Parks Manager

National parks near Shawnee County, Kansas

Shawnee County is one town for park planning. See national parks near Topeka — it reaches the same parks.

The closest national park to Shawnee County, Kansas is Gateway Arch National Park — about 298 mi (479 km) away, or roughly 7 hr 30 min of driving.

Nothing here is a comfortable day trip — the nearest parks are better as an overnight or a weekend.

National parks near Shawnee County

Parks ranked by distance from Shawnee County
ParkStraight-line distanceEstimated driveRealistic trip
Gateway Arch National Park298 mi (479 km)7 hr 30 minWorth a longer road trip
Hot Springs National Park345 mi (555 km)8 hr 37 minWorth a longer road trip
Badlands National Park480 mi (772 km)11 hr 48 minWorth a longer road trip
Indiana Dunes National Park486 mi (783 km)11 hr 58 minWorth a longer road trip
Wind Cave National Park511 mi (822 km)12 hr 33 minWorth a longer road trip
Mammoth Cave National Park536 mi (863 km)13 hr 8 minWorth a longer road trip
Rocky Mountain National Park539 mi (867 km)13 hr 12 minWorth a longer road trip
Great Sand Dunes National Park541 mi (871 km)13 hr 15 minWorth a longer road trip
Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park649 mi (1044 km)15 hr 48 minWorth a longer road trip
Voyageurs National Park668 mi (1075 km)16 hr 15 minWorth a longer road trip

Towns and cities in Shawnee County

Common questions

What is the closest national park to Shawnee County?

Gateway Arch National Park, about 298 mi (479 km) away and roughly 7 hr 30 min of driving.

Which national parks can I visit from Shawnee County in a day?

None comfortably. Plan at least one night away.