National parks near Kemmerer, Wyoming
Grand Teton National Park is the closest national park to Kemmerer, Wyoming — 138 mi (222 km) in a straight line, which works out to roughly 3 hr 43 min behind the wheel.
Grand Teton, Yellowstone, and Arches are better with a night booked nearby.
Nothing near Kemmerer gates the entrance itself, but 7 of the parks in range put a road, hike, or backcountry trip behind a permit or timed ticket.
Kemmerer has a population of about 2,739.
National parks near Kemmerer
| Park | Straight-line distance | Estimated drive | Realistic trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Grand Teton National Park | 138 mi (222 km) | 3 hr 43 min | Best as a weekend |
| Yellowstone National Park | 194 mi (312 km) | 5 hr 3 min | Best as a weekend |
| Arches National Park | 221 mi (356 km) | 5 hr 41 min | Best as a weekend |
| Canyonlands National Park | 250 mi (403 km) | 6 hr 22 min | Worth a longer road trip |
| Capitol Reef National Park | 250 mi (403 km) | 6 hr 23 min | Worth a longer road trip |
| Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park | 268 mi (431 km) | 6 hr 47 min | Worth a longer road trip |
| Rocky Mountain National Park | 272 mi (438 km) | 6 hr 54 min | Worth a longer road trip |
| Great Basin National Park | 277 mi (446 km) | 7 hr 1 min | Worth a longer road trip |
| Bryce Canyon National Park | 305 mi (490 km) | 7 hr 39 min | Worth a longer road trip |
| Mesa Verde National Park | 337 mi (542 km) | 8 hr 25 min | Worth a longer road trip |
What to book before you leave Kemmerer
| Park | What needs booking | Covers | How |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rocky Mountain | Rocky Mountain National Park Timed Entry | Park entry | Timed reservation |
| Grand Teton | Grand Teton National Park Backcountry Permits | One hike or backcountry trip | Permit or lottery |
| Yellowstone | Yellowstone National Park Backcountry Permits | One hike or backcountry trip | Permit or lottery |
| Arches | Arches National Park Canyoneering Permits | One hike or backcountry trip | Permit or lottery |
| Canyonlands | Canyonlands National Park Day Use Backcountry Permits | One hike or backcountry trip | Permit or lottery |
| Capitol Reef | Backcountry camping permit | One hike or backcountry trip | Permit or lottery |
| Black Canyon of the Gunnison | Black Canyon of the Gunnison NP Red Rock Canyon Wilderness Permits | One hike or backcountry trip | Permit or lottery |
| Bryce Canyon | Bryce Canyon National Park Backcountry Permits | One hike or backcountry trip | Permit or lottery |
Camping near Kemmerer
Within reach of Kemmerer, 34 campgrounds across 10 parks appear on Recreation.gov: 9 at Grand Teton, 5 at Yellowstone, 5 at Rocky Mountain, and 5 at Great Basin, plus 6 more parks with fewer sites.
Morefield at Mesa Verde does not take reservations, so it never shows 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
Grand Teton 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 Kemmerer 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Arches → Canyonlands | 38.5 mi (61.9 km) | 1 hr 18 min |
| Grand Teton → Yellowstone | 56.7 mi (91.2 km) | 1 hr 48 min |
| Canyonlands → Capitol Reef | 67.3 mi (108 km) | 2 hr 3 min |
| Arches → Capitol Reef | 92.7 mi (149 km) | 2 hr 39 min |
Planning a trip from Kemmerer
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 Lincoln County
Common questions
What is the closest national park to Kemmerer?
Grand Teton National Park. It is about 138 mi (222 km) from Kemmerer, roughly 3 hr 43 min of driving.
Can I do a national park day trip from Kemmerer?
Not comfortably. The nearest parks are far enough that you will want at least one night away.
How many national parks are near Kemmerer?
10 parks are within reach of Kemmerer, 0 of them close enough for a day trip.
Do you need a reservation for the national parks near Kemmerer?
None of them gate the entrance itself. 7 put a specific road, hike, or backcountry trip behind a permit or timed ticket — Grand Teton National Park Backcountry Permits, Yellowstone National Park Backcountry Permits, and Arches National Park Canyoneering Permits. Farther than a day trip, Rocky Mountain National Park still needs a timed-entry permit to drive in. These requirements are usually seasonal, so check the date you plan to arrive.
Where can you camp near Kemmerer?
Recreation.gov lists 34 campgrounds at the national parks within reach of Kemmerer. They are spread across 10 of those parks. One of them is first-come, first-served, so it never appears as bookable inventory.
When is the best time to visit the parks near Kemmerer?
For Grand Teton 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.