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The United States has 62 protected areas known as national parks that are operated by the National Park Service, an agency of the Department of the Interior. National parks must be established by an act of the United States Congress. A bill creating the first national park, Yellowstone, was signed into law by President Ulysses S. Grant in 1872, followed by Mackinac National Park in 1875 (decommissioned in 1895), and then Rock Creek Park (later merged into National Capital Parks), Sequoia and Yosemite in 1890. The Organic Act of 1916 created the National Park Service "to conserve the scenery and the natural and historic objects and wildlife therein, and to provide for the enjoyment of the same in such manner and by such means as will leave them unimpaired for the enjoyment of future generations." Many current national parks had been previously protected as national monuments by the president under the Antiquities Act before being upgraded by Congress. Seven national parks (including six in Alaska) are paired with a national preserve, areas with different levels of protection that are administered together but considered separate units and whose areas are not included in the figures below.

US State Poles of Inaccessibility

  Green shading (also denoted with a * symbol) – state with a range of possible pole of inaccessibility coordinates (see 'Notes')

State	Image	Location	Nearest Incorporated Community	Pole of Inaccessibility Distance	Area Fraction	Notes
Alabama	Alabama Pole of Inaccessibility	32.394°N 86.747°W / 32.394; -86.747	White Hall	96.6 miles (155.5 km)	0.579	On the Alabama River between Selma and Montgomery, approximately 4 miles (6.4 km) south of State Route 14.
Alaska	Alaska Pole of Inaccessibility	65.470°N 150.672°W / 65.470; -150.672	Tanana	276.6 miles (445.1 km)	0.421	Located near the Yukon River, approximately 25 miles (40.2 km) northwest of the Elliott Highway.
Arizona	Arizona Pole of Inaccessibility	33.786°N 111.618°W / 33.786; -111.618	Fountain Hills	147.8 miles (237.9 km)	0.604	Approximately 7 miles (11.3 km) west of State Route 87, near the far northeastern suburbs of Scottsdale.
Arkansas	Arkansas Pole of Inaccessibility	34.966°N 92.574°W / 34.966; -92.574	Fourche	106.0 miles (170.6 km)	0.679	On the Arkansas River approximately 9 miles (14.5 km) west of I-40.
California	California Pole of Inaccessibility	35.980°N 118.881°W / 35.980; -118.881	Porterville	115.0 miles (185.1 km)	0.267	Approximately 5 miles (8.0 km) southeast of State Route 190, west of the Sequoia National Forest in the western foothills of the Sierra Nevada.
Colorado	Colorado Pole of Inaccessibility	38.998°N 106.473°W / 38.998; -106.473	Leadville	138.6 miles (223.1 km)	0.582	Located in the Sawatch Range in the San Isabel National Forest, approximately 5 miles (8.0 km) south of State Highway 82 and 12 miles (19.3 km) west of US 24. (Due to slight irregularities in the straight line state border, the pole of inaccessibility successfully converged to a single location.)
Connecticut	Connecticut Pole of Inaccessibility	41.661°N 73.023°W / 41.661; -73.023	Plymouth	25.6 miles (41.2 km)	0.424	Approximately 1 mile (1.6 km) south of US 6.
Delaware	Delaware Pole of Inaccessibility	38.717°N 75.445°W / 38.717; -75.445	Georgetown	14.5 miles (23.3 km)	0.338	Approximately 2 miles (3.2 km) west of US 113.
District of Columbia	District of Columbia Pole of Inaccessibility	38.939°N 77.041°W / 38.939; -77.041		2.8 miles (4.5 km)	0.396	Near the Piney Branch Trail in Rock Creek Park in Northwest. The nearest Metro station is Columbia Heights.
