National parks near Kempen, North Rhine-Westphalia
Kempen sits inside the Mönchengladbach area and reaches the same parks. See national parks near Mönchengladbach for the full write-up.
Eifel National Park is the closest national park to Kempen, North Rhine-Westphalia — 88.3 km (54.9 mi) in a straight line, which works out to roughly 1 hr 45 min behind the wheel.
Eifel makes a full day trip — leave early. Kellerwald-Edersee, Hunsrück-Hochwald, Lower Saxony Wadden Sea, Hainich, Harz, Hamburg Wadden Sea, and Black Forest are better with a night booked nearby.
Kempen has a population of about 34,105.
National parks near Kempen
| Park | Straight-line distance | Estimated drive | Realistic trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Eifel National Park | 88.3 km (54.9 mi) | 1 hr 45 min | Doable as a day trip |
| Kellerwald-Edersee National Park | 181 km (112 mi) | 3 hr 7 min | Best as a weekend |
| Hunsrück-Hochwald National Park | 191 km (119 mi) | 3 hr 16 min | Best as a weekend |
| Lower Saxony Wadden Sea National Park | 277 km (172 mi) | 4 hr 32 min | Best as a weekend |
| Hainich National Park | 282 km (176 mi) | 4 hr 36 min | Best as a weekend |
| Harz National Park | 294 km (183 mi) | 4 hr 46 min | Best as a weekend |
| Hamburg Wadden Sea National Park | 311 km (193 mi) | 5 hr 1 min | Best as a weekend |
| Black Forest National Park | 338 km (210 mi) | 5 hr 26 min | Best as a weekend |
| Schleswig-Holstein Wadden Sea National Park | 381 km (237 mi) | 6 hr 3 min | Worth a longer road trip |
| Müritz National Park | 491 km (305 mi) | 7 hr 41 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 Kempen 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Kellerwald-Edersee → Hainich | 102 km (63.2 mi) | 1 hr 57 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 Kempen
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 Kempen?
Eifel National Park. It is about 88.3 km (54.9 mi) from Kempen, roughly 1 hr 45 min of driving.
Can I do a national park day trip from Kempen?
Yes — Eifel National Park is within about a three-hour drive.
How many national parks are near Kempen?
10 parks are within reach of Kempen, 1 of them close enough for a day trip.
When is the best time to visit the parks near Kempen?
For Eifel National Park, the closest one, generally June through September. Either side of that, May and early October stays quieter.