How many national parks are in Texas?

2: Big Bend National Park and Guadalupe Mountains National Park. Texas also has 16 other National Park Service sites, such as Alibates Flint Quarries National Monument and Amistad National Recreation Area.

What is the most visited national park in Texas?

Big Bend National Park, with 568,104 recreation visits in 2025, #38 of the 63 national parks. The least visited in Texas was Guadalupe Mountains (206,423).

What is the newest national park in Texas?

Guadalupe Mountains National Park, established on September 30, 1972. The oldest is Big Bend National Park (1944).

Do national parks in Texas charge an entrance fee?

Headline entrance fees run $10 per person to $30 per vehicle. An America the Beautiful pass covers entrance fees.

What is the closest national park to Houston?

Hot Springs National Park, about 355 miles from Houston in a straight line, roughly 8 h 20 min by road on our estimate (straight-line miles × 1.3 at 55 mph, not a route). Houston is Texas' largest city.

Texas · 2 national parks · 16 other NPS sites

National parks in Texas

Last verified October 1, 2026Sources ↓

Texas has 2 national parks: Big Bend and Guadalupe Mountains. 16 more National Park Service sites round out the map, from Alibates Flint Quarries National Monument to Waco Mammoth National Monument.

Numbered by 2025 visits. ★ Houston, Texas' largest city.

At a glance

Texas, by the numbers

National parks in Texas at a glance
National parks	2: Big Bend and Guadalupe Mountains
Other NPS sites	16 see nps.gov
Most visited park, 2025	Big Bend 568,104 visits (#38 of 63)
Entrance fees	$10 per person to $30 per vehicle
Newest national park	Guadalupe Mountains, September 30, 1972
Oldest national park	Big Bend, 1944
Nearest to Houston	Hot Springs 355 mi straight-line, ≈ 8 h 20 min drive (est.)

2 national parks

Texas' 2 national parks

Busiest first, by 2025 recreation visits.

Photo: NPS
Est. 1944
Big Bend National Park
2025 visits
568,104
Entrance
$30 / vehicle
Busiest month
March
Quiet month
February
“Tenacious cactus bloom in sublime southwestern sun…” (NPS)
Photo: NPS/Bieri
Est. 1972
Guadalupe Mountains National Park
2025 visits
206,423
Entrance
$10 / person
Busiest month
March
Quiet month
February
“The world's most extensive Permian fossil reef…” (NPS)

From Houston

The closest national parks to Houston

Measured from Houston, Texas' largest city (2,397,315 people, Census 2025 estimate). Straight-line miles; drive times are our rough estimate.

Nearest national parks to Houston
Park	Straight line	Drive (estimate)
Hot Springs National ParkAR	355 mi	≈ 8 h 20 min
Big Bend National ParkTX	472 mi	≈ 11 h 10 min
Carlsbad Caverns National ParkNM	567 mi	≈ 13 h 20 min
Guadalupe Mountains National ParkTX	582 mi	≈ 13 h 50 min

National parks near Dallas →National parks near Houston →National parks near San Antonio →National parks near Austin →

16 other NPS sites

Beyond the national parks

Monuments, historic sites, trails and more: every other place the National Park Service lists for Texas, grouped by type. Links go to nps.gov.

3 National Historic Trail · 3 National Historical Park · 2 National Historic Site · …Show all 16

National Historic Trail · 3

Butterfield Overland National Historic TrailMO · AR · OK · TX · NM · AZ · CA
El Camino Real de los Tejas National Historic TrailTX · LA
El Camino Real de Tierra Adentro National Historic TrailNM · TX

National Historical Park · 3

National Historic Site · 2

National Monument · 2

National Recreation Area · 2

From the NPS Data API; the same list as Texas' page on nps.gov. Trails and other multi-state sites appear under each state they cross.

FAQ

Texas, answered

How many national parks are in Texas?: 2: Big Bend National Park and Guadalupe Mountains National Park. Texas also has 16 other National Park Service sites, such as Alibates Flint Quarries National Monument and Amistad National Recreation Area.
What is the most visited national park in Texas?: Big Bend National Park, with 568,104 recreation visits in 2025, #38 of the 63 national parks. The least visited in Texas was Guadalupe Mountains (206,423).
What is the newest national park in Texas?: Guadalupe Mountains National Park, established on September 30, 1972. The oldest is Big Bend National Park (1944).
Do national parks in Texas charge an entrance fee?: Headline entrance fees run $10 per person to $30 per vehicle. An America the Beautiful pass covers entrance fees.
What is the closest national park to Houston?: Hot Springs National Park, about 355 miles from Houston in a straight line, roughly 8 h 20 min by road on our estimate (straight-line miles × 1.3 at 55 mph, not a route). Houston is Texas' largest city.

Sources · 5

1.Texas: parks and places (nps.gov) · National Park Service
2.NPS Data API — /parks (all park units) · National Park Service (U.S. Department of the Interior)
3.NPS Visitor Use Statistics — monthly recreation visits, 2021–2025 (IRMA stats REST service) · National Park Service (U.S. Department of the Interior) — Visitor Use Statistics Program
4.City and Town Population Totals: 2020-2025 · U.S. Census Bureau
5.2025 Gazetteer Files: Places · U.S. Census Bureau

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