National parks near Redmond, Oregon
Crater Lake National Park is the closest national park to Redmond, Oregon — 103 mi (166 km) in a straight line, which works out to roughly 2 hr 53 min behind the wheel.
A deep, clear lake in the collapsed caldera of an old volcano in Oregon. The rim road and overlooks are the usual visit.
Crater Lake National Park makes a full day trip — leave early. Mount Rainier National Park is better with a night booked nearby.
Nothing near Redmond gates the entrance itself, but 6 of the parks in range put a road, hike, or backcountry trip behind a permit or timed ticket.
Redmond has a population of about 28,654.
Crater Lake National Park
Mount Rainier National Park
Redwood National Park
Lassen Volcanic National Park
Olympic National Park
North Cascades National Park
Best time to visit Crater Lake National Park. Getting to Crater Lake National Park. Camping at Crater Lake National Park.
National parks near Redmond
| Park | Straight-line distance | Estimated drive | Realistic trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Crater Lake National Park | 103 mi (166 km) | 2 hr 53 min | Doable as a day trip |
| Mount Rainier National Park | 180 mi (290 km) | 4 hr 43 min | Best as a weekend |
| Redwood National Park | 250 mi (403 km) | 6 hr 23 min | Worth a longer road trip |
| Lassen Volcanic National Park | 261 mi (420 km) | 6 hr 38 min | Worth a longer road trip |
| Olympic National Park | 272 mi (438 km) | 6 hr 53 min | Worth a longer road trip |
| North Cascades National Park | 307 mi (493 km) | 7 hr 42 min | Worth a longer road trip |
| Gulf Islands National Park | 334 mi (538 km) | 8 hr 22 min | Worth a longer road trip |
| Pacific Rim National Park | 391 mi (629 km) | 9 hr 42 min | Worth a longer road trip |
| Yosemite National Park | 450 mi (725 km) | 11 hr 7 min | Worth a longer road trip |
| Glacier National Park | 468 mi (753 km) | 11 hr 32 min | Worth a longer road trip |
What to book before you leave Redmond
| Park | What needs booking | Covers | How |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mount Rainier National Park | Mount Rainier National Park Wilderness and Climbing Permits | One hike or backcountry trip | Permit or lottery |
| Glacier National Park | Logan Pass Shuttle Tickets | One road or area | Timed reservation |
| Lassen Volcanic National Park | Lassen Volcanic National Park Wilderness Permits | One hike or backcountry trip | Permit or lottery |
| Olympic National Park | Olympic National Park Wilderness Permit | One hike or backcountry trip | Permit or lottery |
| North Cascades National Park | North Cascades National Park Backcountry Permits | One hike or backcountry trip | Permit or lottery |
| Yosemite National Park | Half Dome Permits | One hike or backcountry trip | Permit or lottery |
Camping near Redmond
Within reach of Redmond, 61 campgrounds across 8 parks appear on Recreation.gov: 16 at Yosemite National Park, 14 at Lassen Volcanic National Park, 9 at Glacier National Park, and 8 at North Cascades National Park, plus 4 more parks with fewer sites.
Gold Bluffs Beach Campground - Prairie Creek Redwoods State Park at Redwood National Park and Jedediah Smith Campground - Jedediah Smith Redwoods State Park at Redwood National Park do not take reservations, so they never show up as bookable inventory — in busy season that means arriving before mid-morning rather than planning around a confirmation.
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
Crater Lake 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.
Planning a trip from Redmond
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 Deschutes County
Common questions
What is the closest national park to Redmond?
Crater Lake National Park. It is about 103 mi (166 km) from Redmond, roughly 2 hr 53 min of driving.
Can I do a national park day trip from Redmond?
Yes — Crater Lake National Park is within about a three-hour drive.
How many national parks are near Redmond?
10 parks are within reach of Redmond, and 1 of them is close enough for a day trip.
Do you need a reservation for the national parks near Redmond?
None of them gate the entrance itself. 6 put a specific road, hike, or backcountry trip behind a permit or timed ticket — Mount Rainier National Park Wilderness and Climbing Permits, Lassen Volcanic National Park Wilderness Permits, and Olympic National Park Wilderness Permit. These requirements are usually seasonal, so check the date you plan to arrive.
Where can you camp near Redmond?
Recreation.gov lists 61 campgrounds at the national parks within reach of Redmond. They are spread across 8 of those parks. 2 of them are first-come, first-served, so they never appear as bookable inventory.
When is the best time to visit the parks near Redmond?
For Crater Lake 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.