National parks near Austin

Closest first

The list shows up to 10 closest parks within 500 miles; if none are within that range, it shows the 3 nearest overall. Distances are straight-line miles from the city center to approximate park coordinates. Drive times are rough estimates based on distance, not live routing; ferry, traffic, road closures, and seasonal access can change a trip. Confirm routes and current conditions with the National Park Service before you go. Open the app for parks near wherever you are right now.

• 1 Big Bend · Texas · 150+ trails · $30 / vehicle338 mi · ~7 hr drive estimate
• 2 Hot Springs · Arkansas · 26+ trails · $20 / vehicle401 mi · ~8.5 hr drive estimate
• 3 Carlsbad Caverns · New Mexico · 6+ trails · $15 / person425 mi · ~9 hr drive estimate
• 4 Guadalupe Mountains · Texas · 80+ trails · $25 / vehicle437 mi · ~9 hr drive estimate

Planning a trip from Austin

Nothing on this list is a casual day trip from Austin, so plan a longer road trip or fly closer. The printable 63-park checklist helps group parks by region.

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.