National parks near Kalkar, North Rhine-Westphalia
Kalkar sits inside the Bocholt area and reaches the same parks. See national parks near Bocholt for the full write-up.
Eifel National Park is the closest national park to Kalkar, North Rhine-Westphalia — 130 km (80.9 mi) in a straight line, which works out to roughly 2 hr 22 min behind the wheel.
Eifel makes a full day trip — leave early. Kellerwald-Edersee, Hunsrück-Hochwald, Lower Saxony Wadden Sea, Hamburg Wadden Sea, Hainich, Harz, and Schleswig-Holstein Wadden Sea are better with a night booked nearby.
Kalkar has a population of about 14,513.
National parks near Kalkar
| Park | Straight-line distance | Estimated drive | Realistic trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Eifel National Park | 130 km (80.9 mi) | 2 hr 22 min | Doable as a day trip |
| Kellerwald-Edersee National Park | 198 km (123 mi) | 3 hr 22 min | Best as a weekend |
| Hunsrück-Hochwald National Park | 234 km (145 mi) | 3 hr 53 min | Best as a weekend |
| Lower Saxony Wadden Sea National Park | 242 km (150 mi) | 4 hr 1 min | Best as a weekend |
| Hamburg Wadden Sea National Park | 277 km (172 mi) | 4 hr 32 min | Best as a weekend |
| Hainich National Park | 298 km (185 mi) | 4 hr 50 min | Best as a weekend |
| Harz National Park | 298 km (185 mi) | 4 hr 50 min | Best as a weekend |
| Schleswig-Holstein Wadden Sea National Park | 346 km (215 mi) | 5 hr 33 min | Best as a weekend |
| Black Forest National Park | 380 km (236 mi) | 6 hr 3 min | Worth a longer road trip |
| Müritz National Park | 480 km (298 mi) | 7 hr 31 min | Worth a longer road trip |
When to make this trip
Eifel National Park is generally best June through September, with May and early October as the quieter shoulder either side.
Late autumn through early spring is cold and wet, with limited hut service and short daylight.
Mountain weather turns quickly and marked routes can stay snow-covered well into June.
Seeing more than one
Several parks near Kalkar 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Lower Saxony Wadden Sea → Hamburg Wadden Sea | 39.7 km (24.6 mi) | 54 min |
| Eifel → Hunsrück-Hochwald | 109 km (67.6 mi) | 2 hr 3 min |
| Eifel → Kellerwald-Edersee | 194 km (121 mi) | 3 hr 18 min |
| Kellerwald-Edersee → Hunsrück-Hochwald | 212 km (132 mi) | 3 hr 34 min |
Planning a trip from Kalkar
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 Düsseldorf District
Common questions
What is the closest national park to Kalkar?
Eifel National Park. It is about 130 km (80.9 mi) from Kalkar, roughly 2 hr 22 min of driving.
Can I do a national park day trip from Kalkar?
Yes — Eifel National Park is within about a three-hour drive.
How many national parks are near Kalkar?
10 parks are within reach of Kalkar, 1 of them close enough for a day trip.
When is the best time to visit the parks near Kalkar?
For Eifel National Park, the closest one, generally June through September. Either side of that, May and early October stays quieter.