Florida	Florida Pole of Inaccessibility	27.684°N 81.429°W / 27.684; -81.429	Frostproof	57.2 miles (92.1 km)	0.192	Approximately 7 miles (11.3 km) northeast of US 98 in the Arbuckle Wildlife Management Area. (CITATION: https://myfwc.com/recreation/cooperative/arbuckle/)
Georgia	Georgia Pole of Inaccessibility	32.137°N 83.109°W / 32.137; -83.109	Chauncey	104.5 miles (168.2 km)	0.596	Approximately 1 mile (1.6 km) northeast of US 23.
Hawaii	INSERT PICTURE	19.664°N 155.526°W / 19.664; -155.526	Hilo	28.8 miles (46.3 km)	0.405	Nearly along the line between the volcanic peaks Mauna Kea and Mauna Loa on Hawaiʻi.
Idaho	INSERT PICTURE	43.576°N 114.828°W / 43.576; -114.828	Fairfield	109.0 miles (175.4 km)	0.452	Approximately 16 miles (25.7 km) north of US 20 in the Sawtooth National Forest.
Illinois	INSERT PICTURE	40.205°N 89.372°W / 40.205; -89.372	Lincoln	97.3 miles (156.6 km)	0.535	Approximately 2 miles (3.2 km) north of I-55.
Indiana	INSERT PICTURE	39.605°N 86.174°W / 39.605; -86.174	Greenwood	72.4 miles (116.5 km)	0.460	Less than 1 mile (1.6 km) west of State Road 135, and approximately 11 miles (17.7 km) south of downtown Indianapolis.
Iowa	INSERT PICTURE	42.036°N 94.120°W / 42.036; -94.120	Beaver	101.2 miles (162.9 km)	0.576	Less than 1 mile (1.6 km) north of US 30, just west of the intersection with US 169.
Kansas*	INSERT PICTURE	38.500°N 98.291°W / 38.500; -98.291	Frederick	103.9 miles (167.2 km)	0.415	Approximately 1 mile (1.6 km) south of State Highway 4 and 11 miles (17.7 km) north of US 56. This pole of inaccessibility is approximately 5 miles (8.0 km) east of the geographic center of Kansas, the closest separation for any state. (Due to slight irregularities in the straight line state border, the pole of inaccessibility is constrained to a line of latitude approximately 1 mile (1.6 km) long, and the given longitude is representative of the center of that line.)
Kentucky	INSERT PICTURE	37.703°N 84.485°W / 37.703; -84.485	Lancaster	76.5 miles (123.1 km)	0.465	Approximately 7 miles (11.3 km) northeast of US 27 and 9 miles (14.5 km) west of I-75.
Louisiana	INSERT PICTURE	31.992°N 92.640°W / 31.992; -92.640	Winnfield	70.7 miles (113.8 km)	0.363	Approximately 1 mile (1.6 km) east of US 167.
Maine	INSERT PICTURE	45.556°N 69.077°W / 45.556; -69.077	Brownville	61.6 miles (99.1 km)	0.387	Approximately 25 miles (40.2 km) WNW of I-95.
Maryland	INSERT PICTURE	39.374°N 77.054°W / 39.374; -77.054	Sykesville	23.9 miles (38.5 km)	0.186	Approximately 2 miles (3.2 km) northeast of I-70.
Massachusetts*	INSERT PICTURE	42.388°N 72.903°W / 42.388; -72.903	Worthington	24.2 miles (38.9 km)	0.237	Approximately 1 mile (1.6 km) northeast of State Route 112 and 9 miles (14.5 km) northeast of US 20. (Due to slight irregularities in the straight line state border, the pole of inaccessibility is constrained to a line of latitude approximately 1 mile (1.6 km) long, and the given longitude is representative of the center of that line.)
Michigan	INSERT PICTURE	42.811°N 84.776°W / 42.811; -84.776	Eagle	72.7 miles (117.0 km)	0.294	Less than 1 mile (1.6 km) northeast of I-96, and approximately 12 miles (19.3 km) northwest of Lansing.
Minnesota	INSERT PICTURE	47.040°N 94.490°W / 47.040; -94.490	Walker	107.1 miles (172.4 km)	0.452	Approximately 1 mile (1.6 km) south of State Highway 200, south of Leech Lake and within the boundary of the Chippewa National Forest.
Mississippi	INSERT PICTURE	33.420°N 89.675°W / 33.420; -89.675	Winona	79.7 miles (128.3 km)	0.425	Approximately 4 miles (6.4 km) south of US 82.
