National parks near Powell, Wyoming
Yellowstone National Park is the closest national park to Powell, Wyoming — 86.3 mi (139 km) in a straight line, which works out to roughly 2 hr 30 min behind the wheel.
Yellowstone makes a full day trip — leave early. Grand Teton is better with a night booked nearby.
Nothing near Powell gates the entrance itself, but 4 of the parks in range put a road, hike, or backcountry trip behind a permit or timed ticket.
Powell has a population of about 6,462.
National parks near Powell
| Park | Straight-line distance | Estimated drive | Realistic trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Yellowstone National Park | 86.3 mi (139 km) | 2 hr 30 min | Doable as a day trip |
| Grand Teton National Park | 116 mi (187 km) | 3 hr 12 min | Best as a weekend |
| Wind Cave National Park | 274 mi (441 km) | 6 hr 56 min | Worth a longer road trip |
| Theodore Roosevelt National Park | 298 mi (479 km) | 7 hr 30 min | Worth a longer road trip |
| Grasslands National Park | 311 mi (501 km) | 7 hr 49 min | Worth a longer road trip |
| Badlands National Park | 317 mi (511 km) | 7 hr 58 min | Worth a longer road trip |
| Rocky Mountain National Park | 343 mi (552 km) | 8 hr 34 min | Worth a longer road trip |
| Glacier National Park | 365 mi (587 km) | 9 hr 5 min | Worth a longer road trip |
| Waterton Lakes National Park | 384 mi (618 km) | 9 hr 32 min | Worth a longer road trip |
| Arches National Park | 422 mi (679 km) | 10 hr 26 min | Worth a longer road trip |
What to book before you leave Powell
| Park | What needs booking | Covers | How |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rocky Mountain | Rocky Mountain National Park Timed Entry | Park entry | Timed reservation |
| 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 |
| Arches | Arches National Park Canyoneering Permits | One hike or backcountry trip | Permit or lottery |
Camping near Powell
Within reach of Powell, 36 campgrounds across 8 parks appear on Recreation.gov: 9 at Grand Teton, 9 at Glacier, 5 at Yellowstone, and 5 at Theodore Roosevelt, plus 4 more parks 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 Powell 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Yellowstone → Grand Teton | 56.7 mi (91.2 km) | 1 hr 48 min |
Planning a trip from Powell
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 Park County
Common questions
What is the closest national park to Powell?
Yellowstone National Park. It is about 86.3 mi (139 km) from Powell, roughly 2 hr 30 min of driving.
Can I do a national park day trip from Powell?
Yes — Yellowstone National Park is within about a three-hour drive.
How many national parks are near Powell?
10 parks are within reach of Powell, 1 of them close enough for a day trip.
Do you need a reservation for the national parks near Powell?
None of them gate the entrance itself. 4 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. 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 Powell?
Recreation.gov lists 36 campgrounds at the national parks within reach of Powell. They are spread across 8 of those parks.
When is the best time to visit the parks near Powell?
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.