Closest national parks to Williamsport

Written by:
July 17, 2026
ZakZeinert // Shutterstock

Closest national parks to Williamsport

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

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#1. Shenandoah National Park (Virginia)

- Distance: 206 miles
- Driving time: 5.1 hours
- Date founded: December 26, 1935
- 2025 visitors: 1,682,152 (#19 highest among all national parks)
- Park area: 199,223.77 acres
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Zack Frank // Shutterstock

#2. Cuyahoga Valley National Park (Ohio)

- Distance: 234 miles
- Driving time: 4.4 hours
- Date founded: October 11, 2000
- 2025 visitors: 3,025,325 (#11 highest among all national parks)
- Park area: 32,571.88 acres
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#3. New River Gorge National Park (West Virginia)

- Distance: 311 miles
- Driving time: 6.2 hours
- Date founded: December 27, 2020
- 2025 visitors: 1,958,440 (#17 highest among all national parks)
- Park area: 7,021 acres
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Romiana Lee // Shutterstock

#4. Acadia National Park (Maine)

- Distance: 495 miles
- Driving time: 11.6 hours
- Date founded: February 26, 1919
- 2025 visitors: 4,079,318 (#7 highest among all national parks)
- Park area: 49,076.63 acres
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Delmas Lehman // Shutterstock

#5. Indiana Dunes National Park (Indiana)

- Distance: 519 miles
- Driving time: 9.0 hours
- Date founded: February 15, 2019
- 2025 visitors: 2,629,497 (#13 highest among all national parks)
- Park area: 15,349.08 acres
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ZakZeinert // Shutterstock

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

- Distance: 525 miles
- Driving time: 10.5 hours
- Date founded: June 15, 1934
- 2025 visitors: 11,527,939 (#1 highest among all national parks)
- Park area: 522,426.88 acres
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Zack Frank // Shutterstock

#7. Congaree National Park (South Carolina)

- Distance: 560 miles
- Driving time: 11.5 hours
- Date founded: November 10, 2003
- 2025 visitors: 287,833 (#49 highest among all national parks)
- Park area: 26,476.47 acres
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Wangkun Jia // Shutterstock

#8. Mammoth Cave National Park (Kentucky)

- Distance: 563 miles
- Driving time: 10.7 hours
- Date founded: July 1, 1941
- 2025 visitors: 660,734 (#34 highest among all national parks)
- Park area: 54,011.91 acres
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Paul Brady Photography // Shutterstock

#9. Gateway Arch National Park (Missouri)

- Distance: 721 miles
- Driving time: 12.3 hours
- Date founded: February 22, 2018[47]
- 2025 visitors: 2,209,028 (#15 highest among all national parks)
- Park area: 192.83 acres
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#10. Isle Royale National Park (Michigan)

- Distance: 732 miles
- Driving time: 16.5 hours
- Date founded: April 3, 1940
- 2025 visitors: 29,091 (#60 highest among all national parks)
- Park area: 571,790.30 acres
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#11. Voyageurs National Park (Minnesota)

- Distance: 918 miles
- Driving time: 19.6 hours
- Date founded: April 8, 1975
- 2025 visitors: 206,326 (#53 highest among all national parks)
- Park area: 218,222.35 acres
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Zack Frank // Shutterstock

#12. Hot Springs National Park (Arkansas)

- Distance: 991 miles
- Driving time: 17.8 hours
- Date founded: March 4, 1921
- 2025 visitors: 2,494,611 (#14 highest among all national parks)
- Park area: 5,554.15 acres
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#13. Biscayne National Park (Florida)

- Distance: 1,095 miles
- Driving time: 20.3 hours
- Date founded: June 28, 1980
- 2025 visitors: 486,567 (#41 highest among all national parks)
- Park area: 172,971.11 acres
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#14. Everglades National Park (Florida)

- Distance: 1,127 miles
- Driving time: 21.3 hours
- Date founded: May 30, 1934
- 2025 visitors: 778,198 (#31 highest among all national parks)
- Park area: 1,508,938.57 acres
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#15. Dry Tortugas National Park (Florida)

