Closest first
Straight-line miles from the city center; drive times are rough estimates. Open the app for parks near wherever you are right now.
- 1 Gateway Arch · Missouri · 3+ trails · Free1 mi · ~0.5 hr drive
- 2 Mammoth Cave · Kentucky · 85+ trails · Free245 mi · ~5 hr drive
- 3 Indiana Dunes · Indiana · 50+ trails · Free267 mi · ~5.5 hr drive
- 4 Hot Springs · Arkansas · 26+ trails · $20 / vehicle326 mi · ~7 hr drive
- 5 Great Smoky Mountains · Tennessee · 800+ trails · Free422 mi · ~9 hr drive
- 6 Cuyahoga Valley · Ohio · 125+ trails · Free492 mi · ~10.5 hr drive
- 7 New River Gorge · West Virginia · 112+ trails · Free497 mi · ~10.5 hr drive
Planning a trip from St. Louis
Gateway Arch, Mammoth Cave, Indiana Dunes are realistic for a long weekend. Leave early Friday, and reserve campsites or lodging ahead in peak season.
Each park page covers popular trails, camping, entrance fees, and the best time to visit. In ParkAtlas, the home screen shows unvisited parks within reach of your current location and lets you log the one you pick.
Common questions
What is the closest national park to St. Louis?
Gateway Arch National Park, about 1 miles away (~0.5 hr drive).
Which national parks near St. Louis work for a weekend trip?
Within roughly a six-hour drive: Gateway Arch, Mammoth Cave, Indiana Dunes.
How many national parks are within 500 miles of St. Louis?
7 of the 63 U.S. national parks are within 500 miles of St. Louis.