Missouri	INSERT PICTURE	38.146°N 92.518°W / 38.146; -92.518	Brumley	114.0 miles (183.5 km)	0.594	Approximately 5 miles (8.0 km) east of US 54, near Lake of the Ozarks and Lake of the Ozarks State Park.
Montana	INSERT PICTURE	46.990°N 111.433°W / 46.990; -111.433	Cascade	138.8 miles (223.4 km)	0.416	Approximately 22 miles (35.4 km) southeast of I-15 between the Helena National Forest and Lewis and Clark National Forest. Approximately 39 miles (62.8 km) northeast of the Montana State Capitol in Helena.
Nebraska*	INSERT PICTURE	41.500°N 100.166°W / 41.500; -100.166	Arnold	103.7 miles (166.9 km)	0.439	Approximately 3 miles (4.8 km) northwest of Highway 92 and 17 miles (27.4 km) east of US 83, on the southeastern edge of the Sandhills. (Due to slight irregularities in the straight line state border, the pole of inaccessibility is constrained to a line of latitude approximately 1 mile (1.6 km) long, and the given longitude is representative of the center of that line.)
Nevada	INSERT PICTURE	39.800°N 116.910°W / 39.800; -116.910	Carlin	152.1 miles (244.8 km)	0.662	Approximately 23 miles (37.0 km) northeast of US 50.
New Hampshire	INSERT PICTURE	43.233°N 71.680°W / 43.233; -71.680	Hopkinton	36.4 miles (58.6 km)	0.465	Approximately 2 miles (3.2 km) northeast of I-89. Closest pole of inaccessibility to the corresponding state capital, located approximately 7 miles (11.3 km) northwest of the New Hampshire State House in Concord.
New Jersey	INSERT PICTURE	40.872°N 74.571°W / 40.872; -74.571	Dover	25.0 miles (40.2 km)	0.268	Approximately 1 mile (1.6 km) south of US 46.
New Mexico	INSERT PICTURE	34.477°N 106.045°W / 34.477; -106.045	Willard	171.1 miles (275.4 km)	0.758	Approximately 8 miles (12.9 km) south of US 60, and northwest of the Gallinas Division of the Cibola National Forest.
New York	INSERT PICTURE	43.056°N 74.816°W / 43.056; -74.816	Little Falls	78.2 miles (125.9 km)	0.407	Approximately 1 mile (1.6 km) north of State Route 5 and 3 miles (4.8 km) north of I-90.
North Carolina	INSERT PICTURE	35.429°N 78.516°W / 35.429; -78.516	Benson	76.9 miles (123.8 km)	0.382	Less than 1 mile (1.6 km) east of I-40 and approximately 2 miles (3.2 km) northwest of I-95.
North Dakota*	INSERT PICTURE	47.470°N 99.221°W / 47.470; -99.221	Carrington	105.8 miles (170.3 km)	0.510	Less than 1 mile (1.6 km) north of US 52. (Due to slight irregularities in the straight line state border, the pole of inaccessibility is constrained to a line of latitude approximately 1 mile (1.6 km) long, and the given longitude is representative of the center of that line.)
Ohio	INSERT PICTURE	40.093°N 83.068°W / 40.093; -83.068	Dublin	92.1 miles (148.2 km)	0.652	Located in the northwest suburbs of Columbus, less than 1 mile (1.6 km) north of State Route 161, and approximately 1 mile (1.6 km) south of I-270.
Oklahoma	INSERT PICTURE	35.447°N 96.366°W / 35.447; -96.366	Castle	107.3 miles (172.7 km)	0.528	Less than 1 mile (1.6 km) southwest of US 62, and approximately 3 miles (4.8 km) northwest of I-40.
Oregon	INSERT PICTURE	43.873°N 119.772°W / 43.873; -119.772	Hines	129.9 miles (209.1 km)	0.552	Approximately 22 miles (35.4 km) northeast of US 20, just west of the Malheur National Forest.
Pennsylvania*	INSERT PICTURE	40.860°N 77.180°W / 40.860; -77.180	Hartleton	78.9 miles (127.0 km)	0.437	Less than 1 mile (1.6 km) east of State Route 235 and 7 miles (11.3 km) north of US 522, near the Bald Eagle State Forest. (Due to slight irregularities in the straight line state border, the pole of inaccessibility is constrained to a line of latitude approximately 1 mile (1.6 km) long, and the given longitude is representative of the center of that line.)