- Distance: 1,200 miles
- Driving time: 23.2 hours
- Date founded: October 26, 1992
- 2025 visitors: 89,355 (#56 highest among all national parks)
- Park area: 64,701.22 acres
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#16. Badlands National Park (South Dakota)

- Distance: 1,304 miles
- Driving time: 22.4 hours
- Date founded: November 10, 1978
- 2025 visitors: 1,139,361 (#26 highest among all national parks)
- Park area: 242,755.94 acres
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Zack Frank // Shutterstock

#17. Wind Cave National Park (South Dakota)

- Distance: 1,354 miles
- Driving time: 23.8 hours
- Date founded: January 9, 1903
- 2025 visitors: 606,258 (#37 highest among all national parks)
- Park area: 33,970.84 acres
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#18. Theodore Roosevelt National Park (North Dakota)

- Distance: 1,361 miles
- Driving time: 24.2 hours
- Date founded: November 10, 1978
- 2025 visitors: 729,893 (#33 highest among all national parks)
- Park area: 70,446.89 acres
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#19. Rocky Mountain National Park (Colorado)

- Distance: 1,489 miles
- Driving time: 24.5 hours
- Date founded: January 26, 1915
- 2025 visitors: 4,171,431 (#6 highest among all national parks)
- Park area: 265,807.25 acres
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#20. Great Sand Dunes National Park (Colorado)

- Distance: 1,533 miles
- Driving time: 27.3 hours
- Date founded: September 24, 2004
- 2025 visitors: 432,498 (#44 highest among all national parks)
- Park area: 107,341.87 acres
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#21. Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park (Colorado)

- Distance: 1,631 miles
- Driving time: 28.4 hours
- Date founded: October 21, 1999
- 2025 visitors: 250,086 (#50 highest among all national parks)
- Park area: 30,779.83 acres
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#22. Carlsbad Caverns National Park (New Mexico)

- Distance: 1,637 miles
- Driving time: 28.0 hours
- Date founded: May 14, 1930
- 2025 visitors: 410,778 (#46 highest among all national parks)
- Park area: 46,766.45 acres
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#23. Guadalupe Mountains National Park (Texas)

- Distance: 1,667 miles
- Driving time: 29.1 hours
- Date founded: October 15, 1966
- 2025 visitors: 206,423 (#52 highest among all national parks)
- Park area: 86,367.10 acres
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#24. Big Bend National Park (Texas)

- Distance: 1,689 miles
- Driving time: 31.2 hours
- Date founded: June 12, 1944
- 2025 visitors: 568,104 (#38 highest among all national parks)
- Park area: 801,163.21 acres
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#25. Yellowstone National Park (Wyoming, Montana, Idaho)

- Distance: 1,698 miles
- Driving time: 30.6 hours
- Date founded: March 1, 1872
- 2025 visitors: 4,762,988 (#3 highest among all national parks)
- Park area: 2,219,790.71 acres
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#26. Mesa Verde National Park (Colorado)

- Distance: 1,700 miles
- Driving time: 30.7 hours
- Date founded: June 29, 1906
- 2025 visitors: 463,130 (#43 highest among all national parks)
- Park area: 52,485.17 acres
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#27. White Sands National Park (New Mexico)

- Distance: 1,704 miles
- Driving time: 28.8 hours
- Date founded: December 20, 2019[111]
- 2025 visitors: 659,742 (#35 highest among all national parks)
- Park area: 146,344.31 acres
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#28. Grand Teton National Park (Wyoming)

- Distance: 1,718 miles
- Driving time: 29.6 hours
- Date founded: February 26, 1929
- 2025 visitors: 3,800,648 (#8 highest among all national parks)
- Park area: 310,044.36 acres
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#29. Arches National Park (Utah)

- Distance: 1,725 miles
- Driving time: 29.1 hours
- Date founded: November 12, 1971
- 2025 visitors: 1,511,740 (#21 highest among all national parks)
- Park area: 76,678.98 acres
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#30. Virgin Islands National Park (U.S. Virgin Islands)

