National parks near Kingman, Arizona
Grand Canyon National Park is the closest national park to Kingman, Arizona — 123 mi (198 km) in a straight line, which works out to roughly 3 hr 21 min behind the wheel.
Grand Canyon, Joshua Tree, Zion, Death Valley, and Bryce Canyon are better with a night booked nearby.
Nothing near Kingman gates the entrance itself, but 7 of the parks in range put a road, hike, or backcountry trip behind a permit or timed ticket.
Kingman has a population of about 28,912.
National parks near Kingman
| Park | Straight-line distance | Estimated drive | Realistic trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Grand Canyon National Park | 123 mi (198 km) | 3 hr 21 min | Best as a weekend |
| Joshua Tree National Park | 143 mi (230 km) | 3 hr 50 min | Best as a weekend |
| Zion National Park | 156 mi (251 km) | 4 hr 9 min | Best as a weekend |
| Death Valley National Park | 171 mi (276 km) | 4 hr 30 min | Best as a weekend |
| Bryce Canyon National Park | 195 mi (313 km) | 5 hr 3 min | Best as a weekend |
| Petrified Forest National Park | 241 mi (388 km) | 6 hr 10 min | Worth a longer road trip |
| Constitución 1857 National Park | 249 mi (400 km) | 6 hr 20 min | Worth a longer road trip |
| Saguaro National Park | 261 mi (420 km) | 6 hr 38 min | Worth a longer road trip |
| Capitol Reef National Park | 262 mi (422 km) | 6 hr 39 min | Worth a longer road trip |
| Great Basin National Park | 262 mi (422 km) | 6 hr 39 min | Worth a longer road trip |
What to book before you leave Kingman
| Park | What needs booking | Covers | How |
|---|---|---|---|
| Grand Canyon | Tuweep Area Day Use Tickets | One road or area | Timed reservation |
| Joshua Tree | Joshua Tree National Park Wilderness Backpacking Permits | One hike or backcountry trip | Permit or lottery |
| Zion | Angels Landing: Fall (Hikes on September 1 – November 30) | One hike or backcountry trip | Permit or lottery |
| Death Valley | Death Valley National Park Wilderness Permits | One hike or backcountry trip | Permit or lottery |
| Bryce Canyon | Bryce Canyon National Park Backcountry Permits | One hike or backcountry trip | Permit or lottery |
| Petrified Forest | Wilderness backpacking permit | One hike or backcountry trip | Permit or lottery |
| Capitol Reef | Backcountry camping permit | One hike or backcountry trip | Permit or lottery |
Camping near Kingman
Within reach of Kingman, 27 campgrounds across 8 parks appear on Recreation.gov: 9 at Joshua Tree, 5 at Great Basin, 3 at Grand Canyon, and 3 at Zion, plus 4 more parks with fewer sites.
Recreation.gov releases most national park campsites six months before the arrival date, at 10:00 a.m. Eastern time. Windows are set per campground, so confirm yours on the Seasons and Fees tab on that campground page.
Once a date is gone, cancellations are the real supply, and they get taken within minutes of appearing.
When to make this trip
Grand Canyon National Park is generally best March through May, then October through November, with February and early December as the quieter shoulder either side.
Summer highs regularly clear 100 °F / 38 °C. Winter is pleasant by day but nights drop below freezing at elevation.
Summer heat is the real hazard, not the crowds. Hike at dawn, skip exposed trails after mid-morning, and never rely on finding water.
Seeing more than one
Several parks near Kingman are close enough to each other to combine on one trip, so the drive from home only has to happen once.
| Pair | Apart | Estimated drive |
|---|---|---|
| Zion → Bryce Canyon | 51.2 mi (82.5 km) | 1 hr 40 min |
| Grand Canyon → Zion | 100 mi (161 km) | 2 hr 49 min |
| Grand Canyon → Bryce Canyon | 105 mi (169 km) | 2 hr 56 min |
| Joshua Tree → Death Valley | 177 mi (285 km) | 4 hr 39 min |
Planning a trip from Kingman
Distances here are straight-line and the drive estimate adds a road factor on top, but mountain passes and seasonal closures can change it a lot — a route that looks like three hours in June can be shut entirely in February. Confirm road status with the park before you commit to a date.
Other towns in Mohave County
Common questions
What is the closest national park to Kingman?
Grand Canyon National Park. It is about 123 mi (198 km) from Kingman, roughly 3 hr 21 min of driving.
Can I do a national park day trip from Kingman?
Not comfortably. The nearest parks are far enough that you will want at least one night away.
How many national parks are near Kingman?
10 parks are within reach of Kingman, 0 of them close enough for a day trip.
Do you need a reservation for the national parks near Kingman?
None of them gate the entrance itself. 7 put a specific road, hike, or backcountry trip behind a permit or timed ticket — Tuweep Area Day Use Tickets at Grand Canyon, Joshua Tree National Park Wilderness Backpacking Permits, and Angels Landing: Fall (Hikes on September 1 – November 30) at Zion. These requirements are usually seasonal, so check the date you plan to arrive.
Where can you camp near Kingman?
Recreation.gov lists 27 campgrounds at the national parks within reach of Kingman. They are spread across 8 of those parks.
When is the best time to visit the parks near Kingman?
For Grand Canyon National Park, the closest one, generally March through May, then October through November. Either side of that, February and early December stays quieter.