonlands National Park (Utah)

- Distance: 1,283 miles
- Driving time: 28.5 hours
- Date founded: September 12, 1964
- 2025 visitors: 796,057 (#29 highest among all national parks)
- Park area: 337,597.83 acres
30 / 63
Eric Foltz // Shutterstock

#30. Big Bend National Park (Texas)

- Distance: 1,291 miles
- Driving time: 24.8 hours
- Date founded: June 12, 1944
- 2025 visitors: 568,104 (#38 highest among all national parks)
- Park area: 801,163.21 acres
31 / 63
Layne V. Naylor // Shutterstock

#31. Capitol Reef National Park (Utah)

- Distance: 1,347 miles
- Driving time: 22.9 hours
- Date founded: December 18, 1971
- 2025 visitors: 1,388,476 (#22 highest among all national parks)
- Park area: 241,904.50 acres
32 / 63
Felix Lipov // Shutterstock

#32. Petrified Forest National Park (Arizona)

- Distance: 1,359 miles
- Driving time: 23.5 hours
- Date founded: December 9, 1962
- 2025 visitors: 315,951 (#48 highest among all national parks)
- Park area: 221,390.21 acres
33 / 63
ronnybas frimages // Shutterstock

#33. Bryce Canyon National Park (Utah)

- Distance: 1,413 miles
- Driving time: 25.0 hours
- Date founded: February 25, 1928
- 2025 visitors: 1,967,367 (#16 highest among all national parks)
- Park area: 35,835.08 acres
34 / 63
Pung // Shutterstock

#34. Glacier National Park (Montana)

- Distance: 1,433 miles
- Date founded: May 11, 1910
- 2025 visitors: 3,136,557 (#10 highest among all national parks)
- Park area: 1,013,125.99 acres
35 / 63
Josemaria Toscano // Shutterstock

#35. Grand Canyon National Park (Arizona)

- Distance: 1,450 miles
- Driving time: 26.8 hours
- Date founded: February 26, 1919
- 2025 visitors: 4,430,653 (#4 highest among all national parks)
- Park area: 1,201,647.03 acres
36 / 63
Galyna Andrushko // Shutterstock

#36. Zion National Park (Utah)

- Distance: 1,465 miles
- Driving time: 25.5 hours
- Date founded: November 19, 1919
- 2025 visitors: 4,984,525 (#2 highest among all national parks)
- Park area: 147,242.66 acres
37 / 63
kojihirano // Shutterstock

#37. Saguaro National Park (Arizona)

- Distance: 1,492 miles
- Driving time: 27.1 hours
- Date founded: October 14, 1994
- 2025 visitors: 847,749 (#28 highest among all national parks)
- Park area: 92,867.42 acres
38 / 63
Arlene Waller // Shutterstock

#38. Great Basin National Park (Nevada)

- Distance: 1,493 miles
- Driving time: 25.5 hours
- Date founded: October 27, 1986
- 2025 visitors: 161,210 (#54 highest among all national parks)
- Park area: 77,180.00 acres
39 / 63
Bryan Brazil // Shutterstock

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

- Distance: 1,686 miles
- Driving time: 28.7 hours
- Date founded: October 31, 1994
- 2025 visitors: 1,320,134 (#24 highest among all national parks)
- Park area: 3,408,406.73 acres
40 / 63
Dennis Silvas // Shutterstock

#40. Joshua Tree National Park (California)

- Distance: 1,710 miles
- Driving time: 30.9 hours
- Date founded: October 31, 1994
- 2025 visitors: 2,932,644 (#12 highest among all national parks)
- Park area: 795,155.85 acres
41 / 63
Zack Frank // Shutterstock

#41. North Cascades National Park (Washington)

- Distance: 1,760 miles
- Driving time: 33.5 hours
- Date founded: October 2, 1968
- 2025 visitors: 46,925 (#57 highest among all national parks)
- Park area: 504,780.94 acres
42 / 63
Patrick Poendl // Shutterstock

#42. Kings Canyon National Park (California)

- Distance: 1,761 miles
- Driving time: 36.5 hours
- Date founded: March 4, 1940
- 2025 visitors: 779,791 (#30 highest among all national parks)
- Park area: 461,901.20 acres
43 / 63
Virrage Images // Shutterstock

#43. Sequoia National Park (California)

- Distance: 1,777 miles
- Driving time: 35.3 hours
- Date founded: September 25, 1890
- 2025 visitors: 1,378,337 (#23 highest among all national parks)
- Park area: 404,062.63 acres
44 / 63
Diane Fetzner // Shutterstock

#44. Mount Rainier National Park (Washington)

- Distance: 1,785 miles
- Driving time: 32.1 hours
- Date founded: March 2, 1899
- 2025 visitors: 1,635,342 (#20 highest among all national parks)
- Park area: 236,381.64 acres
45 / 63
Stephen Moehle // Shutterstock

#45. Yosemite National Park (California)

- Distance: 1,785 miles
- Driving time: 34.4 hours
- Date founded: October 1, 1890
- 2025 visitors: 4,278,413 (#5 highest among all national parks)
- Park area: 761,747.50 acres
46 / 63
Hank Shiffman // Shutterstock