- Distance: 1,745 miles
- Date founded: August 2, 1956
- 2025 visitors: 471,074 (#42 highest among all national parks)
- Park area: 15,052.53 acres
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#31. Canyonlands National Park (Utah)

- Distance: 1,753 miles
- Driving time: 36.1 hours
- Date founded: September 12, 1964
- 2025 visitors: 796,057 (#29 highest among all national parks)
- Park area: 337,597.83 acres
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Layne V. Naylor // Shutterstock

#32. Capitol Reef National Park (Utah)

- Distance: 1,817 miles
- Driving time: 30.6 hours
- Date founded: December 18, 1971
- 2025 visitors: 1,388,476 (#22 highest among all national parks)
- Park area: 241,904.50 acres
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#33. Petrified Forest National Park (Arizona)

- Distance: 1,821 miles
- Driving time: 30.5 hours
- Date founded: December 9, 1962
- 2025 visitors: 315,951 (#48 highest among all national parks)
- Park area: 221,390.21 acres
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#34. Glacier National Park (Montana)

- Distance: 1,859 miles
- Date founded: May 11, 1910
- 2025 visitors: 3,136,557 (#10 highest among all national parks)
- Park area: 1,013,125.99 acres
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#35. Bryce Canyon National Park (Utah)

- Distance: 1,883 miles
- Driving time: 32.6 hours
- Date founded: February 25, 1928
- 2025 visitors: 1,967,367 (#16 highest among all national parks)
- Park area: 35,835.08 acres
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#36. Grand Canyon National Park (Arizona)

- Distance: 1,918 miles
- Driving time: 33.8 hours
- Date founded: February 26, 1919
- 2025 visitors: 4,430,653 (#4 highest among all national parks)
- Park area: 1,201,647.03 acres
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Galyna Andrushko // Shutterstock

#37. Zion National Park (Utah)

- Distance: 1,935 miles
- Driving time: 33.1 hours
- Date founded: November 19, 1919
- 2025 visitors: 4,984,525 (#2 highest among all national parks)
- Park area: 147,242.66 acres
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#38. Saguaro National Park (Arizona)

- Distance: 1,944 miles
- Driving time: 33.7 hours
- Date founded: October 14, 1994
- 2025 visitors: 847,749 (#28 highest among all national parks)
- Park area: 92,867.42 acres
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#39. Great Basin National Park (Nevada)

- Distance: 1,963 miles
- Driving time: 33.1 hours
- Date founded: October 27, 1986
- 2025 visitors: 161,210 (#54 highest among all national parks)
- Park area: 77,180.00 acres
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#40. Death Valley National Park (California, Nevada)

- Distance: 2,156 miles
- Driving time: 36.3 hours
- Date founded: October 31, 1994
- 2025 visitors: 1,320,134 (#24 highest among all national parks)
- Park area: 3,408,406.73 acres
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#41. Joshua Tree National Park (California)

- Distance: 2,176 miles
- Driving time: 37.6 hours
- Date founded: October 31, 1994
- 2025 visitors: 2,932,644 (#12 highest among all national parks)
- Park area: 795,155.85 acres
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Zack Frank // Shutterstock

#42. North Cascades National Park (Washington)

- Distance: 2,188 miles
- Driving time: 41.4 hours
- Date founded: October 2, 1968
- 2025 visitors: 46,925 (#57 highest among all national parks)
- Park area: 504,780.94 acres
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#43. Mount Rainier National Park (Washington)

- Distance: 2,225 miles
- Driving time: 40.1 hours
- Date founded: March 2, 1899
- 2025 visitors: 1,635,342 (#20 highest among all national parks)
- Park area: 236,381.64 acres
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#44. Kings Canyon National Park (California)

- Distance: 2,232 miles
- Driving time: 44.2 hours
- Date founded: March 4, 1940
- 2025 visitors: 779,791 (#30 highest among all national parks)
- Park area: 461,901.20 acres
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#45. Sequoia National Park (California)

