National parks near Simmerath, North Rhine-Westphalia
Simmerath sits inside the Aachen area and reaches the same parks. See national parks near Aachen for the full write-up.
Eifel National Park is the closest national park to Simmerath, North Rhine-Westphalia — 7.8 km (4.9 mi) in a straight line, which works out to roughly 13 min behind the wheel.
Eifel is close enough to visit on an ordinary afternoon. Hunsrück-Hochwald makes a full day trip — leave early. Kellerwald-Edersee, Black Forest, Hainich, Harz, and Lower Saxony Wadden Sea are better with a night booked nearby.
Simmerath has a population of about 5,170.
National parks near Simmerath
| Park | Straight-line distance | Estimated drive | Realistic trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Eifel National Park | 7.8 km (4.9 mi) | 13 min | Right on your doorstep |
| Hunsrück-Hochwald National Park | 115 km (71.6 mi) | 2 hr 9 min | Doable as a day trip |
| Kellerwald-Edersee National Park | 200 km (124 mi) | 3 hr 23 min | Best as a weekend |
| Black Forest National Park | 267 km (166 mi) | 4 hr 22 min | Best as a weekend |
| Hainich National Park | 296 km (184 mi) | 4 hr 48 min | Best as a weekend |
| Harz National Park | 328 km (204 mi) | 5 hr 17 min | Best as a weekend |
| Lower Saxony Wadden Sea National Park | 361 km (224 mi) | 5 hr 45 min | Best as a weekend |
| Hamburg Wadden Sea National Park | 393 km (244 mi) | 6 hr 13 min | Worth a longer road trip |
| Schleswig-Holstein Wadden Sea National Park | 463 km (288 mi) | 7 hr 16 min | Worth a longer road trip |
| Val Grande National Park | 530 km (329 mi) | 8 hr 15 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 Simmerath 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 |
| Hunsrück-Hochwald → Black Forest | 152 km (94.2 mi) | 2 hr 41 min |
| Eifel → Kellerwald-Edersee | 194 km (121 mi) | 3 hr 18 min |
Planning a trip from Simmerath
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 Regierungsbezirk Köln
Common questions
What is the closest national park to Simmerath?
Eifel National Park. It is about 7.8 km (4.9 mi) from Simmerath, roughly 13 min of driving.
Can I do a national park day trip from Simmerath?
Yes — Eifel National Park and Hunsrück-Hochwald National Park are within about a three-hour drive.
How many national parks are near Simmerath?
10 parks are within reach of Simmerath, 2 of them close enough for a day trip.
When is the best time to visit the parks near Simmerath?
For Eifel National Park, the closest one, generally June through September. Either side of that, May and early October stays quieter.