Photo: NPS photo
Arkansas
Hot Springs National Park
- Straight line
- 260 mi
- Drive (est.)
- ≈ 6 h 10 min
- Quiet month
- August
- Entrance
- Free entry
Oklahoma City · Oklahoma
National parks near Oklahoma City
Last verified Straight-line miles · drive times estimated
The closest national park to Oklahoma City is Hot Springs National Park, about 260 miles away as the crow flies, or roughly 6 h 10 min by road on our estimate. 1 national park is within 300 miles. Here are the nearest 8, a few road trips, and the Park Service sites even closer to home.
At a glance
Oklahoma City to the parks
| Closest national park | Hot Springs National Park 260 mi straight-line |
|---|---|
| Within 150 / 300 / 500 miles | 0 / 1 / 5 national parks |
| Day trip (≤ 3 h, est.) | None |
| Closest NPS site of any kind | Oklahoma City National Memorial, 1 mi |
| Metro population | 1,512,813 (Oklahoma City, OK metro, Census 2025 est.) |
The closest three
Nearest to Oklahoma City
Photo: NPS Photo/Sue Ford
Missouri
Gateway Arch National Park
- Straight line
- 459 mi
- Drive (est.)
- ≈ 10 h 50 min
- Quiet month
- August
- Entrance
- Free entry
Photo: NPS / Michael Larson
New Mexico
Carlsbad Caverns National Park
- Straight line
- 465 mi
- Drive (est.)
- ≈ 11 h
- Quiet month
- February
- Entrance
- $15 / person
The nearest 8
National parks by distance from Oklahoma City
Straight-line miles from the city to each park's NPS reference point (often its center, not an entrance). Drive times are a rough estimate: miles × 1.3 at 55 mph, not a route.
| # | Park | Straight line | Drive (est.) | 2025 visits | Quiet month |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Hot Springs National ParkAR | 260 mi | ≈ 6 h 10 min | 2,494,611 | August |
| 2 | Gateway Arch National ParkMO | 459 mi | ≈ 10 h 50 min | 2,209,028 | August |
| 3 | Carlsbad Caverns National ParkNM | 465 mi | ≈ 11 h | 410,778 | February |
| 4 | Great Sand Dunes National Park & PreserveCO | 476 mi | ≈ 11 h 10 min | 432,498 | August |
| 5 | Guadalupe Mountains National ParkTX | 489 mi | ≈ 11 h 40 min | 206,423 | February |
| 6 | White Sands National ParkNM | 537 mi | ≈ 12 h 40 min | 659,742 | February |
| 7 | Big Bend National ParkTX | 541 mi | ≈ 12 h 50 min | 568,104 | February |
| 8 | Rocky Mountain National ParkCO | 559 mi | ≈ 13 h 10 min | 4,171,431 | September |
Closer to home
National Park Service sites within 200 miles
Not national parks, but run by the same Park Service: monuments, historic sites, seashores and recreation areas. Links go to nps.gov.
- Oklahoma City National Memorial1 mi · OK
- Chickasaw National Recreation Area75 mi · OK
- Washita Battlefield National Historic Site124 mi · OK
- Fort Smith National Historic Site174 mi · AR · OK
Straight-line miles to each site’s NPS reference point. Long-distance trails are left out.
FAQ
National parks near Oklahoma City, answered
- What is the closest national park to Oklahoma City?
- Hot Springs National Park, about 260 miles from Oklahoma City in a straight line. By road, figure roughly 6 h 10 min on our estimate (straight-line miles × 1.3 at 55 mph, not a route). Next closest: Gateway Arch (459 mi) and Carlsbad Caverns (465 mi).
- Can you visit a national park on a day trip from Oklahoma City?
- Not easily. The closest, Hot Springs, is about 6 h 10 min away by our rough estimate, so plan on at least one night.
- How many national parks are within a day's drive of Oklahoma City?
- 1 by our rough estimate (up to 8 hours of driving): Hot Springs. 1 national parks are within 300 straight-line miles.
- Are there National Park Service sites closer to Oklahoma City?
- Yes. Within 200 miles there are 4 other NPS sites, the nearest being Oklahoma City National Memorial (1 mi), Chickasaw National Recreation Area (75 mi) and Washita Battlefield National Historic Site (124 mi).
Sources · 5
- 1.Metropolitan and Micropolitan Statistical Area Population Totals: 2020-2025 · U.S. Census Bureau
- 2.City and Town Population Totals: 2020-2025 · U.S. Census Bureau
- 3.2025 Gazetteer Files: Places · U.S. Census Bureau
- 4.NPS Data API — /parks (all park units) · National Park Service (U.S. Department of the Interior)
Show 1 moreShow fewer
- 5.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
City location: the U.S. Census Bureau’s internal point for Oklahoma City city, Oklahoma. Metro: Oklahoma City, OK (2025 estimate).
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