- Distance: 2,248 miles
- Driving time: 42.9 hours
- Date founded: September 25, 1890
- 2025 visitors: 1,378,337 (#23 highest among all national parks)
- Park area: 404,062.63 acres
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#46. Yosemite National Park (California)

- Distance: 2,256 miles
- Driving time: 42.0 hours
- Date founded: October 1, 1890
- 2025 visitors: 4,278,413 (#5 highest among all national parks)
- Park area: 761,747.50 acres
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#47. Crater Lake National Park (Oregon)

- Distance: 2,289 miles
- Driving time: 40.4 hours
- Date founded: May 22, 1902
- 2025 visitors: 632,242 (#36 highest among all national parks)
- Park area: 183,224.05 acres
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#48. Olympic National Park (Washington)

- Distance: 2,298 miles
- Driving time: 42.1 hours
- Date founded: June 29, 1938
- 2025 visitors: 3,584,187 (#9 highest among all national parks)
- Park area: 922,649.41 acres
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Zack Frank // Shutterstock

#49. Lassen Volcanic National Park (California)

- Distance: 2,302 miles
- Driving time: 39.1 hours
- Date founded: August 9, 1916
- 2025 visitors: 504,777 (#40 highest among all national parks)
- Park area: 106,589.02 acres
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#50. Channel Islands National Park (California)

- Distance: 2,352 miles
- Date founded: March 5, 1980
- 2025 visitors: 227,186 (#51 highest among all national parks)
- Park area: 249,561.00 acres
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#51. Pinnacles National Park (California)

- Distance: 2,375 miles
- Driving time: 41.6 hours
- Date founded: January 10, 2013
- 2025 visitors: 343,208 (#47 highest among all national parks)
- Park area: 26,685.73 acres
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#55. Denali National Park (Alaska)

- Distance: 3,232 miles
- Date founded: February 26, 1917
- 2025 visitors: 543,300 (#39 highest among all national parks)
- Park area: 4,740,911.16 acres
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#56. Kenai Fjords National Park (Alaska)

- Distance: 3,244 miles
- Date founded: December 2, 1980
- 2025 visitors: 425,369 (#45 highest among all national parks)
- Park area: 669,650.05 acres
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#57. Gates of the Arctic National Park (Alaska)

- Distance: 3,272 miles
- Date founded: December 2, 1980
- 2025 visitors: 14,923 (#62 highest among all national parks)
- Park area: 7,523,897.45 acres
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#58. Lake Clark National Park (Alaska)

- Distance: 3,355 miles
- Date founded: December 2, 1980
- 2025 visitors: 19,778 (#61 highest among all national parks)
- Park area: 2,619,816.49 acres
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BlueBarronPhoto // Shutterstock

#59. Kobuk Valley National Park (Alaska)

- Distance: 3,430 miles
- Date founded: December 2, 1980
- 2025 visitors: 7,786 (#63 highest among all national parks)
- Park area: 1,750,716.16 acres
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#60. Katmai National Park (Alaska)

- Distance: 3,452 miles
- Date founded: December 2, 1980
- 2025 visitors: 34,479 (#59 highest among all national parks)
- Park area: 3,674,529.33 acres
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#61. Haleakal膩 National Park (Hawaii)

- Distance: 4,741 miles
- Date founded: July 1, 1961
- 2025 visitors: 853,711 (#27 highest among all national parks)
- Park area: 33,264.62 acres
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#62. Hawai驶i Volcanoes National Park (Hawaii)

- Distance: 4,747 miles
- Date founded: August 1, 1916
- 2025 visitors: 1,877,854 (#18 highest among all national parks)
- Park area: 325,605.28 acres
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Lloyd Wallin Photography // Shutterstock

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

- Distance: 7,048 miles
- Date founded: October 31, 1988
- 2025 visitors: 43,258 (#58 highest among all national parks)
- Park area: 8,256.67 acres

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