National parks near Kamloops, British Columbia
Mount Revelstoke National Park is the closest national park to Kamloops, British Columbia — 164 km (102 mi) in a straight line, which works out to roughly 2 hr 52 min behind the wheel.
Mount Revelstoke makes a full day trip — leave early. Glacier, North Cascades, Yoho, Jasper, Kootenay, Gulf Islands, and Banff are better with a night booked nearby.
Nothing near Kamloops gates the entrance itself, but 2 of the parks in range put a road, hike, or backcountry trip behind a permit or timed ticket.
Kamloops has a population of about 104,460.
National parks near Kamloops
| Park | Straight-line distance | Estimated drive | Realistic trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mount Revelstoke National Park | 164 km (102 mi) | 2 hr 52 min | Doable as a day trip |
| Glacier National Park | 208 km (129 mi) | 3 hr 31 min | Best as a weekend |
| North Cascades National Park | 227 km (141 mi) | 3 hr 47 min | Best as a weekend |
| Yoho National Park | 281 km (174 mi) | 4 hr 35 min | Best as a weekend |
| Jasper National Park | 290 km (180 mi) | 4 hr 43 min | Best as a weekend |
| Kootenay National Park | 301 km (187 mi) | 4 hr 53 min | Best as a weekend |
| Gulf Islands National Park | 302 km (188 mi) | 4 hr 54 min | Best as a weekend |
| Banff National Park | 316 km (196 mi) | 5 hr 5 min | Best as a weekend |
| Olympic National Park | 402 km (250 mi) | 6 hr 22 min | Worth a longer road trip |
| Pacific Rim National Park | 426 km (264 mi) | 6 hr 43 min | Worth a longer road trip |
What to book before you leave Kamloops
| Park | What needs booking | Covers | How |
|---|---|---|---|
| North Cascades | North Cascades National Park Backcountry Permits | One hike or backcountry trip | Permit or lottery |
| Olympic | Olympic National Park Wilderness Permit | One hike or backcountry trip | Permit or lottery |
Camping near Kamloops
Within reach of Kamloops, 14 campgrounds across 2 parks appear on Recreation.gov: 8 at North Cascades and 6 at Olympic.
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
Mount Revelstoke 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 Kamloops 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Mount Revelstoke → Glacier | 45.5 km (28.3 mi) | 1 hr 1 min |
| Glacier → Yoho | 73.1 km (45.4 mi) | 1 hr 30 min |
| Mount Revelstoke → Yoho | 116 km (72.2 mi) | 2 hr 10 min |
| Glacier → Jasper | 169 km (105 mi) | 2 hr 56 min |
Planning a trip from Kamloops
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 Thompson-Nicola Regional District
Common questions
What is the closest national park to Kamloops?
Mount Revelstoke National Park. It is about 164 km (102 mi) from Kamloops, roughly 2 hr 52 min of driving.
Can I do a national park day trip from Kamloops?
Yes — Mount Revelstoke National Park is within about a three-hour drive.
How many national parks are near Kamloops?
10 parks are within reach of Kamloops, 1 of them close enough for a day trip.
Do you need a reservation for the national parks near Kamloops?
None of them gate the entrance itself. 2 put a specific road, hike, or backcountry trip behind a permit or timed ticket — North Cascades National Park Backcountry Permits and Olympic National Park Wilderness Permit. These requirements are usually seasonal, so check the date you plan to arrive.
Where can you camp near Kamloops?
Recreation.gov lists 14 campgrounds at the national parks within reach of Kamloops. They are spread across 2 of those parks.
When is the best time to visit the parks near Kamloops?
For Mount Revelstoke National Park, the closest one, generally May through October. Either side of that, April and early November stays quieter.