Parks Manager

National parks near Clay County, Missouri

Clay County is one town for park planning. See national parks near Excelsior Springs — it reaches the same parks.

The closest national park to Clay County, Missouri is Gateway Arch National Park — about 234 mi (376 km) away, or roughly 5 hr 59 min of driving.

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

National parks near Clay County

Parks ranked by distance from Clay County
ParkStraight-line distanceEstimated driveRealistic trip
Gateway Arch National Park234 mi (376 km)5 hr 59 minBest as a weekend
Hot Springs National Park337 mi (542 km)8 hr 25 minWorth a longer road trip
Indiana Dunes National Park420 mi (676 km)10 hr 24 minWorth a longer road trip
Mammoth Cave National Park475 mi (765 km)11 hr 42 minWorth a longer road trip
Badlands National Park519 mi (835 km)12 hr 44 minWorth a longer road trip
Wind Cave National Park554 mi (891 km)13 hr 33 minWorth a longer road trip
Rocky Mountain National Park600 mi (966 km)14 hr 39 minWorth a longer road trip
Great Sand Dunes National Park608 mi (978 km)14 hr 50 minWorth a longer road trip
Voyageurs National Park643 mi (1035 km)15 hr 40 minWorth a longer road trip
Great Smoky Mountains National Park649 mi (1044 km)15 hr 48 minWorth a longer road trip

Towns and cities in Clay County

Common questions

What is the closest national park to Clay County?

Gateway Arch National Park, about 234 mi (376 km) away and roughly 5 hr 59 min of driving.

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

None comfortably. Plan at least one night away.