Rhode Island	INSERT PICTURE	41.863°N 71.594°W / 41.863; -71.594	Glocester	10.4 miles (16.7 km)	0.326	Located within the limits of Glocester, approximately 1 mile (1.6 km) southwest of US 44, 2 miles (3.2 km) north of US 6, and 4 miles (6.4 km) west of I-295.
South Carolina	INSERT PICTURE	33.794°N 80.694°W / 33.794; -80.694	Eastover	70.9 miles (114.1 km)	0.526	Just inside the eastern border of the Congaree National Park, approximately 3 miles (4.8 km) west of US 601 and 14 miles (22.5 km) northeast of I-26.
South Dakota*	INSERT PICTURE	44.471°N 101.765°W / 44.471; -101.765	Philip	101.9 miles (164.0 km)	0.430	Approximately 5 miles (8.0 km) north of State Highways 34 and 73, just south of the Cheyenne River Indian Reservation. (Due to slight irregularities in the straight line state border, the pole of inaccessibility is constrained to a line of latitude approximately 1 mile (1.6 km) long, and the given longitude is representative of the center of that line.)
Tennessee	INSERT PICTURE	35.820°N 86.757°W / 35.820; -86.757	Eagleville	57.3 miles (92.2 km)	0.250	Less than 1 mile (1.6 km) north of I-840 and approximately 4 miles (6.4 km) east of I-65.
Texas	INSERT PICTURE	31.090°N 98.371°W / 31.090; -98.371	Lometa	193.1 miles (310.8 km)	0.448	Approximately 5 miles (8.0 km) southwest of US 183, and 5 miles east of the Colorado River.
Utah	INSERT PICTURE	38.945°N 111.551°W / 38.945; -111.551	Mayfield	134.4 miles (216.3 km)	0.690	Approximately 5 miles (8.0 km) north of I-70 in the Richfield District of the Fishlake National Forest.
Vermont	INSERT PICTURE	44.532°N 72.633°W / 44.532; -72.633	Morristown	33.1 miles (53.3 km)	0.373	Less than 1 mile (1.6 km) west of Vermont Route 100 and the Morrisville–Stowe State Airport, and 14 miles (22.5 km) northeast of I-89.
Virginia	INSERT PICTURE	37.561°N 78.582°W / 37.561; -78.582	Dillwyn	70.5 miles (113.5 km)	0.396	Less than 1 mile (1.6 km) north of US-60.
Washington	INSERT PICTURE	47.446°N 120.032°W / 47.446; -120.032	Rock Island	107.4 miles (172.8 km)	0.546	Approximately 7 miles (11.3 km) northeast of State Route 28 and the Columbia River.
West Virginia	INSERT PICTURE	38.241°N 81.135°W / 38.241; -81.135	Gauley Bridge	58.1 miles (93.5 km)	0.442	Approximately 6 miles (9.7 km) northeast of US 60, near the Gauley River.
Wisconsin	INSERT PICTURE	44.872°N 89.940°W / 44.872; -89.940	Fenwood	95.4 miles (153.5 km)	0.527	Approximately 5 miles (8.0 km) south of State Highway 29 and 14 miles (22.5 km) west of I-39. This pole of inaccessibility is located approximately 9 miles (14.5 km) southeast of the 45×90 point marking the geographic center of the northwest quadrant of Earth.
Wyoming*	INSERT PICTURE	43.001°N 108.08°W / 43.001; -108.08	Riverton	138.3 miles (222.6 km)	0.619	Approximately 1 mile (1.6 km) north of State Highway 136 and 15 miles (24.1 km) east of US 26. (Due to the straight line state border, the pole of inaccessibility is only constrained to a line of latitude approximately 10 miles (16.1 km) long, and the given longitude is representative of the center of that line.)

See also

• National Park Service

External links

• Official website of the National Park Service (NPS)
• Find a park (NPS)
• Visitor use statistics (NPS)
• The National Parks: America's Best Idea by PBS
• America's Natural Heritage - The Essential Guide to the National Parks by The Washington Post
• Interactive map at Sharemap.org (beta testing)

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