National parks near Des Moines County, Iowa
Des Moines County is one town for park planning. See national parks near Burlington — it reaches the same parks.
The closest national park to Des Moines County, Iowa is Gateway Arch National Park — about 160 mi (257 km) away, or roughly 4 hr 14 min of driving.
Nothing here is a comfortable day trip — the nearest parks are better as an overnight or a weekend.
National parks near Des Moines County
| Park | Straight-line distance | Estimated drive | Realistic trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gateway Arch National Park | 160 mi (257 km) | 4 hr 14 min | Best as a weekend |
| Indiana Dunes National Park | 217 mi (349 km) | 5 hr 35 min | Best as a weekend |
| Mammoth Cave National Park | 368 mi (592 km) | 9 hr 10 min | Worth a longer road trip |
| Hot Springs National Park | 448 mi (721 km) | 11 hr 3 min | Worth a longer road trip |
| Point Pelee National Park | 453 mi (728 km) | 11 hr 10 min | Worth a longer road trip |
| Cuyahoga Valley National Park | 499 mi (804 km) | 12 hr 16 min | Worth a longer road trip |
| Isle Royale National Park | 519 mi (835 km) | 12 hr 44 min | Worth a longer road trip |
| Voyageurs National Park | 538 mi (865 km) | 13 hr 10 min | Worth a longer road trip |
| Great Smoky Mountains National Park | 546 mi (879 km) | 13 hr 22 min | Worth a longer road trip |
| Bruce Peninsula National Park | 568 mi (914 km) | 13 hr 53 min | Worth a longer road trip |
Towns and cities in Des Moines County
Common questions
What is the closest national park to Des Moines County?
Gateway Arch National Park, about 160 mi (257 km) away and roughly 4 hr 14 min of driving.
Which national parks can I visit from Des Moines County in a day?
None comfortably. Plan at least one night away.