Colorado has 4 national parks. Together they recorded 5,317,145 recreation visits in 2025.
The parks
| Park | Established | Area (acres) | Visits in 2025 | Entrance fee |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rocky Mountain | 1915 | 265,848 | 4,171,431 | $30 per vehicle |
| Mesa Verde | 1906 | 52,485 | 463,130 | $30 per vehicle |
| Great Sand Dunes | 2004 | 107,346 | 432,498 | $25 per vehicle |
| Black Canyon of the Gunnison | 1999 | 30,780 | 250,086 | $30 per vehicle |
At a glance
- Busiest: Rocky Mountain, with 4,171,431 visits in 2025.
- Quietest: Black Canyon of the Gunnison, with 250,086.
- Largest: Rocky Mountain, at 265,848 acres.
- Oldest: Mesa Verde, a national park since 1906.
- $100 nonresident fee: Rocky Mountain (non-U.S. residents only).
Driving between the parks
Drive times and road miles between the closest visitor centers of each pair (OSRM estimates on OpenStreetMap roads), with straight-line miles for comparison.
| From | To | Drive | Straight line |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mesa Verde | Black Canyon of the Gunnison | 3 h 50 min (156 mi) | 105 mi |
| Great Sand Dunes | Black Canyon of the Gunnison | 4 h 30 min (199 mi) | 133 mi |
| Mesa Verde | Great Sand Dunes | 4 h 40 min (203 mi) | 168 mi |
| Rocky Mountain | Black Canyon of the Gunnison | 5 h 55 min (229 mi) | 170 mi |
| Rocky Mountain | Great Sand Dunes | 5 h 40 min (245 mi) | 185 mi |
| Rocky Mountain | Mesa Verde | 8 h 55 min (391 mi) | 272 mi |
Link them into one trip with the road trip planner.
Is the annual pass worth it here?
Driving into all 4 fee-charging parks in Colorado once would cost $115 in vehicle entrance fees. The $80 America the Beautiful pass for U.S. residents would save $35. Run your own numbers in the pass calculator.
Other National Park Service sites in Colorado (13)
Beyond its national parks, Colorado has these Park Service sites:
- Amache National Historic Site: no entrance fee
- Bent's Old Fort National Historic Site: no entrance fee
- California National Historic Trail: no entrance fee
- Colorado National Monument: $25 per vehicle
- Curecanti National Recreation Area: no entrance fee
- Dinosaur National Monument: $25 per vehicle
- Florissant Fossil Beds National Monument: $10 per person
- Hovenweep National Monument: $20 per vehicle
- Old Spanish National Historic Trail: no entrance fee
- Pony Express National Historic Trail: no entrance fee
- Sand Creek Massacre National Historic Site: no entrance fee
- Santa Fe National Historic Trail: no entrance fee
- Yucca House National Monument: no entrance fee
Sources
- Wikipedia: List of national parks of the United States (area from NPS land resource data, 2025 recreation visits from NPS visitor statistics)
- National Park Service: Entrance Fees by Park
Sources last checked 1 November 2026.
Frequently asked questions
How many national parks are in Colorado?
4: Black Canyon of the Gunnison, Great Sand Dunes, Mesa Verde, Rocky Mountain.
What is the most visited national park in Colorado?
Rocky Mountain, with 4,171,431 recreation visits in 2025.
Which is the oldest national park in Colorado?
Mesa Verde, established June 29, 1906.