#46. Crater Lake National Park (Oregon)

- Distance: 1,829 miles
- Driving time: 32.5 hours
- Date founded: May 22, 1902
- 2025 visitors: 632,242 (#36 highest among all national parks)
- Park area: 183,224.05 acres
47 / 63
Zack Frank // Shutterstock

#47. Lassen Volcanic National Park (California)

- Distance: 1,835 miles
- Driving time: 31.5 hours
- Date founded: August 9, 1916
- 2025 visitors: 504,777 (#40 highest among all national parks)
- Park area: 106,589.02 acres
48 / 63
f11photo // Shutterstock

#48. Olympic National Park (Washington)

- Distance: 1,865 miles
- Driving time: 34.2 hours
- Date founded: June 29, 1938
- 2025 visitors: 3,584,187 (#9 highest among all national parks)
- Park area: 922,649.41 acres
49 / 63
Ethan Daniels // Shutterstock

#49. Channel Islands National Park (California)

- Distance: 1,884 miles
- Date founded: March 5, 1980
- 2025 visitors: 227,186 (#51 highest among all national parks)
- Park area: 249,561.00 acres
50 / 63
Yhelfman // Shutterstock

#50. Pinnacles National Park (California)

- Distance: 1,904 miles
- Driving time: 33.9 hours
- Date founded: January 10, 2013
- 2025 visitors: 343,208 (#47 highest among all national parks)
- Park area: 26,685.73 acres
51 / 63
Bob Pool // Shutterstock

#51. Redwood National Park (California)

- Distance: 1,948 miles
- Driving time: 36.0 hours
- Date founded: October 2, 1968
- 2025 visitors: 1,202,480 (#25 highest among all national parks)
- Park area: 138,999.37 acres
52 / 63
Sean Pavone // Shutterstock

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

- Distance: 2,049 miles
- Date founded: August 2, 1956
- 2025 visitors: 471,074 (#42 highest among all national parks)
- Park area: 15,052.53 acres
53 / 63
Laurie Gronewold // Shutterstock

#53. Glacier Bay National Park (Alaska)

- Distance: 2,460 miles
- Date founded: December 2, 1980
- 2025 visitors: 740,044 (#32 highest among all national parks)
- Park area: 3,223,383.43 acres
54 / 63
Martin Capek // Shutterstock

#54. Wrangell鈥揝t. Elias National Park (Alaska)

- Distance: 2,648 miles
- Date founded: December 2, 1980
- 2025 visitors: 108,840 (#55 highest among all national parks)
- Park area: 8,323,146.48 acres
55 / 63
Tomasz Wozniak // Shutterstock

#55. Kenai Fjords National Park (Alaska)

- Distance: 2,910 miles
- Date founded: December 2, 1980
- 2025 visitors: 425,369 (#45 highest among all national parks)
- Park area: 669,650.05 acres
56 / 63
Marc Cappelletti // Shutterstock

#56. Denali National Park (Alaska)

- Distance: 2,927 miles
- Date founded: February 26, 1917
- 2025 visitors: 543,300 (#39 highest among all national parks)
- Park area: 4,740,911.16 acres
57 / 63
BlueBarronPhoto // Shutterstock

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

- Distance: 3,009 miles
- Date founded: December 2, 1980
- 2025 visitors: 14,923 (#62 highest among all national parks)
- Park area: 7,523,897.45 acres
58 / 63
Malachi Jacobs // Shutterstock

#58. Lake Clark National Park (Alaska)

- Distance: 3,032 miles
- Date founded: December 2, 1980
- 2025 visitors: 19,778 (#61 highest among all national parks)
- Park area: 2,619,816.49 acres
59 / 63
Robert Harding Video // Shutterstock

#59. Katmai National Park (Alaska)

- Distance: 3,110 miles
- Date founded: December 2, 1980
- 2025 visitors: 34,479 (#59 highest among all national parks)
- Park area: 3,674,529.33 acres
60 / 63
BlueBarronPhoto // Shutterstock

#60. Kobuk Valley National Park (Alaska)

- Distance: 3,167 miles
- Date founded: December 2, 1980
- 2025 visitors: 7,786 (#63 highest among all national parks)
- Park area: 1,750,716.16 acres
61 / 63
MH Anderson Photography // Shutterstock

#61. Haleakal膩 National Park (Hawaii)

- Distance: 4,271 miles
- Date founded: July 1, 1961
- 2025 visitors: 853,711 (#27 highest among all national parks)
- Park area: 33,264.62 acres
62 / 63
jo Crebbin // Shutterstock

#62. Hawai驶i Volcanoes National Park (Hawaii)

- Distance: 4,277 miles
- Date founded: August 1, 1916
- 2025 visitors: 1,877,854 (#18 highest among all national parks)
- Park area: 325,605.28 acres
63 / 63
Lloyd Wallin Photography // Shutterstock

#63. National Park of American Samoa (American Samoa)

- Distance: 6,593 miles
- Date founded: October 31, 1988
- 2025 visitors: 43,258 (#58 highest among all national parks)
- Park area: 8,256.67 acres

Trending Now