National parks near Yuma, Arizona
Constitución 1857 National Park is the closest national park to Yuma, Arizona — 98.3 mi (158 km) in a straight line, which works out to roughly 2 hr 47 min behind the wheel.
Constitución 1857 and Joshua Tree make a full day trip — leave early. Sierra de San Pedro Mártir and Saguaro are better with a night booked nearby.
Nothing near Yuma gates the entrance itself, but 5 of the parks in range put a road, hike, or backcountry trip behind a permit or timed ticket.
Yuma has a population of about 95,548.
National parks near Yuma
| Park | Straight-line distance | Estimated drive | Realistic trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Constitución 1857 National Park | 98.3 mi (158 km) | 2 hr 47 min | Doable as a day trip |
| Joshua Tree National Park | 104 mi (168 km) | 2 hr 55 min | Doable as a day trip |
| Sierra de San Pedro Mártir National Park | 136 mi (219 km) | 3 hr 40 min | Best as a weekend |
| Saguaro National Park | 202 mi (325 km) | 5 hr 14 min | Best as a weekend |
| Grand Canyon National Park | 270 mi (434 km) | 6 hr 50 min | Worth a longer road trip |
| Death Valley National Park | 273 mi (440 km) | 6 hr 55 min | Worth a longer road trip |
| San Lorenzo Marine Archipelago National Park | 290 mi (466 km) | 7 hr 18 min | Worth a longer road trip |
| Channel Islands National Park | 291 mi (468 km) | 7 hr 20 min | Worth a longer road trip |
| Petrified Forest National Park | 315 mi (508 km) | 7 hr 55 min | Worth a longer road trip |
| Zion National Park | 328 mi (528 km) | 8 hr 13 min | Worth a longer road trip |
What to book before you leave Yuma
| 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 |
| Death Valley | Death Valley National Park Wilderness Permits | One hike or backcountry trip | Permit or lottery |
| Petrified Forest | Wilderness backpacking permit | 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 |
Camping near Yuma
Within reach of Yuma, 25 campgrounds across 6 parks appear on Recreation.gov: 9 at Joshua Tree, 7 at Channel Islands, 3 at Grand Canyon, and 3 at Zion, plus 2 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
Constitución 1857 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 Yuma 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Constitución 1857 → Sierra de San Pedro Mártir | 83.7 mi (135 km) | 2 hr 26 min |
| Constitución 1857 → Joshua Tree | 123 mi (198 km) | 3 hr 22 min |
| Joshua Tree → Sierra de San Pedro Mártir | 201 mi (323 km) | 5 hr 12 min |
Planning a trip from Yuma
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 Yuma County
Common questions
What is the closest national park to Yuma?
Constitución 1857 National Park. It is about 98.3 mi (158 km) from Yuma, roughly 2 hr 47 min of driving.
Can I do a national park day trip from Yuma?
Yes — Constitución 1857 National Park and Joshua Tree National Park are within about a three-hour drive.
How many national parks are near Yuma?
10 parks are within reach of Yuma, 2 of them close enough for a day trip.
Do you need a reservation for the national parks near Yuma?
None of them gate the entrance itself. 5 put a specific road, hike, or backcountry trip behind a permit or timed ticket — Joshua Tree National Park Wilderness Backpacking Permits, Tuweep Area Day Use Tickets at Grand Canyon, and Death Valley National Park Wilderness Permits. These requirements are usually seasonal, so check the date you plan to arrive.
Where can you camp near Yuma?
Recreation.gov lists 25 campgrounds at the national parks within reach of Yuma. They are spread across 6 of those parks.
When is the best time to visit the parks near Yuma?
For Constitución 1857 National Park, the closest one, generally March through May, then October through November. Either side of that, February and early December stays quieter.