What does this nearest park / forest ranking show?

It orders states by Miles to the nearest National Park or National Forest. It is a comparison of this one published measure, not an overall ranking of where to live.

Where do these figures come from?

USGS Protected Areas Database of the United States (PAD-US) 4.1 supplies this measure. States without a comparable published value are shown as not ranked rather than estimated.

How should I use this ranking?

Use it to narrow a search, then open a state or county profile for the underlying figures, source dates and caveats. A statewide number may not describe every neighbourhood.

Lowest nearest park / forest by state

Miles to the nearest National Park or National Forest.

Straight-line miles from the county’s population-weighted center to the nearest mapped boundary of a National Park or National Forest. A zero means that center falls inside one of those federal-land polygons. This is not driving distance, a route to an entrance, or a public-access guarantee: mountains, water, seasonal closures, permits and private inholdings can make an actual visit much longer or impossible. It includes only National Park Service areas classified as National Park and Forest Service areas classified as National Forest — not every NPS site, national monument, national recreation area, state park or other protected land. State figures are population-weighted county distances.

How to read this ranking

Utah has the lowest published nearest park / forest in this comparison, at 5.5 mi. The next states shown are Idaho (13 mi) and Oregon (14 mi).

The table orders 51 states by miles to the nearest national park or national forest. It describes one published measure, not an overall judgment about where to live.

Use the result as a starting point, then compare the underlying source, dates, and local county figures before making a decision. Straight-line miles from the county’s population-weighted center to the nearest mapped boundary of a National Park or National Forest. A zero means that center falls inside one of those federal-land polygons. This is not driving distance, a route to an entrance, or a public-access guarantee: mountains, water, seasonal closures, permits and private inholdings can make an actual visit much longer or impossible. It includes only National Park Service areas classified as National Park and Forest Service areas classified as National Forest — not every NPS site, national monument, national recreation area, state park or other protected land. State figures are population-weighted county distances.

1Utah5.5 mi
2Idaho13 mi
3Oregon14 mi
4Colorado16 mi
5Nevada17 mi
6Montana17 mi
7Wyoming18 mi
8Vermont19 mi
9Washington19 mi
10New Mexico20 mi
11Mississippi20 mi
12Arizona21 mi
13Arkansas24 mi
14West Virginia27 mi
15South Carolina27 mi
16California28 mi
17Alabama28 mi
18Kentucky32 mi
19Georgia39 mi
20Michigan41 mi
21North Carolina41 mi
22Tennessee42 mi
23Illinois42 mi
24Florida42 mi
25Maine46 mi
26Indiana47 mi
27Missouri47 mi
28New Hampshire47 mi
29Ohio49 mi
30Alaska49 mi
31Louisiana53 mi
32New York61 mi
33Virginia61 mi
34District of Columbia61 mi
35New Jersey69 mi
36Pennsylvania78 mi
37Maryland79 mi
38Wisconsin80 mi
39Connecticut81 mi
40North Dakota87 mi
41Massachusetts89 mi
42Hawaii95 mi
43Rhode Island104 mi
44Minnesota108 mi
45Texas117 mi
46Oklahoma121 mi
47Delaware133 mi
48South Dakota138 mi
49Kansas173 mi
50Nebraska177 mi
51Iowa190 mi

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Frequently asked questions

What does this ranking show?: It orders states by Miles to the nearest National Park or National Forest. It is one measure, not an overall verdict on where to live.
Where do the figures come from?: USGS Protected Areas Database of the United States (PAD-US) 4.1. States without a comparable published figure are listed as not ranked rather than estimated.
How should I use it?: Use it to narrow your search, then open a state or county profile for the source date, caveats and local context.

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Source: USGS Protected Areas Database of the United States (PAD-US) 4.1. · How this is built

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