National parks near Sherwood Park, Alberta
Sherwood Park sits inside the Edmonton area and reaches the same parks. See national parks near Edmonton for the full write-up.
Elk Island National Park is the closest national park to Sherwood Park, Alberta — 31.8 km (19.7 mi) in a straight line, which works out to roughly 46 min behind the wheel.
Elk Island makes a full day trip — leave early. Banff, Jasper, Yoho, Kootenay, and Glacier are better with a night booked nearby.
Nothing near Sherwood Park gates the entrance itself, but Glacier National Park puts a road, hike, or backcountry trip behind a permit or timed ticket.
Sherwood Park has a population of about 70,618.
National parks near Sherwood Park
| Park | Straight-line distance | Estimated drive | Realistic trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elk Island National Park | 31.8 km (19.7 mi) | 46 min | Doable as a day trip |
| Banff National Park | 288 km (179 mi) | 4 hr 42 min | Best as a weekend |
| Jasper National Park | 316 km (196 mi) | 5 hr 6 min | Best as a weekend |
| Yoho National Park | 318 km (198 mi) | 5 hr 8 min | Best as a weekend |
| Kootenay National Park | 347 km (216 mi) | 5 hr 33 min | Best as a weekend |
| Glacier National Park | 377 km (234 mi) | 5 hr 59 min | Best as a weekend |
| Mount Revelstoke National Park | 422 km (262 mi) | 6 hr 39 min | Worth a longer road trip |
| Prince Albert National Park | 460 km (286 mi) | 7 hr 13 min | Worth a longer road trip |
| Waterton Lakes National Park | 498 km (310 mi) | 7 hr 47 min | Worth a longer road trip |
| Glacier National Park | 530 km (329 mi) | 8 hr 15 min | Worth a longer road trip |
What to book before you leave Sherwood Park
| Park | What needs booking | Covers | How |
|---|---|---|---|
| Glacier | Logan Pass Shuttle Tickets | One road or area | Timed reservation |
Camping near Sherwood Park
Within reach of Sherwood Park, 9 campgrounds across 1 park appear on Recreation.gov: 9 at Glacier.
Recreation.gov releases most national park campsites six months before the arrival date, at 10:00 a.m. Eastern time. Windows are set per campground, so confirm yours on the Seasons and Fees tab on that campground page.
Once a date is gone, cancellations are the real supply, and they get taken within minutes of appearing.
When to make this trip
Elk Island National Park is generally best May through October, with April and early November as the quieter shoulder either side.
Winter brings cold, shorter days, and reduced services, though lower-elevation trails often stay walkable.
Peak summer weekends and autumn colour weekends fill parking lots early — arrive before mid-morning.
Seeing more than one
Several parks near Sherwood Park 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Banff → Yoho | 35.1 km (21.8 mi) | 49 min |
| Yoho → Kootenay | 65.1 km (40.5 mi) | 1 hr 22 min |
| Banff → Kootenay | 69 km (42.9 mi) | 1 hr 26 min |
| Jasper → Yoho | 183 km (114 mi) | 3 hr 9 min |
Planning a trip from Sherwood Park
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 Strathcona County
Common questions
What is the closest national park to Sherwood Park?
Elk Island National Park. It is about 31.8 km (19.7 mi) from Sherwood Park, roughly 46 min of driving.
Can I do a national park day trip from Sherwood Park?
Yes — Elk Island National Park is within about a three-hour drive.
How many national parks are near Sherwood Park?
10 parks are within reach of Sherwood Park, 1 of them close enough for a day trip.
Do you need a reservation for the national parks near Sherwood Park?
None of them gate the entrance itself. 1 put a specific road, hike, or backcountry trip behind a permit or timed ticket — Logan Pass Shuttle Tickets at Glacier. These requirements are usually seasonal, so check the date you plan to arrive.
Where can you camp near Sherwood Park?
Recreation.gov lists 9 campgrounds at the national parks within reach of Sherwood Park. All of them are at Glacier National Park.
When is the best time to visit the parks near Sherwood Park?
For Elk Island National Park, the closest one, generally May through October. Either side of that, April and early November stays quieter.