National parks in Colorado

Colorado has 4 national parks: Black Canyon of the Gunnison, Great Sand Dunes, Mesa Verde, and Rocky Mountain.

Black Canyon of the Gunnison National ParkCO
A steep, dark canyon cut by the Gunnison River in Colorado. Narrow rim views; the walls drop away fast.
Great Sand Dunes National ParkCO
Tall sand dunes piled against the Sangre de Cristo mountains in Colorado. You can hike the dunes or splash in seasonal creeks.
Mesa Verde National ParkCO
Ancestral Pueblo cliff dwellings on a Colorado mesa. Tours and overlooks explain the sites; stay on designated paths.
Rocky Mountain National ParkCO
High peaks and alpine lakes west of Denver. Trail Ridge Road crosses the park when snow allows.

Other parks within reach of Colorado

Parks ranked by distance from the centre of Colorado
Park	Straight-line distance	Estimated drive	Realistic trip
Rocky Mountain National Park	59.3 mi (95.5 km)	1 hr 51 min	Doable as a day trip
Great Sand Dunes National Park	126 mi (203 km)	3 hr 26 min	Best as a weekend
Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park	155 mi (250 km)	4 hr 8 min	Best as a weekend
Arches National Park	246 mi (395 km)	6 hr 16 min	Worth a longer road trip
Mesa Verde National Park	246 mi (396 km)	6 hr 17 min	Worth a longer road trip
Canyonlands National Park	275 mi (443 km)	6 hr 58 min	Worth a longer road trip
Wind Cave National Park	288 mi (464 km)	7 hr 16 min	Worth a longer road trip
Badlands National Park	318 mi (512 km)	7 hr 59 min	Worth a longer road trip
Capitol Reef National Park	338 mi (544 km)	8 hr 27 min	Worth a longer road trip
Bryce Canyon National Park	405 mi (652 km)	10 hr 2 min	Worth a longer road trip

4: Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park, Great Sand Dunes National Park, Mesa Verde National Park, and Rocky Mountain National Park.

Rocky Mountain National Park, roughly 59.3 mi (95.5 km) out and about 1 hr 51 min of driving from the centre of Colorado.