National parks near Santa Cruz County, California
The closest national park to Santa Cruz County, California is Pinnacles National Park — about 54.7 mi (88 km) away, or roughly 1 hr 45 min of driving.
1 park is close enough to do as a day trip: Pinnacles National Park.
Pinnacles National Park
Yosemite National Park
Kings Canyon National Park
Sequoia National Park
Lassen Volcanic National Park
Channel Islands National Park
Best time to visit Pinnacles National Park. Getting to Pinnacles National Park. Camping at Pinnacles National Park.
National parks near Santa Cruz County
| Park | Straight-line distance | Estimated drive | Realistic trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pinnacles National Park | 54.7 mi (88 km) | 1 hr 45 min | Doable as a day trip |
| Yosemite National Park | 145 mi (233 km) | 3 hr 53 min | Best as a weekend |
| Kings Canyon National Park | 181 mi (291 km) | 4 hr 44 min | Best as a weekend |
| Sequoia National Park | 187 mi (301 km) | 4 hr 53 min | Best as a weekend |
| Lassen Volcanic National Park | 245 mi (394 km) | 6 hr 14 min | Worth a longer road trip |
| Channel Islands National Park | 249 mi (400 km) | 6 hr 20 min | Worth a longer road trip |
| Death Valley National Park | 288 mi (463 km) | 7 hr 16 min | Worth a longer road trip |
| Redwood National Park | 319 mi (513 km) | 8 hr | Worth a longer road trip |
| Joshua Tree National Park | 405 mi (651 km) | 10 hr 2 min | Worth a longer road trip |
| Crater Lake National Park | 412 mi (663 km) | 10 hr 12 min | Worth a longer road trip |
Towns and cities in Santa Cruz County
Common questions
What is the closest national park to Santa Cruz County?
Pinnacles National Park, about 54.7 mi (88 km) away and roughly 1 hr 45 min of driving.
Which national parks can I visit from Santa Cruz County in a day?
Pinnacles National Park — all within about three hours' drive.