National parks near Manhattan, Montana
Manhattan sits inside the Bozeman area and reaches the same parks. See national parks near Bozeman for the full write-up.
Yellowstone National Park is the closest national park to Manhattan, Montana — 95.8 mi (154 km) in a straight line, which works out to roughly 2 hr 43 min behind the wheel.
Yellowstone makes a full day trip — leave early. Grand Teton and Glacier are better with a night booked nearby.
Nothing near Manhattan gates the entrance itself, but 3 of the parks in range put a road, hike, or backcountry trip behind a permit or timed ticket.
Manhattan has a population of about 1,631.
National parks near Manhattan
| Park | Straight-line distance | Estimated drive | Realistic trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Yellowstone National Park | 95.8 mi (154 km) | 2 hr 43 min | Doable as a day trip |
| Grand Teton National Park | 146 mi (235 km) | 3 hr 55 min | Best as a weekend |
| Glacier National Park | 231 mi (372 km) | 5 hr 55 min | Best as a weekend |
| Waterton Lakes National Park | 252 mi (405 km) | 6 hr 24 min | Worth a longer road trip |
| Grasslands National Park | 286 mi (460 km) | 7 hr 13 min | Worth a longer road trip |
| Theodore Roosevelt National Park | 383 mi (617 km) | 9 hr 31 min | Worth a longer road trip |
| Kootenay National Park | 409 mi (658 km) | 10 hr 8 min | Worth a longer road trip |
| Wind Cave National Park | 416 mi (670 km) | 10 hr 18 min | Worth a longer road trip |
| Banff National Park | 444 mi (715 km) | 10 hr 58 min | Worth a longer road trip |
| Yoho National Park | 449 mi (723 km) | 11 hr 5 min | Worth a longer road trip |
What to book before you leave Manhattan
| Park | What needs booking | Covers | How |
|---|---|---|---|
| Glacier | Logan Pass Shuttle Tickets | One road or area | Timed reservation |
| Yellowstone | Yellowstone National Park Backcountry Permits | One hike or backcountry trip | Permit or lottery |
| Grand Teton | Grand Teton National Park Backcountry Permits | One hike or backcountry trip | Permit or lottery |
Camping near Manhattan
Within reach of Manhattan, 29 campgrounds across 5 parks appear on Recreation.gov: 9 at Grand Teton, 9 at Glacier, 5 at Yellowstone, and 5 at Theodore Roosevelt, plus 1 more park with fewer sites.
Recreation.gov releases most national park campsites six months before the arrival date, at 10:00 a.m. Eastern time. Windows are set per campground, so confirm yours on the Seasons and Fees tab on that campground page.
Once a date is gone, cancellations are the real supply, and they get taken within minutes of appearing.
When to make this trip
Yellowstone National Park is generally best July through mid-September, once the high country is clear of snow, with late June and late September as the quieter shoulder either side.
High passes and trails hold snow from October into June, and some roads close entirely for the winter.
Afternoon thunderstorms build fast above treeline in summer. Start early and be off exposed ridges by early afternoon.
Seeing more than one
Several parks near Manhattan are close enough to each other to combine on one trip, so the drive from home only has to happen once.
| Pair | Apart | Estimated drive |
|---|---|---|
| Glacier → Waterton Lakes | 20.9 mi (33.6 km) | 48 min |
| Yellowstone → Grand Teton | 56.7 mi (91.2 km) | 1 hr 48 min |
Planning a trip from Manhattan
Distances here are straight-line and the drive estimate adds a road factor on top, but mountain passes and seasonal closures can change it a lot — a route that looks like three hours in June can be shut entirely in February. Confirm road status with the park before you commit to a date.
Other towns in Gallatin County
Common questions
What is the closest national park to Manhattan?
Yellowstone National Park. It is about 95.8 mi (154 km) from Manhattan, roughly 2 hr 43 min of driving.
Can I do a national park day trip from Manhattan?
Yes — Yellowstone National Park is within about a three-hour drive.
How many national parks are near Manhattan?
10 parks are within reach of Manhattan, 1 of them close enough for a day trip.
Do you need a reservation for the national parks near Manhattan?
None of them gate the entrance itself. 3 put a specific road, hike, or backcountry trip behind a permit or timed ticket — Yellowstone National Park Backcountry Permits, Grand Teton National Park Backcountry Permits, and Logan Pass Shuttle Tickets at Glacier. These requirements are usually seasonal, so check the date you plan to arrive.
Where can you camp near Manhattan?
Recreation.gov lists 29 campgrounds at the national parks within reach of Manhattan. They are spread across 5 of those parks.
When is the best time to visit the parks near Manhattan?
For Yellowstone National Park, the closest one, generally July through mid-September, once the high country is clear of snow. Either side of that, late June and late September stays quieter.