National parks near Pinedale, Wyoming
Grand Teton National Park is the closest national park to Pinedale, Wyoming — 75.9 mi (122 km) in a straight line, which works out to roughly 2 hr 15 min behind the wheel.
Grand Teton makes a full day trip — leave early. Yellowstone is better with a night booked nearby.
Nothing near Pinedale gates the entrance itself, but 6 of the parks in range put a road, hike, or backcountry trip behind a permit or timed ticket.
Pinedale has a population of about 1,923.
National parks near Pinedale
| Park | Straight-line distance | Estimated drive | Realistic trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Grand Teton National Park | 75.9 mi (122 km) | 2 hr 15 min | Doable as a day trip |
| Yellowstone National Park | 124 mi (199 km) | 3 hr 23 min | Best as a weekend |
| Rocky Mountain National Park | 278 mi (447 km) | 7 hr 1 min | Worth a longer road trip |
| Arches National Park | 290 mi (466 km) | 7 hr 18 min | Worth a longer road trip |
| Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park | 317 mi (511 km) | 7 hr 58 min | Worth a longer road trip |
| Canyonlands National Park | 322 mi (519 km) | 8 hr 5 min | Worth a longer road trip |
| Wind Cave National Park | 325 mi (523 km) | 8 hr 8 min | Worth a longer road trip |
| Capitol Reef National Park | 330 mi (531 km) | 8 hr 15 min | Worth a longer road trip |
| Great Basin National Park | 355 mi (571 km) | 8 hr 51 min | Worth a longer road trip |
| Badlands National Park | 375 mi (603 km) | 9 hr 19 min | Worth a longer road trip |
What to book before you leave Pinedale
| 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 |
| Black Canyon of the Gunnison | Black Canyon of the Gunnison NP Red Rock Canyon Wilderness 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 |
Camping near Pinedale
Within reach of Pinedale, 33 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.
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 Pinedale 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Grand Teton → Yellowstone | 56.7 mi (91.2 km) | 1 hr 48 min |
| Arches → Black Canyon of the Gunnison | 100 mi (161 km) | 2 hr 49 min |
| Rocky Mountain → Black Canyon of the Gunnison | 164 mi (263 km) | 4 hr 19 min |
Planning a trip from Pinedale
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 Sublette County
Common questions
What is the closest national park to Pinedale?
Grand Teton National Park. It is about 75.9 mi (122 km) from Pinedale, roughly 2 hr 15 min of driving.
Can I do a national park day trip from Pinedale?
Yes — Grand Teton National Park is within about a three-hour drive.
How many national parks are near Pinedale?
10 parks are within reach of Pinedale, 1 of them close enough for a day trip.
Do you need a reservation for the national parks near Pinedale?
None of them gate the entrance itself. 6 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 Pinedale?
Recreation.gov lists 33 campgrounds at the national parks within reach of Pinedale. They are spread across 10 of those parks.
When is the best time to visit the parks near Pinedale?
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.