National parks near Polk County, Missouri
Polk County is one town for park planning. See national parks near Bolivar — it reaches the same parks.
The closest national park to Polk County, Missouri is Gateway Arch National Park — about 189 mi (304 km) away, or roughly 4 hr 56 min of driving.
Nothing here is a comfortable day trip — the nearest parks are better as an overnight or a weekend.
National parks near Polk County
| Park | Straight-line distance | Estimated drive | Realistic trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gateway Arch National Park | 189 mi (304 km) | 4 hr 56 min | Best as a weekend |
| Hot Springs National Park | 216 mi (347 km) | 5 hr 34 min | Best as a weekend |
| Mammoth Cave National Park | 403 mi (649 km) | 9 hr 59 min | Worth a longer road trip |
| Indiana Dunes National Park | 436 mi (702 km) | 10 hr 46 min | Worth a longer road trip |
| Great Smoky Mountains National Park | 565 mi (909 km) | 13 hr 49 min | Worth a longer road trip |
| Badlands National Park | 636 mi (1023 km) | 15 hr 30 min | Worth a longer road trip |
| Point Pelee National Park | 651 mi (1048 km) | 15 hr 52 min | Worth a longer road trip |
| Great Sand Dunes National Park | 662 mi (1066 km) | 16 hr 8 min | Worth a longer road trip |
| Wind Cave National Park | 667 mi (1074 km) | 16 hr 15 min | Worth a longer road trip |
| New River Gorge National Park | 674 mi (1084 km) | 16 hr 24 min | Worth a longer road trip |
Towns and cities in Polk County
Common questions
What is the closest national park to Polk County?
Gateway Arch National Park, about 189 mi (304 km) away and roughly 4 hr 56 min of driving.
Which national parks can I visit from Polk County in a day?
None comfortably. Plan at least one night away.